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Christmas - back to Basics
Christmas Day- Back to Basics
December 25th is the day the Christian churches celebrate the birth of Jesus son of Mary and Joseph, a Jewish couple in what is now Israel. The Biblical events of Jesus' birth were not written down until at least thirty years after the death of Jesus. References to Jesus as Messiah, as Christ as son of God were added to the story.
of his birth to show the importance of this child and man in the eyes of the church as it grew from being a Jewish sect to a world religion. The Christmas music and stories so beloved and popular were all written well after the events of Jesus' actual birth. The church was trying to figure out who this man Jesus was.
The gospel stories tell the events of this Jewish prophet's life. He preached with knowledge of the Hebrew Scriptures, he healed the sick, called for peace, and for help for the poor and oppressed. He expected the end of history to come in his lifetime. He called this the coming of the kingdom of God when all would be peaceable and perfect. Early Christian leaders began to ascribe to him characteristics like Messiah and Son of God, which come from the Hebrew Scriptures.
For the next four hundred years after his death the church tried to define who he was with controversies, debates and creeds written to shape the basic Christian beliefs. Then the worst thing happened. Christianity became the religion of the Roman Empire. The simple and basic teaching of the Jewish man Jesus became subservient to the state. Hierarchies and even worship became elaborate and took on the clothing of royalty, which exists in many churches today.
The message of Jesus the humble Jewish teacher, healer and prophet became totally corrupted. It was no longer about love, forgiveness and healing. It morphed into power, money and fame. However, great painting, sculpture, learning, architecture, language and music did emerge from the wealth and power of the church. Great acts of love and mercy came with the Franciscans and others, found hospitals and orphanages.
The church quickly broke up into denominations, sub-groups, cults and national allegiances. The Irish, English, Poles, Germans, Russians all have their own forms of Christian expression. Many of the changes in the church came about because the church was aligned with some political power. Russian Orthodoxy was at the mercy of the government. The Holy Roman Empire was the church and state as one.
It was not until the founding of the U.S government that separation of church and state became a reality that the simple message of the man Jesus has a chance to breathe more freely. The future of the Christian Church lies in getting back to the basics of what Jesus the Jewish prophet and teacher stood for – love, healing, care for the poor and oppressed and seeking peace.


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For 20 years life was a great roller-coaster ride, I sat front seat to witness and report about all major events starting from Zamboanga's Cawa-Cawa Siege, the Little League Baseball Scam, EDSA 2 & 3; and travelled all over the world to see Palaces and state halls; and meet Presidents and Kings that few people get to do.
I left the Inquirer in 2007 after my heart told me it could no longer take all the wild and unusual excitement. I underwent a heart operation and six metal stents were placed to open up my 99-percent blogged veins last year. I'm now living on a bionic heart.
After the Inquirer though, the excitement continues after I put up the Deans and Kings Legal Public Relations, the first legal PR firm in the country. We help project and explain to the media and the public the developments pertaining to high-profile legal issues and cases you see, hear and read on television, radio, and newspapers.
Needless to say this kind of work – like media – brings stress because we are exposed to a daily dose of legal issues and stories about the really good and really worse in man. There is good and bad behind legal issues and like lawyers, we have to untangle the mess and web of lies, truth and the law.
These two careers exposed me to the best and worse a man can do to fellow man. I've met, shook hands and talked to Philippine presidents, foreign heads of states, senators, justices, congressmen, generals, tycoons, legal eagles, rebels, terrorists, madmen, fugitives, convicts, whistle-blowers; and sinners and saints. Some of them are also my clients and former clients now.
Like in media, the stories they tell involve mostly negative issues as they either rage after suing somebody or suffer as they get sued by somebody. Some of them end up investigated in congressional hearings, in jails, in hospitals and some I last see in funeral parlors. This is such a dog-eat-dog world.
I am happy to have the support of family and friends to keep my sanity; and sense of right and wrong intact. Thus far, I've managed to stay clear and politely rejected clients whose perceived criminal acts seem too bizarre and unacceptable. We try mostly to take on the cases of those of who have less in life and the law.
It is in times like this that I turn to our Kristiyano-Islam Kris Library (Kris) advocacy for additional spiritual and moral support. Kris helps me see and believe in the inherent goodness of man. Kris is where total strangers I meet in and outside of Facebook send help even if they don't know me and even if they live in the other side of the world.
Such is the case of an FB friend who only started communicating with me just this month and yet he trusted me with his US $200 which he sent over so I can buy basic school supplies for 120 kids during the opening today of the KRistiyano-ISlam (Kris) Peace Library, Kapatirang Claretian Inc. (KCI) and Claret Urban Poor Apostolate (CUPA) – Kris-KCI-CUPA Library -- in Barangay San Isidro, Rizal Province.
There is also the unique case of my Auntie Flor Nocum and assisted by husband Uncle Mar and daughter Mariflor tapping Arab friends in Kuwait to collect copies of the Holy Quran and Islamic books which they sent to Kris Library-Zamboanga for the research needs of Muslim students in Zamboanga; and then there is OFW couple Rhuayda and Seller Basangan celebrating Seller's birthday in Ireland by raising P15,000 to help Kris.
Lastly, there is the wonderful Pasig-based family who gave us a check of P50,000 so we may finally send our first Kris scholars to college; as well as those entering elementary and schools in Zamboanga this year.
There are many more good people and their deeds inspire me and keep my faith in man's capacity for goodness.
This afternoon, I will take a bigger doze of pain relievers as I see the smiling faces of kids – with eyes glowing like flashlights – as they read for the first time imported books in a library put up by Claretian priest Fr. Eduardo Claud but which the kids can rightly call their own.
Life is beautiful!

subset: commoncrawl


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Ojai, California | Fifth Talk in The Oak Grove, 1946
Questioner: Cannot one think about the uncreated, about reality, God?
Krishnamurti: The created cannot think about the uncreated. It can think only about its own projection which is not the real. Can thought which is the result of time, of influence, of imitation, think about that which is not measurable? It can only think about that which is known. What is knowable is not the real, what is known is ever receding into the past, and what is past is not the eternal. You may speculate upon the unknown but you cannot think about it. When you think about something you are probing into it, subjecting it to different moods and influences. But such thinking is not meditation. Creativeness is a state of being which is not the outcome of thinking. Right meditation opens the door to the real.
But let us go back to what we were considering. Are we aware that our so-called thinking is the result of influence, of conditioning, of imitation? Are you not influenced by propaganda, religious or secular, by the politician and the priest, by the economist and the advertiser? Collective worship and regimentation of thought are alike, and both hinder the discovery and experience of reality. Propaganda is not the instrument of truth, whether of organized religion or politics or business. If we would discover truth we must be aware of the subtleties of influence, of challenge, and of our response. Learning a technique, a method, does not lead to creative being. When the past ceases to influence the present, when time ceases, there is creative being which can be experienced only in deep meditation.
Tags: fantasy, speculation
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World Map with Places of Interest
The Travelmap & Bucketlist by Awesome Maps shows the world's most unmissable locations in a beautiful way: from classics to genuine insider tips, you simply have to see.
For Rubbing Open or Writing On
With the scratch edition, the Travelmap is covered with a silver foil, similar to a lottery scratch card. Whether you want to discover country by country, make an itinerary or scratch open the whole map at once: At the end, you'll have a detailed illustrated map with the most beautiful places in the world.
On the rewritable map, you can mark out with a whiteboard marker your personal favourite places or check off where you've already been. That's why the Awesome Maps products are creative posters for travellers and a very special gift idea for anyone who has the travel bug.


