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|European Commission - Daily News
Daily News 04 / 12 / 2017
Brussels, 4 December 2017
Preparation of the Eurogroup and ECOFIN meetings, 4-5 December 2017
Vice-President Dombrovskis and Commissioner Moscovici will represent the European Commission at today's Eurogroup meeting. The ministers will take stock of the progress made on the third review of the stability support programme for Greece. The Eurogroup will be debriefed on the post-programme surveillance mission to Cyprus and Spain. The ministers will hold a thematic discussion on jobs and growth, with a particular focus on the tax wedge.The meeting will include a discussion on the overall budgetary situation and prospects in the euro area as well as the Commission's assessment of euro area Member States' Draft Budgetary Plans. The Eurogroup is scheduled to elect a new President and adopt its work programme for the first half of next year. Continuing the meeting in an "inclusive format" open to 27 Member States, ministers will prepare the Euro Summit that will take place on 15 December and exchange views on the key policy priorities and the progress towards deepening the Economic and Monetary Union (EMU). Commissioner Moscovici will participate in the press conference following the meeting. At tomorrow's ECOFIN meetings, Vice-President Dombrovskis and Commissioner Moscovici will represent the European Commission. At the ECOFIN breakfast meeting, European Fiscal Board Chairman Thygesen will present the Board's 2017 annual report. Ministers are due to come to a final decision on the countries that should be included on the common EU list of non-cooperative tax jurisdictions. Member States are also expected to adopt the Commission's proposals to make life easier when it comes to VAT for businesses that sell goods online. To complete the taxation file, the Council should adopt conclusions on the way forward for the taxation of the digital economy following the Commission's Communication on this issue in September. On the financial services front, ministers will discuss the state of play of discussions on the Banking Union, including the possible way forward suggested by the Commission in its October Communication on Completing the Banking Union. Moreover, ministers will take stock of the progress achieved on the comprehensive EU banking reformpackage launched a year ago as part of the Commission's risk-reduction agenda. The Commission will present the Annual Growth Survey 2018, the Alert Mechanism Report 2018, and a Recommendation for a Council Recommendation on the economic policy of the euro area. As proposed by the Commission the Council is expected to close the excessive deficit procedure for the United Kingdomas well as to find that Romania has failed to take effective action to correct a significant budgetary deviation, and to issue a new recommendation under the significant deviation procedure. Vice-President Dombrovskis will participate in the press conference following the ECOFIN. (For more information: Johannes Bahrke – Tel.: +32 229 58615; Juliana Dahl – Tel.: +32 229 59914; Letizia Lupini – Tel.: +32 229 51958; Patrick McCullough – Tel.: +32 229 87183)
R&D: les entreprises européennes augmentent leurs investissements plus rapidement que la moyenne mondiale
Les entreprises européennes ont augmenté de 7% leurs investissements dans la recherche et le développement (R&D) l'an dernier, soit un rythme nettement supérieur au taux moyen de croissance mondiale (5,8%). Les secteurs des TIC, de la santé et de l'automobile sont dans le trio de tête en termes de croissance des investissements en R&D dans l'UE, révèle encore le tableau de bord de l'investissement industriel dans la R&D de 2017, publié aujourd'hui par le Centre commun de recherche de la Commission (JRC). Tibor Navracsics, commissaire en charge de l'éducation, de la culture, de la jeunesse et du sport, et responsable du JRC, a déclaré: "Le tableau de bord montre que l'innovation est de nouveau en pleine effervescence en Europe. Pour maintenir l'avance de notre industrie, nous devons continuer à investir et à réformer nos systèmes d'éducation. Ce sont les piliers de l'économie de la connaissance et de la prospérité en Europe". Carlos Moedas, commissaire en charge de la recherche, de la science et de l'innovation, a ajouté: "Le tableau de bord montre que les entreprises européennes continuent d'être des acteurs majeurs de l'investissement en R&D, avec plus du quart du total des investissements mondiaux. Mais pour rester à la pointe de l'innovation, l'Europe doit s'assurer que de nouvelles entreprises renforcent cette tendance. C'est pourquoi nous soutiendrons les meilleures innovations grâce au projet pilote du Conseil européen de l'innovation d'Horizon 2020, notre programme de recherche et d'innovation." Les 2 500 principaux acteurs industriels mondiaux ont investi au total 741,6 milliards d'euros en 2016, dont 192,5 milliards ont été investis par 567 entreprises européennes. Selon le rapport, 2016 est la sixième année consécutive d'augmentations significatives des investissements mondiaux en R&D. Ce tableau de bord est publié chaque année depuis 2004 par le JRC et fournit des données économiques et financières sur les principaux investisseurs européens et mondiaux en R&D. Des chiffres plus détaillés sont disponibles ici. (Pour plus d'informations: Lucía Caudet - Tél.: +32 229 56182, Nathalie Vandystadt - Tél.: +32 229 56172, Victoria von Hammerstein - Tél.: +32 229 55040, Maud Noyon - Tél.: +32 229-80379; Joseph Waldstein - Tél.: +32 229 56184)
A gateway to knowledge on health: a tool to facilitate the implementation of health policies
Today, the European Commission is launching a Knowledge Gateway on Health Promotion and Disease Prevention to support the implementation of health policies across the EU. The web portal provides reliable, independent and up-to date information on topics related to the promotion of health and the prevention of non-communicable diseases, such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes or cancer. Speaking at the launch event at the Commission's Joint Research Centre site in Ispra, Italy, Vytenis Andriukaitis, Commissioner for Health and Food Safety, said: "People's dietary habits and lifestyle have an important impact on their health and quality of life. This is why I strongly encourage Member States and stakeholders to focus more on promoting good health. However, sometimes it can be complicated both for policy-makers and for the general public - we are so often presented with authoritative 'facts' on what constitutes good nutrition or proper physical activity and we have to navigate through a sea of misinformation, opinions, prejudices, and myths to find the truth. Hence, I am delighted to launch today the Health Promotion and Prevention Gateway a 'one-stop shop' for independent and reliable information to help promote good health and prevent disease. I hope that it will become a reference point for public health policy-makers – in all sectors and at all levels – as well as a source of clear and reliable information for ordinary citizens." Tibor Navracsics, Commissioner for Education, Culture, Youth and Sport, responsible for the Joint Research Centre which co-developed the Knowledge Gateway, added: "This tool was created with and for decision-makers in EU Member States working in the area of public health. Hundreds of research papers, multiple data sources and policy examples were digested and turned into short reference guides on key policy topics which summarise the most important facts for policy makers. The information is tailored to the needs of national policy making bodies and presented in a user-friendly format. This will help to formulate health policies based on rigorous and objective assessment criteria." The launch of the Gateway follows the call for a healthy lifestyle made in Tartu, Estonia, on 22 September, which sets out a roadmap for promoting healthy lifestyles in Europe, particular amongst children, over the next two years. (For more information: Anca Paduraru, Tel.: +32 2 299 12 69, Aikaterini Apostola, Tel.: +32 2 298 76 24, Nathalie Vandystadt - Tel.: +32 229 67083; Joseph Waldstein - Tel.: +32 229 56184).
The EU supports Central America in the fight against organised crime
The Commission will announce today €20 million to improve cooperation on criminal investigations and the prosecution of cases of transnational crime and drug trafficking across Central America. The regional programme – known as ICRIME – aims to strengthen efforts to fight against cross-border organised crime and will support El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama, Belize, Costa Rica, and the Dominican Republic. Commissioner for International Cooperation and Development Neven Mimica said: "Cross-border criminal activities are a major challenge for the economic development of Central America. The fight against organised crime concerns as all as criminal activities do not stop at borders. With this new regional action, the EU supports the Central American countries in their efforts to clamp down on transnational organised crime and strengthening regional integration". Commissioner Mimica will sign the financing agreement with the Secretary-General of the Central American Integration System, Mr Vinicio Cerezo today. The EU will contribute €20 million, while Spain and the Secretariat General of the Central American Integration System (SICA) will contribute €1 million and €500,000, respectively. The programme will help the countries involved in the programme to increase information sharing, use each other's evidence, and coordinate operations on the ground. Therefore it will support criminal investigations and prosecution chains at different levels, focusing on transnational cooperation between the police, forensic institutes, prosecutors and the judiciary. More information will be available here at 15:00 today (For more information: Carlos Martin Ruiz De Gordejuela, Tel.: +32 2 296 53 22, Christina Wunder, Tel.: +32 2 299 22 56)
Human Trafficking: Commission sets out priorities to step up EU action
Today, the European Commission has put forward a list of concrete actions to better prevent the trafficking in human beings. Building on the EU strategy and in light of recent migratory, economic and security challenges, the priorities set out by the Commission today identify key areas that require immediate action from the EU and Member States to disrupt the modus operandi of traffickers, strengthen victims' rights and intensify internal and external efforts. Commissioner for Migration, Citizenship and Home Affairs Dimitris Avramopoulos said: "It is not acceptable that in the 21st century human beings are still being trafficked as commodities and exploited – not in Europe, not anywhere. Over the years the EU has developed legal and operational tools against this heinous crime. But more needs to be done as the migration crisis and transnational security threats have rendered people more vulnerable to criminal networks and exploitation. I call on all Member States to urgently step up their investigations and prosecutions against ruthless trafficking criminals, better protect the victims and fully apply the EU rules towards their protection. I also call on all to work more closely with international partners. Human trafficking is not just a European problem – we must do everything to eradicate it everywhere it happens." The Commission will monitor progress on the actions set out in the Communication presented today and report on progress to the European Parliament and the Council by the end of 2018. (For more information: Tove Ernst – Tel.: +32 229 86764; Kasia Kolanko – Tel.: +32 229 63444)
State aid: Commission endorses reform of Danish support scheme for the horseracing sector
The European Commission has approved the reform of a scheme supporting the horseracing sector in Denmark under EU State aid rules. The sector for horserace betting in Denmark is currently subject to a gambling monopoly but is being liberalised, which will allow the emergence of betting companies. Under the scheme, as of 1 January 2018, the horseracing sector will receive a share of the turnover of betting companies from horserace bettingthrough an 8% levy. Currently, the horse racing sector is supported by a share of the revenue of games regulated under the Danish gambling monopoly and other contributions. This support will be gradually phased out by 2026. The Commission has endorsed the reformed scheme, because it recognises that it is essential for the improvement of horse breeding and horseracing without giving rise to undue distortions of competition. The scheme, and in particular the levy on betting companies, will also create a level playing field among betting operators. More information will be available on the Commission's competition website, in the public case register under the case number SA.48604. (For more information: Ricardo Cardoso – Tel.: +32 229 80100; Yizhou Ren – Tel.: +32 229 94889)
Eurostat: Octobre 2017 comparé à septembre 2017 - Les prix à la production industrielle en hausse de 0,4% dans la zone euro et dans l'UE28
En octobre 2017 par rapport à septembre 2017, les prix à la production industrielle ont augmenté de 0,4% tant dans la zone euro (ZE19) que dans l'UE28, selon les estimations d'Eurostat, l'office statistique de l'Union européenne. En août 2017, les prix avaient crû de 0,5% dans les deux zones. En octobre 2017 par rapport à octobre 2016, les prix à la production industrielle ont progressé de 2,5% dans la zone euro et de 2,6% dans l'UE28. Un communiqué de presse est disponible ici. (Pour plus d'information: Lucía Caudet – Tel.: +32 229 56182; Victoria von Hammerstein – Tel.: +32 229 55040; Maud Noyon – Tel. +32 229-80379)
Commissioner Hahn in visit to Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Johannes Hahn, Commissioner for European Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations, is in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina today to reiterate the EU's engagement to support the country on its EU path and to discuss the implementation of the necessary reforms and measures. Commissioner Hahn will meet with key political representatives including the Chairman of the Council of Ministers, Mr Denis Zvizdić, the Members of the Presidency, Mr Dragan Čović, and Mr Bakir Izetbegović, as well as representatives of all the main political parties who signed the Written Commitment to jointly pursue EU integration in February 2015. The Commissioner will also inaugurate of the new building hosting the State Prosecutor's Office in Sarajevo, which was funded by the EU. Ahead of this important visit, Commissioner Hahn said: "The European Commission and Member States are deeply concerned about the lack of progress on necessary reforms so far in 2017. While the European Union is more committed than ever to support Bosnia and Herzegovina on its EU path political leaders both in government and in opposition seem more concerned with the usual nationalistic themes and talk about "crisis" instead of focusing on the real work at hand. In my meetings with the authorities I will stress that the Commission expects from Bosnia and Herzegovina's elected leaders to deliver on the Written Commitment they have undertaken in February 2015. The only way to move forward in the EU integration process is to achieve concrete results on reforms. This includes delivering on the Reform Agenda measures, create jobs, strengthening of rule of law and improving the quality and efficient of public administration. It also includes adopting the necessary country-wide strategies, such as on agriculture, in order to benefit from extensive EU financial assistance. This, instead of a divisive rhetoric, will contribute to move the country closer to the EU and, above all will directly benefit citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina." Videos and photos of the visit will be available on EbS.(For more information: Maja Kocijancic – Tel.: +32 229 86570; Alceo Smerilli – Tel.: +32 229 64887)
Une mobilité propre, compétitive et connectée à l'agenda du Conseil Transports de demain
Violeta Bulc, Commissaire en charge des transports, représentera la Commission européenne lors de la réunion des 28 ministres européens des transports qui se tient demain à Bruxelles. Les ministres discuteront de plusieurs dossiers importants récemment présentés par la Commission. Cela inclut notamment les initiatives "l'Europe en mouvement" du 31 mai dont l'objectif est d'améliorer le fonctionnement du marché du transport de marchandises par route, de renforcer les conditions sociales et d'emploi des travailleurs et d'encourager une tarification routière intelligente. La proposition de la Commission visant à préserver la concurrence dans le domaine du transport aérien figure également à l'agenda. Celle-ci vise à garantir une concurrence loyale entre les compagnies aériennes et le maintien de la connectivité de l'UE. La Commissaire Bulc présentera en outre aux ministres les mesures prises par la Commission le 8 Novembre pour consolider le premier rang mondial de l'UE dans le domaine de la mobilité propre. Plus de renseignements sur le site du Conseil. (Plus information: Enrico Brivio – Tel.: +32 229 56172; Alexis Perier – Tel.: +32 229 6 91 43)
Commissioner Vella at UN Environment Assembly "Towards a Pollution-free Planet" in Kenya, 4-5 December
Commissioner for Environment, Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Karmenu Vella will lead the EU Delegation at the third meeting of the UN Environment Assembly (UNEA). It will focus on the fight against pollution, and take place at United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Headquarters in Nairobi from 4 - 6 December, bringing together environment ministers, civil society and business from UN Member States. The European Union has announced 20 commitments to tackle pollution in response to a call from UNEP. Demonstrating EU leadership these voluntary commitments cover new policy initiatives on plastics and pharmaceuticals in water, measures to tackle marine litter and air pollution, as well as funding initiatives that invest in measures to tackle pollution in Europe and beyond. This is backed up by a proposal for a resolution from the EU and its Member States on environment and health covering the management of chemicals and waste, climate, biodiversity, antimicrobial resistance, and sustainable consumption and production. Commissioner Vella said: "An estimated 9 million people a year die from pollution worldwide. With our commitments we want to give a powerful message to the world that we are determined to beat pollution. The decisions at UNEA will be an important landmark. They will set the direction for all those engaged in the fight for a pollution-free world: governments, the private sector, scientists, civil society and individual citizens." The EU is organising together with UN Environment a side event onthe role of the Circular Economy towards a pollution-free planet. The event, opened by Commissioner Vella and closed by the Estonian Presidency, with the participation of Environment Ministers from China, Chile and South Africa, will contribute to frame global action on sustainable consumption and production, exploring how a circular economy can address resource constraints and generate economic opportunities. (For more information: Enrico Brivio – Tel.: + 32 229 56172; Iris Petsa - Tel.: +32 229 93321)
Upcoming events of the European Commission (ex-Top News)


