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Synyster Gates
Guitarist with Avenged Sevenfold
Synyster Gates (Brian Elwin Haner, Jr) is the lead guitarist and backing vocalist of the Huntington Beach metal band Avenged Sevenfold, the band that created a frenzy in the guitar community by bringing dual guitar leads back to rock. The band re-introduced heavy music with intense guitar work that punched through the grunge alternative that had dominated popular rock music for a decade, and their blend of fast-paced hard rock and heavy metal helped kick off a resurgence of virtuosity in heavy guitar.
Amptweaker's first connection with Synyster Gates came in 2012, when James Brown worked with him to help develop his signature amp, the Schecter Hellwin, which was used on the Hail to the King album as well as subsequent releases. During that time period, he tried out the TightRock and found it to get a similar tone when used as a preamp….so the BigRock Pro was the perfect choice for getting his tone in a portable demo and rehearsal rig. He also found that the TightDrive Pro was great for legato Holdsworth tones.
Brian and his father Brian Haner, Sr, who worked in the studio with Frank Zappa, Tower of Power, and Sam the Sham's band in the 70's, launched The Synyster Gates School in 2017. This free online school features tutorials, video demos, tshirts and gear, and was created as a community where guitarists can share their knowledge and learn through interactive music playthrough's with synced music notations and tablature. It also features behind-the-scenes videos of Syn and Papa Gates practicing, writing, recording and performing.
"The tone and playability are second to none" –Synyster Gates
Synyster Gates testing out the TightRock used as a preamp


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Helmut Deutsch organ
Präludium, BWV 546/1 Johann Sebastian Bach
Partite diverse sopra "O Gott, du frommer Gott", BWV 767 Johann Sebastian Bach
Fuge, BWV 546/2 Johann Sebastian Bach
"Schmücke Dich, o liebe Seele" (11 Choral Preludes, op. posth. 122) Johannes Brahms
Choral no. 7, "O Gott, du frommer Gott" Johannes Brahms
Sonata on Psalm 94 Julius Reubke
Organist Helmut Deutsch was invited by BOZAR for a world-class solo concert on the Brussels cathedral organ. The programme includes Bach and Brahms as well as Julius Reubke, who studied under Liszt. Although he died of tuberculosis at the age of 24 the young man succeeded in composing one of the most phenomenal organ works of the classical organ repertoire. Deutsch pours all of his creative enthusiasm into his performance, which is moving, dramatic and inspiring. His musical phrases sing, and he accentuates the drama of the forte sections. A phenomenal Reubke sonata, exactly as you would expect.

subset: commoncrawl


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Managing Psoriasis Together
Empowering Patients. Changing Lives.
View Our Psoriasis Before & After Gallery >
Schedule Your Consult Today >
Did You Know?
- Psoriasis is the Most Common Autoimmune Disease in the United States
- More than 7 millions Americans have the disease.
- Psoriasis Effects People of All Age Groups
- Normally, it develops between the ages of 15-35. Approximately 33% have their first occurrence before the age of 20.
- Heredity Plays a Role
- If one of your parents has psoriasis, you have a 10% chance of developing the disease. If both parents have it, the chances increase to 50%.
- Psoriasis is Not Contagious
- The lesions are not infectious or open wounds. They pose no threat to others.
(Sources: National Psoriasis Foundation, American Academy of Dermatology)
Signs and symptoms:
- Red patches of skin covered with silvery scales
- Small scaling spots (commonly seen in children)
- Dry, cracked skin that may bleed
- Itching, burning and soreness
- Thickened, pitted or ridged nails
- Swollen and stiff joints
What are the treatment options?
Using high quality and deeply moisturizing products is crucial when treating this uncomfortable skin condition. Skin Dimensions, SB Bath Oil and Moisturizing Cream, locks water into your skin and prevents it from evaporating. By controlling the moisture content of the affected areas, you are likely to prevent further outbreaks and heal current flare-ups quicker. In addition to these Skin Dimensions products, topical steroids (cortisone) in creams, ointments, and lotions can help to reduce psoriasis and eliminate the redness and itching.
Learn more about our Psoriasis Day Care Center and treatment options >
To schedule an appointment with a board certified dermatologist at Soderstrom Skin Institute, call 1-888-970-7546.


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- Synthetic
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- Shaft measures approximately 8.5 from arch
- Platform measures approximately 0.5
- MATERIAL: Synthetic
- MEASUREMENTS: Heel Height: 1.25" / Platform Height: 0.5" / Shaft Height: 8.5"
- PERFECT FOR WARM WEATHER: These go well with jeans, shorts and skirts! Mix and Match!!
- FRIENDLY REMINDER: If you have wide feet, try going half size up :)
- PU(Poly): Synthetic Leather is a man made material that will represent the look and feel of Genuine Leather but in fact is NOT.
- Patent leather is a type of coated leather that has a very glossy, shiny finish. .
- Suede: A type of leather with a napped finish, commonly used for jackets, shoes, shirts, purses.
- Canvas: This is an extremely durable plain-woven fabric.
- DIRT REMOVAL: Use a soft damp cloth and a drop of mild soap to remove any haze.
- CLEANING: Use a rubber eraser to remove dirt and smudges. Then, brush lightly with a soft brush specifically for suede and nubuck products.
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text: Moawez Zamir Awan 0 Report post Posted May 8 Hi! I have performed free size optimization and it ran successfully. However I have some questions relating to some of the upper and lower limits and design variables required to enter. After checking the optimization book provided by altair I still do not completely understand in design variable in the parameter option the mindim is what exactly and how to choose it appropriately? As I have chosen different values and it shows different results. Moreover, I chose Volfrac as the optimization constraint and chose upper limit as 0.2 but I am not sure what this represents? As in volume option upper limit showed the volume in mm^3 but volfrac I am not sure what it represents. Another main question I have is that when setting load collectors I can add as many but in Loadstep for load and constraint theres only two options. How can I add two loads and one constraint for my analysis? Please let me know I know this is a long one but your help would be much appreciated. I am attaching my file over here and if you could please take a look to see if my results are appropriate or not? Freesize opt try 1.hm Share this post Link to post Share on other sites


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Using the State Curriculum: Reading/ELA, Grade 4
Reading/ELA | Informational | Literary | Writing | Language | Listening | Speaking
Lesson Seeds: The lesson seeds are ideas for the indicator/objective that can be used to build a lesson. Lesson seeds are not meant to be all-inclusive, nor are they substitutes for instruction.
Standard 3.0 Comprehension of Literary Text
Indicator 2. Use text features to facilitate understanding of literary texts
Objective c. Identify and explain how informational aids such as introductions and overviews, materials lists, timelines, captions, glossed words, labels, numbered steps, bulleted lists, footnoted words, pronunciation keys, transition words, end notes, works cited, other information aids encountered in informational texts contribute to meaning
After teaching the form and organization of footnotes, the teacher will provide students with a literary text where footnoted words and phrases are underlined but actual footnotes have been removed. Students will read the text and then discuss the meaning of the text with their teacher who will record students' observations. Next, footnotes will be provided for the underlined words and phrases. Students will reread the text and, again, discuss the meaning of the text with their teacher who, again, will record students' observations. Students and teachers will compare both observations and discuss how the information provided by the footnotes enhanced their understanding of the text.
Prior to reading, the teacher will provide students with biographical information about the author. Next students will read a text written by that author. After reading the text, students will determine if any part of the author's life is evident in the text. The teacher will list student ideas. Students will select an idea from the list and explain the connection between the biography and the text.
The teacher will provide students with examples of literary text which contains captioned illustrations. Students will read the text and discuss how the captioned illustrations work with the text. Do the captions repeat information already in the text? Do the captions provide additional and necessary information? Do the captions provide additional but unnecessary information? The teacher will record student responses categorizing them as the discussion continues. To extend this activity, student may then suggest additional captioned illustrations that might assist their understanding of the text or removal of those that do not enhance a student's comprehension. Another extension could involve placing the captioned illustrations in an order that addresses their degree of assistance to a reader.
Students will read introductions to a variety of literary texts. Students and teacher will discuss in general terms why an author might choose to include an introduction as part of a literary work. The teacher will place students in small groups where each group is assigned the same literary text. Students will read the text, and in small groups, determine the purpose of the introduction. The possible purposes include interest engagement, foreshadowing, quotations, point of view, rhetorical questioning, or statement of opinion. Students will then discuss how reading an introduction and determining its purpose can become a pre-reading strategy.


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Highways England works to replace safety barriers on and around the Leigham roundabout will now continue until Monday 5 November.
The barrier upgrade was due to finish by 6am this coming Monday but we have now been advised it is a week behind schedule.
The following traffic management arrangements are in place between now and then:
Slip road from Marsh Mills roundabout towards Leigham
One lane closed until Sunday 4 November
Whole road closed on the nights of Saturday 27 and Sunday 28 October (8pm to 6am)
Leigham Roundabout (on approach to A38 westbound on-slip)
One lane closed until Sunday 28 October
A38 westbound on-slip and off-slip
Closed on the nights of Friday 26, Monday 29, Tuesday 30 and Wednesday 31 October and on the nights of Thursday 1, Friday 2 and Sunday 4 November (8pm to 6am)
Councillor Sue Dann, Cabinet Member for Environment and Street Scene said: "We appreciate how frustrating it is for this work to be taking longer than planned and we'd like to thank drivers for their continued patience while it is completed."
If we are advised of any further changes we will post the details here.
For more information call Highways England on 0300 123 5000 or email email@example.com.