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Dubai: Don't be alarmed if you soon see a taxi driver administering first aid — he's a professional.
In a meeting earlier this month between Dubai Corporation for Ambulance Services (DCAS) and Dubai Taxi Corporation, authorities proposed to educate taxi drivers on first aid and resuscitation.
This is not the first venture launched by DCAS for staff working in various industries, they have previously offered first aid training to staff in Jumeirah Group and in several schools.
"What we're doing is raising the level of awareness among the community. This proposal is part of our goal on raising the efficiency of first aid in the work place, and in this case, the taxi drivers happen to work on the road," said Neil Kirby, operations director at DCAS.
In a recent report issued by DCAS for the first half of 2012, its ambulances responded to a total of 3,940 cases of people with heart problems and 538 cases of kidney failure, while 164 patients were deemed safe and were not in critical condition.
During the meeting, both parties expressed their interest in providing staff and taxi drivers with first aid training as part of their efforts' to reduce the number of road traffic injuries.
It was further proposed that all taxi drivers will have to go through a first aid training programme and receive coaching on how to act in emergencies, in the event of accidents or injuries.
In the 88,076 cases that DCAS logged last year, Kirby said the number of hurdles while responding to a call was relatively small.
But, any delay can have a significant effect when it comes to saving a life.
Dubai Taxi Corporation, which is a subsidiary of the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), has approximately 3,504 vehicles working 24 hours a day, seven days a week on Dubai's roads.
"We offered Dubai Taxi Corporation a variety of training courses, including the most important one that consists of CPR [cardiopulmonary resuscitation] and training in the use of a defibrillator.
"We aim to have all taxi drivers learning the basic support tool of ECG on adults and children that records the electrical activity of the heart," explained Dr Omar Saqqaf, director of technical support at DCAS.
ref: www.gulfnews.com


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Pregnant woman beaten with hammer, sexually assaulted, Daytona police say
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – A seven months pregnant woman was attacked with a hammer and sexually assaulted in a domestic violence incident, according to Daytona Beach police.
According to the police report, a 34-year-old man broke into the victim's apartment with a hammer at 2:57 a.m. Tuesday before sexually battering the mother of two.
A neighbor who witnessed the break in saw the suspect sitting outside the apartment, then begin hitting a window next to the front door with a hammer.
The victim was sleeping in her apartment when she was awakened by the sound of breaking glass and saw the man entering her bedroom with a hammer, the police report said.
The suspect struck the victim with the hammer multiple times before she ran out of the apartment, she told police.
The suspect followed the victim behind the apartment where he sexually assaulted her, the police report said.
A neighbor told Daytona Beach police that the suspect pulled the victim to the ground by her hair, hitting her and ripping off her clothes.
Police arrived and took the suspect into custody.
The victim was taken to the hospital and treated for possible injuries to her unborn child.
The Daytona Beach man is charged with sexual battery, aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, false imprisonment, resisting an officer without violence, armed burglary and trespassing. He is being held without bond in the Volusia County jail.
After his arrest, police discovered an active warrant against him Volusia County.
News 6 is not identifying the suspect or the victim because it a sexual assault case.
Copyright 2016 by WKMG ClickOrlando - All rights reserved.


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Art Factory introduces massage mouse for fatigued computer users
October 6, 2012 News No Comments
Inspired by the large number of computer users suffering from painful symptoms of computer fatigue, Art Factory has blended the latest mouse and massager technologies into a mouse that feels just as good in your hand as it does on your body.
The massage mouse gives you the control and precision of a state-of-the-art touch-sensitive mouse and the convenience of a powerful massager.
With the massager mouse you can stop work, switch to massage mode, massage away aches and pains and return to work feeling refreshed.
- Comfortable and stylish design.
- Large touch-sensitive surface.
- Easy mode switching.
- 10 vibration levels.
- 2 vibration patterns.
- Relaxing LED illumination.
- Sensitive optical tracking.
- Wireless interface.
- Compact USB wireless receiver.
- Efficient USB charging stand.
- Macintosh and Windows compatible.
For more information visit this page.


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Agitators & Mixing Systems
MGT Design and manufacture a range of stainless steel mixers and agitators for process requirements and applications in the food, chemical, biopharma, and other industries.
MGT-MIXING is a division of the MGT Liquid & Process Systems group of companies. MGT-MIXING designs and manufactures a comprehensive range of Stainless Steel Mixers & Agitators to suit every process requirement. For over 40 years we have been providing agitators & mixing systems for customers all over the world, using cutting edge mixing and process technology.
Flow Dynamic Simulation (C3)
MGT Mixing employs the latest mixing simulation software for real-time optimization of mixing systems based on our customer's process conditions. Using MGT Mixing simulation software, we can evaluate and improve the efficiency of our customer's mixing process, processing time, efficiency and energy use.


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What: UNT One O'Clock Lab Band directed by Alan Baylock, will perform with guest artist Jimmy Heath.
When: 8 p.m. March 1 (Thursday)
Where: Margot and Bill Winspear Performance Hall in the Murchison Performing Arts Center, 2100 Interstate 35E, Denton.
Cost: $15 for the public; $10 for UNT faculty, staff and Alumni Association members; free for UNT students. Students can pick up their free ticket at the Murchison Performing Arts Center box office. UNT faculty, staff, alumni and the public, may purchase their tickets at the Murchison Performing Arts Center online or by calling the box office at 940-369-7802.
DENTON (UNT), Texas — The University of North Texas College of Music's One O'Clock Lab Band is excited to welcome critically acclaimed jazz saxophonist Jimmy Heath. The performance is at 8 p.m. March 1 (Thursday) in Margot and Bill Winspear Performance Hall in the Murchison Performing Arts Center, 2100 Interstate 35E in Denton.
"Jimmy Heath will provide our students with a unique perspective on playing jazz and the history of the music," said John Murphy, chair of the Division of Jazz Studies. "His career as a saxophonist dates back to the 1940s. He played with Charlie Parker. He spoke about his friendship with John Coltrane in the 2016 documentary 'Chasing Trane.' He's also a prolific composer and a veteran educator. At the concert, he'll be featured in a small group with members of the jazz faculty during the first half and with the One O'Clock Lab Band in the second half of the program, which will include his compositions."
The band is directed by associate professor of jazz, Alan Baylock.
"Jimmy Heath is a living legend," Baylock said. "There are few people in the history of jazz who have had such a long and fruitful career."


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To patients suffering from back pain, chronic headache, and many other painful conditions; doctors interested in learning how to treat patients with chronic pain more safely and effectively; friends and family searching for help for a loved one: Welcome to the home page of Milton A. Reder, M.D. of Boston!
With over 30 years experience in treating chronic pain, a field of medicine dominated by powerful drugs and invasive, expensive surgery, Dr. Reder is set apart by his ability to offer his patients safe, sensible and affordable pain relief without these risks.
A graduate of the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine and board-certified in Internal Medicine, Dr. Reder is recognized as one of the world's most experienced practitioners of the Sphenopalatine Ganglion Block (SGB) technique in chronic pain treatment. This is the technique developed by Dr. Reder's father, Dr. Milton Reder (senior), and which he perfected over a seventy year career in Medicine.
Dr. Reder's extensive experience treating thousands of chronic pain patients with SGB in conjunction with his father at their New York City office, and for the last thirty years at his office in the Boston neighborhood of Brookline MA allows him to offer a unique approach to the treatment of chronic pain from a variety of causes, including low back pain and disc disease (including herniated disc and "failed back" post-surgical pain), sciatica, cervical (neck) pain from cervical spondylosis, whiplash, pinched nerve, cluster headache, trigeminal neuralgia, muscle spasm, fibromyalgia, sphenopalatine neuralgia, causalgia, arthritis, and idiopathic peripheral autonomic neuropathy. See a larger list of conditions Here>>


