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Oral argument: Dec. 1, 2009
Appealed from: United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit (Sept. 4, 2008)
This case concerns the application and constitutionality of three Bankruptcy Code provisions applicable to debt relief agencies: 11 U.S.C. §§ 526(a), 528(a)(4), and 528(b)(2)(B). Minnesota law firm Milavetz, Gallop & Milavetz, P.A. claims exemption from the provisions, arguing that an attorney is not a "debt relief agency." Furthermore, it claims that 11 U.S.C. § 526(a), which prevents a "debt relief agency" from counseling a client to incur additional debt in contemplation of bankruptcy, is an unconstitutionally overbroad restriction of free speech. Finally, Milavetz argues that 11 U.S.C. §§ 528(a)(4) and 528(b)(2)(B), which require a "debt relief agency" to make certain disclosures in their advertisements, violate the First Amendment. The United States argues that the statutes apply to attorneys and that they are reasonable and specific restrictions on speech. This case's outcome will potentially affect bankruptcy laws, disclosure laws, and the legal advice that a lawyer may provide a client.
- [Question(s) presented]
- [Issue(s)]
- [Facts]
- [Discussion]
- [Analysis]
Questions presented
Milavetz, Gallop & Milavetz v. United States
1. Whether the appellate court's interpretation of attorneys as "debt relief agencies" is contrary to the plain meaning of 11 U.S.C. § 101(12A).
2. Whether 11 U.S.C. § 528, which as applied to attorneys, restrains commercial speech by requiring mandatory deceptive disclosures in their advertisements, violates the First Amendment free speech guarantee of the United States Constitution.
3. Whether 11 U.S.C. § 528, requiring deceptive disclosures in advertisements for consumers and attorneys, violates Fifth Amendment Due Process.
United States v. Milavetz, Gallop & Milavetz
1. Whether Section 526(a)(4) precludes only advice to incur more debt with a purpose to abuse the bankruptcy system.
2. Whether Section 526(a)(4), construed with due regard for the principle of constitutional avoidance, violates the First Amendment.
Whether attorneys are considered "debt relief agencies" under 11 U.S.C. § 101(12A), and if so, whether the requirements of 11 U.S.C. §§ 526 and 528 violate the First Amendment of the United States Constitution.
On April 20, 2005, Congress enacted the Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act of 2005 ("BAPCPA"). See Milavetz, Gallop & Milavetz, P.A. v. United States, 541 F.3d 785, 788 (8th Cir. 2008). The BAPCPA amended the Bankruptcy Code in three important ways. See id. First, it added a new term to the Code: "debt relief agency." See 11 U.S.C. § 101(12A). Second, it restricted a "debt relief agency" from advising clients to take on more debt in contemplation of a bankruptcy filing. See 11 U.S.C. § 526(a)(4). Third, it required a "debt relief agency" to place a disclosure on its bankruptcy-related advertisements identical or substantially similar to the following: "We are a debt relief agency. We help people file for bankruptcy relief under the Bankruptcy Code." See 11 U.S.C. §§ 528(a)(4), 528(b)(2)(B).
Milavetz, Gallop & Milavetz, P.A. is a Minnesota law firm that practices bankruptcy law. See Milavetz v. United States, 541 F.3d at 788. The firm, its president, and two of its clients filed a suit against the United States in the District Court for the District of Minnesota, seeking a declaratory judgment that 11 U.S.C. §§ 526(a), 528(a)(4), and 528(b)(2)(B) do not apply to attorneys or law firms and are unconstitutional if applied thereto. See id. The district court ruled in favor of Milavetz, finding that attorneys in the District of Minnesota are excluded from the phrase "debt relief agency" and that §§ 526(a)(4), 528(a)(4), and 528(b)(2) are unconstitutional as applied to attorneys in the District of Minnesota. See id.
The Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit affirmed in part and reversed in part. See Milavetz v. United States, 541 F.3d at 797. The court of appeals held that attorneys who provide bankruptcy assistance to assisted persons are "debt relief agencies" under the Bankruptcy Code and, thus, subject to §§ 528(a)(4) and 528(b)(2). See id. at 792. Additionally, the court of appeals held that § 526(a)(4) is unconstitutional as applied to these attorneys, but that §§ 528(a)(4) and 528(b)(2) are constitutional. See id. at 797. In ruling that § 526(a)(4) is unconstitutional, the court of appeals reasoned that § 526(a)(4) is neither narrowly tailored nor necessarily limited to prevent only the speech that the government has an interest in restricting. See id. at 794. It found § 526(a)(4)'s prohibition of "advising an assisted person to incur any additional debt when the assisted person is contemplating bankruptcy" to be overly broad, because it encompasses situations in which an assisted person would lack any intent to "manipulate the bankruptcy system . . . or take unfair advantage of the bankruptcy discharge." See id. at 793. In ruling that §§ 528(a)(4) and 528(b)(2) are constitutional, the court reasoned that their disclosure requirements are reasonably and rationally related to the government's interest in preventing the deception of consumer debtors. See id. at 797.
Both parties petitioned the Supreme Court for writ of certiorari. The Court granted both writs on June 8, 2009 and consolidated the cases. See Docket No. 08-1119; Docket No. 08-1225.
Both parties agree that Congress enacted the Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act ("BAPCPA") to combat abuse of the bankruptcy system. See Brief of Amicus Curiae American Bar Association ("ABA") in Support of Petitioner at 6. The parties do not agree, however, as to whether the phrase "debt relief agency" encompasses attorneys and whether §§ 526(a)(4), 528(a)(4), and 528(b)(2) are constitutional as applied to attorneys. See Brief for Petitioner, Milavetz, Gallop & Milavetz, P.A. at 7; Brief for Respondent, United States of America at 11–16. A decision favoring either party will greatly affect how lawyers counsel bankruptcy clients.
One of Milavetz's supporters is the Commercial Law League of America ("CLLA"), an organization comprised of credit and finance experts. See Brief of Amicus Curiae Commercial Law League of America ("CLLA") in Support of Petitioner at 1. CLLA believes that inclusion of attorneys in the definition of "debt relief agency" will severely limit attorneys' ability to adequately represent their clients. See id. at 2. They assert that not all behavior banned by § 526(a)(4) is illegal and that incurring debt before filing for bankruptcy in some cases may be beneficial to both the debtor and creditor. See id. at 20. For example, they argue that it may be beneficial for a debtor to refinance an existing mortgage in order to get a lower interest rate. See id. at 21.
The United States does not believe that § 526(a)(4) is that inclusive. It believes that § 526(a)(4) only restricts the incurrence of new debt with the intent of defrauding creditors prior to bankruptcy. See Brief for Respondent at 28. It asserts that the BAPCPA is necessary to restore personal integrity and responsibility in the bankruptcy system. See id. at 3. The United States emphasizes that Congress passed the BAPCPA after determining that bankruptcy professionals, attorneys included, were engaging in misleading and abusive practices, filing unnecessary bankruptcy petitions and jeopardizing debtors' ability to obtain discharge of their debt. See id. The United States argues that Congress designed the BAPCPA to ameliorate these abusive practices and to ensure fairness for both creditors and debtors. See id.
The American Bar Association ("ABA"), one of Milavetz' supporters, does not dispute that Congress intended to curb abusive practices. See Brief of ABA at 6. The ABA does, however, express concern that application of the BAPCPA to attorneys will "significantly undermine attorney-client privilege." See id. Particularly, it is concerned that the BAPCPA will restrict communications between attorneys and their clients, and makes those communications discoverable. See id. The ABA states that enforcement of § 526(a)(4) will require inquiries into the attorney-client discussions, to determine whether the attorney, in fact, advised the client to incur debt in contemplation of bankruptcy. See id. at 16–17.
The United States does not find the ABA's concerns compelling and counters that "[a] licensed attorney's ethical obligations to the bench and the profession sometimes require her to exercise a degree of restraint in what she advocates and how." Brief for Respondent at 46. The United States notes that the government has a responsibility to maintain high standards in licensed professions. See id. at 48. From its point of view, because attorneys are licensed members of the court, they should be subject to speech restrictions that the ordinary citizen is not. See id. at 47.
Milavetz's supporters emphasize that, as licensed members of the court, attorneys are already subject to speech restrictions. See Brief of ABA at 11. For example, they note that the ABA Model Rules of Professional Conduct already prohibit attorneys from counseling a client to commit fraud in a bankruptcy court. See id. at 11. They fear that if attorneys are "debt relief agencies," they may be subject to conflicting obligations under the BAPCPA and state ethics rules. See Brief of CLLA at 10.
An additional concern for supporters of the United States is that a victory for the petitioners would detrimentally change the standard of review for disclosure laws. See Brief of Amici Curiae Public Good, et al in Support of Respondent at 1. They fear that adopting the higher level of scrutiny that Milavetz proposes would threaten the federal, state, and local disclosure laws, including laws that regulate warnings concerning mercury in light bulbs and calorie disclosures in fast food restaurants. See id. at 5. They argue that important disclosure laws that protect consumers from dangerous products may not survive under the proposed heightened scrutiny standard. See id. at 29. From their point of view, the current standard allows for the free flow of commercial information. See id. at 30.
The Eighth Circuit made three key holdings in the lower court. See Milavetz, Gallop & Milavetz, P.A. v. United States, 541 F.3d 785, 797 (8th Cir. 2008). First, it held that attorneys are "debt relief agencies." See id. at 792. Second, it held that 18 U.S.C. § 526(a)(4) is unconstitutionally overbroad. See id. at 797. Third, it held that 18 U.S.C. §§ 528(a)(4) and (b)(2) are reasonably related to a government interest and thus constitutional. See id. Milavetz appeals the Eight Circuit's first and third holdings, while the United States challenges the second holding. See Brief for Petitioner, Milavetz, Gallop & Milavetz, P.A. at 96; Brief for Respondent, United States of America at 71.
Is an Attorney a "Debt Relief Agency?"
The bankruptcy statutes at issue in this case, 11 U.S.C. §§ 526(a), 528(a)(4), and 528(b)(2)(B), apply to "debt relief agencies." See 11 U.S.C. §§ 526(a), 528(a)(4), and 528(b)(2)(B). The bankruptcy statute defines a "debt relief agency" as "any person who provides any bankruptcy assistance to an assisted person in return for the payment of money or other valuable consideration." 11 U.S.C. § 101(12A). The statute includes five exceptions to this definition, none of which lists "attorney" or a variation thereof. See 11 U.S.C. § 101(12A)(A)-(E).
Milavetz argues that an attorney is not a "debt relief agency." See Brief for Petitioner at 13. It states that if Congress intended to include attorneys within the definition, it would have done so expressly by mentioning the term "attorney" at least somewhere in 11 U.S.C. § 101(12A). See id. at 16–17. It notes that Congress specifically included a "bankruptcy petition preparer" as a "debt relief agency," even though it is intuitive that such a person provides "bankruptcy assistance." See id. at 17–18. Thus, it argues, since Congress was careful to include a "bankruptcy petition provider," as a "debt relief agency," it, too, would have been just as careful to specifically include "attorney" had it intended for the statute to cover attorneys. See id. at 18–19.
In response, the United States claims that an attorney is clearly a "debt relief agency." See Brief for Respondent at 16. First, it argues that attorneys are people who provide "bankruptcy assistance." See Brief for Respondent at 17–18. The statutory definition of "bankruptcy assistance" is "providing…advice [or] counsel…or appearing in a case or proceeding on behalf of another, or providing legal representation." See 11 U.S.C. § 101(4A). Next, it emphasizes the fact that "attorney" is not among the list of enumerated exceptions to "debt relief agency." See id. at 19. Finally, it contends that legislative history, particular two House Reports and hearings on the issue, shows that Congress intended for these statutes to address abuses by attorneys. See id. at 20–21.
Is 11 U.S.C. § 526(a)(4) constitutional?
Under 11 U.S.C. § 526(a)(4), "a debt relief agency shall not…advise an assisted person or prospective assisted person to incur more debt in contemplation of such person filing" for bankruptcy protection. See 11 U.S.C. § 526(a)(4).
Milavetz argues that § 526(a)(4) is unconstitutional, because it prohibits speech protected by the First Amendment. See Brief for Petitioner at 35. For example, Milavetz contends, the law prevents an attorney from answering simple financial advice questions such as "May I co-sign a student loan for my child's education?" because this activity, although legal, would incur debt. See id. at 51. Milavetz asserts that prohibiting an attorney from answering such a question is unconstitutional because, in Legal Services Corp. v. Velasquez, the Supreme Court held that private legal advice to a client is protected speech. See id. at 35.
The United States argues that the statute is not overbroad because it targets the accumulation of debt with the specific intent to abuse bankruptcy laws. See Brief for Respondent at 32. It contends that the key restricting language in the statute is "in contemplation of [bankruptcy]." See 11 U.S.C. § 526(a)(4). It states that this specific legal phrase "has been construed in the bankruptcy context to mean actions taken with the intent to abuse the protections of the bankruptcy system." See Brief for Respondent at 29. Also, it quotes Black's Law Dictionary, which defines "contemplation of bankruptcy" as being "often coupled with action designed to thwart the distribution of assets in a bankruptcy proceeding." See id.
In support of its challenge, Milavetz argues that § 526(a) fails the constitutional test of strict scrutiny. See Brief for Petitioner at 66. To pass strict scrutiny, a law must (1) concern a compelling state interest and (2) be narrowly tailored to address that interest. See Wex: Law about Strict Scrutiny. Milavetz argues that § 526(a) does not address a compelling state interest. See Brief for Petitioner at 67. Furthermore, Milavetz claims that the law is not narrowly tailored because it does not use the least restrictive means to address the issue of abusive conduct. See id. at 66. For example, it states, Congress could have specifically rendered abusive conduct illegal, rather than broadly prohibiting any and all advice on incurring more debt. See id. at 71.
In response, the United States argues that strict scrutiny does not apply in this case because the Supreme Court, in Gentile v. State Bar, held that attorneys are subject to heightened restrictions on speech. See Brief for Respondent at 47. The United States argues that this different First Amendment standard applies in all legal contexts, including bankruptcy representation. See id. at 49. Under the United States' reading of §526(a) to include only abuse of the bankruptcy laws, § 526(a) is constitutional because courts have upheld a state's right to sanction an attorney for counseling a client to engage in illegal activity. See id. at 50.
Are 11 U.S.C. §§ 528(a)(4) and 528(b)(2)(B) constitutional?
11 U.S.C. §§ 528(a)(4) and 528(b)(2)(B) require that a "debt relief agency" conspicuously include the following sentence or one substantially similar thereto, in all advertisements: "We are a debt relief agency. We help people file for bankruptcy relief under the Bankruptcy Code." 11 U.S.C. §§ 528(a)(4), 528(b)(2)(B).
Milavetz argues that §§ 528(a)(4) and 528(b)(2)(B) are unconstitutional restrictions on free speech. See Brief for Petitioner at 76–77. Milavetz notes that the government's stated goal in enacting §§ 528(a)(4) and 528(b)(2)(B) was to regulate deceptive advertising, yet the statute is so broad that it encompasses truthful and non-deceptive advertising. See id. at 85.
Milavetz argues that, to regulate its truthful, non-deceptive advertising, the government must meet the three-pronged standard of intermediate scrutiny: the law must (1) concern a substantial government interest, (2) directly advance that interest, and (3) be narrowly drawn. See id. at 90–91. Milavetz argues that the government fails to satisfy any of the three requirements. See id.
First, Milavetz argues that the government has no substantial governmental interest in regulating attorneys' advertisements. See Brief for Petitioner at 91–92. Next, Milavetz contends that the government fails to establish how §§ 528(a)(4) and 528(b)(2)(B) directly advance any substantial interest in preventing deceptive advertising in the field of bankruptcy. See id. at 94. Finally, Milavetz argues that the law is not narrowly drawn, as evidenced by the fact that Milavetz has to make these disclosures despite its truthful advertising. See id.
The United States argues that intermediate scrutiny does not apply because the Supreme Court, in Zauderer v. Office of Disc. Counsel, held that the lower reasonable relationship to a valid state interest test applied to public disclosure laws like §§ 528(a)(4) and 528(b)(2)(B). See Brief for Respondent at 59. In applying the Zauderer standard, the United States argues that the disclosure requirement bears a reasonable relationship to governmental interest in preventing false advertising. See id. at 64.
The United States notes that Milavetz's lawsuit was a facial challenge and not an as-applied challenge, meaning that Milavetz challenged the law itself as opposed to the application of the law to Milavetz's own disclosures. See Brief for Respondent at 69–70. The United States argues that because of its attack on the law itself, Milavetz's claim that its own advertising is non-deceptive is irrelevant because that issue is not before the Court. See id. In addition, the United States emphasizes that the statute allows "debt relief agencies" to alter the specific disclosure language. See id. at 68. Therefore, it argues, the law does not require misleading disclosures because each attorney could alter the language as needed. See id.
This case chiefly addresses the way in which lawyers may counsel their clients on bankruptcy matters. More specifically, this case determines whether, under the Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act, attorneys are included in the phrase "debt relief agencies," and if so, whether the Act violates the First Amendment of the United States Constitution as applied to attorneys. While the Court's analysis will focus on statutory language such as "debt relief agency" and "in contemplation of bankruptcy," the Court will also address Congress's ability to address deceptive attorney activity without overly restricting free speech.
Prepared by: Michelle Lynn and Chris Maier
Edited by: Lucienne Pierre
Additional Sources
- American Bankruptcy Law Journal, Erwin Chemerinsky: Constitutional Issues Posed in the Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act of 2005
- New York Times, Adam Liptak: Free-Speech Case for a Debt-Ridden Age (June 22, 2009)