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The HTS Clear Span Structure Systems TENT-EXPO 2017 was held over four days between Wednesday 15th – Saturday 18th November at the Wächtersbach exhibition ground, Germany.
In line with TENT-EXPO regional theme tradition the 2017 Expo celebrated the USA with an all American-themed Show. Over 1,900 visitors had the opportunity to view the very latest product innovations from HTS Clear Span Structure Systems that included a new Pagoda Tent and a new 'budget' Warehouse Structure.
Alongside these new product launches were the complete and extensive range of existing products on display, including HTS event structures, industrial buildings, military structures, Carbon / Alloy structures, accessory products plus a wide range of mainstream "compatible" structure systems.
The two new products showcased at the show were the 'Smart Series Industrial Warehouse' the 'Hamburg Pagoda, the Avant-Garde "Light" glass walling system and upgrades to our popular Höcker P-Series structure range.
Launched exclusively at TENT-EXPO 2017, the Smart Series Warehouse Building offers a smaller, budget option that is suitable for temporary applications. As an 'off-the-shelf' product that is smaller and lighter than the standard L-Series range, the Smart Series can also offer extremely fast and economical supply and install times. The full range of PVC or solid walling is available together with single or double skinned PVC roofing. Sizes range from width spans of 5.00m, 10.00m and 15.00m, up to 4.20m & 5.20m eave height and length in multiples of 5.00m & 4.00m bays.
The Hamburg Pagoda uses a heavy-duty frame with a profile of 100/100 compared to our Nizza and London Pagoda product range and is supplied with a higher wind-loading certification of 108 km/h. Available in width sizes of 3.00m, 4.00m, 5.00m and 6.00m on a 2.30m and 3.00m side height the structure features a Keder hook that is also used as a rain gutter. This uniquely strong and attractive pagoda structure is suitable for high profile events as well as events where a higher wind loading is needed such as coast lines, islands or elevated locations.
Taking center stage at the show was the HTS MANHATTAN 2-storey hospitality suite. Initially produced for BMW as their hospitality suite at the German DTM race series, this remarkable structure provided all 2017 Tent Expo visitors with a stunning, stylish and luxurious environment to eat, drink and talk tents! The Manhattan structure has proven to be a 'flagship' product line for HTS Clear Span Structure Systems, featuring at many prestigious global events such F1 racing, Equestrian and Tennis World Championships. For creating maximum impact at any high-profile event, as well as excellent branding and promotional opportunities, the HTS MANHATTAN is simply unbeatable; the world over.
The 1,200m² Partner Exhibitor structure showcased over 30 industry-related companies and their products. These included; heating & air conditioning, furniture, cover cleaning machines, design software solutions and more. This ever growing area allows visitors not only to view the extensive range of products on display from HTS Clear Span Structure Systems but provides a fantastic opportunity to talk to leading suppliers to the industry about complementary products and services.
We would like to thank all who visited 2017 TENT-EXPO and truly hope your visit was both informative and entertaining – we look forward to welcoming you back in 2018!
Heinz Röder

subset: commoncrawl


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"Not since Leonard Bernstein has classical music had a combination salesman-teacher as irresistible as Kapilow." – Kansas City Star
In his acclaimed What Makes It Great? series, beloved educator and former NPR music commentator Rob Kapilow "gets audiences in tune with classical music at a deeper level than they ever thought possible" (Los Angeles Times). In a three-part format, Kapilow explores the theater music of Leonard Bernstein, featuring songs from On the Town to West Side Story. Next, the songs are performed in their entirety, followed by a Q&A with the audience and performers.
Co-presented with Smithsonian Associates
NOTE: This performance is not eligible for subscription discounts.


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SAN DIEGO --Workers at the San Diego SeaWorld are hand-feeding a baby beluga whale, because the mother showed little interest and rejected the calf. The procedure is new for handlers, but they said it was necessary for the 7-week-old calf.
Workers introduced the baby to another beluga whale. They said it worked because the baby is bonding with its adoptive mother. The calf is doing well and has put on 40 pounds.