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|Click to enlarge image(s)
|Transmission Distance (LOS)
|Up to 2000 feet Linep-of-Sight
|Recommended Max Distance
|approx 800 feet
|Specially designed sensor mounts easily on walls, ceilings, fence posts, desktops, etc.
|Weatherproof design of sensor allows outdoor use.
|Two detection patterns: 50ft Long Range and 17ft Fan Pattern.
|Detection pattern adjusts easily for perfect aiming
|Transmission codes are preset at the factory with over 8 million possibilities, virtually eliminating the possibility of interference or cross-talk
|All wireless transmitters have 'dead spots' within their transmission range. TD-20's improved antenna design greatly reduces 'dead spots' to make installation easier and increase reliability.
|1 RC-20 and up to 4 TD-20 can be installed around your home entrances for perimeter awareness.
|Entrance Alert Set, Rodann, RX/TX-1000ARodann entrance alert set RX/TX-1000A for open or closed doors or open entry ways. This unique set can also be used on warehouse roll up doors, inside display cabinets, restricted area protection, or (patio, bedroom, bathroom) window alerting device.
Long Range Wireless Door Entry Alert, UTDCDCR-2500The Door sensor/transmitter has a magnetic door contact, so that when the entry door is opened by a visitor / customer, it sends a wireless entry alert chime to the DCR-2500 receiver that is power by an AC adapter and can be plugged in up to 1500 feet away (depending on walls, building materials, etc.).
The receiver for this Long Range Wireless Door Entry Alert has four form "C" relay outputs and one 12VDC output. The output durations are adjustable up to 10 minutes. The receiver will play one of four different tunes that are selected at the transmitter so that different zones can be distinguished.


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Since the Bible says in 1 John 4:16 that 'God is love', I think it is safe to say that we could exchange the word 'love' in 1 Corinthians for the word 'God' if we wanted to. Think about reading this passage of Scripture as a description of the character and nature of God Himself.
God is patient. God is kind. God doesn't envy. He isn't boastful. God is not proud. God isn't rude nor is He selfish. God isn't angered easily and God does not keep track of when He has been wronged.
The love that God has for us will completely overwhelm us if we let it. Not one of us has experienced this kind of unconditional love in human relationships. The best horizontal love is but a shadow of the ocean of God's love has for each one of us. May the Holy Spirit help us to continue to explore His amazing love, setting sail on the vast ocean of His kindness where He keeps no records of the times that we hurt Him.
Father, take us deeper in the depths of your love today! We open our hearts up to your unconditional, eternal love and we ask that we would know the vastness of your immeasurable love for us more today than ever before!


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That toddlin' town has learned to toddle in new ways, a trend revealed in Chicago's astonishingly diverse hotels and restaurants. My recommendations, I should confess, bespeak an architecture critic's sensibility. When it comes to dining, I am concerned with the flavor of both the place and the food. So I don't dwell on well-known haute cuisine kitchens such as Charlie Trotter's. Similarly with lodgings, my preference is for hotels that are visually distinctive rather than generic.
The best, and most beautiful, way to get the feel of the city is to take the Chicago Architecture Foundation's 90-minute boat tour along the Chicago River, where you glide past an array of dazzling skyscrapers—sometimes, unfortunately, with loud guides who never shut up (312-922-3432; architecture.org; $26–$28 per person). An enormous variety of walking tours also set out from the foundation's headquarters at 224 South Michigan. The Historic Skyscrapers walk, for instance, charts the innovations of structures ranging from the Rookery Building, with its ethereal light court, to the Chicago Board of Trade Building, which has a knockout refurbished Art Deco lobby.
The Frank Lloyd Wright Preservation Trust's tours are a must for Wright fans (708-848-1976; wrightplus.org; $12 each). You can combine a tour of his Robie House with a visit to the lone surviving major building from the World's Columbian Exposition of 1893, the Museum of Science and Industry (773-684-1414; msichicago.org), and the University of Chicago's campus, which has the serenity of neo-Gothic quadrangles as well as bracing contemporary buildings by such architects as Cesar Pelli, Ricardo Legorreta, and Rafael Viñoly.
Millennium Park often has events, including free tours at 11:30 and 1 daily (312-742-1168; millenniumpark.org), and those with a taste for modern architecture and design should visit the campus of the Illinois Institute of Technology (IIT). Located at 33rd and State, it was planned and designed by Ludwig Mies van der Rohe and has buildings by Rem Koolhaas and Helmut Jahn. Tours of both are available (312-567-3077; mies.iit.edu/tours; $5).
Prices quoted are for August 2007.
Chicago's true bastions of luxury are in mixed-use high-rises around North Michigan Avenue (where you should request an east-facing upper-floor room for views of both the city and the lake). Premier among these are three Condé Nast Traveler Gold List hotels: The Peninsula, with grand-scale, Asia-meets-Deco public rooms (312-337-2888; chicago.peninsula.com; doubles, $525–$650); the Four Seasons, with sumptuous European-style amenities such as a Roman pool with a glass-dome ceiling (312-280-8800; fourseasons.com; doubles, $495–$710); and the more contemporary but not austere Park Hyatt, the flagship of the local Pritzker family's hotel empire (312-335-1234; parkchicago.hyatt.com; doubles, $375–$545).
As room rates dip, architectural adventurousness paradoxically rises. A newcomer in the neighborhood, The James has been given a chic contemporary aesthetic by New York architect Deborah Berke (312-337-1000; jameshotels.com; doubles, $299–$539). Equally alluring, the Sofitel Chicago Water Tower, designed by Jean-Paul Viguier, is a wedge of white glass that juts forward like the prow of a ship. Its contemporary interior has a strong French accent (312-324-4000; sofitel.com; doubles, $245–$345).
Millennium Park has helped bring back two historic hotels, both bursting with architectural character. The Hard Rock Hotel is in an exuberant Art Deco office building that resembles a bottle of champagne (312-345-1000; hardrockhotelchicago.com; doubles, $229–$449). The Hotel Burnham—named for the legendary local architect whose firm designed it—is an exquisite reinvention of the once derelict Reliance Building, an early skyscraper (312-782-1111; burnhamhotel.com; doubles, $199–$429).
For great food and great views, book a table at NoMi, in the Park Hyatt. An enormous bay window overlooks the fabled Chicago Water Tower, while chef Christophe David's contemporary French fare is a pleasure to behold and to consume. Chandeliers are by Dale Chihuly (312-239-4030; entrées, $36–$54).
Other first-rate combinations of dining and design include North Pond, where an Arts and Crafts philosophy permeates the setting and seasonal Midwestern fare (pheasant and quail) and creative seafood dishes are served. It's well worth the short cab ride to Lincoln Park (2610 N. Cannon Dr.; 773-477-5845; entrées, $27–$33). Spring A Restaurant occupies a 1920s–era Russian bathhouse. Designer Francois Geneve updated the bathhouse with a Zen-influenced design. Dine on Shawn McClain seafood-oriented American cuisine after a trip to the artsy Wicker Park and Bucktown neighborhoods (2039 W. North Ave.; 773-395-7100; entrées, $22–$33).
As if it wasn't enough to name the Burnham for Daniel B., the hotel's Atwood Café recognizes Charles Atwood, the architect in Burnham's firm who actually designed the building. Ideally located for pre-theater dining, with huge sheets of glass that reveal the passing parade on State Street, the restaurant has an American menu that includes grilled rack of venison (312-368-1900; entrées, $19–$32).
In the Sofitel Chicago Water Tower, the Café des Architectes, by interior designer Pierre-Yves Rochon, is a sleek, sunlit version of a brasserie, complete with ultra-realist paintings of notable skyscrapers (312-324-4000; entrées, $24–$32).
Two more great joints epitomize Chicago's down-to-earth multiethnic stew. Heaven on Seven, on the seventh floor of the Garland Building in the jewelers district, serves the meanest Cajun and creole dishes outside Louisiana: The aroma hits you as soon as you exit the elevator. Expect a packed, colorful room where bottles of Tabasco line the walls (111 N. Wabash; 312-263-6443; entrées, $10–$13). Finally, there's my favorite: Manny's Coffee Shop & Deli, an unpretentious, salt-of-the-earth Jewish deli where the corned beef is served in sky-high mounds to an astounding cross section of humanity, from top politicos to beat cops. The meat cutters are real showmen who like to flip their cutlery in the air. Combine a meal here with a trip to the Museum Campus (1141 S. Jefferson St.; 312-939-2855; sandwiches and entrées, $5–$12).
The indispensable source for history and architecture is the insightful AIA Guide to Chicago. At once authoritative and accessible, it has easy-to-read street maps and special profiles of major buildings (Harcourt Brace, $30).