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The Tryon ARC needs a count for the Christmas Dinner. We would like to have all meal numbers by our meeting (Nov 14) so we can pass them along to the restaurant. Please remember we are donating toys to Project Angel. For more information about the dinner and project angel click here.
Month: November 2012
Amateur Radio License Exam Session 11/17/2012
The Tryon ARC will be hosting an Amateur Radio License Exam Session on Saturday November 17th at 1:00 PM.
The location of this test will be at the Gloversville Public Library – Second floor.
58 E Fulton St, Gloversville NY.
The test session is open to the public and we will offer Tech, General and Extra class exams. The fee for the FCC Amateur License test is $15. This fee can be paid in cash or check at the VE test session 11/17.
For information on what to bring for the VE Exam click here.
CTCSS (PL) 100 Hz tone on 146.700Mhz Repeater
Over the next few weeks the Tryon ARC will enable the PL tone of 100Hz on the 2m repeater to improve the capabilities of the system.
We encourage everyone to program the 100Hz tone ahead of time to avoid any glitches or disruption of communications. Don't wait until the tone is enable to update your radio. If you need assistance programming your radio please ask.
Please inform other hams in the area of the change.
Why are we doing this? For a few reasons:
- Eliminate or prevent false keying on distant signals or malicious interference.
- Capability of linking 70cm/2M repeaters.
- Add IRLP capabilities to the repeater.
- Integrate EchoLink and IRLP.
- Add the capability to join conference groups over the VoIP systems.
If you have any questions about this change, please ask over the repeater or feel free to leave a comment below.


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Exciting news. Our app has a new name – Healthily. Learn more
Nausea and vomiting in pregnancy, also known as morning sickness, is very common in early pregnancy. It's unpleasant, but it doesn't put your baby at any increased risk and usually clears up by weeks 16 to 20 of pregnancy.
Some women get a very severe form of nausea and vomiting called hyperemesis gravidarum (HG), which can be very serious. It needs specialist treatment, sometimes in hospital. Find out more about hyperemesis gravidarum.
With morning sickness, some women are sick (vomit) and some have a feeling of sickness (nausea) without being sick. The term "morning sickness" is misleading. It can affect you at any time of the day or night, and some women feel sick all day long.
It's thought hormonal changes in the first 12 weeks of pregnancy are probably one of the causes of morning sickness.
Symptoms should ease as your pregnancy progresses. In some women, symptoms disappear by the third month of pregnancy. However, some women experience nausea and vomiting for longer than this, and about 1 woman in 10 continues to feel sick after week 20.
During early pregnancy, nausea, vomiting and tiredness are common symptoms. Around half of all pregnant women experience vomiting, and more than 80% of women (80 out of 100) experience nausea in the first 12 weeks.
People sometimes consider morning sickness a minor inconvenience of pregnancy, but for some women it can have a significant adverse effect on their day-to-day activities and quality of life.
If you have morning sickness, your doctor or midwife will initially recommend that you try a number of changes to your diet and daily life to help reduce your symptoms. These include:
If you have severe morning sickness, your doctor or midwife might recommend medication.
If your nausea and vomiting is severe and doesn't improve after you make changes to your diet and lifestyle, your doctor may recommend a short-term course of an anti-sickness medicine that is safe to use in pregnancy.
This type of medicine is called an antiemetic. The commonly prescribed antiemetics can have side effects. These are rare, but can include muscle twitching.
Some antihistamines (medicines often used to treat allergies such as hay fever) also work as antiemetics. Your doctor might prescribe an antihistamine that is safe to take in pregnancy. See your doctor if you would like to consider this form of treatment.
There is some evidence that ginger supplements may help reduce nausea and vomiting. To date, there have not been any reports of adverse effects being caused by taking ginger during pregnancy.
However, ginger products are unlicensed in the UK, so buy them from a reputable source, such as a pharmacy or supermarket. Check with your pharmacist before you use ginger supplements.
Some women find that ginger biscuits or ginger ale can help reduce nausea. You can try different things to see what works for you.
Find out more about vitamins and supplements in pregnancy.
Acupressure on the wrist may also be effective in reducing symptoms of nausea in pregnancy. Acupressure involves wearing a special band or bracelet on your forearm. Some researchers have suggested that putting pressure on certain parts of the body may cause the brain to release certain chemicals that help reduce nausea and vomiting.
There have been no reports of any serious adverse effects caused by using acupressure during pregnancy, although some women have experienced numbness, pain and swelling in their hands.
If you are vomiting and can't keep any food or drink down, there is a chance that you could become dehydrated or malnourished. Contact your doctor or midwife immediately if you:
Urinary tract infections (UTIs) can also cause nausea and vomiting. A UTI is an infection that usually affects the bladder but can spread to the kidneys.
If you have any pain when passing urine or you pass any blood, you may have a urine infection and this will need treatment. Drink plenty of water to dilute your urine and reduce pain. You should contact your doctor within 24 hours.
A number of different factors may mean you are more likely to have nausea and vomiting in pregnancy. These include:
Visit the pregnancy sickness support site for tips on dealing with nausea and vomiting, and advice for partners too.
Important: Our website provides useful information but is not a substitute for medical advice. You should always seek the advice of your doctor when making decisions about your health.


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Innovative solution that delivers more targeted, clean and efficient air freshening for small, personal spaces. Featuring hands-free motion-activation, myfresh[TM] releases just the right amount of fragrance from our proprietary dry fragrance inserts emitted by our small, high-velocity freshFan technology. Dry fragrance technology is liquid-free and leaves no residue. freshFan technology high-velocity fan is hands-free and motion-activated. No touching dirty aerosol cans. Charcoal filter for a fresher experience.
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Phone: 936-569-0945
Toll Free: 1-800-657-2465


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For some people out there, they will look at some of the things that people spend their money on and will shake their head. They will wonder why people are so willing to throw away their cash and will then complain about how broke they are afterwards. For some, they will think that with a bit of common sense, people are able to complete most tasks themselves so that they can spend next to nothing most of the time.
One example of this is when people are looking to discard of some of their possessions. They may notice that they have too much stuff, that they have parts left over from some kind of project, or that they have a bunch of stuff that they were meaning to fix but that they never got around to doing. Whatever the reason may be, when people are wanting to get rid of stuff they might be wondering if rubbish removal in North Shore is really necessary since their local council offers bins that are picked up each week.
Rubbish removal in North Shore may be necessary or those who tend to overfill their council bins that are picked up each week
While different areas will tend to differ with what they offer, most places will offer a green bin fin for garden waste, a red bin for general waste, and then a yellow bin for recyclables. The red option is usually picked up each week and then the other two alternatives. Most people are able to get away with using these bins, however, there can be some limitations to this service.
For example, many people will be alarmed to find that even though they put a great deal of effort into their recyclables, they will learn that most recycling plants are actually closed and that their items are just been thrown into landfill as well. Furthermore, if people happen to forget to put their bins out one week, they will find that their trash is backed up and they are never able to catch up. This is when rubbish removal services may be necessary for people in order to cater to all of their waste correctly.
Rubbish removal in North Shore may be necessary for those who need to get rid of certain things that cannot be safely disposed of in council bins that are picked up each week
For those who may be wondering if rubbish removal services may really be necessary or not, they may not realise that they are not able to put all types of waste into their local council bins. There are so many things that need to be disposed of in a special way and so people cannot simply let them go into landfill. This can include things such as car batteries, normal batteries, paint, chemicals, medical waste, as well as much more.
If people are not considerate about this, they could be putting the environment in danger as well as the people who are in this said environment. While it may be annoying to some that people will have to pay for certain things to be taken away from their home to be disposed of correctly, this is just a part of life and people will need to do their part just like everyone else has to. As it can be seen, there are many reasons why people may need to find something outside of their usual council bins such as implementing the help of an organisation that offers rubbish removal in North Shore area and local surroundings.


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August: Be AdventurousAugust 10, 2018
Have you ever wished you could be more adventurous?
I know I have.
Several years ago My Mr. B and I went on an Alaskan Cruise. At each port we met young people, high school and college age, that had come to Alaska to work for the summer tourist season. They were not only from the U.S., but from other countries. We found some of the same kind of adventurous youth when we went on a Mediterranean Cruise and even in Wall, South Dakota during a family trip.
Guess what I did with my summers all those years ago. Worked at Woolworths in my small hometown in Montana. The big adventure for me was the summers I worked at the drive-in theatre at night.
I looked online for some adventurous ideas. Some of you may be in interested in these:
1. Cliff jumping
2. Shark diving
3. Volcano trekking
4. Cave diving
5. Portaledge camping - Climbers rely on hanging tent systems to sleep on a sheer cliff face
That's just 5 of 50 or more ideas. If you try any of those let me know. I won't be doing a single one of them.
I was getting a little discouraged, thinking my adventurous days are long gone - or I never had an adventurous bone in my body, if I have to do any of the above things to prove something.
Then I looked up the word adventurous in the dictionary. You know me, I like to know what I'm talking about. Adventurous means willing to take risks or to try out new methods, ideas, or experiences. Maybe I can be adventurous!!
Annie Andre had 101 suggestions on her blog. Here are some I think will make me adventurous:1. Cook a recipe you've never cooked before
2. Try a food you've never tried before
3. Volunteer
4. Write a love letter to someone you love
5. Eat pancakes for dinner and pizza for breakfast
6. Learn to sign
7. Change your look - hair style, hair color, etc.
8. Learn to dance a certain style: belly dancing, salsa, swing, hip hop - you choose
9. Go camping
10. Downsize and sell things you no longer need - this may be Bailey's favorite
11. Start a Blog about something you are passionate about
You are never too old . . . So here is your challenge: Try something new or different. Let me know about any other ideas you come up with. Maybe I will try them.


text: All Blog PostsBlog Previous Blog Next Blog Meet VUE Software at the 37th Annual Caribbean Insurance Conference Posted May 24, 2017 Each year, the Insurance Association of the Caribbean Inc. (IAC), hosts an annual conference, the Caribbean Insurance Conference (CIC), attracting more than 600 attendees from 38 countries, from the insurance and financial industries. This conference offers a collaborative forum for Caribbean insurance regulatory authorities, insurance educational institutes, actuaries, and other groups with interest in the insurance industry in the Caribbean. This two-day conference offers networking opportunities and exhibits on products and services of value to the insurance and financial industries. VUE Software will be supporting the CIC this year by sharing valuable information on cutting-edge products that can digitize your distribution channel. VUE Software is a single scalable platform built from the ground up exclusively for Insurance Carriers and Distributors who have outgrown their current tools and require greater automation for producer administration and sales processes. We look forward to meeting everyone at CIC. Conference Location: Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, Punta Cana Km 28, #74, Bv. Turistico del Este, Punta Cana 23000, Dominican Republic Author Margaret Livermore Content Marketing Manager Leave a Reply: Cancel replyYou must be logged in to post a comment.