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- Forum posts: 1
Jun 13, 2016, 4:10:56 AM via Website
Jun 13, 2016 4:10:56 AM via Website
I downloaded official update of my phone lenovo X2-AP.
i had rooted my device just one day back and didn't know that device shouldn't be updated with its root on,so i went on to install the update.
since then my phone is providing the 4 options under lenovo recovery on the screen:
2.install package update - install failed
3.wipe user data-wiped already,didn't work
what should i do now to switch on my phone?


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This image is for illustration only. The product is a download.
Confronting the Will-to-Power: A Reconsideration of the Theology of Reinhold Niebuhr
by Lovatt, Mark F. W.•
Wipf & Stock 2006
Confronting the Will-to-Power is an analysis of the theology of Reinhold Niebuhr, arguing that his work is an attempt to identify, and provide a practical theological answer to, the existence and nature of human evil.
Praise for the Print Edition
A constructive evaluation of Reinhold Niebuhr's theology.
—Anthony C. Thiselton, Univrsity of Sheffield
Product Details
- Title: Confronting the Will-to-Power: A Reconsideration of the Theology of Reinhold Niebuhr
- Author: Mark F. W. Lovatt
- Publisher: Paternoster Press
- Publication Date: 2001
- Pages: 216
About Mark F. W. Lovatt
Mark F. W. Lovatt is an information technology consultant, Nottingham, UK, and received his doctorate from the University of Nottingham, UK.


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Trade shows & Exhibitions
LOMA SYSTEMS® will be showing their latest Check & Detect equipment at the events listed below. Why not take this opportunity to come and discuss your requirements with the LOMA® team.
Event Name: BRC Food Safety Europe
Date: 22nd February
Venue: The Crystal
Stand/Booth: Main Hall
Location: London, UK
Event Name: CFIA
Date: 13 - 15 March
Venue: Prac Expo Rennes Areport
Stand/Booth: Hall 4, Stand B65-C66
Location: Rennes, France
Event Name: Anuga Foodtec
Date: 20 - 23 March
Venue: Koelnmesse
Stand/Booth: Hall 05.2, Stand A007
Location: Cologne, Germany
Event Name: Empack
Date: 10 - 12 April
Venue: Jaarbeurs
Stand/Booth: Stand E109
Location: Utrecht, Netherlands
Event Name: Interphex
Date: 17 - 19 April
Venue: Javits Center
Stand/Booth: 1541
Location: New York, USA
Event Name: Food Safety Summit
Date: 7 - 10 May
Venue: Donald Stephens Convention Center
Stand/Booth: 230
Location: Rosemont, Illinois, USA
Event Name: BRC Food Safety Americas
Date: 22 - 23 May
Venue: Leows Vanderbilt Hotel
Stand/Booth: Pending
Location: Nashville, Tennessee, USA
Event Name: Achema
Date: 11 - 15 June
Venue: Frankfurt Messe
Stand/Booth: Hall 1.1, Stand C22
Location: Frankfurt, Germany
Event Name: Fispal
Date: 26 - 29 June
Venue: Expo Exhibition & Convention Center
Stand/Booth: Pending
Location: Sao Paulo, Brazil
Event Name: PPMA
Date: 25 - 27 September
Venue: NEC Exhibition Center
Stand/Booth: C22
Location: Birmingham, UK
Event Name: Fachpack
Date: 25 - 27 September
Venue: NürnbergMesse
Stand/Booth: Halle 3A , Stand 3A-231
Location: Nürnberg, Germany
Event Name: Taropak
Date: 1 - 4 October
Venue: Poznan
Stand/Booth: Hall 6, Stand no.14
Location: Poznan, Poland
Event Name: Pack Expo International
Date: 14 - 17 October
Venue: McCormick Place
Stand/Booth: Upper North - 5724
Location: Chicago, Illinois


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- Know your closet.
- Know your budget.
- Know your stores.
Taking the time to analyze your closet before shopping each season is really important. First off, you often discover pieces you've completely forgotten about. More importantly, if you know what you have, you can choose items that will mix and match with your current wardrobe, getting you more mileage out of both the old and the new. But the most vital information you get by taking inventory is knowing what you don't have.
You're going to make a list. Start with your basic staples. Examine them. Do they look old? Are they worn out? If so, put them at the top. This is where you invest your funds first. Then you can start thinking about trends or items you've been wanting and put them in order of importance to you.
Know your budget.
This is, of course, different for everyone, but the same principles always apply. First and foremost, buy the best quality you can afford. A few well made pieces go much farther than a closet full of cheap crap. Keep in mind, that the best quality doesn't mean the most expensive. Just because a garment label has an upscale name brand, does not mean it is better quality than a lesser known but well made line. The second principle was just mentioned above: invest in your staples first. There are 3 things I always am willing to spend money on. Good shoes, a good coat, and good jeans. Your shoes should be comfortable and versatile. Can you wear them with jeans and a button down or your suit? If you can only afford one winter coat, make it a black or charcoal wool coat that buttons, and hits at your mid thigh. This will look great with jeans, but is long enough to cover your suit or sport coat jacket if you need to dress it up. Everyone should own one pair of plain, classic straight leg jeans in a dark denim. They can easily be dressed up if needed but work with your tee and sneaks. Men should also own one staple suit and ladies should have a go-to black dress. Once you've invested in those items you can spend the rest of your budget on the more trendy pieces.
Know your stores.
This is not obvious to everyone, but you should find two or three stores that work for you and be loyal to them. This has several benefits and is a good rule of thumb whether or not you are sale shopping. Shopping at the same store offers some automatic consistency to your closet. This is how you can get items to mix and match (unless you just have an eye for it). If your store is also a brand, such as Brooks Brothers, most of their merchandise will likely pair well together--even if one piece is new and one is a few years old. But private boutiques offer this too, as they will concentrate their buying on a specific look and consistent brands. The other benefit is that you get to know the staff. This is one thing that online shopping will never replace. A knowledgeable person in the industry, who knows your best style, fit, taste, and budget is one of your best tools in a good wardrobe. You can let them know what you have your eye on and they'll let you know when it comes in or goes on sale. They'll put you in pieces that you wouldn't have thought of yourself, but will surprise you by working into your style. And a really good sales associate will know to be honest with you and tell you when something doesn't look right. (If you are working with someone and everything you put on looks "amazing," they might not be a great person to work with.) This is extra helpful at sale time, because with sale shopping there is always a bit of a gamble involved. You have your eye on that incredible sweater but there are only two left in your size. How far down do you let it discount before snatching it up? If you wait too long, someone else might get it. If you have a relationship with a sales associate, they'll let you know when there is only one left. And finally, as far as sales go, the very best advantage to store loyalty, is that you already know your options. Chances are you've been popping once in a while throughout the season to take a gander at the offerings. So when you are in Step 1 (know your closet) you already know where you will get the items on your list and you won't waste time store hopping. Its a major time saver.
**Extra Tip** One of your regular stores should be out of your price range! You can get a high end item at 75% off for what you would pay full price at a store like Banana Republic. And then you've invested in the best quality you can afford.
There are your steps. If it still seems overwhelming, call your personal shopper (ahem). Are you loyal to any stores? We have readers around the world! Please comment below with where you live and where you shop. Maybe you will give each other some great new resources!
Happy Sale Shopping!


text: Right so i've been doing a lot of reading today before i post this, and from what i've read, its worthless me trying to throttle my downloads at the router? Because this is not really effective? I was hoping this could enable to make best use of my connection with my flatmates, letting me/them exploit the full potential of the bandwidth available, but prioritise http/voip/dns etc... so browsing whilst downloading wasn't really affected... It seems i'm not going to get this right? I just want to make sure before i reside in the fact its probably pointless messing around with QoS in my case... Cheers


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This easy-to-make dish combines the sweetness of tomatoes with the briny essence of capers.
- Yield
- Yield: 4 servings
- 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 1 1/4 pounds)
- salt and freshly ground white pepper to taste
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 3 tablespoons finely chopped shallots
- 1 teaspoon finely chopped garlic
- 2 teaspoons finely chopped fresh tarragon or 1 teaspon dried
- 4 ripe plum tomatoes, cut into small cubes
- 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
- 4 tablespoons drained capers
- 1 cup dry white wine
- 1 tablespoon tomato paste
- 4 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley leaves
- Sprinkle the chicken well with salt and pepper.
- Heat the oil and butter in a heavy-bottomed skillet. Add the chickenbreasts and sauté over medium-high heat, turning the pieces often until lightly browned, about 5 minutes.
- Scatter the shallots and garlic around the chicken. Cook briefly; add the tarragon, tomatoes, vinegar, capers, wine, and tomato paste. Stir to dissolve the brown particles adhering to the bottom of the skillet.
- Blend well. Bring to a boil, cover, reduce heat and simmer for 10 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked.
- Sprinkle with parsley and serve.
Reprinted with permission from Cooking with the 60-Minute Gourmet by Pierre Franey and Bryan Miller. © 1999 Times Books
Related Video
Nutritional Info
- Calories298
- Carbohydrates7 g(2%)
- Fat10 g(16%)
- Protein33 g(67%)
- Saturated Fat3 g(16%)
- Sodium697 mg(29%)
- Polyunsaturated Fat1 g
- Fiber2 g(6%)
- Monounsaturated Fat4 g
- Cholesterol111 mg(37%)


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USA Patriot Act
This information is intended for banks in the United States of America that hold correspondent accounts for ING Bank N.V., one or more of its branches or one or more of its subsidiaries.
The Certificate is a so called Global Certificate based on the USA Patriot Act, certifying that ING Bank, its branches and subsidiaries are not shell banks and do not serve shell banks.
The Annex is a list of branches and subsidiaries (and branches of such subsidiaries) to which the Certificate refers.
Should you have a correspondent banking relationship with a branch or subsidiary of ING Bank that is not found in the Annex, please contact:
Cornelis Blokbergen
Head Corporate Legal Department ING Bank N.V.
Location code AMP C 01.004
P.O. Box 1800, 1000 BV Amsterdam, the Netherlands
E firstname.lastname@example.com


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Police release graphic video of the lead up to and aftermath of a deadly Houston shooting
The Houston Police Department has released a shocking video showing what happened before and after a deadly shooting Nov. 20.
The shooting occurred at 8200 Cook Road about 1:50 a.m. after a confrontation broke out between the victim, Oscar Green, 47, and two women, HPD wrote on YouTube Thursday.
The first half of the video appears to show a fight breaking out in a parking lot that spills out onto a street. The second half, which has been edited out by Chron.com due to its incredibly graphic nature, shows Green's dead body lying on the ground.
VIDEO: Stunning footage shows Houston woman held at gunpoint, robbed in broad daylight
"The suspect is described only as a black male between 25 and 30 years of age, about 6 feet tall and with dreadlocks," HPD said. "The suspect frequents the area and rides a blue-colored Schwinn bicycle with blue reflectors on the wheels."
Anyone with information in this case or on the identity of the wanted suspect is urged to contact the HPD Homicide Division at 713-308-3600 or Crime Stoppers at 713-222-TIPS.
Fernando Alfonso III is a digital reporter at Chron.com. You can read more of his stories here and follow him on twitter at @fernalfonso. If you also like surreal GIFs and Polaroids, go here and here.