text: Rambutan is one of my favorite fruits in the Philippines. It looks a bit "hairy" on the outside, so just peel the skin and the inside is so soft and sweet…almost melts in your mouth like candy! Always peel it because sometimes ants or small insects may make their home on the "hairy" part of the skin. WASH them off well when you bring them home. They are VERY YUMMY!


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Watch the new Hereditary trailer!
A24 has revealed the new trailer for familial horror film Hereditary, which stars Toni Collette, Alex Wolff, Milly Shapiro, Ann Dowd and Gabriel Byrne. Check out the Hereditary trailer in the player below and don't miss the creepy Etsy page from the young daughter in the film by clicking here!
When Ellen, the matriarch of the Graham family, passes away, her daughter's family begins to unravel cryptic and increasingly terrifying secrets about their ancestry. The more they discover, the more they find themselves trying to outrun the sinister fate they seem to have inherited. Making his feature debut, writer-director Ari Aster unleashes a nightmare vision of a domestic breakdown that exhibits the craft and precision of a nascent auteur, transforming a familial tragedy into something ominous and deeply disquieting, and pushing the horror movie into chilling new terrain with its shattering portrait of heritage gone to hell.
Written and directed by Ari Aster and produced by Lars Knudsen and Kevin Frakes , Hereditary is getting a wide release on June 8, 2018.
What do you think of the Hereditary trailer? Will you check out this horror flick when it hits theaters? Let us know in the comments below!


text: The former YUKOS boss has been under fire from government Sibneft's announcement on Friday, which came shortly after the start of a joint shareholders' meeting to elect board members to the newly merged company, stunned financial markets and sent YUKOS shares crashing by more than six percent. "The completion of a merger between YUKOS and Sibneft is suspended due to a mutual agreement reached between the core shareholders of both companies," Sibneft said in a statement. It was the latest dramatic twist in a drama set off by the arrest last month of YUKOS's then chief executive Mikhail Khodorkovsky on charges of tax evasion and fraud. YUKOS reaction A spokesman for YUKOS said Sibneft's statement that the two firms had decided to suspend the merger was not a joint-statement. "The only thing I can tell is that this was not a joint statement," YUKOS's spokesman Alexander Shadrin said. YUKOS shares fell seven percent within minutes of Sibneft'sannouncement, while other major stocks such as the United Energy System power grid, traded heavily on the Russian stock market, dropped by 3.5 percent within five minutes of the news. YUKOS is Russia's largest oil and gas producer and the merger with Sibneft would have created the world's fourth-largest energy giant. The news is likely to send ripples throughout the global energy market. SOURCE: Agencies


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Yuu Kurumeno(久留芽野祐) is the president of the theater club at Zashono Academy.
Like Kirika Misono she has a habit of forcing people to join her club. Due to forcing them to signing an iron clad contract they are forbidden from leaving until they can surpass Yuu in acting talent. She was forced to let Densuke Mifune out of her club after she made him join when he received a standing ovation when he was forced to act like a girl, which he can do disturbingly well.
After releasing him from the club she told him she was in awe of his ability, and naturally develops feelings for him.
Community content is available under CC-BY-SA unless otherwise noted.


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Gastronomic offer
Charly's Check-in
Charly's Check-in welcomes passengers, aviation enthusiasts, and excursionists in the terminal building with varied culinary offerings. In good weather, the terrace is an enjoyable place for visitors to observe the airport activity.
Monday to Sunday, 08h30-17h00
Charly's Check-in, ZFV-Unternehmungen
Tel. +41 31 964 07 50
Gribi's Eat & Drink
Gribi's Eat & Drink is located on the west side of the airport within three minutes walking distance from the terminal. Freshly prepared lunch menus and classic dishes are offered daily.
Wednesday to Saturday, 09h00-23h00
Sunday, 09h00-22h00
Gribi's Eat & Drink AG
Tel. +41 31 961 47 47


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The idea of designers and architects working together is nothing new, from the Tokyo store collaboration between Prada and Rem Koolhaas to Hussein Chalayan's techno virtuosity in morphing dresses into chairs.
We all live in buildings and wear clothes. Traditionally, fashion and architecture have remained quite distinct. However, since 1980s the two disciplines have become closer than ever before.


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The site of the UNESCO Heritage walled city has been occupied as some sort of fortification or another since the 5th century B.C. Throughout history, one group after another built fortifications on this strategic hill Overlooking the Pyrenees to the south and down the Aude Valley to the north and east. In years past the Spanish border closer than it is now and not not very far down the road. Even now it isn't much more that 100 km.
The first story I heard about how Carcassonne was named is probably not true at all but in keeping with the philosophy that one should never let the facts get in the way of a good story...here goes.
In the 8th century, there were wars between Christians and the Moors in the southwest of Europe. At that point in time, Carcassonne was under Moorish rule. As the story goes, Charlemagne's army was at the gates of the city and laid siege to it in an effort to take the city back for the French.
The ruler lead a small raiding party out to attack Charlemagne's troops. After all that is what leadership is all about, isn't it? Unfortunately, he was killed almost immediately..
Upon his death, his wife named Carcas assumed the the position as leader over what remained of the Knights of in City.
She manned the ramparts with what was left of her army, the elderly, children and built straw figures to make it seem they had a significant force within.The siege lasted for some extended period. As food and water were running out. Carcas made an inventory of all remaining reserves. Things were desperate. She ordered the villagers to round up a pig and a sack of wheat. She force fed the pig until couldn't eat nay more. She then threw it off the highest tower of the city walls. The pig burst when it landed.
Seeing that, Charlemagne is said to have felt it was useless to continue and lifted the siege, believing that the city had enough food to the point of wasting pigs fed with wheat.
Carcas appears to be a fictional character however. The story dates back to oral traditions of the 12th
century and was written down in the 16th century. In fact, Charlemagne could not have besieged Carcassonne, as his father Pepin had already taken the city from the Saracens in 759 - Charlemagne would have only been 17 at the time.
Never the less at the Porte Narbonnaise by the drawbridge, a replica of her bust welcomes visitors. The original well weathered and dating from the 16th century is preserved in the castle.