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2014 Primetime Emmy Awards Best Celebrity Hairstyles
It's time to have a look at the most impressive and memorable hairstyles noted during the absolutely flabbergasting 2014 Primetime Emmy Awards! This is the occasion during which every other look exceeds the previous one coming with more and more incomparably beautiful interpretations and combinations designed by the most luxurious and popular designers and fashion houses of the world! So having a nosey at the most impressive and remarkable 2014 Primetime Emmy Awards celebrity hairstyles and makeup options, we can speak about the following looks!
Elegant Updos
1. Keltie Knight Romantic Loose Updo
The very first beauty we would like to speak about is Keltie Knight, who presented the gorgeous and a bit vintage-inspired 'do with some curly front framing bangs and hair finished off with the impressive smokey eye makeup and the pinky highlights of the cheekbones.
2. Taylor Schilling Effortless Updo
The alternative presented by Taylor Schilling was the next type of experiment that could be made with updo hairstyles. This time the classic forms were matched with the side swept front hair and finished off with asymmetrical touches for the modernized look. The light smokey eye makeup also matched the natural pink accents nicely.
3. Hayden Panettiere Headband-Embellished Updo
Headbands were also in for the show and the beautiful future mommy Hayden Panettiere leapt at the opportunity of matching the gorgeous silver dress with the silver headband securing her curly locks into a wonderful 'do, which was completed with the all-natural makeup with the hardly noticeable smokey effect with lighter tones.
4. Sarah Hyland Top Knot
Classics are undoubtedly one of the most frequently observed options for any event. This one is not an exception and Sarah Hyland came with another gorgeous interpretation of the classic high bun, completed with messy touches and overall sleek back style. The makeup accents were quite heavy falling on the eyes and the nicely contoured cheekbones matching the brownish tone of the lips perfectly.
5. Teyonah Parris Braided Top Bun
Dramatic updos were also having a moment here, and one of the most impressive alternatives was presented by Teyonah Parris, who appeared on the red carpet with the super high braided bun of hers matched with the sleek finishes and the pinky accents for the makeup.
6. Laura Prepon Low Side Bun
Laura Prepon also chose an experimental approach for this fabulous red carpet event, going for the side bun completed with the messy front framing hair on one side and finished off with the overall side swept touches. And as for her makeup, the classic and popular smokey with natural duo worked in this case too.
7. Melissa Rauch Low Bun
The hairdo that Melissa Rauch chose was really beyond gorgeous and amazing! The pure romance was embedded into her awesome low bun, spiced up with delicate bangs and some front framing hair for the absolute effect. The bluish highlights matching her blue eyes and the gorgeous blue dress were all that was necessary for perfection.
8. Nancy O'Dell Sleek Bun
Another fabulous alternative has been noted with the look of Nancy O'Dell, who picked a super amazing updo adorned with a side parting and very delicate blonde shade plays matched with the pinky accents on the cheeks and the sweet pinky lip gloss with the imaginative accents on the eyes.
9. Allison Williams Backcombed Sleek Updo
Sleek updo was the pick of Allison Williams, who opted for a super sleek front part and some interesting brownish highlights for the eyes. The pale pink accents for the lips also complemented the look greatly.
10. Anna Chlumsky Classic Updo
The next exemplar of classic updos with central parting was picked by Anna Chlumsky, who decided to go for the classic accents of hairstyle matched with the slight smokey eye and the overall natural makeup highlights to counterbalance the whole look.
11. Louise Roe Classic Bun
The following amazing interpretation of the updo hairstyle is that of Louise Roe, who opted for a really impressive and classic updo composed of a low positioned bun and completed with a central parting and overall curious minimalistic touches. Her 'do matched her natural makeup and the gorgeous accents on the eyes just ideally.
12. January Jones Twisted Updo
As for January Jones the combination of twisted touches was the key for the amazing effect of the updo she managed to create matching the classic updo forms and the classic bangs finished off with the front framing hair and the reddish makeup accents.
13. Kiernan Shipka Classic Low Updo
Another great variant for the classic updo variants is presented by Kiernan Shipka, who picked a very romantic side swept 'do, adorned with very impressive color plays of black and blonde. Her look was completed with natural makeup accents the catchiest part of which was the pinky lip-gloss, but also the peachy tones for the cheeks.
14. Michelle Dockery Center-Parted Updo
Finally, the last but not least dumbfounding updo variant was presented by Michelle Dockery, who again decided to pick a central parted and very romantic alternative spiced up with creamy makeup highlights and overall minimalistically created arrows on the eyes.
15. Claire Danes Romantic Low Bun
One more impressive alternative for the creative range of updos was presented by Claire Danes, who decided to put it with the synthesis of classic and modernized, spiced up with some front framing hair and overall side swept accents, matched with the red lips and the luxurious arrows on the eyes.
Stylish Medium-Length and Short Hairstyles
1. Julianne Hough Textured Pixie
The following impressive look is that of sweet and charming Julianne Hough, who appeared on the red carpet with the amazing pixie of hers, adorned with an asymmetrical side parted style and very nice color plays of blonde tones. The natural makeup with slight accents on her sky blue eyes only completed the look.
2. Michelle Monaghan Side-Parted Locks
Side parting was the pick of Michelle Monaghan, who opted for a very nice and minimalistic wavy 'do, adorned with delicate waves and a very catchy brownish tone, all completed with the outlines of the eyes and the pinky makeup accents.
3. Heidi Klum Beachy Waves
The following sassy look created with the help of beachy waves was noted with the hairstyle of Heidi Klum, who was on the side of the classic forms adorned with central parted touches and nice color plays on the tips and the roots. All-natural makeup was contrasted with the slightly smokey eye effect.
4. Kerry Washington Sleek Loose Hair
Classic with messy was the formula of the hairstyle of Kerry Washington, who decided to match the central parted accents with the messy touches in order to secure the great effect for her shoulder length hair. The brownish makeup accents and the bluish shadow play of the eyes were the guarantees of the ideal combination.
Wavy Long Locks
1. Sofia Vergara Center-Parted Locks
One more amazing interpretation of the wavy locks could be seen with the hairstyle of Sofia Vergara, who opted for a multi-layered 'do and matched it with very sassy and feminine makeup accents created with red shade for the lips and some smokey accents for the eyes.
2. Julia Roberts Effortless Locks
As always, Julia Roberts managed to come up with the most universal and classic makeup and hairstyle variations possible, stunning everyone with the messy and slightly wavy locks matched with the all-natural makeup accents with only some slight highlights resembling smokey eye.
3. Natalie Dormer Lavish Locks
Another amazing and luxurious combination of makeup and hairstyle was the one Natalie Dormer opted for, styling her blonde locks into lavish and gorgeous waves and finishing it off with peachy makeup accents again putting the accents on the slight and delicate arrows on the eyes.
4. Zooey Deschanel Curls
Curly and absolutely romantic was the pick of gorgeous Zooey Deschanel, who decided to opt for a nice central parted curly 'do, spiced up with the central parted bangs and the glossy glittery finishes for the lips, all finished with the delicate accents on the eyes.
5. Christina Hendricks Wavy Hairstyle
Wavy with messy created the perfection of Christina Hendricks, who decided to match the central parting with the wavy 'do and combine all that with the red accents of the lips and the noticeable pink accents on the cheeks. The delicate arrows on the eyes were also there to complete the look.
Here were the 2014 Primetime Emmy Awards best celebrity hairstyles and makeup looks that we would like to present to your scrutiny, hoping that you will find the correct sources for your inspiration and for the creation of the most impressive and trendy looks for any occasion!
Photos courtesy of Zimbio
Don't Miss: MTV VMA 2014 Best Celebrity Hairstyles
Fall/ Winter 2014-2015 Hairstyle Trends