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I've added a new book to my ebooks!
Just in time for the stretchy pants season, er, the Holidays……
18 recipes for candy without artificial coloring. Fudge, brittle, bark and many more treats.
In celebration of my latest, and of the Holidays, I am hosting 3 Free Days on Amazon of the new book's siblings!
Monday, December 9th, Naturally Fabulous Vegan Cupcakes will be free on Amazon.
Wednesday, December 11th, The Natural Barista: Latte Syrups & Drinks.
Friday, December 13th, Oatmeal On The Go: 11 Gluten-free, Vegan & Plant-based-diet Recipes.
I'll post links on each day on Twitter & Facebook as well, so you don't miss out!


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To love is to enter into the inevitability of one day not being able to protect what is most valuable to you.
-Mohsin Hamid, Exit West: A Novel
Why are so many people so afraid to love?
Love is an open door. Love is a battlefield.
Love is the connective tissue of humanity. Love is a reason to live. For many, it is the only reason to live. Thousands of people have killed others and themselves in the name of love.
What is there to fear? Is it a fear of the open door? Of the unknown? Of the battlefield? Of fighting?
Or is it the fear of losing? That the emotional high will tumble into an addict's abyss?
To fear love is not to fear the open door, but to fear the moment the door closes. It's not to fear the battle, but to fear defeat.
To open our hearts to love is to expose ourselves to loss. We hand others a knife, point to our weak underbelly, and say "please be careful." By putting our hearts in the hands of others, we endow them with the power to break us, to hold us hostage, or to imprison us at will. No wonder we're afraid.
Not many can fearlessly trust others like this. I can't. Not now. I want to feel safe. I want to feel secure. So I remain a self-appointed jailer. I hold my own keys to my own heart. And as long as I hold these keys close, no one can hurt me.
But a guarded heart does not remain in an ever-youthful stasis. It hardens and ossifies. Mistrust habituates. Conditions like "if I open my heart to him, he will hurt me" generalize. Like a virus, fear consumes our mind with overarching, indefensible, yet to us, completely rational statements like "women will hurt me" and "I cannot trust anyone."
Throughout our lives, our hearts are either hardening or softening. We either reap the joys of love today for potential pain tomorrow or we accept a constant, low-grade numbing ache as a hedge against future disappointment.
Whenever we close off our hearts, we must consider the price of that protection. We have one life. Is the risk of getting hurt worth the risk of an unexplored life?
Among the 5 regrets of the dying, number three is "I wish I had the courage to express my feelings."
This works in two ways. On the one hand, many people fear rejection and consequently pass on opportunities to open themselves to others. We want to preserve a positive self-image and steer clear of situations that could threaten that image. So we detain our hearts in Schrodinger's realm of "not accepted nor rejected". Feelings remain unexpressed, ships pass in the night, and regrets mount.
On the other hand, others remain in unsatisfying relationships for similar reasons. These fears serve as two sides of the same coin.
"What if this person does not love me back?" I don't want to find out.
"What if no one can love me more than this person?" I don't want to find out.
Whether it is a positive emotion, a positive self-image, or an intimate connection, love exposes us to loss. We put skin in the game.
We must accept this inextricable link. We must realize that losing what we love is not a possibility. It is an inevitability.
"'Tis better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all"
Fortunately, even if we lose, life presents us with limitless opportunities to win. The only way to lose indefinitely is to fearfully harden our hearts indefinitely. We must continue to push forward in spite of that fear. We must rise in response when love knocks us down.
Some people play to win. But playing to win means to accept the possibility of losing. Others play to not lose. But playing not to lose dooms oneself to indefinite (though less volitile) losing. Take that chance.
Open your heart. Because permanent defeat is voluntary.


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Europe covers about 10,180,000 square kilometres , or 6.8% of land area. Politically, Europe is divided into about fifty sovereign states of which the Russian Federation is the largest and most populous, spanning 39% of the continent and comprising 15% of its population. Europe had a total population of about 741 million. The European climate is largely affected by warm Atlantic currents that temper winters and summers on much of the continent, even at latitudes along which the climate in Asia and North America is severe. Further from the sea, seasonal differences are more noticeable than close to the coast.
Europe, in particular ancient Greece, was the birthplace of Western civilization. The fall of the Western Roman Empire, during the migration period, marked the end of ancient history and the beginning of an era known as the Middle Ages. Renaissance Humanism, exploration, art, and science led to the modern era. From the Age of Discovery onwards, Europe played a predominant role in global affairs. Between the 16th and 20th centuries, European powers controlled at various times the Americas, most of Africa, Oceania, and the majority of Asia.


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New GLS Mercedes-Benz's 'most luxurious SUV'
DUBAI, May 8, 2019
The new Mercedes-Benz GLS is Mercedes-Benz's largest and most luxurious SUV and, above all, offers more space, more comfort, and more luxury with dimensions larger than those of its predecessor (length +77 mm, width +22 mm).
The confident presence of its exterior stems from its impressive dimensions, which are even larger than those of its predecessor.
One of the benefits of the 60 mm longer wheelbase is interior spaciousness, especially in the second row. The three fully electrically adjustable seat rows offer all passengers a generous amount of space and outstanding seating comfort.
The seats in the third row can be lowered into the floor to increase the boot space (up to 2400 litres), while the seats in the second-row fold flat. Celebrating its world premiere in the GLS 580 4MATIC is an electrified V8 engine featuring EQ Boost - a 48-volt system with integrated starter-generator.
The E-Active Body Control active suspension on 48-volt basis offers outstanding suspension comfort, agile handling and a high degree of off-road capability. Like the GLE, the GLS features the latest generation of Mercedes- Benz driving assistance systems giving cooperative support to the driver. The new 4MATIC ensures great agility on the road and strong performance off the beaten track.
The new GLS has impressive aerodynamics in its segment, with a Cd figure of 0.32. It has a new Carwash function, which enables the car to be prepared for entry into a carwash with a single press of a button.
As the S-Class of SUVs, the new GLS indulges its passengers, especially those in the rear seat. The key comfort features at a glance:
• MBUX Rear Seat Entertainment System: Two 11.6-inch touchscreens for movie, music and internet enjoyment
• Rear Comfort package Plus: Separate tablet for controlling all of the MBUX comfort and entertainment functions from the rear seats
• Electrically adjustable seats throughout as standard, as is the Easy- Entry function, which makes it easy to get into and out of the third seat row
• Simple folding-down of all rear seats at the push of a button
• Two fully fledged seats in the third row (for people up to 1.94 m tall)
• Heated seats and separate USB charging ports for the third row, too
• Five-zone automatic climate control available
"The new GLS is the S-Class of premium SUVs. It embodies luxury, confidence and intelligence like almost no other vehicle," stated Ola Källenius, member of the Board of Management of Daimler AG responsible for corporate research and Mercedes-Benz Cars development.
"The GLS combines modern luxury with the character of an off-roader," says Gorden Wagener, chief design officer at Daimler AG. "Powerful highlights of the off-road design idiom combine with an elegance reminiscent of a classic luxury saloon. The interior is a synthesis of modern, luxurious aesthetics, hallmark SUV practicality, and digital high-tech. In our view, the new GLS therefore offers the best of all these worlds."
Since 1997, Mercedes-Benz has been building premium SUVs in the USA, the main market for these vehicles worldwide. In 2006 the GL full-size seven-seater was launched. The next major change came in 2015, with a face lift that emphasised the luxury character of second generation large SUV's and changed the name to GLS. On top of that, it is the market leader in its segment - just like the S-Class Saloon.
At present, Mercedes-Benz offers models in the SUV segment GLC, GLC Coupé, GLE, GLE Coupé, GLS, G-Class). The SUVs are a major structural pillar in the Mercedes-Benz product portfolio, and greatly contribute to the growth of the brand. To date, more than six million customers worldwide have purchased a Mercedes-Benz SUV.
The new Mercedes-Benz GLS, which is produced in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, was presented to the public for the first time at the recently-held New York International Auto Show. – TradeArabia News Service


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Photo: GoFundMe
Update: Since this blog was published, two additional teenagers impacted by this fire have died, bringing the human toll to 10 people. Officials are now investigating fireworks and smoke materials as probable causes to the fire.
A residential fire on August 26 that killed six children and two adults during an apparent sleepover is being named the city's deadliest fire in a decade. The Chicago Tribune reports that the fire's official cause hasn't been determined. Investigators did not find working smoke alarms in the home, but noted that the devices could have led to a different outcome.
"The fire started in the rear, and the entryway to the front was wide open," Larry Langford, spokesperson for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, told the Tribune. "Had they been awake or if someone had woken them, they would have gotten out."
Safety advocates were quick to note that, while important, a smoke alarm's ability only goes so far. According to NFPA, residents may have as little as two minutes once a smoke alarm sounds to safely escape a home fire. "Chicago needs to look at the data," says Tom Lia, executive director of the Northern Illinois Fire Sprinkler Advisory Board. "Two minutes is not enough time to escape a fire, especially when people are sleeping and there are children in the home who cannot escape by themselves."
Lia is advocating for requirements for smoke alarms and fire sprinklers in all new homes. While Chicago has a requirement to fire sprinkler its new high-rises, the city does not require fire sprinklers in new apartment buildings less than 80 feet in length. Lia says if the same structure impacted by this week's fire was built today, it would not require sprinklers. Not adhering to model building code requirements for this technology is a dangerous, life-safety gamble, say advocates. (Learn about NFPA's Fire & Life Safety Ecosystem and how tragedies can occur if all components of the ecosystem aren't embraced.)
Devastating home fires this year have made headlines. Last month, five children died from a residential fire in New Jersey. Bills have been introduced there to fire sprinkler its new homes, despite previous vetoes of similar bills by former Governor Chris Christie. In Illinois, another residential fire this year impacted more than 100 families. There were no fatalities, but the fire had a huge toll. "The fire was devastating, with more than 500 people displaced, $10 million in property damage, not to mention the cost involved when 50 fire departments responded to that fire," says Lia.
Join Lia in advocating for safer homes by using NFPA's data found on its Fire Sprinkler Initiative site.