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The proposed Creation Museum in the Cincinnati metropolitan area jumped to a new level recently with the purchase of about $5 million worth of exhibits and equipment… for only $19,000! The 30,000-square-foot museum-to be built by the "apologetics" ministry of Answers in Genesis-would defend the Bible from the very first verse.
Last month, AIG staff traveled to Maryland for a "going out of business" auction at the Columbus Center on Baltimore Harbor. Included in AiG's purchases was a walk-through fish (54-ft. long) that cost $340,000 to design and build. This enormous sea bass measures 18-ft. high at the fin; the Baltimore Sun reported that AiG had purchased one of the museum's "most visible icons."
AIG was also the top bidder on a walk-through living cell (14' x 26') that was constructed for $580,000 - but purchased by AIG for only $2,200. Because there was very little evolutionary content in these and the other impressive exhibits, AIG ended up purchasing more than half of the center's "Hall of Exploration" exhibits.
Also brought back from Baltimore on six tractor-trailers were dozens of touch-screen computers and laser disc players, an exceptional exhibit on DNA and chromosomes, another on advances in genetic research, a 500-gallon marine aquarium, and a large fabricated "rock wall" with a 600-gallon active waterfall.
With AiG's 45 large and exquisitely sculpted dinosaur models, and combined with a huge collection of fossils and minerals, Ken Ham, President of AIG, noted that "the addition of the Baltimore exhibits makes AiG's Creation Museum ready to rival most of the natural history and science museums in America. With our Creation Museum, however, visitors will be presented with a Biblical view of history, not an evolutionary one."
These exhibits are waiting to be placed in a state-of-the-art museum on 25 acres of natural beauty facing I-275 in Northern Kentucky (near the Cincinnati airport). Boone County's Fiscal Court, however, denied AiG's rezoning application in November. The decision by county commissioners, when examined in the light of the county's own Comprehensive Plan and Zoning Regulations, was arbitrary and capricious, and therefore AIG has appealed.
On December 30, AIG filed a motion for a "summary judgment" (partial) with the Circuit Court of Boone County. It was submitted in order to get a quick judgment on its appeal. AIG is going this route because it is confident that Judge Douglas Stephens-specially appointed from nearby Kenton County to hear the case -will readily see that Boone County went against its own zoning regulations in denying AiG's application and that he could make a decision (a "summary judgment") without having to preside at a trial.
In its request for a motion of summary judgment, AIG submitted the following arguments:
- "Denying the zone change requested by Answers in Genesis is arbitrary and capricious because it fails to follow the Comprehensive Plan" (p. 21). The motion argues that the county's "Comprehensive Plan unambiguously establishes that the property at issue is to be zoned industrial" (p. 30). The professional planning staff had already classified AiG's intended use of the property as "Industrial-1."
- AiG's motion is also requesting that the court scrutinize "the Fiscal Court resolution [against AIG] due to the infringement of the free exercise of religion rights of Answers in Genesis" (p. 31). AIG noted that many opponents to the museum disagreed with AiG's message, and that the "courts must closely protect the applicant's 'free exercise' rights" (p. 36) and that "one cannot help but suspect part of the true basis for the Commission's denial of AiG's proposed land use is indeed religious bias" (p. 37).
- The county commissioners ruled in November that the "necessary infrastructure" was not available at the property. Through the reports of experts, AIG proved how "adequate" infrastructure could be installed, that AIG "proposes to use an on-site sanitary disposal system … in conformance with the Comprehensive Plan" (p. 11). The Plan only states that "Development in this area should not be accompanied by major sanitary sewer facilities that could commit the Idlewild area to develop" (emphasis ours). Further, "AIG proposes to use on-site water supply, not extension of water mains into the area" (p. 11).
Also,AIG has discovered that some public schools and other facilities in the county have provided their own infrastructure. But the county is saying that AIG can't rezone the property because it doesn't have "necessary" infrastructure in place. Ham noted that this is a type of "Catch-22, and shows the clearly arbitrary nature of the county's decision."
- The county accepted a "minority report" which was not approved by the Zone Change Committee, "yet it was adopted by the Planning Commission to support its denial of the zone change" (p. 10). This unusual minority report, for example, wrongly stated that Industrial-1 zoning "does not include office land uses." The county's own zoning laws clearly state that offices are principally permitted uses on Industrial-1 property.
Ham declared that "Answers in Genesis remains committed to this site. We are confident that our attorneys will argue a convincing case for the motion [possibly on January 26] and that the Circuit Court will overturn this unfair decision and require the county to follow its own Comprehensive Plan and Zoning Regulations."


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Category Archives: fitness
Day 3- A big cookout &10,000 visitors on the blog!
Every week,we start eating healthy/clean.But by the time its Friday evening,all good intentions fly out the window.Weekend mood kicks in and that's it..who really wants to cook then. And then starts my downward spin :Eat-out on Friday night,followed by eat-out on saturday afternoon,may be cook something or else,eat out on Saturday night.Sunday morning starts out good-I cook a big breakfast and then we go for swimming at 2..But by the time we finish,everyone is starving and the first stop before home is fast-food!!There I have said it all now!
I work so hard to lose weight during the week- I workout,I walk,eat healthy..and then I go and ruin it all in the the 2.5 days,that is the weekend.This weekend,I was feeling horrible and told SD that something needs to change.
Hence the cookout today.
For my cookout menu today,I am making-
A big batch of chapati dough-ready,
Chicken curry-chicken is getting marinated,
sprouts curry – ready and
Cabbage-mixed vegetable stir-fry- Cabbage is chopped.
While I cooked the Sprouts curry,I did my 25 squats for the day.I had a big workout this morning,one that involved a lot of punching on a punching bag..I am sore all over and I have to tell you the squats hurt like H.E.L.L!!! SD was sitting right there,as I grunted my way through them..Oh!Dear God! The man has seen me in every form now!!LOL!
I leave you with a recipe for the sprouts curry:
3 cups of mixed sprouts(mung,chickpeas,peas,lentils)
1 medium onion( fined chopped in the chopper)- Very fine,but not just puree'ed yet!
1 small tomato (fine chopped in the chopper)
1 tbspn ginger-garlic paste.
salt ( to taste)
1/2 tsp turmeric powder
2 tsp cumin powder
2 tsp red chili powder
1 tsp garam masala/curry powder
3 cups water.
oil( 2 tsp)
1 tsp cumin seeds
Fresh Coriander& grated fresh coconut(optional) for garnish
Heat oil in a pan and and add cumin seeds.When they start to splatter,add the chopped onions and fry till they turn translucent.
Add ginger garlic paste and fry for one minute,and add the tomatoes,fry well till all the water from the tomatoes has dried up.
Add the sprouts and add the spice powders and the salt and toss it all together,gently.
And lastly add the water.Bring it to a boil and then cover and let it cook on a low flame till the beans are soft.If the water is drying up and the beans are still not stop,add a little more water.But you don't want the curry to be too watery.
Garnish with fresh coriander leaves and grated coconut.Serve hot with Chapati or steamed rice.
This dish tastes good even with plain bread slices to dunk in.At least that's how it was served in our college canteen.It was the most sold item and so wholesome,specially for those days,when you were slogging in a chemistry lab from 7:30 am to 11:00 am and only had an hour or so before the lectures began.I can tell you,I had wolfed down food that fast,before or after those wonder years!
Oh and I am so excited!! My blog just crossed the 10,000 visitors.I am especially thrilled because its been a year since I bought this domain,but I actually migrated all my blogs here and started blogging regularly only since August.So,A big Thank you to all of you,who didn't give up on me through all those url-changes..and A big thank you to ALL of you,who take the time to visit,read and comment.
Thank you!thank you!thank you!!!
And if you are just a lurker,why not leave me a comment ..Go on..don't be shy 🙂
What did I do-Day 29
Recently I shared a picture on FB and since then I have been receiving emails from friends asking what have I been doing to lose weight..My first response is nothing really..But,then,the more I think I realise..its the small changes that make a difference.
Here's what I did-
1) A bit tedious but I counted calories..(have been slack for the last few weeks) but still do..That and lots of walking.I used myfitnesspal to calculate calories. It even has a tool for calculating the per serve calories,so that way,if you cook your own meals,you don't have to guess the calories.
2) Replaced as many processed things with fresh as I could-Did a big pantry clean out and literally dumped the things that I couldn't resist..read Bhujiya! Moved most of the snacks for SD and kids to another shelf and my healthy snacks to the one with easy access.
3) Upped the fibre content with fruits and veggies.
4)MFP told me that even 1 tsp olive oil has 150 cals..So,I replaced it with oil spray or just used 1 tsp to grease the pan and then poured it out.
5) calories Consumed- 1200 cal to lose,1500 if you are nursing/pregnant.
6) 5-6 meals during the day- brekky/lunch/dinner-300 cals.. and 3 100-cal snacks. I was targeting 1500 so I did 300 for brekky,400 each for lunch and dinner and 4 100-cal snacks- one of which was almost always a cup of milk.
You might have noticed,most of it is food related..well it was-I have to be honest I tried my best to workout for the first 3 -4 months of the year..after that,as it got colder,I started working more,SD's travels etc.. workouts are out..I was lucky if I can get one in 10 days. So,I try to eat clean..some days I slip up and then the very next day,I start eating clean! Michelle Bridges of the biggest loser fame,says that weight loss is 80% diet and 20% workout..well I am trying to give my 80%:) Since the last 2 weeks,I am trying to be more strict with myself and schedule a workout/walk 4-5 times during the week,first thing after school drop-off,that way,its done before my body has a chance to complain!
Also read the Kardashian mum say- they follow the 80-20 rule.. eat clean 80% of the times,so if you have an occasional treat..its not so bad!
Hope this helps:)
My sister doesn't approve of my 'diet' because I eat everything..but I eat in moderation..and I firmly believe that if I go without something for a long time,1)there is a big chance of self-sabotage- I will miss it so much and then binge!
2)when I start eating it again,I will put the weight right back on!
So..there you go,I have said it as it is..I have lots heaps of kgs but I still have a long way to go,till I will be happy with the way I look…:)
Hope this helps,