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OTTAWA — The Liberal government's new feminist development policy makes no new spending commitments for foreign aid, despite numerous calls by international agencies to do so.
The new plan, unveiled Friday by International Development Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau, does reallocate $150 million of the existing aid budget to women's organizations in 30 countries over the next five years.
The announcement caps a week of insight into Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's international strategy, including policy updates from Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland and Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan.
International Development Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau launches Canada's new Feminist International Assistance Policy during an event in Ottawa on June 9, 2017. (Photo: Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press)
Sajjan's announcement in particular committed the government to a $62-billion increase in defence spending over the next 20 years.
"The juxtaposition of a recommended 70 per cent increase to the defence budget with a recommended zero per cent increase to the development budget is simply stunning," said Stuart Hickox, the Canadian head of the anti-poverty group One.
While governments need to spend more, more emphasis needs to be placed on finding new partners on the private sector to fund aid projects, Bibeau told a news conference.
She highlighted a new development financing institution, along with a $300-million start-up budget, as the best way to bring more private-sector money into foreign aid.
"The juxtaposition of a recommended 70 per cent increase to the defence budget with a recommended zero per cent increase to the development budget is simply stunning."
Aid agencies have been critical of such an approach, because they say companies are beholden to their shareholders, not driven to alleviate poverty in fragile states where it can be difficult to show progress.
During the government's consultations, agencies urged Ottawa to lay out a plan to boost aid spending towards eventually reaching the United Nations target of 0.7 per cent of gross national income.
Canada's annual $5.3-billion budget amounts to just 0.3 per cent.
The review launched a new five-year $150 million initiative called the Woman's Voice and Leadership Program, which is designed to advance the rights of women in developing countries that have not previously had the resources to do so.
Spending helps Canada be 'taken seriously'
During Friday's gathering at Global Affairs headquarters in Ottawa, aid agencies appeared to take note of — and umbrage to — the apparent lack of new development money.
The government needs to boost aid spending "if Canada wants to be taken seriously" on the global stage, said one speaker, who did not identify herself during a question-and-answer session with Bibeau.
Others questioned the new focus on gender, saying they fear hard-won gains in helping all children risk falling by the wayside.
"While disappointing that children are not explicitly front and centre, looking forward we hope to see Canada continue to protect and realize the rights of children through the policy's six areas of action," said David Morley, the head of UNICEF Canada.
Aid agencies, however, applauded the government's focus on women and girls, saying that targeting them directly is a time-honoured approach to help alleviate poverty.
"Defeating global poverty means defeating gender inequality and social injustice," said Jacquelyn Wright of CARE Canada.
"That's why we're encouraged Canada is focused on ensuring women's voices are heard loud and clear in its international assistance."