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Feist Publications, Inc. v. Rural Telephone Service Company, Inc.
RESPONDENT: Rural Telephone Service Company, Inc.
LOCATION: Clark County Jail
DECIDED BY: Rehnquist Court (1990-1991)
LOWER COURT: United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit
ARGUED: Jan 09, 1991
DECIDED: Mar 27, 1991
James M. Caplinger, Jr. - Argued the cause for the respondent
Kyler Knobbe - Argued the cause for the petitioner
Facts of the case
Rural Telephone Service Company, Inc. is a public utility that provides telephone service to several communities in northwest Kansas. Rural also publishes a telephone directory that consists of white and yellow pages. Feist Publications, Inc. is a publishing company that specializes in area-wide telephone directories that cover a much larger geographic range than Rural's directories. When Rural refused to license its white pages listings to Feist, Feist extracted the listings it needed from Rural's directory without consent. Although Feist altered many of Rural's listings, several were identical to listings in Rural's white pages. The District Court granted summary judgment to Rural in its copyright infringement suit, holding that telephone directories are copyrightable. The Court of Appeals affirmed.
Does the copyright in a telephone company's directory protect the names, towns, and telephone numbers copied by another telephone directory company?
Media for Feist Publications, Inc. v. Rural Telephone Service Company, Inc.Audio Transcription for Oral Argument - January 09, 1991 in Feist Publications, Inc. v. Rural Telephone Service Company, Inc.
Audio Transcription for Opinion Announcement - March 27, 1991 in Feist Publications, Inc. v. Rural Telephone Service Company, Inc.
William H. Rehnquist:
The opinion of the Court in No. 89-1909 Feist Publications, Inc. verus Rural Telephone Service Company, Inc. will be announced by Justice O'Connor.
Sandra Day O'Connor:
This case comes to us on certiorari to the Court of Appeals for the 10th Circuit.
It requires us to clarify the extent of copyright protection available to telephone directory white pages.
The respondent, Rural Telephone Service Company, is a certified public utility providing telephone service to several communities in Kansas.
Pursuant to state regulation, it publishes a typical telephone directory consisting of white pages and yellow pages.
The petitioner, Feist Publications, publishes a competing telephone directory covering a larger area.
When Rural refused to license its white pages listings to Feist for directory covering 11 different telephone service areas, Feist copied more than 1,300 listings from Rural's directory without the consent of Rural.
Rural sued for copyright infringement.
The United States District Court for the District of Kansas granted summary judgment to Rural, holding that telephone directories are copyrightable and that there was infringement.
The 10th Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed.
In an opinion filed today, we reverse.
We explained that a fundamental principle of a copyright law is that facts are not copyrightable.
This is because, as a matter of both constitutional and statutory law, a work qualifies for copyright protection only if it is original.
Original, as that term is used in copyright, means that the work was independently created by the author and that it possess a least some minimal degree of creativity.
No one may claim originality as to facts because facts are not created by the author.
They are merely discovered and reported.
One may, however, claim originality in the way facts are selected, coordinated, or arranged.
These choices by an author, so long as they entail some minimal degree of creativity, are sufficiently original to qualify for copyright protection.
We conclude in this case that Feist, by taking 1,300 listings from Rural's white pages did not copy anything that was original to Rural.
The bits of data contained in the listings are uncopyrightable facts.
Rural did not select, coordinate, or arranged these facts in an original way.
Rurals selection and arrangement were obvious.
The list is alphabetical by name of subscriber, town, and telephone of each of its subscribers.
This is a frequent and age-old practice so common placed that it has come to be expected as a manner of course.
Because Rural's white pages are the void of creativity, Feist did not violate the copyright laws by copying them.
The opinion is joined by eight members of the court.
Justice Blackmun concurs in the judgment.


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A pupil from a Telford school is celebrating today after her artwork was crowned overall winner of the 2018 Arts & Minds competition organised by NASUWT – The Teachers' Union.
Arts & Minds is an annual, UK-wide competition aimed at promoting race equality and diversity in schools. Children and young people from primary, secondary and special schools are judged in two categories: art and creative writing.
The winning entry, a powerful piece of artwork entitled 'Why Us?' was produced by Grace Numfor, a Year 11 pupil from Ercall Wood Technology College, Telford. The piece shows three portraits set on a background of words and often upsetting racial slurs.
The entry had already been selected from hundreds of entries from across the UK as a winner in the secondary school artwork competition.
It went on to be chosen as the overall winner by TV presenter and Arts & Minds competition chief judge Gok Wan.
Grace received her award at a national awards ceremony in London.
Gok Wan said of the winning entry:
"This piece is striking. There are so many deep messages going on. The accuracy of the faces portrayed is amazing.
"I have never met any of these people but I feel I know them. The piece is absolutely beautiful.
"The wording just punches you in the face. It is quite a remarkable thing, it drew me in and got me thinking about something I perhaps don't want to think about."
Chris Keates, General Secretary of the NASUWT, said:
"Huge congratulations to Grace and her teachers at Ercall Wood Technology College.
"This was a very emotive piece and each picture tells a strong and important story with the detail of the facial expressions.
"The images are very powerful and the words add to the overall message.
"There is clearly a lot of thought and feeling that has gone into this piece, you can see the effort Grace has put into its creation.
"The judges found it particularly hard to choose the winners, as the standard of entries throughout the competition was very high across all the age groups and categories.
"Pupils and their teachers have worked very hard to produce such highly imaginative entries, and to come up with new and thought-provoking ways to convey the important issues of diversity and equality."