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People in Australia are always interested in finding more about vacation deals when the vacations are approaching. For sure it is a good idea that when the vacations are almost approaching you must be booking your Cuba Tours, Central America tours, Africa Tours, South America tours or Zimbabwe Tours.
This is the perfect way to spend your vacation and get the best glimpse of life and nature as you travel across Africa and America.
Finding the right place, getting the right kind of transportations and heading towards the tours and travel options that may take you to the Tanzania Safari, Namibia Tours, South Africa Tours and Kenya Safari is necessary.
In order to find the best deal in town, you may start searching for the best deals on African Tours. Though it seems quite obvious that when you are heading for a visit to Africa or America you will be needing more cost and may see that there are lesser booking options available.
To find the best travel deals you may look for the deals and packages the traveler agents may want you to look at. These could be available offline or online as well. Though it is considered one of the best option like you may have to search for the bundle packages which may not be available anywhere else.
Further when packing for your next tour you may have to make sure that you are going to ravel for the best tour in your life and for this you may need to get your flight booked from a reliable source.
To find the best deal for your next vacation tour, you may have to do the following:
You should be looking for the travel deals that are available online or are offered by the agencies for more travelers to come to them. This could be your best bet.
In addition to that you may also compare the various deals that are available offline. This may help you know the vast range of options to choose from.


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In this weeks second instalment of 'Meet The Team' we're talking to Sarah Goreeph our Business Development Manager in Bristol! Sarah has been at DBR Group for just under a year and this is her first role in recruitment, before working at DBR Group Sarah has previously worked in call centre selling and renewing car insurance.
1) Describe your job in three words.
Challenging, rewarding, fun.
2) What's the best thing about your role?
I enjoy the variation in each work day, having to think on your feet and problem solve.
3) What's the most challenging aspect of your role?
Filling bookings!
4) What's the best part of working for DBR Group?
At DBR Group you are ALWAYS recognised for doing well, I love the team spirit and the feeling of 'togetherness'.
5) What's your best memory of working at DBR Group?
My first Christmas party with DBR! Meeting the team in Manchester.
6) What did you want to be when you were young?
A hairdresser / Beautician.
7) What's in your brew?
Committed coffee drinker, half a sugar and a dash of milk.
8) Whats one unknown fact about you?
I can lick my nose!
Darren Bell Recruitment © 2020 - Website By Prestige Logic
Send us your CV and we will be in touch with any matching vacancies!


text: Welcome to Century Galleria Lofts, the finest community of luxury apartments for rent in Houston, TX. Choose from one, two, and three bedroom floor plans to find the perfect living space to suit your particular lifestyle. Our spacious interiors feature ten-foot ceilings with soaring windows that welcome the natural light. Wrap-around kitchens with gourmet, prep islands create an open feel while giving you plenty of room to prepare delicious meals. Our stylishly designed apartments and lofts feature elegant extra touches like wood-style flooring, granite countertops, relaxing oval soaking tubs, and generous walk-in closets. You'll experience modern, urban living at its finest when you choose Century Galleria Lofts and Apartments in Houston, TX.


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Heavy duty security bollards provide lasting protection for residential parking areas, private drives and more. TrafficGuard's fixed, removable and collapsible parking lot poles prevent damage to other vehicles, injury to pedestrians and unauthorized entry to private property. Other security posts can similarly be used to protect property like houses and apartment complexes, giving residents the security they want and need.


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|Inland, by Jane Richmond.
I've discussed a previous Marian Rae publication, Jane's Island collection, earlier this year here. In Journey, Jane and Shannon, along with photographer Nicholas Kupiak, have carried through the distinct style that that they developed in Island. Simple lines, beautifully laid out pages (over 125 pages to flip through in Journey!) classic details... these are the things that we've come to expect from Jane and Shannon, and this latest collaboration certainly delivers.
|Spate, by Jane Richmond.
I love that we live in a day and age when knitwear designers can make the leap from self publishing pdf's of their designs online, to self publishing an actual hard copy book. We all love the convenience of the quick download, but books are something to truly be cherished! Having great patterns available in both formats is amazing. Shannon and Jane haven't just designed a lovely collection of knits, they've told a story through knitwear design and photography. It's very impressive. When I flip through the pages of Journey I can feel forward momentum.
|Climb, by Jane Richmond.
I hate picking favourites form collections because I know how hard the designers work to produce each piece, and that every design is there for a reason. Any of the pieces in this book would make a welcome addition to my wardrobe, but which one am I hankering to cast on for first? Twist my arm and I think I'd have to say that I'd knit Onward in Orange Label Cashmere/Silk Worsted weight yarn in a neutral like Chris Grey, Frost, Sand, Dove or maybe even Natural. The texture, the scale, I think this shawl looks incredibly cozy and I'd wrap it around my neck and never take it off! I love that it's reversible as well, always a very clever detail in a knit.
|Onward, by Shannon Cook.
The patterns from Journey are available as individual pdf's, an ebook and a hard copy book. Buy them on Ravelry here.
What would you knit from Journey with your TFA stash?