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Supermarket wines sweep the International wine awards … And Tesco tops list of best-tasting tipples
19:33 GMT, 14 September 2012
Wine lovers may have an excuse to pop to the local supermarket for a quick tipple after supermarket wine triumphed at the world's most rigorously judged independent wine competition.
The good value wine stocked in supermarkets collected nearly a quarter of the awards at The International Wine Challenge Awards.
Presented by Co-Chairmen and leading wine experts Charles Metcalfe and Tim Atkin, the awards showed a fifty per cent increase in leading supermarket wine since last year.
The good value wine stocked in supermarkets collected nearly a quarter of the awards at The International Wine Challenge Awards
Leaders in the competition included Marks & Spencer's win in the Great Value Ros category for Le Froglet Ros 2011, Maison Virginie RRP 5.99 and the Own Label Range of the Year.
For the fourth consecutive year, Majestic Wines won High Street Chain of the Year and Slurp.co.uk took the honours as Direct Merchant of the Year.
And Cambridge Wine Merchants saw off national chains to take the top award, Wine Merchant of the Year.
Charles Metcalfe said: 'The IWC's aim is to recognise excellence and help wine drinkers source some of the world's best wines.
'The credibility of the IWC logo is testament to the competition's unrivalled professionalism and meticulous judging processes.
'IWC medals help to take the risks
out of buying wine, and point consumers towards quality wines at all
prices and in all styles.'
Demonstrating its understanding of quality wines, Tesco took three Great Value Champion awards home.
Sainsbury's also contributed to
supermarket success winning the Fairtrade Award for its Taste the
Difference Chenin Blanc 2011, Bosman Family Vineyards.
Tesco Finest Pouilly Fum, Fournier Pre et Fils – Great Value Champion White
Tesco Finest Gigondas 2010 Vignobles La Coterie – Great Value Champion Red
Tesco Finest Sauternes 2009, Yvon Mau – Great Value Sweet Wine
Sainsbury's Taste the Difference Chenin Blanc 2011, Bosman Family Vineyards- Fair Trade Award
Marks & Spencer's Le Froglet Ros 2011- Great
Value Ros
The judging panel was led by a team of world-renowned wine experts working with 400 judges drawn from the wine world.
Each gold medal-winning wine was blind tasted at least three (and up to six) times.
'The IWC is about to celebrate its 30th year and the influence of the competition has never been greater.
'We have received a record number of entries this year with more countries entering than ever before as more wine producers see the value of an IWC award win.
'The wine drinker is very well served this year with great quality and well-priced wines available nationwide. The International Wine Challenge is very proud of its role in bringing these wines to the attention of wine drinkers,' said Charles Metcalfe.


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Let's keep working on the large laser cutter. Learn how a laser cutter works by building one. We'll wire up the stepper motors and mount the pulleys for the Y-axis. Then, we'll hook it up to the controller and see if it works. Come if you want to help, or if you're just curious to find out more about CNC technology and lasers.
Back to All Events
Earlier Event: December 14Sunday Open House
Later Event: December 19Craft Night- Winter Wearables and Cosplay


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4 6 Cadillac Northstar Engine Diagram 2000 Deville A big refresh came in with the standard engine deville was victorious in cadillac released the redesigned eighth generation cadillac deville with a sportier and more aerodynamic Cadillac s deville has been the best selling performance cadillac s northstar engine has some important improvements for while its basic specification hasn t changed it s still a Thanks to a new chassis the cadillac deville big which brings us to power a 4 6 litre 32 valve northstar v8 powerplant is the engine loads of grunt here which means the front drive.
4 6 Cadillac Northstar Engine Diagram 2000 Deville Cadillac has on the then new deville and is also used on the buick lucerne a big front drive gm sibling that invites comparison the dts is mechanically identical to a v 8 lucerne both use Q i have a cadillac deville that has the northstar engine i am having a problem in that the engine is burning too much oil about 4 to 5 quarts in less than 2 000 a cadillac was having Q i own a infiniti i30 with 53 000 miles for the last three months every few weeks when i try to start the engine it does not crank over q i was given a cadillac deville 4 9 with.
4 6 Cadillac Northstar Engine Diagram 2000 Deville What we have here is a cadillac deville one of more than 100 000 that it was one of the last models to use cadillac s northstar engine in this case a 4 6 liter v8 that produced all of 275 For the version which is little different while you catch your breath i d better explain something this cadillac is powered by the famed northstar 300 horsepower 4 6 liter 32 valve v 8 Night vision an exclusive option on the cadillac deville 226 and a with a further refined 4 6 l northstar v8 engine that now runs on regular gasoline the deville goes as well as ever 226.
Redesigned in the latest 4 6 liter 300 horsepower dohc version of the highly evolved cadillac northstar v 8 by the way that s 300 horses on 87 octane unleaded not pricier premium or even Specifications model cadillac deville dts engine 4 6 liter dohc v 8 horsepower torque under the hood is a 300 horsepower northstar v 8 engine coupled to a four speed automatic transmission it.
It's possible to get or download caterpillar-wiring diagram from several websites. If you take a close look at the diagram you will observe the circuit includes the battery, relay, temperature sensor, wire, and a control, normally the engine control module. With an extensive collection of electronic symbols and components, it's been used among the most completed, easy and useful wiring diagram drawing program. 4 6 Cadillac Northstar Engine Diagram 2000 Deville. The wiring diagram on the opposite hand is particularly beneficial to an outside electrician. Sometimes wiring diagram may also refer to the architectural wiring program. The simplest approach to read a home wiring diagram is to begin at the source, or the major power supply. Basically, the home wiring diagram is simply utilized to reveal the DIYer where the wires are.
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Installing a tachometer on your Vehicles can assist in preventing critical repair problems, however. You might have a weak ground issue. The way the brain learns is a subject that still requires a good deal of study. How it learns can be associated by how it is able to create memories.
In a parallel circuit, each unit is directly linked to the power supply, so each system gets the exact voltage. There are 3 basic sorts of standard light switches. The circuit needs to be checked with a volt tester whatsoever points. 4 6 Cadillac Northstar Engine Diagram 2000 Deville. Each circuit displays a distinctive voltage condition. You are able to easily step up the voltage to the necessary level utilizing an inexpensive buck-boost transformer and steer clear of such issues. The voltage is the sum of electrical power produced by the battery. Be sure that the new fuse isn't blown, and carries the very same amperage.
Each fuse is going to have a suitable amp rating for those devices it's protecting. The wiring is merely a bit complicated. Our automotive wiring diagrams permit you to relish your new mobile electronics in place of spend countless hours attempting to work out which wires goes to which Ford part or component. Overall the wiring is really straight forward. There's a lot wiring that you've got to tie into your truck's wiring harness, but it's much easier to do than it seems. A ground wire offers short circuit protection and there's no neutral wire used. There's one particular wire leading from the distributor which may be used for the tachometer.
When you have just a single cable going into the box, you're at the close of the run, and you've got the simplest scenario possible. All trailer plugs and sockets are extremely easy to wire. The adapter has the essential crosslinks between the signals. Wiring a 7-pin plug on your truck can be a bit intimidating when you're looking at it from beyond the box.
The control box may have over three terminals. After you have the correct size box and have fed the cable to it, you're almost prepared to permit the wiring begin. Then there's also a fuse box that's for the body controls that is situated under the dash. 4 6 Cadillac Northstar Engine Diagram 2000 Deville. You will find that every circuit has to have a load and every load has to have a power side and a ground side. Make certain that the transformer nameplate power is enough to supply the load that you're connecting.
The bulb has to be in its socket. Your light can be wired to the receiver and don't require supply additional capacity to light as it can get power from receiver. In the event the brake lights aren't working, a police officer may block the vehicle and issue a warning to create the repair within a particular time limit. Even though you would still must power the relay with a power source or battery. Verify the power is off before trying to attach wires. In case it needs full capacity to begin, it won't operate in any way.
Replacing thermostat on your own without a Denver HVAC technician can be quite harrowing if you don't hook up the wiring correctly. After the plumbing was cut out, now you can get rid of the old pool pump. It's highly recommended to use a volt meter to make sure there is no voltage visiting the motor, sometimes breakers do not get the job done properly, also you might have turned off the incorrect breaker. Remote distance is left up to 500m. You may use a superior engine ground. The second, that's the most frequently encountered problem, is a weak ground in the computer system. Diagnosing an electrical short can be extremely tough and costly.