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You are bidding on one:2000 U.S. $1 Silver American Eagle ~Very Lightly Circulated Condition w/ just a touch of toning. ~ 1 troy oz .999 Fine Silver . ~ Please judge grade for yourself, as the Eagle shown is the one you will receive. Purchased as part of an estate sale. Auction starts at $9.99 ~ Please check my other auctions. I will gladly combine shipping & I'm very reasonable (message for a quote). ~ Canada bidders pay same for 1st Class Mail as U.S. All items are from a smoke free home. I always try to be conservative if offering an opinion on jewelry or coins & I have 10 yrs. experience in jewelry & coins,so rest assured my descriptions and evaluations are accurate. I pack and ship your items with great care. If, for any reason, you are not satisfied with one of my items, simply return it for a full refund (buyer pays return shipping). Buyer is to pay $2.80 shipping charges for USPS 1st Class Mail, which includes delivery confirmation. International shipping will be higher, please email for a quote. I will only ship international insured. Email for international quotes before bidding. Please email me about any specific questions BEFORE you place your bid. Thank you!


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Egon Bittner died on May 7, 2011, in Lafayette, CA, at the age 90. He had retired from teaching at Brandeis University in 1991.
Egon Bittner was born in 1921 in Silesia, a part of central Europe that was then in Czechoslovakia, but which at different moments in Egon's youth had been Polish and German. Egon was from a Jewish community decimated by the Holocaust, and he was a rare survivor. It is hard to know whether his extraordinary generosity, compassion, modesty, and ability to recognize and live with difference and diversity came from this upbringing or this horrible experience, but these were among the qualities that family, friends, and colleagues cherished. These were also the qualities that made him an extraordinary social scientist. Egon loved books, ideas, reflecting on the complexity of human behavior, and was inhabited by the skepticism of received wisdoms that truly probing minds must possess.
That Egon became a sociologist was no accident, therefore. He had a vocation to comprehend and analyze the mysteries of lives in societies. He devoured and internalized the corpus of sociological theory. Conversations with him were adventures in intellectual history. It was his reading of this corpus that led him towards phenomenology and eventually ethnomethodology and to the University of California-Los Angeles where he did his PhD with Donald Cressey.
Egon joined the Brandeis Sociology faculty in the late 1960s, a moment of extraordinary political and intellectual turbulence. His questioning, calming, reflective, and tolerant presence was central to the department's navigation through these complicated times. As Harry Coplan Professor of the Social Sciences, he taught numerous undergraduates, mentored doctoral students, and, more generally, led the department on a quest for new approaches. As chair of what was occasionally a fractious group of colleagues he nourished cooperation through magnanimity, understanding, respect for difference, and a wonderfully whimsical sense of humor. As a distinguished member of the broader Brandeis community he was known as a bastion of sophisticated rationality with a deep belief in the Brandeis mission and its vital importance to the society beyond it.
Egon was active in the sociology profession and served, among other positions, as president of the Society for the Study of Social Problems (SSSP). His presidential address to the SSSP in 1984, which reflected on the implications of computers for human futures, was a classic of the genre. Among sociologists he was best known for studies of the relationships between police and society. These studies, which elegantly bracketed conventional stereotypes of the police, including those of the social sciences, proceeded from, but were not limited by ethnomethodogical premises and led Egon and many of his students to cruise about in squad cars and hang out in police stations to gather data. Among his many publications on police-society relationships are The Functions of the Police in Modern Society (1970), Aspects of Police Work (1990), The Capacity to Use Force as the Core of the Police Role (1985), Florence Nightingale in Pursuit of Willie Sutton: A Theory of the Police (1974), and The Police on Skid Row (1967). (For more information see Wikipedia entry.) Egon knew that the use of force was the unavoidable basis of most police work and that professional discretion and sensitivity were essential for this to be acceptable. His research sought the behavioral bases of the uses and abuses of this application of force. The results were profoundly humanist as well as empirically useful. His new ways of understanding how police roles might be better conceived were recognized by scholars and police professionals themselves. His contributions to police scholarship earned him the Police Executive Research Forum Leadership Award, for example. Egon also served as commissioner in the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA) from 1979 to 1988. In recognition of the importance of his work, CALEA established the Egon Bittner Award, annually presented to leading police executive officers in recognition of distinguished service in law enforcement. Egon's sociological writings on police work remain a benchmark for today's scholars researching the police.
Egon retired from Brandeis in 1991 and then moved, with his beloved wife Jean, to the Bay Area to be closer to his children Debora Seys and Tom Bittner and enjoy life in a corner of the world that he loved. Egon was a profound scholar from whom many learned by reading his work, in his classes, and conversing. Oftentimes, after engaging him on the simplest of issues, one emerged, after reflection, with new ways of apprehending and understanding very large parts of the world. He was also modest, an attribute which probably kept him from becoming one of paramount stars of contemporary sociology, a status reserved for more aggressive individuals. It was this modesty that made him all the more approachable and attractive, however. He was a renowned and beloved PhD advisor and a terrific colleague. He will be deeply missed. Our sympathy goes first to Jean and his family, but we are all bereft at his loss.
George Ross, Brandeis University and the University of MontrealBack to Top of Page
On December 28, 2010, William R. Freudenburg lost his battle with cancer, and our discipline prematurely lost a superb scholar. Only 59, Bill remained active until the very end, insisting on finishing the fall term of his highly popular introductory course in Environmental Studies at University of California-Santa Barbara (UCSB) where he held the Dehlsen Endowed Chair. Bill was an exceptionally creative and productive scholar who made major contributions to the areas of environmental sociology, communities, and sociology of risk.
Born in Madison, NE, on November 2, 1951, Bill received his BA from the University of Nebraska in 1974 and then moved to Yale for graduate study in sociology where he received his PhD in 1979 under Kai Erikson's mentorship. Perhaps because of his small-town background, Bill's dissertation focused on "energy boomtowns" in Colorado, small communities undergoing rapid growth as a result of the Carter-era emphases on oil-shale development in response to the energy shortages of the 1970s. This work led Bill to become active in the fledgling field of environmental sociology, and he quickly became a leading figure and played a major role in strengthening and legitimating sociological research on environmental issues.
Bill began his career at Washington State University in fall of 1978, with a joint appointment in the Departments of Sociology and Rural Sociology and then moved to the Department of Rural Sociology at the University of Wisconsin in 1986, where he remained until 2002 before moving to UCSB's Environmental Studies Program that fall. Along the way, his intellectual interests and research agenda expanded, encompassing social impact assessment, nuclear energy, environmental and technological risk assessment, natural resource-dependent communities, and natural and technological disasters. Underlying these evolving foci was a fundamental interest in the relationships between societies and their physical environments (particularly how to theorize and empirically examine these complex relationships) as well as the inequitable manner in which the benefits and harms of natural resource development are typically distributed.
Bill was a prolific scholar, publishing nearly 100 journal articles and dozens of book chapters, along with eight books—five co-edited and three co-authored (with a fourth in press). The latter include Oil in Troubled Waters: Perceptions, Politics, and the Battle over Offshore Oil (with Robert Gramling), Catastrophe in the Making: The Engineering of Katrina and the Disasters of Tomorrow (with Robert Gramling, Shirley Laska, and Kai Erikson) and Blowout in the Gulf: The BP Oil Spill Disaster and the Future of Energy in America (with Robert Gramling). Despite Bill's illness, the latter was written expeditiously and appeared just months after the April 2010 Deepwater Horizon explosion in the Gulf of Mexico.
Of course, it was the quality as well as quantity of his work that made Bill such an eminent scholar. In addition to the positive reception to his books, evidence abounds regarding the quality of his scholarly contributions. He published a dozen articles in our discipline's three leading journals—ASR, AJS, and Social Forcesand received a bevy of awards for his work, including outstanding article awards from ASAs Section on Political Sociology, the Pacific Sociological Association, and the Rural Sociological Society (RSS) (each for a different publication). Bill also received the Award of Merit from the RSSs Natural Resources Research Group and the Distinguished Contribution Award from ASAs Section on Environment and Technology, as well as RSSs Excellence in Research/Theory Award. He was also elected a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS).
Bill was a leader not only intellectually, but organizationally. This was especially the case for the RSS, where he served as Secretary and Chair of the Natural Resources Research Group and then as Council Member, Vice-President, and ultimately President. He also served as Secretary and Chair of the AAAS's Section on Social, Economic and Political Sciences (Section K) as well as a Council Member (1980-83) and Chair (1989-1991) of the ASA's Section on Environment and Technology. At the time of his death, he was President-Elect of the newly established Association for Environmental Studies and Sciences (AESS), an organization that he helped found. AESS has established the Freudenburg Lifetime Achievement Award in Bill's honor.
In addition, Bill compiled an exemplary record of service on prestigious advisory panels and boards, serving on several National Academy of Sciences/National Research Council panels and committees as well as advisory committees for the U.S. Department of Energy and Department of Interior. He was an outstanding spokesperson for environmental social science in these roles.
Throughout his career Bill made a point of involving graduate students in his research, and he proved to be an exceptionally capable mentor. He co-authored numerous articles and chapters with students, encouraged them to publish on their own, and helped launch several successful careers in the process. When he moved to UCSB Bill faced a new challenge, teaching a large introductory course in Environmental Studies. He responded brilliantly, turning it into one of the most popular courses on campus (enrolling 400+ students) and regularly received standing ovations at the end of his lectures.
The respect, admiration, and affection for Bill felt by his students, both current and past, and colleagues was on display at "Freudenfest," a symposium held last November at UCSB to honor Bill and his many contributions. It was a joyous occasion, and one that touched Bill profoundly. For information on the event, see <www.forevermissed.com/billfreudenburg#about>. Information on the Freudenburg Academic Development Fund set up by UCSB in Bill's honor and to which donations can be made is also available at this website. Papers based on presentations at Freudenfest will be published as a symposium later this year in the Journal of Environmental Studies and Sciences, the official publication of AESS.
Bill is survived by his wife, Sarah Stewart, and son Max, his mother Betty Davis Freudenburg, brother Jim, and sister Patti.
Riley Dunlap (Oklahoma State University), Debra Davidson (University of Alberta), Kai Erikson (Yale University), Dana Fisher (University of Maryland), and Robert Gramling (University of Louisiana at Lafayette)Back to Top of Page
Sylvia K. Polgar of Wilmington, NC, died April 9 at Lower Cape Fear Hospice Center. She was born in New York City in 1928 to Arthur Knopp and Selma Berger Knopp. She earned a bachelor's degree at Columbia University in 1959 and was a research associate with Bank Street College. In 1961 she married Steven Polgar (1931-1978), an anthropologist specializing in population studies and a holocaust survivor. In New York she assisted the Council on Social Work Education, trained with the U.S. Public Health Service, and lectured at New York University in 1964. She and Steve had two sons (Misi and Chris), and when Steve got work at the University of North Carolina (UNC) in 1967, the family moved to Chapel Hill.
Sylvia earned her PhD in sociology at UNC-Chapel Hill in 1974. She lectured at UNC-Chapel Hill before starting what would become almost 20 years of service at UNC-Wilmington in 1976. Sylvia taught courses in sociology, social work, and anthropology at UNC-W before retiring in 1995. For six years, she commuted weekly between Chapel Hill and Wilmington, in order to both teach and be with her family on the weekends. In 1978 she survived the loss of her husband and became a single parent for 30 years thereafter. Since 1982, Sylvia has served the Wilmington community in many leadership roles, with a special focus on relations between ethnic groups and public health, serving as a role model for women by developing a successful independent career.
Sylvia was a teacher and friend to many in her community. She was a leader and a caretaker, a strong parent and grandparent, a volunteer and a good neighbor. She was independent and caring, generous with her time and attention, loving and witty, engaging and helpful to many. Sylvia spoke Spanish and loved to travel. She enjoyed family and friends, nature and arts (including pottery), walking and cooking. She is survived by sons, Michael Polgar of Kingston, PA, and Chris Polgar of Carrboro, NC, and granddaughters Sophie, Isabelle, and Rebecca Polgar. Donations in her memory may be directed to the United Jewish Communities women's philanthropy (www.ujc.org/).
Michael Polgar, Pennsylvania State University-HazletonBack to Top of Page