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Great Tips About How To Make Money Online That Anyone Can Use
There are some things you must think about before making money online. It is not difficult if you have helpful information.Here are some guidelines to help you along the way. Figure out your niche that you are in first.Are you a good at writing? Market yourself as a content provider. Are you good graphic designer? You can get hired to work on the designs of others. Look around to find what you do best and position


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SunTrust Mortgage to Pay $550 Million in Federal-State Deal Over Unlawful Foreclosures, Loan Servicing
More Than 230 Massachusetts Borrowers Eligible for Direct Payments; Agreement Includes Loan Modifications and Other Relief to the Commonwealth
BOSTON – June 18, 2014 – (RealEstateRama) — A $550 million nationwide federal-state settlement with mortgage lender and servicer SunTrust Mortgage Inc. over mortgage origination, servicing, and foreclosure abuses will provide direct payments to eligible Massachusetts borrowers for past foreclosure abuses, along with loan modifications and other relief for borrowers in need of assistance, Attorney General Martha Coakley announced today.
AG Coakley joins 48 other states, along with the District of Columbia, U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) in the settlement filed today in U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia.
"This nationwide settlement will provide direct payments, loan modifications and other relief for Massachusetts borrowers who were affected by SunTrust's unlawful practices," AG Coakley said. "SunTrust will undertake new mortgage servicing standards and take steps to prevent past foreclosure abuses in order to treat its borrowers fairly."
Under the terms of the settlement, SunTrust, a wholly-owned subsidiary of SunTrust Banks Inc., will make payments to more than 230 eligible Massachusetts borrowers whose loans were serviced by SunTrust and who lost their home to foreclosure from Jan. 1, 2008 through Dec. 31, 2013 and encountered servicing abuse. That relief will come from a national $40 million fund designated for payments to borrowers. The borrower payment amount will depend on the number of claims filed.
The agreement also requires SunTrust to provide certain Massachusetts borrowers with loan modifications or other relief, including principal reductions and refinancing for underwater mortgages. SunTrust decides how many loans and which loans to modify, but must meet certain minimum targets. Because SunTrust receives only partial settlement credit for many types of loan modifications, the settlement will provide relief to borrowers that will exceed the overall minimum amount.
The national settlement also requires SunTrust to substantially change how it services mortgage loans and handles foreclosures, and will prevent past foreclosure abuses, such as robo-signing, improper documentation and lost paperwork. An independent monitor will ensure mortgage servicer compliance.
The settlement creates dozens of new consumer protections and standards, including:
Making foreclosure a last resort by first requiring SunTrust to evaluate homeowners for other loss mitigation options;
Restricting foreclosure while the homeowner is being considered for a loan modification;
Imposing new procedures and timelines for reviewing loan modification applications;
Giving homeowners the right to appeal denials;
Requiring a single point of contact for borrowers seeking information about their loans and maintaining adequate staff to handle calls.
This settlement's mortgage servicing terms largely mirrors the National Mortgage Settlement (NMS) reached in February 2012 between the federal government, 49 state attorneys general, including Massachusetts, and the nation's five largest mortgage servicers, relating to their unlawful loan servicing and certain foreclosure practices. That settlement so far has provided more than $63 billion in relief to distressed homeowners and created significant new servicing standards. The NMS brought more than $300 million in relief to Massachusetts borrowers, including a direct payment of more than $44.5 million to the Commonwealth, used in part to establish the AG's HomeCorps program and offer grants aimed at helping to mitigate the impact of the foreclosure crisis.
HomeCorps may be contacted at (617) 573-5333 or visit www.mass.gov/ago/homecorps. To contact SunTrust with settlement-related questions, including whether certain borrowers may qualify for certain forms of relief, call 1-800-634-7928 or visit www.SunTrustMortgage.com.
This matter is being handled for Massachusetts by Assistant Attorneys General Justin Lowe and Lisa Dyen of the Attorney General's Consumer Protection Division.
Media Contact
Jillian Fennimore
(617) 727-2543


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ATTENTION: We have a new addition to the Collard family.
Kate and I decided to sponsored a boy in Ecuador through Compassion International. Our church did a special a few Sundays back and we really felt moved to reach out and help.
His name is Kevin Ivan Farinango! He is 5 years old and loves soccer.
Typical houses in Kevin's area are constructed of dirt floors, brick walls and tile roofs. The most commonly spoken language is Spanish. The regional diet consists of maize, beans, rice and potatoes. Common health problems in this area include malnutrition, parasites, diarrhea and respiratory diseases. Most adults work as day laborers and earn the equivalent of $100 per month. This community needs vocational training, educational resources and permanent jobs. Our sponsorship allows the staff of Carita Feliz Student Center to provide Kevin with Bible teaching, medical exams, health instruction, nutritious meals, recreational activities, vocational courses and academic support. In addition, non-schooled children are provided with preschool classes. The center staff will also provide parent's school, evangelism and medication for the parents of Kevin.
I would encourage everyone to sponsor a child and give them hope!
Welcome Kevin!


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Last night my husband and I had a disagreement. It was not an argument. We just had two points of view and I still think I'm right. (don't we always?)
We had just finished watching a promo copy of the movie "Mighty Macs" that is releasing in theaters this weekend. It was truly refreshing to watch a G-rated movie with a great story based on the true events of the 1971-72 Immaculata College girl's basketball team. In short, it's "Glory Road" and "Hoosiers" for girls. And if you have a daughter who loves sports, please take her to this film. She will love it.
After the movie finished, we started discussing the time period of when the movie was made. I was a young girl growing up in the midst of a female revolution. I made the comment that women truly have come a long way in the past 30 years. And I think it's been a great thing. I grew up with a father who encouraged my dreams and gave me the confidence to know I could compete with the boys–whether it was in academics or in sports. Although my dad had two daughters and we had plenty of dolls to play with, we also had bows and arrows, a basketball goal and we learned how to make a pretty mean campfire. Title IX literally evened the playing field in many ways.
Although Vic is strongly supportive of giving women opportunities, we began a discussion about how girls have fared well and guys seem to be struggling. He blamed it on feminism and that women wanted to take over the world. Whoa. Wrong. While there are some women who may have an anti-guy agenda, most women I know would love to see guys step up, man up and be the leader God intended for them to be. But here's where we are today:
1. The future of women and men pursuing missions and ministry . A couple of days ago, I had the privilege of being a guest speaker in two cross-cultural ministry classes at Oklahoma Baptist University and I attended another class on Bible storying. All of the classes were predominately female. This is a trend happening in several Christian universities. If what I saw in the college classroom doesn't change, we will have a huge shortage of men willing to shepherd congregations and take the Gospel to the nations. When I asked the professor why more women were applying for mission positions, particularly the Journeyman program with the IMB, I was surprised. The main disqualifier for men? Pornography. While I know it's a serious issue, it is destroying the future of young men who could be leaders on the mission field. This is a serious issue and the church must address it. Now.
2. Girl's ministry and women's ministry is flourishing. Women have been strongly encouraging women to dig into God's word for quite some time. They soak in the teachings of Beth Moore and Priscilla Shirer. Women actually do the homework. And guess what? They like it! I see very few men willing to spend time studying God's word in the same manner. In fact, go to the LifeWay Christian Resources website and compare women's Bible studies and girl's ministry products to what's geared specifically towards men. There's a huge imbalance. I'm not faulting LifeWay. They have to produce what sells. And guess what? Products geared specifically towards men have not sold well.
3. The future of families. I know several young single women who are waiting for a Godly man to come into their life. Their standards are high. They do not want to compromise. While they may have goals for themselves, many of them are longing to have a husband who will challenge them and lead them. I know single moms who would do anything to have a Godly father in the home.
I know this sounds pretty discouraging. There are glimmers of hope. I applaud the movie "Courageous" and the effforts to encourage accountability and Biblical fatherhood. Our men's ministry at the BGCO (headed by Keith Burkhart) does a fantastic job of gathering men each year at their men's retreat and encouraging men throughout the year. My husband spends hours each week completing his Bible Study for Bible Study Fellowship. (yes, there are men who do homework)
Yes, women have made great strides and I'm proud of the opportunities and accomplishments. But men, please don't blame us for your failures. It's time to man up and take responsibility. We need you. The church needs you. Most importantly, a lost world is waiting on you.