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The Struggle Against Candy Capitalism: A Skit
The Struggle Against Candy Capitalism: A Skit
By H. Bradford
The following is the skit which was used at Marxmas, the socialist alternative to Christmas. Now, I would not take it to represent a serious piece of political theory. The skit sought to somehow connect the game Candyland with the struggle against capitalism. This meant creating socialism within a feudal candy society. So…the politics aren't perfect by any means. Still, I tried to insert some real life issues related to capitalism and real life methods of organizing- even if the setting, tactics, and outcome may be unrealistic. And, it was rather fun to use the skit to raise some issues related to capitalism. So, here is the skit in case anyone is curious about it!
The Struggle Against Candy Capitalism
Act I: Introductions
Narrator: Welcome everyone to Marxmas. Before we begin, we are going to perform a little skit, which is connected to the game that we are playing. You'll notice that some of us are dressed up in costumes. These represent characters from the game Candyland, by Hasbro. These characters are going to introduce themselves and hopefully explain what Candyland has to do with the struggle against capitalism.
Mr. Mint: Greetings everyone! My name is Mr. Mint, but you can call me Comrade Mint. I'm here with my friends to tell you about the dark side of Candyland. This is the story that Hasbro doesn't want you to know. You might be surprised to find that there are a lot of things that people don't know about Candyland. People who play the game only go to the tourist attractions like the Candycane Forest, Gumdrop Mountain, and Candy Castle. When you play the game, you don't see the starving gingerbread children on the streets of Kandygrad. The ones who prostitute themselves for a few chocolate coins. You don't see the candy factories and traffic jams on the Bon-Bon Autobahn. Or, what about the women who can't go to school in the Sultanate of Sweets? Has anyone ever wondered why the police don't bother the white chocolate community? And while King Kandy lives in his Candy Castle, most of us live in ramshackle gingerbread shacks.
Jolly: I'm Jolly, but all this social injustice doesn't make me jolly at all. These problems are so big! Why, I heard that the glaciers on gumdrop mountain have shrunk 20% just this year! The entire gumdrop village was flooded and their candy corn crop was ruined. In the Sultanate of Sweets, there has been extreme desertification as rivers have been diverted to support their Cotton Candy exports. This year was the hottest year on record in the Dessert Desert. Poverty, sexism, racism, the environment…it's too much to think about!
Mr. Mint: That's why I'm trying to organize the masses with my minty Marxism!
Jolly: Yes, we're trying to organize our friends into a mass movement of workers and connect all of the social struggles towards the overthrow of candy capitalism.
Mr. Mint: To be fair, Candy Capitalism isn't very well developed in Candyland. It isn't like the United States or Western Europe We have some elements of feudalism and our economy is largely based on the export of candy to more developed nations. We haven't been able to develop on our own since we were colonized earlier in the century by Hasbro, who entrenched the power of King Kandy's dynasty and our export economy. The truth is, due the nature of global capitalism, we will never become an advanced capitalist country. Our economy will always serve the interests of more advanced economies.
Jolly: All of this is a sticky situation to be sure! We can build our small movement in Candyland, but unless we unite with the workers of the United States, European Union, and the rest of the world, our efforts will be for naught.
Mr. Mint: But, we've managed to recruit quite a few candy comrades…like Princess Lolly, Grandma Nut, Gloppy, Plumpy, and even some of you in the audience!
Lolly: My name is Lolly. I was born in the Sultanate of Sweets, but the U.S. invaded our country and overthrow our democratically elected leader and installed the tyrannical Sultan Syrup from the Saccharine Satrap. My parents fled with me to Lollyland when I was just a baby to escape the war. I joined Mr. Mint's movement because wars like the one in the Sultanate of Sweets serve the interest of candy capitalism. Ever since Sultan Syrup took power, the people have become poor. Our economy is devoted to growing cotton candy and foreign companies own all of our rock candy mines. We were once a beacon of culture, with a vast trade network along the Ribbon Candy Road. Before the invasion, women used to attend university, work, and vote. Now, they must stay inside. As a feminist and anti-war activist, I know that Candy capitalism has got to go!
Jolly: I was also born in the Sultanate of Sweets and used to be an environmental scientist. After Sultan Syrup took power, he began killing atheists and leftists like myself. I don't want to hurt anyone! I love people! I don't eat meat or even candy…since that candybalism! But anyone who stands up for candy rights in my country is arrested! And both the Democratic Party and Republican Party supported the invasion and have given weapons to the Sultan. This is why I have to take a stand!
Queen Frostine:
My name is Queen Frostine. I live in Sweetbearia. I was put under house arrest in my Icing Castle when I tried to convince King Kandy to give more rights to the people of Candyland. Since King Kandy took power, Candyland expanded its empire to the Ice Cream Sea. This expansion resulted in war and genocide against the sweet fairies and nonpar-elves of Sweetberia. To subdue these indigenous people, King Kandy made an alliance with Kandy Kahn, a warlord whose territory extended into the southern portions of Sweetbearia. Since then, the land has been ruthlessly plundered in the interest of obtaining gummibear pelts to sell abroad. The sweetbears have also been killed for their honey. Why, last year, General Custard killed over 1000 sweetbears and 500 sweet fairies!
The Ice Cream Sea used to team with fish, but now all of the Swedish fish have gone extinct. The Sweetbearians can no longer subside on gummi bears and swedish fish, so many have either starved or gone to live in the crowded cities of Candygrad, Confection City, Saint Sweets, and Choklabad. I am a Queen, so I don't know how I feel about this. But, living under house arrest has opened my eyes to the world. More needs to be done than the charity and volunteerism I was doing before.
I've even secretly allowed some organizers to seek refuge in my icing castle, including Mr. Mint and Jolly when the sweet secret police were after them.
Grandma Nut: I'm Grandma Nut, but you can call me Hazel. I live part time in Kandygrad in a small apartment, but spend the weekend and summers at my peanut brittle dacha in the nut filled forests of Candyland. I need to collect nuts so I can sell them in Kandygrad. I don't have a pension or social security, so I am forced to work in my old age. Nut isn't even my real last name. My real name is Hazel Bopple. I can't afford to treat my bipolar disorder, so Hasbro labelled me a nut. I'm not a nut! I just need socialized health care and social security benefits! You'd be a little nutty too if you were spending your golden years in grinding poverty! I joined Mr. Mint's movement because old age should not be a time of fear, poverty, and pain! Now, I'm a real militant granny. I think that we should overthrow King Kandy, seize his castle and all of the churches and estates, and turn them into housing for the poor. We'll use the treasury to fund social programs and take control of the economy so that we can develop other industries rather than rely on candy exports!
Mr. Mint: That sounds like a great idea! The Kandygrad Council of Workers, or the Kandygrad Soviet if you will, fully supports this! But, we'll meet with some opposition to be sure!
Narrator: Meanwhile at King Kandy's castle….
King Kandy: I am King Kandy, ruler of Candyland. I hear the plight of my people. I never really wanted to be king. But, what am I to do? Tsar Candybar will not even take my job! Hasbro has given me arms and soldiers, but the people are talking about revolution! I have many allies, like Sultan Syrup, Neopolitan Bonapart, General Custard, and Kandy Kahn. But, I am afraid I must turn to my most ruthless ally of all: Lord Licorice!
Lord Licorice: I must admit, I was surprised to be summoned from Licorice Castle in my long neglected anise flavored kingdom. From where I stand, it seems that there is unrest in Kandygrad, Sweetberia, and the Sultanate of Sweets. You should extinguish the threat posed by Queen Frostine so you can maintain access to the Ice Cream sea. The ports must remain open so trade can continue and we can receive our arms and supplies from Hasbro. If the Queen is reticent, she should be assassinated and governance of the Sweetbearia should be given to her younger brother, the Duke of Swirl.
Narrator: Within the game, there will be now be three rounds of trivia, pictionary, or "hodgepodge". The color that your team lands on the board determines your category. One team will represent the rebels from Kandygrad, the industrial center of Candyland. The other team will represent the rebels in Sweetbearia, a frontier in the process of being colonized. Finally, one team will represent King Kandy and his allies. If the King's Team wins, Queen Frostine will have to leave her team and join the King. If other teams win or there is a tie, there is no change. The Queen's team may take a non-costumed player from another team to keep things even.
Act Two: The Abduction of the Queen
Narrator: Despite the valiant efforts of the rebels of Candyland to organize, they could not prevent the Queen from being abducted. The king sent General Custard to arrest her while she was napping. With the Queen taken, control of her small kingdom fell to her brother, the Duke of Swirl. The Duke of Swirl is a loyal friend to King Kandy. The Queen was taken to Castle to speak to the King and his collaborators.
Lord Licorice: The Queen cannot be trusted, but we can keep her as a prisoner for now. She may have valuable information about the rebels of Candyland. My licorice bat spies inform me that she was harboring some of these rebels in her own castle.
Queen Frostine: I will never tell you anything!" (spits towards Lord Licorice). You monster! Licorice doesn't even taste good!
Lord Licorice: I don't think you've ever properly tried it if that's your opinion. Every child loves black licorice especially. But, your opinion is inconsequential. Your feminine brain cannot comprehend the complexities of the political situation at hand. You've been blinded by your emotions and picked the wrong side. You should thank us for saving you from their dungeons later.
Queen Frostine: You are sexist and terrible! (kicks his leg)
Lord Licorice: Don't make me strike you with my licorice whip! The rebels would take over your icing castle and turn it into an orphanage for gingerbread children. Then, they would take you to the gingerbread forest and execute you with all of your family, but not before taking all of your pretty things…your dresses, mirrors, make up…and degrading you. They hate beauty. They hate refinement.
Queen Frostine: (Sobs)
Lord Licorice: Perhaps she will speak when she's spent some time in the dungeon.
King Kandy: Our enemy is more formidable than we think.
Lord Licorice: Ad lib based upon results of game. For now, Sweetbearia is secure. We should turn our attention to Kandygrad. It is clear that the agitator Mr. Mint is behind the recent strikes there. We must arrest him and his cohorts. We can exile him to the prisons of Sweetbearia, where he can freeze to death. Now that it is under the control of the Duke of Swirl, is won't be a haven to runaway rebels.
Narrator: There will be three rounds of the game. If Mr. Mint's team is not winning at the end of the round, he will have to switch teams to Sweetbearia, where he will go to the Peppermint Prison.
Act Three: The Battle of Sweetberia
The workers of Kandygrad are restless. Many of the soldiers are tired in fighting in the endless wars to expand the boundaries of Candyland. The rebels have been working hard to organize. But, King Kandy has some powerful allies. He went to his ally, Tsar Kandybar, who lent him several hundred of his best trained secret police, known as the Cocoprichniki. The Cocoprichniki managed to capture Mr. Mint and several other revolutionaries. These rebels have been sent to Peppermint Prison in Sweetbearia, where they must do hard labor, such as crushing rock candy all day long.
Grandma Nut: It seems that no matter how hard we try, we can't win! We've lost Comrade Mint. We've lost our support from Queen Frostine. I fear that I am growing too old and won't live to see change in my lifetime. What will we do?
Jolly: We can't let Comrade Mint freeze in a prison!
Lolly: Don't despair, I have an idea! I am a Princess. Maybe I can pretend to join King Kandy and befriend his advisor, Lord Licorice. Then, I can help Queen Frostine escape.
Grandma Nut: That sounds dangerous!
Jolly: How do we even know she is on our side. She was a queen after all!
Lolly: She helped out Mr. Mint and others in time of need. Anyway, she could be in danger. Women have to stick together! (Lolly defects to King Kandy's Team after giving her teammates a hug)
Lord Licorice is looking over a document with King Kandy. They ad lib some strategy and Lord Licorice suggests torturing Queen Frostine. They are interrupted by a knock on their door. They let Princess Lolly into the room, who curtsies before King Kandy.
Lolly: My name is Princess Lolly, the adopted step-niece of the Sultan of the Syrupy Satrap
King Kandy: Ah yes, what can I do for you my dear?
Lolly: I was sent here to offer the Sultan's support in subjugating rebellious subjects.
Lord Licorice: I don't think she should be immediately trusted. We know little of the sultan's family. And, why would they send a solidarity female to your court?
Lolly: Oh, I didn't travel alone. I was joined by the coconut eunuch Mr. Mounds and black licorice cat! Together, we crossed the Dessert Desert by caramel camels.
Lord Licorice: Everyone from the Sultanate of Sweets speaks in rhymes and alliterations. Since you are doing neither, it is simply impossible to trust you. We should throw her in the dungeon with Queen Frostine.
Lolly: But if you throw me in the dungeon, you won't get to see the special song and dance I composed in honor of the king! (ad lib a song and dance for the king)
King Kandy: She seems harmless enough.
Narrator: Meanwhile, while Lolly tries to convince Lord Licorice and King Kandy that she can be trusted. Mr. Mint languishes in the Peppermint Prison. He begins writing a letter to his comrades.
Mr. Mint: Reading as he writes
"Dear comrades, don't lose heart. Even if I am shivering in a Sweetbearian prison, I will continue writing. I will organize the prisoners and try to break free. The prison is not far from Frostine's Icing Castle, where her younger brother has been tasked with securing the port and ending the Sweatbearian resistance. We can storm the castle and assassinate the Duke of Swirl. I am told that the castle is a warehouse for weapons sent from Hasbro. There is an arsenal of atomic fireballs, warhead sour candy, and pop rocks. We can arm the prisoners and the Sweetbearians. I am told that the sweet bears are tired of being killed for their honey and would be attacked if given support."
Narrator: There will be three rounds. If the resistance teams are ahead in points at the end of the rounds, the plot to free the prisoners and take the port will succeed. If not, Mr. Mint will be captured by King Kandy.
Act Four:The Race for Candy Castle
Narrator: Mr. Mint successfully organized the prisoners of Sweetbearia, who attacked the guards while they were working. Some of the workers were made to chop wood. Others hammered rock candy. A few others were sent with guards into the woods to trap gummi bears and hunt for provisions for the prison. Although the prisoners were weak with hunger, disease, and exposure, they managed to kill the guards with their hammers and axes and take the prison. Once they were outfitted with the guards warm clothes and weapons, they feasted on some of the food stores and waited for nightfall.
At nightfall, the prisoners marched to Icing Castle and killed the Duke of Swirl in his bed. The few guards in the castle were easily dispatched and the ragtag prisoner militia, under the leadership of Mr. Mint, managed to secure the weapons. Some of the guards, including the Nutcracker, were tired of fighting on the frontier and joined the side of the rebels. This was a decisive victory for the rebels which would help them to block the port and return control of the land to the Sweatbearians. They fled for the woods before General Custard returned from his campaign to subdue a rebellion of sugar fairies. For now, if Hasbro sends more supplies or personnel, they would be surprised to find the port no longer under King Candy's control. With this task done, Mr. Mint decided he would return to Kandygrad to rejoin his comrades. Honeybear took command of the dissatisfied guards and Sweetbearian rebels.
Meanwhile, Lolly was never able to convince Lord Licorice that she could be trusted. But, she had a plan B. This plan was to plant a bomb within Candy Castle, which she kept hidden in her billowy yellow dress. While Lord Licorice and King Kandy were sleeping, she planted a bomb near a cell where Queen Frostine was kept. This blew a hole in the wall of the castle and allowed Queen Frostine and Lolly to escape together. Their goal was to return to Kandygrad and rejoin the rebels.
(United, the rebels (who are on two teams) embrace and ad lib a celebration of their victories).
Jolly: Lolly and Mr. Mint are true heroes!
Lolly: Now that we are united, I think the women of Candyland should lead a march on Candy Castle and demand the King Candy step down!
Grandma Nut: Hurray! But what if he sends troops to Kandygrad on the gingerbread railroad?
Mr. Mint: The railroad workers will have to go on strike!
Queen Frostine: Yes, we should demand a new government. One that is independent of Hasbro. But, if the King steps down, there is the chance that Lord Licorice could rule!
Mr. Mint: Jolly and I will continue trying to organize the workers. If we shut down the economy, King Candy will be forced to abdicate and the country will be ungovernable even if Lord Licorice or Tsar Candybar took his place. If we put political and economic pressure on them, they will have to forfeit power!
Narrator: The final rounds will be a competition to try to get more points that the King's team. At the end, depending upon when the teams are tired of playing, it will be announced who has won. (This may be acted out with pretend fencing or fighting. Then, the teams can decide their fate. 1). Execution. 2.) Exile 3.) Invitation to share in the new society and restorative justice.)
Finale: The Breaking of the Pinata
Candy Capitalism will be symbolically crushed with the breaking of a pinata.
Narrator: A new society will be built in Candyland. The struggle is not over. The people of the Sultanate of Sweets must organize themselves. Hasbro looms large and is already trying to build a counter revolutionary army based in the Sultanate of Sweets and Khanate of Candy. This is why revolution must be spread to all lands. For now, the people of Candyland will try to dismantle sexism, ageism, racism, heterosexism, and all the other isms that kept everyone divided for so long. They will try to build a more just society. They will try to build political democracy, but also democracy in the workplace. But, the story is never over. The struggle continues!
Everyone sings the Internationale
Arise, you prisoners of starvation!
Arise, you wretched of the earth!
For justice thunders condemnation:
A better world's in birth!
No more tradition's chains shall bind us;
Arise, you slaves, no more in thrall!
The earth shall rise on new foundations:
We have been nought, we shall be all!
'Tis the final conflict;
Let each stand in his place.
The International working class
Shall be the human race!
'Tis the final conflict;
Let each stand in his place.
The International working class
Shall be the human race!