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Giving a Voice to Abused and Neglected Children in Saline County Illinois
Classes start September 10th, 2018
Call 618 253 3355 for more information or check out the dates and times below
Substance Abuse is a huge factor in child abuse and neglect
Sheriff and States Attorneys Golf Tournament for CASA of Saline County
12 Things about Child Abuse
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About CASA
Saline County CASA trains community members to advocate for abused and neglected children who are in the court system because of abuse and/or neglect. Saline County CASA currently has 23 advocates serving 81 children. The advocates speak up for these children with the court system, social service agencies, and others involved in the child's life.
Saline County CASA has a Board of Directors consisting of 9 community members who volunteer their time to the program. These 9 members make the by-laws and take care of fundraising efforts to support the program. The Saline County CASA Board of Directors meet once a month and call speciall meetings when necessary.
To reach our goal and insure that every child receives a safe home, CASA would like to have an advocate for every abused and neglected child in Saline County. Currently 81 out of the 127 children in the court system are being served. New advocates are needed in order to assure that every child has a safe, permanent home as quickly as possible. To become an advocate or make a donation, contact our office at 618 253-3355 or any member of the board.
What is a CASA Advocate?
A CASA Advocate is a community member who gives of their time to ensure that abused and neglected children receive a safe, nurturing, permanent home as quickly as possible. They do this by gathering facts, discerning options, and preparing reports for the court. They also assist the court and social agencies in eliminating delays, advancing the child's case in a timely fashion, and monitoring the case until a final outcome is achieved.
To achieve our goal of assisting every child in the court system, more advocates are needed. To become an advocate, one must pass a preliminary screening process, complete a 30 hour training program, and observe 6 hours of court procedures.


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Islamic militant leader extradited to Uganda from Tanzania
KAMPALA, Uganda (AP) — A most-wanted Ugandan Islamic militant leader who is accused of committing atrocities in Uganda and Congo was extradited back home from Tanzania on Friday, according to the head of Interpol in Uganda.
Rebel leader Jamil Mukulu, who heads the Congo-based armed group Allied Democratic Forces, was flown to Uganda after losing his bid to avoid extradition from Tanzania, Asan Kasingye told The Associated Press.
He said it is not certain when Mukulu, who was arrested in the Tanzanian city of Dar es Salaam earlier this year, will appear in court to face charges.
Mukulu is accused of multiple counts of murder stemming from his alleged role as the leader of the Islamic militant group that regularly attacks civilians in eastern Congo.
A convert to Islam who developed a reputation as an elusive rebel leader, Mukulu is accused of leading a 1998 attack in which scores of Ugandan students were burned to death while asleep in their dormitories in a town near the Congo border.
The Allied Democratic Forces, which originally said it opposed what it called the marginalization of Ugandan Muslims, is accused of launching a series of deadly bomb blasts in the Ugandan capital of Kampala in the late 1990s before a military operation forced the rebels to move to eastern Congo.
The rebels have largely been quiet over the years, staging sporadic attacks on towns in eastern Congo and against Congolese military units.
A U.N. report in 2012 said the rebels had "expanded their military capacity and cooperated" with Somalia's al-Shabab militants.
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San Antonio, TX (PRWEB) February 27, 2014
As the days get warmer and the first signs of spring start to emerge, homeowners may not be thinking about furnace maintenance, but the end of the winter season is the best time to schedule necessary repairs. After a long winter of use, furnaces are in need of a tune-up, but many people will turn them off and not give them another thought until the end of the year. Jon Wayne Air urges customers to consider tending to their furnace now instead of waiting until next winter for the following reasons:
1. As the temperatures warm up, the workload for HVAC service professionals slows down before it kicks into full gear again for summer. Take advantage of the lull in service calls to schedule an appointment.
2. HVAC systems share components, so furnace maintenance now can also ensure that air conditioning systems will work come summer time. When scheduling furnace maintenance appointments, ask the technicians to also inspect air conditioning systems in order to avoid another service call in a few months.
3. If there is a problem with a part or something needs to be replaced and San Antonio furnace repair is needed, having the issue addressed promptly will avoid the issue compounding into a larger problem. In the middle of winter, a broken part can lead to very cold nights which may require rush parts, emergency service, or overtime hours. Identifying issues now can save homeowners money and frustration.
4. Taking care of end of season maintenance now means not having to worry about it come next winter and being surprised with an issue. Furnaces will be shut off for several months so it's wise to make sure they are in proper working order before the heating season hits again.
5. Special promotions or deals on end of season maintenance may be available during off-peak times that will save homeowners money.
About Jon Wayne Heating and Air Conditioning
Jon Wayne Heating and Air Conditioning is San Antonio's largest residential HVAC service company. Our focus is to help our customers create the most comfortable environment possible. Our highly trained technicians use state of the art equipment and techniques to locate problem areas and maximize efficiency, providing homeowners with healthy and comfortable spaces.