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Ego Psychology
Ego psychology is a school of psychoanalysis, which developed out of the ego-id-superego model of Sigmund Freud (1856 to 1939).
Freud believed that we are born with our id, which enables us to meet our basic needs. The ego is seen as the second part of the personality and develops in the first three years when a child interacts with the world. The third concept used by Freud is the superego, which develops by the age of five. It is the moral part of the personality and dictates what we believe is right or wrong.
According to ego psychology, functioning adaptively represents an innate capacity that people are born with. The ego is a force that helps the individual cope with, adapt to and shape the external environment. A number of theorists continued Freud's work and elaborated on his functionalist version of the ego. They studied ways to strengthen the ego in order to more effectively manage the pressures coming from the id, the super-ego and the society as a whole.
Heinz Hartmann (1894 to 1970) contributed significantly to the theories of ego psychology. He believed the ego had many conflict-free functions whose basic task was adaptation to the external world. Hartmann's ideas were well known in the United States and Europe and his influence spread with the publication of Ego Psychology and the Problem of Adaptation (1958.)
Ego psychology observes the ego as a mental structure of the personality in charge of the conflicts between one's internal needs and the surrounding world. At the same time, it also mediates internal conflicts. Ego development is considered a result of many activities including the meeting of basic needs, interpersonal relationships, learning, effective problem solving and coping with challenges.
Ego defenses are one of the key fields of study in ego psychology. These defenses represent mechanisms that keep intolerable or unacceptable impulses or threats from conscious awareness so as to protect a person's mental health. This process always leads to some form of distortion of reality. It is effective if the mechanisms allow a person to function well without undue anxiety.
The different forms of ego defenses include:
Repression – a form of defense that keeps certain thoughts and feelings unconscious. It can lead to memory loss for traumatic incidents or events associated with painful emotions. Another mechanism - isolation - is close to repression as it involves the repression of feelings that are associated with specific items or ideas related to certain affects.
Reaction formation - usually involves the replacement of unwanted impulses with their opposites. It is close to reversal, which represents a general mechanism that helps an individual turn a feeling or attitude into its opposite. Displacement is when one shifts feelings or conflicts related to a certain person or situation onto another.
Undoing – represents the symbolical nullifying of an unacceptable feeling, thought or act that leads to the feeling of guilt. Regression is observed when a person returns to an earlier phase of development, level of functioning or mode of behavior seeking to avoid the anxieties of the present.
Sublimation – is seen as one of the most mature defenses. It involves converting an impulse from a socially objectionable aim into a socially acceptable one, while keeping the impulse's original goal.
Intellectualization – allows a person to protect him or herself from unacceptable impulses by thinking about them instead of directly experiencing them.
Rationalization - involves the use of convincing reasons to explain and justify particular feelings and actions. Thus a person avoids recognizing his or her true underlying motive, which is unacceptable.
Denial – this represents the negotiation or even the non-acceptance of major aspects of reality of an individual's own experience. The cases in which unacceptable impulses or conflicts become physical symptoms are called somatization.
Asceticism – this involves the moral renunciation of chosen pleasures in a drive to skip the anxiety or conflict coming from impulse gratification. When one finds satisfaction through self-sacrifices or takes part in various causes to deal with unacceptable feelings he or she is defined as altruistic. Splitting is a way of keeping separated two contradictory ego states, such as love and hate.
According to ego psychology studies, all people use defenses in order to cope with certain aspects of their reality. Trying to modify one's defenses can lead to anxiety in the individual. Experts believe all defense mechanisms should be approached carefully and with respect. Stress, illness or fatigue can result in a collapse of the ego's defenses.


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More responses regarding the desperate uncle whose niece and boyfriend are drug addicts (January 13):
Reader #1 – "For years, I took any and all prescription drugs I could get my hands on – mostly obtained not through legal means.
"My parents and family tried for years to get me to quit, but I always had a roof over my head and food in my stomach because they didn't take the tough love approach.
"They finally understood it was the only way I'd get the help I needed. I hit rock bottom. I was arrested numerous times.
"My parents always visited me in jail, but they never paid for bail as they knew if I got out, I'd go right back to the drugs.
"Finally, in August of 2001, I was arrested for trying to rob a pharmacy. Part of my sentence was to go to rehab, so the five months in jail awaiting trial plus one month of rehab meant I'd now gone six months drug-free.
"I could see clearly again, and not through my usual drug-induced haze.
"I'm one of the lucky ones, Ellie; I've now been drug-free since August 2001, have a wonderful wife and child, a great job. But most importantly, I have the love of my family.
"I'm sure using tough love was awful on my family, but in the end, they saved me.
"The niece's family has to know there's support for them, but also that it's not their fault. Too many families blame themselves for their children's addictions, with questions like, "where did we go wrong?"
"Not everyone who takes a drug or a drink is an addict. There are millions of people who everyday take pain medication as prescribed by a doctor, or have a drink at a bar with no ill affects. But for addicts, one is never enough.
"I am living proof that tough love works."
Reader #2 – "Despite having an enviable life and career, my husband became an alcoholic and then an addict, making life a nightmare for our kids and me.
"He often became violent. To pay for his drugs, he sold whatever he could. I controlled the finances so he couldn't take much from our account.
"I was advised to go the "tough love" route so, after a few failed attempts at rehab, I threw him out of the house.
"Eventually, I started seeing another man, our divorce was imminent. Also, some of his friends from rehab had died. He realized that he could lose us (and possibly his life).
"He worked very hard and managed to finally succeed at another rehab program. When we reconciled, he reverted to the wonderful man I'd married.
"Unfortunately, unresolved anger and hate he'd felt towards his family (justifiably) manifested itself in the form of a deadly cancer. We had ten wonderful years together before the cancer finally took his life.
"Lies, deceit, and violence are all a part of addiction and destroy not just the addict, but everyone around him/her.
"Throwing my husband out was a very difficult decision but I had myself and three young children to consider. Even now, after years of therapy, the kids are still affected by everything that happened.
"Aside from the great programs that rehab centres run for the co-dependents, there's Nar-Anon, Al-Anon, and countless other services.
"The most important coping skill I learned was to look after myself. If Desperate Uncle and his niece's parents can somehow get the strength to put this into practice, it could make all the difference in the world."
Reader #3 – "My daughter became addicted to cocaine when she moved to the "big city" and started a fabulous new job.
"She met her heroin-addict boyfriend in rehab, then became addicted to heroin when they moved in together.
"It was a long, horrible several years of overdoses, trips to emergency rooms, police, jail.
"They lived with me for awhile but I kicked them out when I discovered they were using in my house and the boyfriend was stealing my jewellery.
"She was kicked out of three different rehab facilities. Her boyfriend finally fled the country after robbing a bank.
"She finally joined a 12-step program and has been clean and sober for five years.
"The uncle's relatives are enabling their daughter by letting her and her boyfriend live with them.
"They need to get clean on their own, separately. They're "triggers" for each other."
Tip of the day:
People who recover from addictions through tough-love approaches, express gratitude for the life-saving love.