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EU Considers Maintaining Anti-dumping Tariffs on Chinese Bicycles for Further Five Years
21 June 2019
The European Commission is currently reviewing the tariffs on bicycles manufactured in mainland China. On 11 June 2019, it was reported that the European Commission is considering extending anti-dumping duties on Chinese bicycles for another five years. A final decision is expected in September 2019.
Hong Kong traders may be familiar with EU import duties on Chinese bicycles. Imported Chinese bicycles have been subject to anti-dumping duties since 1993, with current tariffs going up to 48.5%. The European Commission extended anti-dumping measures also to bicycles from Cambodia, Tunisia, Sri Lanka, Indonesia and Pakistan (with some exemptions) in order to prevent circumvention. Bicycle manufacturer Giant successfully applied for individual exemption in 2015.
The tariffs were due to expire last year. On 4 June 2018, the European Commission launched an expiry review of the anti-dumping measures applicable to imports of bicycles from mainland China at the request of the European Bicycle Manufacturers Association (EBMA) on behalf of EU bicycle producers said to be representing more than 45% of the total Union production of bicycles. The Commission is thus reviewing the tariffs imposed on non-motorised bicycles and other cycles (including delivery tricycles, but excluding unicycles).
In the review, the Commission addresses the question of whether such measures are still warranted. According to reports in the specialised press, it appears to have answered this question in the affirmative. The evidence gathered in the course of the investigation appears to suggest that the tariffs need to be maintained.
The Commission's investigators established that EU consumers buy approximately 18 million bicycles per year. 60% of the demand is covered by local manufacturers. Currently, Chinese imports make up only 4% of the EU market.
However, the investigation is said to have revealed a large spare capacity with respect to Chinese manufacturers. A European Commission "disclosure document", made available to interested parties, is said to state that the Chinese producers' spare capacity amounts to 37 million bicycles per year, which is more than twice the size of the EU market.
The EU bicycle market was found to be attractive for Chinese exporters in terms of its size and attainable market prices. Indeed, bicycles constitute a key industry in mainland China's current five-year plan and the Made in China 2025 initiative.
On that basis, and the alleged fact that Chinese input costs for energy, metal and chemicals are distorted by state intervention, it is apparently felt that there is a "strong likelihood" that any lifting of anti-dumping measures would lead to an immediate increase in manufacturing and a subsequent flood of imports. Already with the measures in place, the Commission is said to have seen an increase of EU imports from mainland China.
EU manufacturers are believed to fear that Chinese producers would return to selling at artificially low prices and in high volumes, putting one of the main 'green' technologies in the EU at risk and harming competition. EBMA has highlighted that the bicycle and e-bike sector directly and indirectly provides employment for more than 100,000 people, making it one of the largest employers in the 'green' sector. According to EBMA, bicycles form a strategic innovative industry for Europe's green future, and the EU bicycles, e-bikes and components industry generates over €1 billion annually in EU investments and approximately €12 billion growth in industrial output.
On a similar note, EBMA has welcomed the European Commission's recent trade defence measures imposed on e-bikes. The definitive anti-dumping duties on imports of Chinese electric bicycles stretch to over 70% and began applying in January this year.
The European Commission disclosed its findings to interested parties who can provide comments until 2 July 2019. European trade unions, bicycle manufacturers, retailers and cyclists are in support of the anti-dumping measures. The European Cyclists' Federation, a consumer organisation, argued that the anti-dumping measures are necessary to ensure the availability of high-quality bicycles. The European Cyclists' Federation feared that without the measures, non-EU sources such as Bangladesh, Tunisia, Taiwan, India, Vietnam and Turkey would be hindered from supplying bicycles to the EU market.
The final decision of the European Commission on tariffs is expected in early September.
- Sports Goods
- Mainland China


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Park Ji Hoon is a South Korean singer and actor. He was born in Masan, South Korea on May 29, 1999 and made his debut as an actor in 2007 when he participated in the stage production of, "Peter Pan". As a child actor he took on many roles in various stage productions, films, and television dramas. In 2017, he participated in the popular survival reality program "Produce 101" where he placed second, a ranking which earned him a position in the project boy group Wanna One. After the group's disbandment in 2018, he continued his music career as a solo artist, releasing his first album in March 2019. Along with his music career, he has continued to pursue acting, appearing in various television dramas, including the 2019 historical romantic comedy, "Flower Crew: Joseon Marriage Agency".
- Born
- May 29, 1999 (age 21)
- Star Sign
- Gemini
Update: KCON:TACT Season 2 Announces The Boyz, EVERGLOW, A.C.E, And More For Next Lineup
Park Ji Hoon Reveals Why He Was Worried About Starring In His Drama "Love Revolution"
"2020 Idol eSports Athletics Championships" Announces Lineup Of Participating Idols
Watch: The Boyz's Younghoon Worries About Park Ji Hoon's Broken Guitar Behind The Scenes Of "Love Revolution"
Park Ji Hoon Talks About Pressures Of Starring In A Popular Webtoon Adaptation, Similarities To His "Love Revolution" Character, And More


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Bleached denim skirt, 100% cotton
All item details
Its bleached finish and large front pockets make this lightly flared denim skirt look authentic and individual at the same time.
- Authentic and exceptionally robust, pure cotton denim
- Denim weight: heavy
- Bleached wash
- Waistband with belt loops, a metal logo button and a front zip fly
- Two large patch pockets on the front and back
- Decorative zigzag stitching at the centre front
- Slightly flared silhouette
Size info
- With size 36 (can vary slightly depending on the size):
- Skirt length: Approx. 47 cm
- Waist circumference: Approx. 76 cm
Material and care
- Outer fabric: 100% Cotton


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Reflections from the General Assembly
Note: The General Assembly of the PC(USA) is in its last full day of meeting today. Many important decisions will be made and I will try to keep you posted on them. Please remember that the decisions of committee are recommendations to the full Assembly and may not be approved, and that most of the significant decisions of the Assembly must be ratified by the presbyteries between now and the next Assembly in 2010. The newspapers and television news usually don't get our process right. Continue reading


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Excited to announce that my new album, Moving Day -The Music of John Shifflett, will be released on Origin Records in October!
We presented the music at San Jose Jazz Summerfest in August and will be at Monterey Jazz Festival on September 22nd. You can order/download Moving Day here: https://kristenstrom.bandcamp.com/releases