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Back to 2000 Honda Motorcycle Index Page
Click photo to enlarge.
It makes a great desktop image.
2000 Honda GL1500A Gold Wing Aspencade
– 2000 Honda GL1500A Gold Wing Aspencade
The legendary Gold Wing celebrates 25 years of success with 25th Anniversary Edition badges and special chrome accents.
New for 2000
· Distinctive 25th Anniversary Edition badges mounted on the trunk, chrome front fairing garnish above the headlight, and the console.
· Chromed engine valve covers.
· High-contrast black instrument faces are easy to read.
· 1520cc liquid-cooled horizontally opposed six-cylinder engine is rubber-mounted for exceptional smoothness, placed low in the chassis for superb maneuverability, and produces more torque than any other engine in its class.
· Slow-speed reverse system.
· Maintenance-free hydraulic valve adjusters and a quiet, reliable belt-driven camshaft system.
· Two computer-monitored 36mm constant-velocity (CV) downdraft carburetors.
· Exhaust tips feature Valkyrie-inspired triple-tip diffusers and provide a throaty exhaust note.
· Precise-shifting five-speed transmission includes overdrive fifth.
· Efficient six-into-two exhaust system.
· Smooth, quiet and virtually lash-free shaft-drive system.
· Powerful, 546-watt alternator.
· Maintenance-free hydraulic clutch.
· Large-capacity dual radiators.
· Digital ignition system.
· Computer-designed steel frame offers exceptional strength.
· Plush, 41mm front fork offers a compliant, controlled ride.
· Torque Reactive Anti-dive Control (TRAC) reduces front-end dive during braking.
· Air-adjustable front and rear suspension for varying loads and conditions. On-board compressor makes it easy to adjust rear suspension pressure.
· Honda's integrated triple-disc braking system offers exceptional stopping power.
· Cast aluminum wheels are lightweight and strong.
· Enormous, 6.3-gallon fuel tank offers exceptional touring range.
· High-mileage touring tires.
Additional Features
· Chrome cylinder head covers feature integrally cast "1500" emblem, highlighted by engine guard design.
· Beautiful front lighting signature and rear lighting array.
· Attractive chrome-plated front fairing garnish and rear trunk trim enhance appearance.
· Superbly comfortable rider and passenger seats provide unparalleled comfort and support.
· Specially designed luggage features an integrated, centrally located locking system and more usable storage capacity than any other touring machine.
· Soft, removable trunk and saddlebaginner bags.
· Full-logic 25-watt stereo system with AM/FM auto-reverse cassette, automatic volume control, search, ambiance, muting, six station presets and intercom.
· Large, easily adjustable windshield offers unparalleled wind and weather protection for the rider and passenger.
· Electronic cruise control system.
· Self-canceling turn signals.
· Handlebar switches and controls use internationally approved ISO graphic symbols instead of word labels.
· On-board air compressor system with auxiliary outlet.
· Extensive tool kit.
· Dual helmet locks.
· Fold-down antenna for easy storage.
· Padded passenger hand rails.
· Dual horns.
· Flow-through ventilation system.
· Handy storage compartments in passenger armrests.
· Low, 29.1-inch seat height and narrow sidecovers allow easy footing at stops, increasing rider confidence and machine handling ease.
· Dual headlights.
· Easy-to-use centerstand.
· Convenient ignition switch/fork lock for added security.
· Three-year limited warranty on factory installed audio system.
· Transferable three-year unlimited-mileage limited warranty.
Available Accessories
· CB radio.
· CB antenna kit.
· Rear speaker kit.
· Passenger audio controller.
· Headset for open-face or full-face helmets.
· Cornering light kit.
· Fairing marker lights.
· Saddlebag marker lights.
· Tail marker light.
· Trunk marker light.
· Trunk light, with or without mirror.
· Cycle cover.
· Front nose mask.
· Front fender trim.
· Front mudguard.
· Saddlebag scuff pad set.
· Saddlebag/trunk mat set.
· Saddlebag/trunk chrome rail set.
· Rear spoiler.
· Trunk lower spoiler.
· Chrome undercowl set, rear.
· Color-coordinated helmets.
five-speed constant-mesh with overdrive fifth gear & electric reverse
Front Brakes
Dual discs with twin-piston calipers
Rear Brakes
single disc with twin-piston calipers integrated with one front disc
Front Suspension
41mm fork with TRAC anti-dive 140mm of travel
Rear Suspension
air-assisted (right-hand only) dual shocks; 105 mm of travel
Tire Size
Seat Height
740 mm (29.1 in.)
Fuel Capacity
24 litres (5.3 imp.gal.)
1520cc liquid-cooled horizontally-opposed six-cylinder
Dry Weight
365 kg. (803 lb.)
Specifications are subject to change without notice, in accordance with national regulation and legislations.


text: "A federal district court judge in San Francisco has ruled that National Security Letter (NSL) provisions in federal law violate the Constitution. The decision came in a lawsuit challenging a NSL on behalf of an unnamed telecommunications company represented by the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF). In the ruling publicly released [March 15, 2013], Judge Susan Illston ordered that the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) stop issuing NSLs and cease enforcing the gag provision in this or any other case. The landmark ruling is stayed for 90 days to allow the government to appeal."


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NEW and in time for Christmas
Shop latest additions ►
Shop in time for Christmas
Shop little treats
Shop for women
Find their favourite gift
Find something special
Make Your Own Solar System Kit
Vintage Racer Pull Toy
Learn To Stitch Activity
Secret Agent Lie Detector Kit
Find your favourite
Buy The Original Jumbo bag
Shop on a budget
Looking for something a little different? Rex London's unusual gifts include quirky hip flasks, a light bulb table lamp, plus vintage and retro kitchen gifts. So, if you're searching for a fun or vintage-inspired gift we're confident you'll find it at Rex London.
Transform your home into a winter wonderland with our Christmas decorations. For a nostalgic touch try vintage Christmas decorations, featuring bunting, garlands and traditional Christmas tree decorations. For a final flourish use our Christmas wrapping paper to make your gifts shine.
Rex London's the home of unique Christmas gifts. We've got lovely vintage gifts for grandparents, thrilling stocking fillers for children and a giant grotto full of unusual Christmas gifts to delight all ages. Need a secret santa gift? Try our quirky gifts for under £10.
At Rex London we want everyday items to be beautiful. From practical jumbo storage bags to functional bakeware, our unique designs add joy to dull days. So grab a cactus pen or crocodile scissors from our stationery collection and store your food in style in a unicorn lunch bag.
Welcome to Rex London, a quirky, unique treasure trove of gifts and homeware. Bringing you bright, colourful gifts and retro home decor, you'll find something for everyone - all at incredible prices.
Rex International limited Address: Unit 3-4 Allied Way, London W3 0RL Tel:UK +44 (0)208 746 2473 Vat: GB340661575 Co. Registration no: 1578798
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Cleanelly home textiles are produced at «Donetzkaya Manufaktura» factory owned by the manufacturing site of TPK «DM Textile». The factory began operating in 1978. In 2000 a major modernization of the manufacturing operations commenced, and, finally, the factory was equipped with machinery produced by the world leaders in the textile machine industry. Weaving shop is equipped with the looms and technological lines from Dornier, SulzerTextile, Staubli, Simet, Sucker Muller, Luwa TAC, Uster, Ergotec. Dyeing and finishing shop is equipped with machines from Thies, RF-Systems, Stalam, Santex, Saspe, Bruckner, Tumbler, Bianco. Sewing shop is equipped with Texpa, SchmaleDurate, Beck and Tecnoteam equipment.
At the moment Commercial and Industrial company «DM Textile» is one of the leading enterprises in textile and light industry in Russia, and manufactures 5100 tons of terry products annually. The company's share in the Russian terry products production made 65% in 2013, and we are planning to increase this rate up to 80% in 2014. The company is growing fast, and, it is estimated that it has a great future at the Russian and European markets.
Cleanelly is a leading textile brand owned by Commercial and Industrial company «DM Textile». The company manufactures top quality popular textile products under trademarks Cleanelly, Cleanelly Collection, Cleanelly Perfetto.
ОThe special business direction of the company is manufacture of complete collections for the Hospitality industry and for b2b companies
Production facilities of the company enable to successfully cooperate with big national and international customers. In particular, the products of the company are supplied to big national and international store chains: IKEA, Auchan, BILLA, Globus, Hoff, OBI, KESKO, Selgros, «О'КЕY», Х5 Retail Group, «Lenta», «Magnit», «Dixy».
The mote state-of-the-art manufacturing equipment and progressive production management give opportunity to make products applying all weaving effects known in the world and the most advanced dyeing methods.
Terry and waffle products are crafted from top quality cotton yarn supplied by the world leading manufacturers, the factory makes products from Eco-friendly bamboo yarn.
The quality of the products is authorized by the Certificate of Compliance with the International requirements for Quality Management Systems ISO 9001:2008, and also Certificate of Compliance with the Environmental standards Oeko-Tex Standart 100.
The company encompasses a research and design departments.


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by Rebecca Bedrossian
Our first-ever Typography Annual is special for a number of reasons: One, it's the first; second, there's a wide range of typographic eye candy to explore; third, the feature line-up is inspiring and creatively varied; and four, the magazine's original cover was created by Christian Northeast. Like most of Christian's work, there's a lot to take in. Each time I look at the cover, more and more details are revealed—much to my delight. And the details not only announce Typography Annual 1 with flair, but give us clues about the artist. Like van Eyck in the Arnolfini Wedding, Christian included himself in the illustration, from the North/East weather vane to the Northeast Dance Academy pencil. Subtle references that are then echoed in the enlightening profile of Christian Northeast by Jim Hanas. Here's a snippet:
[Christian's] portfolio ranges from the impossible machines of his early work, to dense type treatments, to
tone-perfect takes on artifacts from matchboxes to postcards, all tied together
by Northeast's talent for making even the digital feel handmade. "The stuff I
collect or the stuff I'm drawn to is always something that looks like it has a
bit of history to it," he says. "I've always been drawn to stuff that has a
patina to it."
Still, over the years, Northeast's work has also
displayed an increasing clarity and refinement. It looks less like assemblages
of found images than like actual found images, recovered from an imaginary past
where Terry Gilliam animations, letterpress posters, vintage cartoons and
visionary art coexist and comingle.
// From our friends at Communication Arts


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Breaking: Officer in Fatal Shooting of #MikeBrown Was Injured in the Incident – Treated at Hospital
Don't expect this to get much coverage…
Ferguson protesters confront police. (The News Commenter)
The police officer involved in the fatal shooting of Michael Brown in Ferguson was injured during the incident.
The officer was hit and the side of his face was swollen from the confrontation.
KMOX reported:
The officer who shot and killed an unarmed teenager in Ferguson, Missouri was injured in the alleged altercation, according to Ferguson Chief of Police Tom Jackson.
Jackson, who spoke on the phone with News 4's Laura Hettiger Wednesday morning, said the officer "was hit" and the "side of his face was swollen." The chief did not say if the officer suffered any broken bones.
Police said shortly after the shooting that 18-year-old Michael Brown was walking with a friend in the middle of Canfield when an officer attempted to exit his vehicle. Police said Brown pushed the officer back into the police car. According to police, Brown then entered the officer's vehicle and a struggle ensued over the officer's weapon. Police said during the physical altercation a shot was fired inside of the car.
Witnesses to the shooting, however, told a different story. A friend of Brown's told News 4 Saturday they were walking on the street when the officer approached them. He said they had their arms up when police opened fire.
The officer was treated at a local hospital after the shooting.
County officials told local media the toxicology report on Michael Brown will take 4 weeks to complete.
Michael Brown lays dead after the shooting in Ferguson.
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I wonder what secrets it may reveal to someone who has seen the knowledge contained in Darth Sidius' private holocron... >:P
I am an human, do not confuse me with a droid. I play too many video games. I LOVE GOD, and I am a Christian. Feel free to try and argue with me about God. I wasn't a big Skyrim fan until recently, I was mostly a Star Wars and Lord of the Rings fan. I am tech competent as most gamers should:D
I wonder what secrets it may reveal to someone who has seen the knowledge contained in Darth Sidius' private holocron... >:P
sure as hell doesn't contain Anakin having an apprentice, maul being alive after phantom menace, mandalorians being pussies, assajj ventress being from dathomir, or clones deserting or committing treason
Only registered members can share their thoughts. So come on! Join the community today (totally free - or sign in with your social account on the right) and join in the conversation.
This holocron kept all the knowledge the Jedi had. Topics varied from basic and advanced lightsaber construction methods, Galactic Republic history, philosophy, Sith history, lightsaber combat, and Jedi techniques. However even though any force sensitive could access it, the holocron did not permit everyone the ability to see everything.