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WKAL 1450 shared The City of Rome, NY's post.
5 days ago
New Electric Vehicles for Codes Enforcement
City of Rome designated a Clean Energy Community!
Rome, NY -
In January 2017, Chief Enforcement Officer Mark Domenico, under the direction of Mayor Jacqueline Izzo, submitted a Clean Energy Communities grant application to NYSERDA and the City of Rome was designated a Clean Energy Community and awarded $100,000.00. The grant has allowed the City the opportunity to replace an older, inefficient Code Enforcement gasoline vehicle fleet with 3 new electric hybrid vehicles, at no cost to the City of Rome taxpayers.
"We are very pleased to be designated a Clean Energy Community by New York State. Having met milestones consistent with clean energy initiatives, the city was rewarded with a $100,000 grant to further our commitment to reducing greenhouse gas emissions through the purchase of 3 electric vehicles, and we will continue to implement sensible clean energy projects," said Mayor Jacqueline M. Izzo.
The City of Rome has demonstrated a strong commitment to reducing greenhouse gas emissions with the placement of solar arrays throughout the City including City Hall, the installation of 10 electrical vehicle charging stations and other cost saving energy related upgrades.
Consistent with this commitment, the City of Rome Code Enforcement Department will now be among the first in the Mohawk Valley to utilize electric hybrid vehicles for their fleet. The use of this vehicle will not only continue the commitment to a clean environment but will also demonstrate to others the benefits an electric hybrid vehicle offers.
Based on the replacement of three gas vehicles, with an annual mileage of 15,000 miles, the use of these new vehicles will reduce Rome's greenhouse gas emissions by 28.05 tons of C02 annually and 280.05 tons of C02 over a ten year period.
With the three vehicles now in service and a portion of the grant balance remaining, the City will purchase an additional electric hybrid vehicle in 2019. ... See MoreSee Less
WKAL 1450 shared Old City Hall's post.
1 week ago
A great photo shoot at "Old City Hall" and a wonderful first resident that allowed us to feature her new home! Much work continues and more photos will be posted but we wanted everyone to enjoy viewing what the finished product looks like. ... See MoreSee Less
WKAL 1450 shared Nicholas M Ross's post.
1 week ago
Two guests from our Rome senior and community centers on the air with us this morning. On the left is Lori Gleason from the South Rome Senior Center. To the right is Melinda Ruiz from the Ava Dorfman Senior and Community Center. Nick Ross is our photographer on the case ! ... See MoreSee Less
WKAL 1450 shared Rome City School District - Rome, NY's post.
1 week ago
William A. Valentine
Girls Basketball League Sign - Ups
ALL GIRLS GRADES 7th thru 12th Grade
When: Tuesday, Nov. 27th, 6:00-8:00 pm
Thursday, Nov. 29th, 6:00-8:00 pm
Where: Strough Middle School
801 Laurel St. Rome, NY
Registration Fee: $20.00
Parent or Guardian must be present at registration.
Girls who play or intend to play in another girls' basketball program which runs concurrently with the Valentine season are not eligible.
Registration Cut-off date is December 7, 2018.
Contact: Jim Ryan 315-336-5556 ... See MoreSee Less


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We believe now is the time for harmful toxic chemicals to be replaced by a new generation of eco-friendly, effective, and economical solutions to treat our water and our food. Because of this, BioNovelus intends to disrupt the agricultural use of pesticides and fungicides. The company founders, Jean and Nathalie Ekbo, have set their sights on alleviating the devastation currently being caused by 'coffee rust' throughout Central America where 500,000 jobs have been lost and $ 2.5 billion in crop damages incurred from 2012 to 2015 only. Coffee experts say that by 2050 arabica coffee may even disappear.
BioNovelus' biodegradable fungicide CR-10 is proving to be highly successful in field trials in Costa Rica and Guatemala. As a result, we are effectively protecting coffee plantations from the worst effects of "coffee rust." As soon as we complete the regulatory registration in affected countries, we will be ready to address this global emergency with an environmentally friendly product. Our company will work closely with grower cooperatives to promote the adoption of this technology and to train them in the proper application of CR10.


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The Drastic Changes In Nicole Kidman Due To Plastic Surgery
In recent years, it has become a trend that celebrities must look perfect in shape and appearance. In a battle to defeat others, each and every celebrity try best to give everlasting, the most perfect and faultless appearance. Nicole Kidman is included in the list of celebrities who have undergone the surgeon's knife several times in their life to sustain their beauty. The small size of breast, loose skin, wrinkled face, wider nose uneven forehead and shapeless buttocks are the features that look disgusting in the appearance. Nicole Kidman plastic surgery attempts are the result of her eagerness to look younger and attractive.
No one likes getting older and stars especially worry about staying youthful looking and in demand, but it seems that even young celebrities in their twenties are opting for plastic surgery.
Unfortunately the results of these fillers and procedures aren't always as natural-looking as they might like, and stars such as Lindsay Lohan (Lindsay Lohan plastic surgery) and Megan Fox (Megan Fox plastic surgery spent $60.000) now appear much older than their tender years.
Not all celeb plastic surgery is bad, although from the looks of things it can easily be taken too far – Nicole Kidman is just one example of the perils of overusing botox!
The rumors related to Nicole Kidman plastic surgery have captured the attention of the public. People have observed visible changes in her figure as well as facial expressions. It has been thought that she has taken the treatment regarding her breast, lips, neck, cheeks, buttock and eyebrows etc. though the actress Nicole Kidman had not approved her plastic surgeries but we can get our point by comparing her bundle of pictures. With the help of her pictures, it is clear that some specific changes cannot happen through a natural procedure. These can be obtained only with Botox injections, fillers, breast augmentation and face uplift. Within a month, she has gained the well shaped and well sized breast. Her cup size has been increased from A to C. It cannot be a natural process, definitely she has undergone for augmentation with silicon pads.
Unfortunately, the outcome of Nicole Kidman plastic surgery is horrible. She has lost her pretty looks. Due to excessive use of injection, her lips look overhanging and swollen in shape. The drastic changes in her facial expressions have made her weird and freaky for the audience. It is ridiculous that she has not admitted the truth regarding her surgeries. She has continually denied the media reports and proofs. However, the public can easily realize that skin cannot get altered naturally. She is a public figure and has a long list of her fans. They still like her appearance as she has not become the true victim of bad plastic surgery like Joan Van Ark (Joan Van Ark plastic surgery gone wrong).


text: On Wednesday afternoon the Continental Village Fire Department along with Garrison FD and Ambulance were dispatched to a reported MVA head-on with Injuires on Route 9. (Do to the fact that CVFD covers the north bound lane and GVFD covers southbound lane in this area both departments are dispatched simultaneously to all MVAs along this stretch of Route 9). The First arriving unit on scene reported that both drivers were out of their vehicles and extrication would not be needed. Firefighters went to work cleaning up the fluids that spilled on the roadway as well as directing traffic while EMS tended to the injured parties. Fire units returned to service once the vehicles were removed from the roadway


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Season 4
Dexter Season 4
Below you will find all the promo vids for Season 4, some interviews, including one with Michael C. Hall and Michael Aussielo from Entertainment Weekly in which MCH discusses the possibility of Dexter moving beyond Season 4. Also some gallery promo pics and more. Enjoy :-D.
Dexter Season 4: Behind the Mask
Dexter: "Under Pressure"
The First Season 4 Promo:
Check out the Season 4 promo's from Comic Con 2009…. Wicked and a MUST see!
A quick (20 second) brand new trailer, funny & just a little disturbing… But you should be used to that by now 😉
Michael Ausiello Interviews Michael C. Hall During Comic-Con 2009
A few Season 4 promo pics from the Gallery:
Check back here often as this page will be updated regularly with all the Dexter Season 4 News & Goss!


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More about freelance writer Kaleigh Moore
You know, I hate it when you go to an about page and don't learn much about who that person really is. So let's not do that. Here's a bit more about my story and what makes me tick.
I've always been a bit of a multi-tasker. I started my first online business at 19--an Etsy store selling jewelry online--and over the course of five years (while I was in college and into my first job), I was able to learn from that hands-on marketing experimentation about what worked and what didn't.
During that period, I also worked 35-40+ hours a week at a few different jobs: I was a coffeeshop barista/baker, I worked at a retirement home, for a while I was an optician, and I later interned at a magazine.
Needless to say, I wasn't bored.
But that hard work paid off. I was able to leverage my experience into my first professional job immediately after graduating college. As in, I started the week after I graduated.
For almost three years, I worked full-time as the PR manager for a hunger relief non-profit, which gave me endless opportunities to sharpen my speaking, writing, and marketing skills. I traveled the state doing presentations, designed lots of marketing materials, and wrote the organization's newsletters and email campaigns.
After a while, I started doing some work on the side (because, you know, I'm not good at sitting still.) I landed a few social media management gigs early on, and later started dipping my toes into the freelance writing world--which I found out I liked more than anything else.
Eventually, I got to the point where I was earning enough to be comfortable leaving my full-time job and giving the freelance world a try. I gave myself 18 months to see how it went.
Guess what? It worked out.
I eventually transitioned into writing about eCommerce and the software that goes with it because it allowed me to put that original business experience I had learned from owning my own shop to good use. Now, I can tell you way more than you'd ever want to know about both topics.
That's my story...now on to some fun facts!
Obscure talents
Excellent apple pie-maker
Mediocre Spanish-speaker
Very poor guitar-player
A few of my favorite things
Writers: Patti Smith (Just Kids is my favorite book) and Joan Didion (Blue Nights is my 2nd favorite)
TV shows: The Office, Gilmore Girls, Everwood, Parks and Rec
Movies: Inception, Mrs. Doubtfire, The Adjustment Bureau
Music: Varies...check out one of my favorite Spotify playlists
Daily use stuff: Here's a list of my favorite things I use every day
Travel: Some of my favorite places my husband and I have visited are Cadaques, the Amalfi Coast, and Palm Springs
Reading: I typically read 80-100 books per year
Nature walks: I went kayaking for the first time this year (and now I'm hooked!)
Going to the movies: Movies in theaters are special...and so is popcorn
Eating good food: Give me a cheese plate or some fancy ice cream and I'm happy
My pets
Brooks, Golden Retriever and all-around good boy
Monday, Tabby cat with an attitude
Whatchya been up to?
If you read this and now you want to get in touch and discuss the nuances of Robin William's performance in Mrs. Doubtfire or talk about how great Patti Smith is, shoot me an email (or use the form below), reach out on Twitter, or say hi on Instagram. I also send a newsletter 2x per month that you should check out.