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Martha's Vineyard: The Mystic Island (continue)
Martha's Vineyard six towns are all unique in looks, atmosphere, mood, and nature. Chilmark, though tiny, proudly supports all of these categories.
At certain spots, the town has forestry look with low stone made walls typical for Great Britain and standing as a reminder of the first colonies. Behind those trees, there are farms, mansions, and wide open green fields. Few hiking trails will take the explorer to secret places not many have seen. Menemsha Hills is one of the longest and most famous on Martha's Vineyard, but one worth dedicating a half-to-full day.
Chilmark lays on the southern shore of the island and is mostly known for a "fishing town". Larsen's Fish Market stands close to Menemsha Beach as a testimony for traditions and values. The market opened its doors in 1969 and continues today to offer fresh seafood caught RIGHT THERE at affordable prices supporting today's fishermen, the community and offering true delight to tourists. Next to Larsen's Fish Market are numerous gift shops offering island brands and hand-made items.
Martha's Vineyard Aquinnah or "land under the hill" in Wampanoag is a sacred place for the Wampanoag natives who first settled the Cliffs' area. They traveled on ice floe from the North. They were the first to 'hunt' whales using small boats. The area of the Gay Head, which was initially the name of the Aquinnah Cliffs, was called that because of the rainbow like colors the clay cliffs had. Also, it is almost impossible not to notice the pure aqua color of the water at the Gay Head shore. Today, the cliffs are preserved and it is prohibited to be touched or for the clay to be used for any purposes. Unfortunately, the ocean 'eats' the cliffs and the far west corner of Martha's Vineyard, i.e., Aquinnah, is slowly being washed off by the Atlantic.
Though being most famous for its panoramic view of the Gay Head Cliffs, Aquinnah has more to offer. The town is very rural but also dotted with diverse nature. Wild grapes, nature formed ponds, farmland, scenic trails, rolling hills—that's Aquinnah for you! Visitors from near and far come every day to visit the Gay Head lighthouse, which still operates and quietly navigates ships and captains in the dark nights of Martha's Vineyard.
West Tisbury is Martha's Vineyard farmland! Dotted with fields and having the largest forest of the island centrally located, West Tisbury is a 'free-spirited town' where one can enjoy the best of nature! It is here that The Polly Hill Arboretum is located — a true woodland with diverse plants and gorgeous sunrises or sunsets.
Today's West Tisbury, once part of Tisbury, i.e., Vineyard Haven, also holds the Lambert's Cove–highly ranked area with great beach and Makonikey. Even if you don't have the time to visit all of West Tisbury's unique places, just driving through it will give you a memorable glance of what untouched by human hand nature means.
Every year, West Tisbury is a home for various art festivals, charity events, and highly supportive of community activities. It is a town with a simple but welcoming atmosphere where the old cliche "help your neighbor" still lives!
"Everything just seems different here: prettier, more serene, poignant, special. Every moment is treasured, bookended by ferry rides of joy and anticipation on arrival, and sadness and loss upon leaving."–Beta W.


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When you or someone you know and care about are in need of addiction recovery therapy in Rockland County NY, contact New Pathway Counseling Services, Inc. to learn about the kinds of available programs. At New Pathway, we look at the problem of addiction holistically, which means treating the whole person, and not just their addiction. Improving coping methods, emotional skills and communication skills is important to avoid turning to drugs and alcohol to deal with issues. This is why if you see one of our specialists for counseling different types of psychotherapy are offered. With the addiction recovery program in Nyack NY at New Pathway Counseling Services, Inc., you'll be able to overcome addiction problems once and for all, and live a life that's more stress-free.
Addiction Recovery Rehab Program Rockland County NY
Helping people deal with addiction by sharing their experiences and learning from others that have had similar experiences is the advantage provided by our program for addiction counseling therapy in Rockland County NY. A lot of individuals who have struggled with addiction find comfort in speaking with other individuals who understand what they are experiencing. A lot of the coping skills and processes that have been lost from years of drug or alcohol abuse can be developed by interacting with others in this type of group setting and having the ability to receive support and feedback through the challenging process of recovery. While developing the skills necessary to be successful in a career and a variety of other aspects of life without relying on harmful substances, this is an effective program when it comes to curtailing dependencies.
Early Intervention Group Treatment Rockland County NY
New Pathway Counseling Services, Inc. is a holistic outpatient rehabilitation in Rockland County NY. That means that instead of exclusively focusing on eliminating alcohol or drugs from someone's life, the counselors specialize when it comes to getting to the root of the problem which led to addiction in the first place. Often, trauma or underlying emotional issues can be the cause of an addiction to drugs or alcohol. An individual won't have the ability to develop better coping and healing methods if they have been attempting to overcome or numb the problem by relying on alcohol or drugs for a long period of time. Since without their chosen substance they will be lacking the necessary tools to cope, when overcoming an addiction the first stages are able to be incredibly challenging. However, through holistic rehab, he or she can work to develop new methods of coping while overcoming his or her addiction. This is a more long-term addiction solution, since those who develop the necessary skills have less reason to turn to addictive substances for relief in the future.
Family Addiction Therapy Rockland County NY
Among the other services we offer, at New Pathway Counseling services, a program for early intervention in Rockland County NY is something else you will be able to take advantage of. This is for young adults and teenagers that are in the early stages of an abusive relationship to alcohol or drugs. The tools needed to avoid a full addiction problem before it starts are capable of being provided by this early intervention program. With New Pathway's outpatient addiction rehabilitation in Rockland County NY, you have a chance of living a happy, healthy life, free from addiction and the harmful effects that it has been having on your life.


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Ash Wednesday
A sermon for Ash Wednesday preached by The Very Reverend June Osborne DL, Dean of Salisbury
Joel 2 v1-2, 12-17; John 8 v 1-11
Stoning someone to death seems to us particularly barbaric doesn't it? We know it's still occasionally practised in parts of the world, just like the meting out of public lashings. Such punishments feel like they offend everything we associate with human dignity and a humane society. We describe those who do such things as 'medieval' indicating that we consider ourselves more enlightened, more civilised.
But the religious leaders who stood before Jesus with stones in their hands, having dragged a woman caught in the act of adultery into this public arena: they understood themselves to be protecting civilised society. You see, they weren't just seeking to punish an individual. The very cruelty and public humiliation of a stoning served a wider purpose. Of course it acted as a deterrent, an example was being set to control social behaviour. But it also announced that certain acts or inclinations destabilise society so they need purging. Some behaviour is so deviant that we need to show our abhorrence. It needs special treatment to stigmatize it.
· Impure women have always come into this category. Think of how prostitutes have almost always lived on the edge of towns, on the far side of the tracks lest they contaminated the mainstream community. For two centuries women having children out of wedlock could find themselves committed to Magdalene asylums, forced to work in brutalising conditions, yes to express social disapproval but also to separate them off lest they contaminate decent society.
· Or think of our behaviour towards traitors. Traitors to the state would find themselves routinely executed.
· And consider our reactions to paedophiles. Not only do we want them to answer for their heinous crimes but we find it almost impossible to hold them within our communities. We'd prefer they were locked up and put away from us for life. Not only to be punished but to be excluded.
There are categories of behaviour which, like the woman caught in adultery, human society has treated as beyond the pale, beyond redemption, beyond merciful rehabilitation or beyond affording them human dignity because they contaminate us.
The only way societies have been able to cope with certain manifestations of bad human behaviour is to expel it, to send it out into the wilderness, to isolate or even annihilate it. In the final reckoning we still want to stone some people to death not only to express our disgust with what they do but more especially to protect those who are decent, family loving people. To maintain order.
Jesus is confronted with this human scenario in the woman caught in the act of adultery. I used to see this story as an artificial construct. The Scribes and Pharisees wanted to trap Jesus so they use the woman and her misdemeanours to challenge him to intervene in this quasi-judicial process. That may well be part of this story but there's also something more authentic going on here.
Whether it's stoning or another kind of acting out our taboos what we see played out before Jesus is one of the great challenges of human society. How do we deal with the darker side of who we are? In a way the religious leaders are confronting Jesus not so much with the fate of one straying woman but with our total human condition. Do we have any options other than expelling what makes us ashamed, what offends our deepest taboos, the parts of us we simply can't face or cope with?
Lent is an invitation for us to face that challenge but at a personal level.
Let me suggest to you as we begin this Lent together that all of us are tempted to divide ourselves into on one hand the decent, law-abiding, moral people we respect or on the other hand the deviants we despise and fear. We believe God loves the decent bit of us but condemns the deviant in us. But what do we do with the fact that there isn't one of us here this evening who isn't a mixture of decency and deviancy? The families represented here hold secrets within them: of loyalty matched with adultery and betrayal; of stable families matched with divorce and births outside wedlock; of corrupt dealings alongside enormous courage and philanthropy and distinguished service.
And knowing that, we're tempted to divide ourselves into the parts we like and approve of, whilst rejecting the darker parts we'd like to deny or expel.
Lent copes with that tendency, with our difficulty of seeing ourselves as both children of light and children of darkness.
Lent is an invitation to integrate ourselves. And to find our integration there are three parts of that invitation as we see it in Jesus' response to the outcast woman.
1 Lent invites us to face the reality of our shame. I think we have to assume that the men who dragged this sexually active woman into the public arena did so in part because she reminded them of their own sexual desires. The darkest desires of our life are real and need redeeming but we often cope with them by denying them or trying to expel them. Lent gives us the resources to face our reality.
We know we have failed in some relationships; we have disappointed ourselves; we practice habits and addictive behaviour which would disgust us if we let ourselves think about it. At very best we know ourselves complacent and defended in the face of the world's needs. We have lacked compassion, generosity and integrity.
But Lent is our facing that inner darkness knowing that God isn't afraid of disorder and deviancy.
2 Knowing ourselves for what we are, Lent then invites us not to try to isolate the parts which shame us.
That's the brilliance of what Jesus achieves in this encounter. He makes those who want to cast out the woman see that they themselves are identified with her sin. If they expel or execute her they expel part of themselves. "When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them 'Let anyone among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.'"
Let's apply that to ourselves. Do not cast stones at the parts of yourself of which you're ashamed. God does not cherry pick his love of you. He has mercy on your good and your bad, he loves your light and your dark. He recognises the parts which shame and guilt you, and sees them as just as much a part of his beloved child as the parts which we like to polish and present proudly to the world.
3 And Lent is an invitation to hear that there is no condemnation.
"Jesus was left alone with the woman standing before him. Jesus straightened up and said to her 'Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you . . . neither do I condemn you.'"
Lent is about your liberty from any burdens of guilt or shame you may be carrying. It's no easy task to let go of our condemnation of ourselves, but that is the power and purpose of this season.
The journey we travel together these next six weeks leads only in one direction, to God's own life poured out so that we might live, forgiven and free from guilt.
When the bishop invited you at the beginning of this service to a holy Lent it was one of the most extraordinary and radical invitations we ever receive.
Instead of denying the human condition or trying to expel it from our midst he issued us a life affirming offer.
· can we face up to who we truly are?
· can we see our sin for what it is, a part of us individually and corporately.
· and can we then know the greater power of God's forgiveness?
Lent is a profound and difficult journey but let us travel it together.