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Irwin Wong feat. Mijonju: "I wanna be a cameraman" My good mates Irwin Wong and Mijonju have released another video. This time I am not in it, but that doesn't matter because it is still awesome. Check it out.
Tag: parody-video
A fun little video made by my mate Irwin Wong, featuring a very handsome Japancamerahunter (look out of the fat spanner with the silly hat). Unfortunately I now have this bloody tune running around my head. Check out his site here. Cheers Japancamerahunter


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Building Confidence and Inner Strength Through Tantra Yoga
The Need for Change
In my early days of learning about healing and energy, I experienced many personal challenges. This makes sense, of course, because most people who find themselves exploring Healing and Spiritual avenues do so because they themselves are seeking a life which is more healthy, vibrant, balanced, joyful and peaceful.
I was not an exception in this regard. I knew something needed to change in my life, but I really couldn't explain it.
See, I had a problem that is probably more common than you know. I frequently found myself caving into other people's desires and needs. I found myself "going along" with others because I was afraid if I said "no", or explained how I really felt, or what I really wanted, that they wouldn't like me. Or they would get angry and then I would still end up caving in anyway.
I kept setting aside my own needs and happiness, because I somehow thought that "if I give them what they want, they will like me, and then I will be happy because they like me".
Well… that didn't work out so well. Because, what I was clearly failing to see was that MY OWN NEEDS MATTERED more to my happiness than simply having someone like me. And if having them "like me" meant that I had to set aside my own needs and personal values, well, ultimately it was just a formula for disappointment, failure and misery. And in the end, those people weren't really interested in my happiness to begin with…
This same pattern showed up everywhere in my life really. At work with co-workers and bosses. In friendships. In family dynamics. And also in romantic relationships.
It wasn't isolated, even though at some points it seemed more intense in certain areas. For a while, like is so often the case, I simply thought that others were doing it to me. They were "overpowering me". Or" being too demanding". Or "being critical". Or whatever it was.
And, in some cases, they probably were. But more importantly, I was allowing it to happen. I was the one who kept saying "yes", when I really wanted to say "no". I was the one who would be treated poorly, and still go back smiling knowing it would happen again.
I needed to find my own inner strength and confidence. But "life" kept throwing me off center, or so it felt.
The Turning Point
It was around 1999. I had been studying energy healing and metaphysics for about 9 years. And I had been a massage therapist and healing professional for about 2 or 3 years. This included plenty of study and training. And I finally found myself in "crisis". I had learned a lot of "techniques" for healing others. Some for healing myself. But I knew that I couldn't get myself out of this without some guidance. And at that time, I really didn't even understand "what the problem was".
I found myself going through a healing "process" with a woman named Lisa. Every 6 weeks for a period of 9 months, I would spend a weekend with Lisa and about 9 other people. Of the other nine, there was only 1 other man. So, it was two guys and 9 woman. And what I experienced during those 9 months radically changed my life and my understanding of myself for the better.
This Process was the turning point for me to find my Inner Strength and my Confidence. It was a Spiritual community that was focused on exploring the Divine Feminine, and the balance of Inner Masculine and Inner Feminine.
To explain everything I learned and experienced is not practical here. But I do want to share one of the most important principles to get started with. Without this principle, the rest really doesn't work very well anyway.
So, let me start with an analogy
In order for someone to develop confidence and strength, one needs to be able to "stand firmly" in ones own values, beliefs and self-acceptance. Without "standing firmly", then even the slightest force can "push you off center". So, if I am standing on my "Truth" as far as values and needs, and something comes along and I stumble or fall, then I will land outside of my "Truth".
In the extreme version of this, I would become like a "Tumbleweed". Even the slightest breeze would have me going in whatever direction the wind was blowing.
And, in my earlier experiences, this is how I often felt. Someone else's desires or needs were like the "wind", and as their desire came into my experience, I was blown to where their Truth was. Off of my Truth and my center.
This same phenomenon, energetically, also prevents focus. Because the awareness and mind are easily pulled off course by the influences of what is around you.
So, lacking confidence, strength and focus, the world begins to toss you about. Your directions in life, and the directions of your mind are subject to the outer forces of life: your circumstances, the people you interact with, etc.
In order for you to develop Self-Confidence, Inner Strength and Focus in the outer world, you will necessarily need to find a way to "Anchor yourself" to the location of "Truth". Once "anchored" and "centered" you will be able to stand firmly in your own Truth and Power, even when the "winds" of life are blowing about you.
Tantra Starts with The Life Force Energy
Tantra teaches that we are energetic beings. And in order to develop a Tantric practice where you access and direct the Life Force within you, you need to begin to think of yourself in Energetic terms.
When you are not "anchored to your truth", your energy is unstable and scattered. It is easily blown off center, and easily influenced by outside vibrations.
Energetically, then, one of the first steps to take is to stabilize the energy that exists within you. Before you even concern yourself with any more advanced healing method, you just need to get your energy to stop being so easily influenced.
After all, if you can't stabilize a Higher Vibration in your energy field, because the world around you keeps "blowing it" back to something lower, then you will keep going back to the old pattern. Learning to Stabalize your own Life Force Energy is the First Step.
In energetic terms, we often refer to this "Stabilizing" process as "Grounding". You want to Ground your Energy and your Energy Field.
Some of the symptoms of an Ungrounded Energy Field may include:
- Inability to focus
- Being easily influenced by the beliefs of others
- Being easily influenced by the emotions of others
- Life feeling chaotic or unstable
- Lack of confidence
- Difficulty handling the "unexpected" situations and events that life brings
- Depression, Fear and/or Anxiety
- Difficulty standing up for yourself
- Experiencing lots of "activity" with little actual accomplishment
- Difficulty expressing your own needs
- Difficulty saying "no"
- Feeling that you are always attending to others needs, with no time for your own needs
- Challenges making Positive Changes in your Life
The above are some examples. To be clear, lack of Grounding is likely a major factor in most of the above. But, there are also likely other Energetic layers of healing that would need to be addressed to fully restore balance.
But, you must start by Grounding your energy first. Some things resolve on their own just from learning to ground. And in other cases, grounding is the important first step to be able to affectively address other aspects of healing.
The Ecstatic Union® Approaches to "Grounding"
In the Ecstatic Union® Vibrational Healing approach, I look to multiple layers of where an imbalance may be created, and therefore corrected. This provides multiple tools and healing methods to assess where the issue is originating, and also to be able to address it in the way that will best serve the individuals unique circumstances.
Here are a few of the approaches that the Ecstatic Union® System uses for "Grounding".
Ecstatic Union® Energetic Maintenance approach to Grounding
This involves methods to understand and "retrain" how your energy is being directed. Two common grounding methods are listed below:
1) The "Roots" Grounding Method
- Standing up, imagine that roots (like tree roots) are growing out of your feet and into the Earth.
- Continue to take slow deep breaths, while visualizing, feeling and imagining them growing deeper and deeper.
- Then visualize, feel and imagine the stability of the Earth and how stable and grounded you feel as you are anchored in place.
2) The "Cord" Grounding Method
- Imagine dropping an energetic cord from inside your body, just below your naval deep into the earth.
- Continue to take slow deep breaths, while visualizing, feeling and imagining it anchoring deeper and deeper.
- Then visualize, feel and imagine the stability of the Earth and how stable and grounded you feel as you are anchored in place.
Ecstatic Union® Ayurvedic Approach to Grounding
The "lack of focus" and "ungrounded" are seen as a Vata imbalance within the mind. Vata is the Ayurvedic principle of "Air" which, when unstable will blow around and be unfocused.
If you are a "Vata" constitution, you may have more tendency towards being ungrounded, but the reality is that any of the constitutions can experience this. Our culture is very "vata" stimulating for the mind, with many distractions and a common desire to be "entertained" with short attention spans.
Some general practical tips would be:
- Avoid stimulants, such as caffeine and coffee
- Create experiences that will allow you to "be in" your body, such as receiving Massages or taking a long warm bath
- Avoid "light" and "cold" foods, such as salads, raw vegetables, and chips (especially in the winter)
- Favor "warm" and "nurturing" foods such as cooked whole grains and cooked veggies along with using healthy oils (especially in winter)
- Establish a regular routine of sleeping, waking and eating whenever possible
The above are general recommendations that will benefit most people, but please note that a proper Ecstatic Union® Ayurvedic evaluation would be need to determine your current Energetic State and the unique imbalances and needs that you may have.
Ecstatic Union® Vedic Astrology Approach
Some ways that Lack of Grounding can be shown in the Astrology chart as a "tendencies" for you:
- The predominance of "Air signs" in the chart (Gemini, Libra and Aquarius)
- The strength and location of specific planets that could show a higher level of Air influence, especially on the Moon (which is the mind)
- Strong Saturn influences often show nervousness and fear tendencies.
- Strong Rahu (North Node) and Ketu (South Node) can show influences of scattered Vata like energy
- Different Planetary Periods and Transits can reveal periods which will be more or less ungrounded
Seeing the various factors in the chart allows you to better understand your "natural tendencies" as well as see other contributing factors around confidence and the tendencies that you have in relationships and career. The chart can also point the way towards remedies that can assist you in becoming more focused and grounded.
A proper Ecstatic Union® Vedic Astrology Consultation would be needed to properly assess your unique circumstances.
Once Grounded, You can Create Lasting Transformation
These are some of the ways that Ecstatic Union® offers to assist you to address and create better Grounding in your life. And once you begin to stabilize your Energy, then you can more easily Cultivate and Increase your Confidence, Inner Strength, Self-Acceptance and your personal Truth. From there, your vibrancy, joy and peace will also expand as you learn more tools and methods to Consciously create the life that you truly desire.
This "Grounding" step is really a Foundational Key to succeeding in Tantric practice. It is needed for more effective Self-Healing, for increasing and expanding Sexual energy, for developing Intuition, as well as creating higher Spiritual States. It is needed to help create the focus needed to succeed in Chakra healing and meditation as well.
Let me know your thoughts and questions below!
Make sure you SIGN UP for the E-mail Newsletter so you won't miss the First Step on the Ecstatic Union® Tantric Path!
Ready to take your Tantric journey deeper?
Ecstatic Union® Tantric Counseling and Healing Appointments available by phone, Internet chat and in person.
Is "One Powerful Healing technique" enough to be an Effective Energy Healer?
Is "One Powerful Healing technique" enough to be an Effective Energy Healer?
An Obstacle on the Path of Healing?
The Healing Obstacle Leads to Insight and Wisdom
The Fruits of Deeper Awareness and Insight
7 Things a Healer or Spiritual Teacher Must Have to Be Truly Effective
- Direct experience of the healing methods they are using with their clients
- Effective methods to dialog with and coach the clients they are serving
- Effective methods for assessing the different layers in need of healing for any given session with a client
- The ability to know and implement the best method for addressing the healing at the assessed level
- A deep, experiential understanding of the True Source of healing, and where the process of healing is actually leading
- Intuitive tools to access the deeper wisdom of the energy moving within Self, Client and the healing process.
- The confidence and trust to allow the healing to unfold in a way that is natural and for the highest good of the client being served
The Culmination of the Journey Leads to the Ecstatic Union® Healing System
After 24 years of study, professional training and walking my own path of personal transformation and spiritual awakening, I have developed the Ecstatic Union® Healing System. It takes the best healing methods available, and brings them together into a cohesive, integral system that addresses each level of body, emotions, mind and spirit while also keeping a clear single goal of awakening Wholeness and Direct Experience of the Deeper Nature of the Self.
Guru Principle or Guru Tattva (Video)
Explore the Tantric ideas around the Guru (the Spiritual teacher) as the Guru Tattva, or the Guru Principle.
This is Part 8 of 8 in the Mantra Meditation Series.
Mantra Terminology and How to Get the Most from Your Practice (Video)
Topics include: Learn additional reasons for and aspects of the practice of Mantra as part of the Tantric Tradition. Why Om or AUM is considered to be the "master" mantra and when and why other mantras may be used. Learn terms that relate to the practice such as Japa, Omkar, and Pranava. How to use Mantra Beads, or the Mala, to assist your practice. Creating positive spiritual merit or Karma for your Spiritual Path. Ways to refine and get the most from your practice.
This is Part 7 of 8 in the Mantra Meditation Series.
Stages of Mantra Meditation Practice (Video)
Learn the stages or progression of Mantra Meditation practice from beginner to intermediate to advanced, and the reasons for the different stages. Better understand the added healing power of group Mantra Meditation Practice and why it can benefit your practice.
Open to the importance of being present to whatever experience you are having in Mantra meditation practice without expectations. Do not assume what your experience should or will be while chanting or practicing Mantra Meditation.
This is Part 6 of 8 in the Mantra Meditation Series.
How to Chant "AUM" or "OM" (Video)
How to Chant AUM or "OM" Mantra – Instructions for the actual chanting technique, with details in how to make it most effective. An overview of different experiences which can arise during practice. Non-attachment to outcome. Tips to help understand and neutralize the reactions that the ego and mind will have to your Mantra Practice and spiritual development.
This is Part 5 of 8 in the Mantra Meditation Series.
To support your practice, check out my Guided Meditation CD entitled "Beginning Meditations: Expanding Peace". It includes Chanting OM as part of the second meditation and is available for purchase on-line through iTunes and Amazon.com. Follow the link below to see a full description and the links to the purchase options.
Benefits of Mantra Meditation and the Meaning of "AUM" (Video)
Discover the practical benefits of Mantra Meditation and the advantages of Mantra over other types of Meditation. Learn the spiritual benefits of Mantra practice and the Nature of the True Self that Mantra practice reveals. Understand how the Mantra "AUM" or "OM" relates to the process of Creation, Spiritual Devotion, and your True Self.
Part 3 of 8 in the Introduction to Mantra Meditation Series.
Beginning Your Meditation Practice (Video)
To begin any Meditation practice, we must gain a proper understanding of what meditation is and our relationship to the mind. Finding Peace of mind through meditation requires the proper perspective for effective practice. Additional information for why Mantra is such a powerful Tantric Meditation practice.
Part 2 of 8 in the Introduction to Mantra Meditation series.