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It's time to talk about racism
Submitted by Chalice Press White people need to be able to talk about race. But one of the reasons why we don't is because it makes us really anxious to talk about it. Chalice Press' newest release, Carolyn B. Helsel's Anxious to Talk about It: Helping White Christians Talk Faithfully about Racism offers tools to engage racial […]Read more


text: Park date. October 10, 2016 All these photos are from over a month ago, maybe even two months ago? I didn't know whether to post this or not since it had been sitting in my drafts for such a long time, but I really love these photos so why not? Right? Two different trips to the park. One of our favorite parks. It was closed down for reconstruction at the start of the year and reopened just in time for summer. They did an amazing job. Sometimes sitting in the sidelines isn't so bad when you have these two guys to look at. I mean I'm usually sitting at the edge of my seat if not running after both of them but it's still fun. That last photo still hurts my heart every time I see it. Ian was playing with his dinosaur on the ground and somehow placed his arm incorrectly and hurt the bottom of his lip and chin. I don't know how other parents do it. Alvin and I always freak out and I think we both hurt more than Ian does every time he gets hurt. I can cry forever about a scrape he might get and he'll only cry for a few minutes, if that. He might just be stronger than both his dad and I, definitely braver, that's for sure.


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Date: 18th February 2018
Venue: Dubai,UAE
Website: http://www.gulfood.com/
Gulfood is the world's biggest annual food and hospitality show where international flavors find a world-class business.
Established 26 years ago, Gulfood has a well-deserved reputation within the food and hospitality industry, delivering spectacular returns on investment.
The show boasts of participants representing as many as 88 different countries. Informative conferences are organized during this four-day show, where attendees are provided with ample opportunities to learn about the latest business trends and new products. More than 110 foreign country pavilions are also set up at the event, which is held at Dubai. The exhibition is attended by over 68681 qualified business visitors in all. Many professional chefs also take up this opportunity to highlight their skills to a large audience. Different varieties of food items, beverages, restaurant supplies, hospitality services and other related food equipment are exhibited here, by more than 3621 exhibiting firms. Attendees can also participate in the Baking and Pastry Guild Competition that is hosted here. Corporate award ceremonies are held at the show too.


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Certificates are a great way to save money. They offer you an excellent interest rate at reduced access to your funds. Use this investment when you don't anticipate needing the funds during the term of the certificate. Both 1 year and 3 year certificates are available. Certificates are only available to NEW MONEY (new deposits, transfers from existing credit union accounts are not eligible) or renewals of existing certificates. The minimum deposit for a certificate is $5000.
Early withdrawal is subject to a fee equal to 90 days of interest on the account. No partial withdrawals are allowed.
To review our account Truth-in-Savings Disclosure, please click here.


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rainbow dinner
liz lamoreux
We've hit that stage where Ellie is saying things like, "I don't like green guys" when she sees bit of basil in her pasta sauce or jumping to "I don't like {insert new food she's never had here.}" The good thing is that she already eats a wide variety of foods and loves several fruits and veggies that she eats daily. But as we dive into farmers' market season here, I really want her to at least try fresh foods that are new to her.
A few weeks ago, I had this sudden brainstorm: Rainbow Dinner.
I explained that we were going to go to the market near our home and buy two fruits we love + one we've never tried, two vegetables we love + one we've never tried, and two cheeses we love + one we've never tried. And we were going to look for all different colors as we were exploring.
Ellie was so excited! She even wanted to wear her rainbow skirt to match her dinner.
We walked through the store naming all the foods and deciding what to put in the cart. There was a lot of: Let's try PURPLE CARROTS! I want to try those yellow tomatoes. Oh yes yes Mommy we MUST get those avocados, I'll put them in the bottom of the cart for you.
It was awesome.
We then worked together to wash and gather everything into pretty bowls and plates and ate at the table on the backporch.
She tried a bite of everything. She didn't like everything, but she was really happy to try. This didn't happen the next time we did "rainbow dinner." She only wanted to try the things she liked. The next time she was more open. And now she loves eating strawberries off the stem even though it means being closer to the green guys.
We've also turned our rainbow dinner into a rainbow pizza the next night when she wanted to put the yellow tomatoes and even the prosciutto onto her pizza. And we've done rainbow pasta.
But here is the really important part: On one hand, yes, this is a story about a parenting win. And I really believe in recording the wins so you can look at them and remember that there are moments when what you are trying to do works...where there is more joy than arguing...where there is softness and laughter.
But this is really about me taking the time to imagine the life I really want to create over here. I want there to be more fresh food going into our bodies. But I don't cook every day and that isn't going to change overnight. I'm not someone who thinks ahead of time about dinner and find myself texting with Jon at the end of the day saying, "Just get takeout again." And we eat in front of the TV sometimes. A lot of times.
Even though takeout will still happen and we will still sit in front of the TV sometimes, I have a choice:
Beat myself up for not being the kind of mom who cooks every night.
Make one move toward more dinners at the table + getting Ellie to try new foods by having some version of rainbow dinner a couple of nights a week.
I can make the choice to make one more move toward the life I want to create over here. Beating myself up for not making those moves gets me nowhere closer to that life today.
And those moves start to add up. Ellie is now saying, "Can we go to the market and get food for rainbow dinner after nap today?"
Yes, honey. Yes. We. Can.
If the idea of unearthing the life you're imagining for yourself and then making one move each day toward it resonates with you, consider joining Hand to Heart, my free ongoing community of women. Each month I share different ideas to add to your current self-care practice and we explore ways to make simple moves toward living the life we really want for ourselves and our loved ones.
Learn more and request to join right here.


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The second Annual Chili Cook-Off was a huge success! Chefs arrived Chili- pans in hand and off their secret recipe ready for the tasting. The afternoon provided to be great fun for everyone. After all was said and done the "Grand Chili Master" is GRANT!
Joh Conway, Manager of 189 SPORTS Café is the mastermind behind the annual event along with his entire team. Plans are underway for the 2016 event. Save the date all you chili lovers and Ann's place Supporters, October 22, 2016.
Brookfield, CT