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After Kapil files an FIR, his ex-gf Preeti Simoes breaks silence, says he needs serious medical help
Comedian Kapil Sharma on Friday took to Twitter to abuse critics, media and the system. It all started with defending Bollywood superstar Salman Khan but quickly turned into an ugly account of abuse towards media. He then targeted Vickey Lalwani, who is the editor of 'Spotboye' and claimed that he is trying to extort Rs 25 lakh from him.
The actor has filed a legal complaint against Vickey Lalwani and his rumored ex-girlfriend and producer Preeti Simoes and her sister Neeti Simoes.
And now, recently while talking to dainikbhaskar.com, Preeti said "When I got up in the morning, I came to know about the defamation case has been filed against me. I'm shocked. I am very scared about his (Kapil) life, he is not mentally stable. I am with him for a long time. I know he is mentally ill."
"Kapil came to me many a times, I was afraid that how he would handle himself. He was unable to handle his position. He made a wrong choice in his personal life and he has to live with it for life time. I will always be his friend and will always pick up his phone whenever he wants to talk to me." she added.
"He has repeatedly told me that he cannot talk to me because of his fiancee Ginni. He has also blocked my number. Kapil also asked me many times to come back and handle my work. But the problem is he talks and then disappears."
"My whole team wants to help him and handle his work. But, how can we come forward. A time has come when I thought that he would do something wrong with his life. Ginni is holding Kapil's life."
"If something wrong happens in Kapil's life, than I will not be responsible for this. I am very scared of this thought. I think, he needs serials medical help because he is mentally sick."
credits: zimbio
After Kapil files an FIR, his ex-gf Preeti Simoes breaks silence, says he needs serious medical help Reviewed by bollykeeda on 5:48 AM Rating:


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Cue the singing angels my 'Holy Grail' spot treatment has been found!!!!!!
I picked this spot treatment up during the Sephora sale because I needed some sort of miracle to fight against the painful, cystic acne I was getting that I couldn't leave alone … it was humiliating to go to work caked in concealer and knowing that it looked bad, but also knowing that going to work with nothing on my face would be worse.
I really like Boscia for all things skin care. Their masks, cleansers, and moisturizers I've tried are effective without using harsh chemicals. I trusted them to take care of my blemishes and they delivered! What I didn't expect from this product is how its anti-inflammatory properties also work as an anti-irritant. This product did not sting or make my face feel tight. BONUS!
I wish I could say using this spot treatment somehow made my breakouts stop (they didn't and I have a pimple on the right side of my nose to prove it!) but it did make them more manageable and give me a sense of control over my irritated skin.
If you are looking for an effectively gentle spot treatment, then I totally recommend this product.
Question: What is the weirdest thing you've ever applied to your face to get rid of a pimple? (My answer would be blue toothpaste!)


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Willis Road Project
From Old Highway 30 to Emmett Road, Canyon Highway District No. 4 (CHD4) is hard at work and expect to complete the Willis Road project next month. The project has included pavement removal, excavation, pipe replacements and extension, and ditch grading to improve drainage. The completed project will be well worth the wait. Keep up the great work CHD4!
To read more about the Willis Road project and other projects Canyon Highway District No. 4 is working on, visit their website.
2016 Oasis road reconstruction project
Canyon Highway District No. 4 employees are hard at work rebuilding Oasis Road and replacing pipe for Sand Hollow Creek on the Gem-Canyon County line. Very impressive work, folks!


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Welcome to the Old Priory Junior Academy Parent Teachers & Friends Association
Did you know that just by sending your child or children to our school, you are already a member of our PTFA? How active you are within the PTFA is, however, entirely your choice.
This page aims to give you a little bit of information about the PTFA and the activities and fundraising events that will be coming up throughout the school year.
Our PTFA is a voluntary organisation currently made up of a handful of parents and staff. Over the years we have raised a significant amount, which have been spent on improving equipment and resources to enhance our children's education and the facilities in school in general.
Examples of the projects we have helped with include:
- Funding maintenance of the Trim Trail and outdoor gym area
- Supporting the purchase of books and equipment for pupils
- Purchase of new IT equipment to include touch screens in the classroom and tablet computers
- Subsidising School Trips
- Writing projects
The PTFA is not just about raising money for the school but also about having fun! We try to make as many events we orgainse family oriented as possible, and it is an excellent way to bring staff, parents and friends together socially in support of our school.
In the past year we have had:
- Children Discos
- A Summer and Christmas Fair
- Mufti Days
- Duck Race
We have plenty of fundraising and other social events planned but as always we really do need hands on helpers to help us achieve them. Everyone can get involved if they want to, even if they only have a small amount of time available, we are always in need of volunteers – whether it's helping out with organising a particular event or selling raffle tickets or even just helping to tidy away after an event. Your time will always be greatly appreciated.
If you have any feedback about anything on this page or the PTFA in general or you are interested in finding out more about our PTFA then please speak directly to an active PTFA member or to someone in the School Office. You are also more than welcome to put suggestions in writing to the school office in an envelope, clearly marked PTFA.
Thank you and we look forward to your support over the coming year.


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30 Days of 30. Day 5: miracles and mailings
"But you accept me as I am with all that is fragile, all that is broken, all that is beautiful, too…Then the extraordinary thing is we can let down barriers, we don't have to prove, I don't have to pretend I'm better than you are, I'm allowed to be myself. I'm allowed to be myself because you love me." Jean Vanier
"Any deep and genuine friendship is rooted in a covenant of two persons…To believe in someone is to give that person your heart, the very core of your being. We give each other a heightened sense of self-esteem, not through some dramatic, sensational act of love, but through the steadfast act of relentless belief in another day after day, acknowledging all the other's potentials and possibilities." Carmen Caltagirone, Friendship As Sacrament
One of the cornerstones to my 30 days of 30 is that it hinges on celebrating the relationships in my life–the people whose lives intertwine with mine from varying paths and worlds that I've been a part of over the years. While I have many ways that I love to celebrate people, one of my absolute favorites is to send snail mail (in fact, my project on July 1 centers around snail mail). Yesterday for the first part of my 5th Day of 30 Days of 30, I wrote snail mail: letters went out to penpals, to friends; I sent cards of congratulations and condolence; I wrote 10 (my maximum) Postcrossing cards.
All of this is a process: I like to specifically select the card, the stamp, that I think best matches the person who's getting the mail. I own most of the current stamps that the Post Office has released… In fact, if you get one of those American Flags or Lady Liberty on your card from me, it isn't because it's my default stamp. It's because you've told me that you like them (I can't stand them). Letters are joy in a mailbox, especially amid the bills, catalogues, and flyers. So my first 30 Days of 30 activity of the day was to spread joy in the world, just a little bit.
Here is a sample of the assortment of mail I sent out:
My second activity to celebrate 30 Days of 30 was to visit Kunzang Palyul Choling (KPC), which has a Prayer Room and a Peace Park with wonderful trails. There is also a lending library, and a room filled with the most amazing, beautiful, enormous crystal formations. My friend, Christa, had shared it with me in the fall, and since then I've returned many times. It's a quiet space, and I love that since 1985, they have had a 24-hour, continuous prayer vigil. Every time I go to the Peace Park (as I call it), I return energized and calmed.
I love introducing friends to the space so that it becomes their own; my preference is to take people there individually for the first time. Yesterday, I went with my friend, Wendy. She met me at my house and we carpooled over together after she had signed her book for me.The entire experience was magical and filled with light, joy, gift. HOWEVER, there is a specific instance that bears sharing:
Wendy and I had seen the inside of the center and spent about an hour there. We walked outside and crossed the street to the Peace Park and began to follow one of the trails to a large stupa. As we made our way, we chatted, sharing various stories: we were deep in conversation when we approached a low bridge, surrounded by lush greens and the strong, sweet smell of both white AND yellow honeysuckle. Without warning, what seemed like (but must have been fewer) a hundred fairy-sized blue butterflies swirled around us and danced, playing in circles, zooming so close they could have landed, and then just as quickly, flitting slightly away. Wendy and I stopped, conversation halted. We stood in this swirling circle of blue magic and drank it up. I don't know how long we were frozen and smiling, maybe 5 minutes, but I do know that time stopped.
We thanked the butterflies, and then continued on to the stupa just ahead. While we were walking the stupa, another butterfly went to land on Wendy; she and I sat in the grass and watched more butterflies (these were different though—yellows and golds, yet still tiny) for a few minutes.
On our way out of the Peace Park, our path took us past the bridge again. There were no butterflies as we approached, and yet, once we placed our feet on the bridge, they came back! Again, the blue butterflies swirled us, carrying joy and delight. We stood for less time, thanked them, and then continued on our way out of the park. Wendy said to me as we walked away, "They came for US. I bet they'll come back if we return." She and I looked at each other, then turned and strolled back to the bridge (we were all of 10 feet past it). Sure enough, butterflies were gone, and as we walked onto the wood, they returned: not as many as before, but still, a large number danced and played around us once we hit the center of the bridge.
The moment(s) repeated 3 times, which just happens to be a factor of 30. I don't think it is a coincidence… I think it was a gift for my 30th birthday, while I was with another magical person, a reminder that there are wonder-and joy-provoking things all around us, if we just shut up and take a moment to be with them.
All in all, a great 5th day.
Here's a picture of Wendy and me, ready to drive home:


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The amazing volunteers from Tango Social Club of Canberra will be running the biannual "Tango in the Spring" Festival from Friday 30 September to Monday 3 October and as they put it "it's all about social tango dancing". The registrations are now open. For bookings and all additional details please visit http://tangointhespring.org.au.
The Embassy is very pleased to collaborate and to sponsor this event.