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Posted Monday morning, June 26, 2017.
I don't know. Photo's from back at the beginning of May. Does it look to you like Trump thinks the AHCA these Republican members of Congress just passed with his stamp of approval is mean. Doesn't to me. But that's what he says. Photo by Evan Vucci/AP, courtesy of AP, via Mother Jones.
Our Mr President Trump thinks the American Health Care Act which his fellow Republicans in Congress are ramming into law with as much speed, secrecy, obfuscation, deception, and arrogant disregard for democracy, the will of the American people, and human decency as they think they can get away with is mean.
At any rate, he told some Republican senators a couple weeks ago that the AHCA is "mean."
"Mean, mean, mean."
That's the report anyway.
It would be odd of him to have said that, considering how happy he appeared when the bill passed the House. Why was he celebrating the passage of a bill he thinks is mean? This seeming change of heart or mind has caused some people to wonder if what happened is he finally got around to reading the bill or had it explained to him with pictures and maps. He likes pictures and maps. Who doesn't? But the pictures and maps were available before the House voted the first time. And he was mad then when it failed. As mad as he was happy when it passed the second time through.
But Trump himself seems to have confirmed it.
President Obama called the bill mean and Trump got mad at him…for copying him. Mean, Trump said, is his word.
Still, it's odd he'd disparage the so-far only significant legislation he's backed like that. This has cynics to speculate that when he said the bill was mean he was praising what he considers its strong points.
Supposedly he went on to say the Senate version of the bill should be more generous.
Maybe, as some other cynics have suggested, he meant the Senators need to be more generous to the rich people getting their taxes cut via the repeal and cut their taxes even more.
But I can't help wondering.
Think about it.
"Mean, mean, mean!"
Who talks like that?
What kind of person? What kind of grown-up?
Does that even sound like a grown-up to you? To me it sounds like the way a good-hearted eleven year old might describe a law that would take away health care from other kids who are sick and dying.
In folk tales, the king always has three sons. The elder two are cruel and stupid. The youngest is good and pure of heart.
Trump is said to be easily swayed in his thinking by the last person he talked to and he just moved into the White House.
I know. Isn't he pretty to think so?
The probability is that "mean" is Trump's word and he used it as a slogan. He was doing what he does best. Making another sales pitch for his main brand name product, Donald Trump.
"Buy more Donald Trump! He cares!"
Voice-over hurriedly delivered at very low volume: "Offer not available in all areas."
Now, we hear, he has a new slogan.
He "hopes" the Senate version will have more "heart."
("Void where prohibited by law.")
It won't have heart. It doesn't. It can't. Heart is what's wrong with government aid programs. Heart is what makes them sinful. Heart leads to compassion. Compassion leads to concern. Concern leads to an urge to help. Helping costs money. Their money. But besides that, helping leads to people expecting to be helped. And that leads to sloth, dependency, laziness, and irresponsibility. We'll have a nation of idlers, leeches, and cheats. Nobody is good except under threat.
As Orrin Hatch put it, spitting on the grave of his late friend Ted Kennedy, once people are on the dole, they'll take every dime they can..
The central evil of Republicanism is that these Republicans have themselves convinced they're doing good.
They're forcing people to take responsibility for themselves. It's up to you and not up to anyone else to see that you have what you need to get by. It's up to you to take care of your children, your sick spouse, your aging parents. Beyond that, while it's nice of you to pitch in when your friends or neighbors need a helping hand, you aren't obligated except to the degree you choose to be. Just don't expect me to feel the same obligation. They aren't my friends. They aren't my neighbors. I have enough troubles of my own. If I as a stranger take on your troubles too, I'm doing you no favors. I'm contributing to your moral degradation. And I'm not putting all my time and trouble into taking care of me and my own.
Add to this their belief that anyone who accepts government assistance is committing a form of theft. In their minds, they're preventing a robbery. Saving both the money of the taxpayers and the souls of the would-be thieves.
But of course that's all cover for selfishness and greed. It serves the interests of the rich and greedy bastards who own the Republican Party and think they own the country, and why should they have to pay rent in thevform of taxes to themselves? Repealing Obamacare, gutting Medicaid, throwing millions of sick and the old and the poor and unfortunate to the wolves adds to owners' wealth and helps create a cowed and obedient workforce of people desperate to keep whatever jobs they can get for whatever paltry wages their bosses deign to pay them. The point is to scare us into working ourselves till we drop without ever challenging the bosses or the system.
So the object of the AHCA is for people to die.
It's not that the Republicans as a group want people to die, although plenty of individual Republicans do.
It's just necessary that they die to teach the rest of us important lessons.
Don't be poor…
Don't lose your job...
Don't look to the government for help with anything…
You are on your own.
If you can't afford to pay the going rate, you don't get to have it---it being not just basic health care but a family, food, shelter, even life itself.
So, yeah. Mean, mean, mean.