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Which bouquet style is best for me?
Bouquet styles have evolved over the years to reflect the times and the personality of the person carrying it. Today, bridal bouquets come in a variety of shapes and styles.
As one of your most important accessories, your bouquet should compliment your size, your dress, AND your personal style. Below are some of the more popular bouquet styles used today, and a description of what wedding styles and dresses they work with best.
Organic / Boho Bouquet:
A very 'casually' styled bouquet, giving a 'just picked from the garden look. This style actually takes quite a bit of talent to get right...it's easy to end up with a hot mess! It also helps to have a good photographer because it's easy to capture this style from the wrong angle.
The organic bouquet can be round, oval or cascading (as shown in this photo). Because of its organic flow, it's my personal favorite style.
Works best with a less structured or 'bohemian' dress.
Perfect for outdoor weddings or barn weddings.
Great for brides with a casual, less structured style.
Also perfect for the bride who wants a very natural, wildflower, or casual look
Cascading Bouquets:
After years of hand-tied bouquets, these designs are gaining popularity because of the amount of artistry involved. A cascading bouquet is a design containing a mass of flowers that are arranged to trail to a narrow end. The tail can be any length and it can be flowing or structured. There are several different bouquet styles that are in the cascade family, including the Organic Cascade, Natural Cascade, the Traditional Cascade, the Teardrop and the Crescent.
The Traditional Cascade
A more formal design. Great option for a traditional bride. (Think Princess Diana)
Works best with a full skirted dress, a ball gown, or a dress with a long train.
A great option for a tall or full-figured bride.
Perfect for the bride that wants to focus on the FLOWERS.
The Natural Cascade
A less formal design. Is typically a hand-tied bouquet with trailing natural elements such as ivy or eucalyptus
Works great with a full skirted dress, a ball gown, or a dress with a long train.
Perfect for brides who like the Organic look but prefer a touch more structure.
A great option for almost all brides.
Teardrop Bouquet:
A more contemporary and modern variation of a cascade. Shaped like an inverted teardrop, this design is very structured and fairly short.
Works well with full figured brides
Compliments full skirted dresses, A-line dresses that flare at the waist, and dresses with long trains.
Perfect for the bride who wants modern touches to a traditional wedding.
Crescent Bouquet:
This design mimics the shape of a crescent moon where the main part of the bouquet is the center and the sides trail to the right and left. This design can be either symmetrical (both sides equal in length) or asymmetrical (one side shorter than the other).
Great option for a taller bride
Compliments full skirted dresses, and dresses with long trains.
Perfect for the non-traditional bride or the bride with an artistic flare.
Arm Bouquet:
Otherwise known as a pageant bouquet, this style sits in the crook of your elbow. This is a good design for someone interested in carrying larger flowers or line flowers such as Calla Lilies. For a modern twist, this bouquet can be carried to the side rather than cradled in the arm.
Works well with slim figures.
Compliments empire and sheath dresses.
Flower type determines the formality of this style.
Hand-Tied Round Bouquet:
This bouquet is composed of a gathering of flowers with the natural stems left intact. Stems may be covered with ribbon or foliage or left natural. This bouquet is most often a round shape. It can also be very formal or very informal, depending on they type of flowers used.
Works well with brides of medium heights and builds.
Compliments most dress styles if properly proportioned.
Posy / Nosegay:
A small version of the round, hand-tied bouquet. Because of its size, care must be taken that this bouquet is not lost against the wedding dress. This style is often used for younger or smaller members of the bridal party, and is becoming quite popular for mother's to carry. A nosegay or posy can be created as a natural cluster of blooms (less formal) or as a compact composed bouquet (more formal).
Works well for the very petite bride.
Works well for Junior attendants, flower girls, and mothers.
Often used as the Tossing Bouquet.
Compliments non-traditional shorter wedding dresses.
Fits an understated wedding


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about shonali
Shonali has been singing and dancing since she first wiggled her way out of the womb. From the moment she could reach the keys, she studied classical piano. She received her B.F.A. in Drama from Syracuse University in 1996. Upon moving to NYC in 1998, Shonali found solace, strength and profound expansion through yoga and chanting. These practices supported Shonali while she was shifting away from the world of acting. In 2002, after a bicycle accident, Shonali quit her stressful job in downtown Manhattan, and still recovering from injuries, completed Alan Finger's 500 hour ISHTA yoga teacher training program. She became Director of ISHTA's Yoga Teacher Training programs. During this period, Shonali sang with a group of wise earth-honoring soul-seekers actively exploring chants from a multitude of traditions.
Shonali apprenticed as an herbalist in the Wise Woman Tradition furthering a long-standing connection to the natural world, aligning herself with the natural cycles of the seasons & the moon. After moving to Paris, France in 2004, Shonali studied therapeutics & women's health with the illustrious TKV Desikachar and taught private yoga full time. In 2005, Shonali began teaching prenatal yoga. Shonali relocated to Atlanta in 2010 and soon thereafter completed a second 500 hour training with the Pranakriya Yoga school and is now a certified Yoga Therapist. Shonali teaches regularly at local yoga studios and offers private yoga sessions to any and all who are curious about yoga and it's healing potential. You'll find Shonali chanting mystical songs & harmonies in the vibrant Atlanta chanting community and until 2017 in a beautiful partnership called Mantra MA! Shonali supports Centering Youth, a non-profit bringing yoga to under-served populations throughout Atlanta.
Shonali's classes are open to everyone! Connect to your breath, flow and hold within unique sequences that encourage steady and safe alignment. Strengthen, challenge & expand honoring your individual process. Soften, play, and nurture creating a solid foundation of ever-present support. Honor the seasonal changes, what's happening culturally, and the moon cycles.
In Shonali's classes, you'll encounter chanting, pranayama (breath work), mudras (positions of the hands), visualization, chakras awareness, a wide range of music (Bjork, Al Green, Juana Molina, Krishna Das) paired with mindful silence & sacred poetry. Shonali sings you into a blissfully opening final rest creating an expansive experience every time you practice. Shonali loves teaching! especially restorative yoga and meditation, making the most quiet practices accessible to the busiest of folks. With reverence for the unique process of each individual, Shonali encourages students to make the practices their own. Listen, Receive, and Nourish From Within. In perpetual gratitude to the many phenomenal teachers who have inspired her: her students, her family, Alan Finger, TKV Desikachar, Carrie Wykoff, Robin Rose Bennett, Rachel Zinman, Erich Schiffman, Mark Whitwell, Hillary Cohen, Tias Little, Marlysa Sullivan, Yoganand Michael Carroll, among others! ... Namaste.
credentials & trainings
2003, Certified as a 500 hour yoga teacher with Alan Finger, ISHTA Yoga in NYC.
2005, Began teaching therapeutically primarily one-on-one with clients.
2006, Studied Yoga Therapy with TKV Desikachar in India at the Krishnamacharya Yoga Mandiram in Chennai and in Austria with a focus on women's issues and healing with mantras.
2008, Registered with Yoga Alliance as E-RYT 500.
2013, Certified as a Yoga Therapist through a 500 hour program with Pranakriya Yoga (registered with IAYT, the International Association of Yoga Therapists) in Atlanta, GA.
Sacred Thread's Teacher Spotlight
September, 2014
What is your favorite yoga pose and why? Has it always been that?
I love handstands. Handstands saved my life. About 5 years ago, my 2nd child was born and I had post-partum depression. Practicing handstands helped propel me out of that deep funk. It has certainly not always been like that. Handstands used to terrify me. It took me at least 5 years of practicing yoga before I had the strength and courage to even try hopping up at the wall. I still experience fear of falling when working handstands in the middle of the room. I prefer to work at the wall where I feel safer and can still gain many of the benefits.
What got you hooked on Yoga?
I got hooked on yoga lying in savasana. I recall so clearly being told by my teachers to accept myself as I was in that moment and I remember feeling enormous waves of relief that I could soften within myself. Listening to my teachers chant also hooked me in. The chanting brought me to a place where I could connect to something greater than myself.
Favorite Atlanta restaurant?
The latest hot spot in Decatur is the Kimball House, and I LOVE it! I've been going there since it opened because it reminds me of the restaurants I used to frequent when I lived in Paris, France. Great cocktails, fabulous ambiance, and delicious food all close to home.
Favorite Atlanta outdoor activity?
I love hiking Sweet Water Creek with my family. We pack a picnic lunch and wear our water shoes. Taking my kids rock hopping into the middle of the creek is my favorite part. Since the water levels are always changing, it always feels like an adventure. Plus we see snakes, herons, adorable dogs and great people.
What does a typical Friday night look like for you?
I LOVE friday nights. I get my 2 kids from school & we hook up with friends for a happy hour drink. We go somewhere the kids can run around and be crazy so the "grown ups" can unwind from the week. Then, we let the kids stay up & watch a movie while we hang on the front porch. Somewhere between dinner & the movie there's usually a silly dance party.
Free 'shout out' to anyone or anything you love... GO!
Hmmm.... I LOVE walking labyrinths. Not mazes, but labyrinths. Labyrinths have one path to follow that weaves and turns, and that path ultimately leads you directly to the center. You can't get lost! Labyrinths are a powerful place to meditate and clear your head. Check out the Dancing Bear Labyrinth in Grant Park. It's a treasure right here in Atlanta.


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Women on Snow Ski Camp
During my early ski days in the Catskill Mountains, a family friend once said to me, "Ski across! There is always snow on the other side of the ice!" As I was careening across the trail, scared of falling, I believed her. I have held on to those words, frequently repeating them to myself over the years. Skiing on the East Coast means you wear a certain badge of honor. You've likely edged your way down some icy trails and survived. On a good day, you get might get some fresh snow or perhaps the snow guns have done their job and blanketed the trails overnight, but it will never be skiing on the powder you find out West.
Stratton Ski Camp
My friend's words still resonate with me today as I sometimes skid and slide down the mountains of Vermont. I have always wanted to ski without fear. To ski comfortably and enjoy it — not just get down the mountain. I want to be a confident skier that can navigate turns on tough terrain. It wouldn't hurt to improve my form too so I don't look like such a beginner, after all I have been skiing for more than 40 years. Recently I had the opportunity to improve my skills at Stratton Mountain's Women on Snow Camp.
I was in for a surprise on the first day of camp when I met up with my group. We took our early morning runs on freshly groomed snow! I will admit it, I am never first chair. I don't usually see the corduroy. Clearly, I should think about getting first tracks more often because right off the bat skiing was so much more enjoyable.
My group was classified as solid blues, working on our form which perfectly defined where I wanted to be. I don't want to ski double black diamonds, navigate the moguls or hit the terrain park. I was matched up with women who all had similar goals in mind. Skiing with this group made me feel really comfortable and excited to get out on the snow.
After an initial run to assess our ski level, our instructor Amy got down to business. She broke down the basics of skiing working step-by-step on each of the mechanics. We talked about stance, balance and feeling the snow underneath our skis. As the day progressed Amy moved on to our turns. She drew pictures in the snow depicting large arcs in the shape of a grapefruit to emphasize the curve we should strive for. We practiced learning to stop by turning up hill. We then worked on putting weight on our outside ski while carving out big and small loops. Eventually, we added in our poles linking together all that we had learned.
Lessons Learned
It was clear that in order to improve our technique it was important to focus on one thing at a time. I am not going to remember everything I was taught at the two-day camp but I know I will remember these key points going forward:
- Nose over toes – this helps you to lean forward over your skis.
- Belly button faces down the mountain – this keeps your body aligned properly.
- Bend your knees – this increases your balance and forces you to lean forward in your boots.
- Look up – this keeps you looking downhill, not down at the tips of your skis.
- Tap and go – this helps you execute a proper pole plant in your turns.
This is not the first time I have taken lessons as an adult, nor will it be the last. I am often asked if I have ever tried snowboarding or want to try it. My response is always the same "my family says I shouldn't, that I should just stick to what I know." I am sticking to it. Not only do I know how to ski but I know am getting better all the time.
Whether you are first time skier or looking to improve your skills, the Stratton Women on Snow Camp will help you achieve that. The professional coaches and instructors make skiers of all abilities feel comfortable. This creates a learning environment that allows you to build on your personal strengths and sets you up for future success on the snow.
For more information about the Stratton's WOW Camp check out these posts by the other All Mountain Mamas:
- Stratton WOWs at Women on SnoW Camp
- Taming the wild (skiing) Woman Within
- Gaining an Edge at Stratton's Women on Snow Ski Program
Disclosure: Program costs and accommodations were provided by the Stratton Mountain. I attended the camp thanks to my relationship with Ski Vermont and the All Mountain Mamas. No other compensation was received for this review. This post reflects the honest opinion of my experience without outside influence.
Photo Credits: Dana Freeman, Erica Houskeeper and Stratton Mountain
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I love seeing these types of programs. Women tend to do other sport activities in groups. It's more fun and encouraging that way!
An amazing group of women! I love the idea of a women only snow camp too. Fun. friendship and great powder.
I LOVE this idea! I am a wimp in our powder snow and have never taken lessons as an adult. A woman's ski camp sounds perfect to me! Surrounded by some fellow moms in the same boat all learning and improving together. Love it!! Mama Mountain Power!!
Used to love to ski.
I remember all the things you tap about in your "lesson".
Keep up the good work.
This camp looks like great fun! It's great to hone ski technique in such a supportive group of other women. You certainly had bluebird skies too – lovely.


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Wait... What? Both? Seriously? Why?!
I'm glad you asked. :)
But first, let's make sure we're on the same page. By "Critique Groups," I mean the people you send your book to chapter by chapter. One section at a time. (Also called Alpha Readers.) By "Critique Partners," I mean the people you send the entire book to at once. (Also called Beta Readers.)
So why do you want both? Because they each give you different things.
A critique group can help you with:
- Point out when you have redundancies.
- Highlight awkward sentences.
- Show when a character's voice is off-- even if it's only with a single word or phrase.
- A more close-up scrutiny of everything. (A CP isn't likely to put in 30 comments a chapter when they are looking at the entire book at once. Someone looking at just one chapter likely will.)
- Pacing
- Flow
- Consistency
Do you have to have a group do the chapter-by-chapter part? Of course not! You can send your ms one chapter at a time to just one person if you want.
Is it better to have a group? I think so. There have been so many times when one person mentions something they think might be an issue, but you wonder just how much of an issue it is. It's nice to be able to ask the others if it was an issue for them (or if you're not meeting together, see if any of the others mentioned it in their notes).
Do you have alpha readers? If so, do you meet as a group? If not, is it because you'd rather not have them, or haven't found them yet?


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1T Engine Crane Used to remove the engine from the vehi […]
1T Engine Crane Used to remove the engine from the vehicle. Mainly found in professional car power garage.
1T Engine Crane is usually stand-alone equipment and are a series of chains and hydraulics. It is also known as an engine hoist, because it can lift the engine from the car. It is made of steel and is set to lift a certain weight. These devices can be fitted with locked and unlocked wheels so that once lifted, the engine can be moved to a different work area. There are also stationary equipment, usually lifting heavier loads. They are tied to the ground and have a permanent position.
1T Engine Crane is designed to lift the engine out of the body so that the engine can work in more space. These machines are usually powered by electricity, although some are still hand-cranked, requiring some upper body strength to work properly.
Often items like this can only be found at car dealerships and industrial supply stores. The catalog of companies that make such equipment is a good source of purchase. This is also a good option for a business and may not need to be used once or twice a month. If this is only needed for a large job, it is always an option.
1T Engine Crane is an important part of the car repair shop tool list. This project can break or ruin the mechanical ability to make some repairs. Being able to take the engine out and replace it can actually push some business. They have been shown to be a good investment for most car repair facilities and they are very happy. Even those who are engaged in the old car as a hobby novice, will be grateful. This is a very large unit, taking up some space, so it should be considered before buying or renting.


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Last week on Gossip Girl was the Thanksgiving episode called Blair Waldorf Must Pie!
The episode went through flashbacks of when Serena was a wild party girl and how she interacted with her friends.
Many of you probably noticed Blair's amazing, Victorian-inspired, Thanksgiving dress. Well, we found out the details. The dress is Marc by Marc Jacobs and its called the Dita Lace Mini Dress. It is no longer available online from Sacks but you can probably still get it in stores.
Saturday, December 8, 2007
Gossip Girl - Get The Look
Posted by Style Cocktail at 10:01 AM
Labels: Gossip Girl, Marc Jacobs
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1. Do you hear that? It's the heavenly chorus of angels singing because...that's right....
It only took three weeks but hey, I'm detached.
2. In a rare moment, Camille is taking a daytime nap beside me while I attempt to rectify my
status as a negligent mommy blogger. I hear her soft, rhytmic breathing and am grateful for this quiet moment to think and to write. Life has been chaotic this summer and so I'm grabbing this quick minute and running with all my might.
Well, we moved. It was hard. I know,
Permit me a little tech talk, if you will. John upgraded my phone and now, I am a card
member of the I-phone club. Until now, I didn't get what the big fuss was about.
A phone is a phone, right? Sure, some smart phones might do a few fancy tricks, but overall I thought people to attached to their technological devices.
But now? I
The I-Phone is a tool, a powerful tool. It's ability to quickly allow you to surf the web or engage in everyday activiities with apps has changed my world. I am flabbergasted at how easy my phone has made it for to do certain things, especially things like prayer. I downloaded these apps and they've been so helpful:
Divine Office
I Confess
I have even used my phone to help me pray my daily meditation at the 3 am hour, after a child has awakened me and I can not go back to sleep.
I am also loving the Pacer app and it's ability to track my steps in real life, which motivates me to get out the door and walk my hiney off (literally).
(I walked for
last week! It was the only productive thing I accomplished, I think. I was too overwhelmed to do anything but walk. So walk I did and I felt better than I have in months.)
And don't even talk to me about Instagram.
Instagram was
for people like me.
(Are you on Instagram? Follow me and I'll follow you back!)
See? Instagram. Love it.
When John was a kid, his mother implemented a rule that required all eight of her children
to wear shoes from morning to night. I always thought this was a little intense but now that I have six kids of my own, I think my mother-in-law was a genius.
None of my kids, especially the little ones, can
find their shoes. Seriously, it's a problem.
I'll load everyone and everything into the van for an outing and just as I put the car in reverse, someone announces:
Kid informant: "Mom, insert one of my six children's names, doesn't have shoes on."
Me: "(Insert one of our six children's names) WHERE ARE YOUR SHOES?"
Shoeless child: (wide eyed and confused) "I lost them."
I put the car back in park and glare at the child in the rear view mirror.
Me: "Go find them.
Shoeless Child scurries out of the van and into the house or the yard to look.
Child returns,
Me: "WHERE ARE YOUR SHOES?"
Shoeless child--still looking dazed and confused--says, "I lost them."
I look down at my lap and I clench my fists. I utter a silent prayer. I try not to swear under my breath and I fail.
Me: "A PRIZE TO WHOMEVER FINDS--insert child's name here--SHOES!"
Five bodies scamper out of the van. Minutes pass. I sigh--again--and tap irritated fingers against my steering wheel.
Suddenly, a child emerges from the house triumphant, waving pedestrian footwear victoriously over his head.
"A trip to the grocery store where I will buy you food to sustain your body and nourish your mind," I mutter.
But the winner doesn't hear me.
He's too busy licking his chops and dreaming of his candy treat.
6. This shoe conversation and search happens
every time
we leave
But sometimes, a shoeless child escapes my attention and we arrive to our destination and as I unload children and supplies and strollers, I am met with this:
One shoe on, one shoe off.
Why? Why? Whhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhy?
7. In case you were wondering, this is what one's foot will look like should one decide to walk
around IKEA for
minutes with only one shoe.
This is so gross, I'm not even sure what to say about it.
Would any of you find it comfortable to routinely wear only one shoe?
8. Today is July 4th! Happy Independence Day.
God bless, America, Land of the Free, Home of the Brave and Place of Abundant Wifi and Internet Access.
We live in a great country.