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On the surface, a short sale may seem like a great idea because you could end up getting a very affordable home for sale in Irvine while satisfying lien holders. However, the added bureaucracy of a short sale can result in a few issues. Be cautious when agreeing to a short sale because these 6 things could go wrong at any stage.
1. Foreclosures
Throughout the negotiation process, the holder of the property's debts may decide to foreclose on the property instead. Though most lenders are reluctant to begin the difficult foreclosure process, they may decide to take this route if they think it can help them recover more money. Try to avoid being rushed into a sale by the threat of foreclosure.
2. Sabotage from Grumpy Homeowners
Since short sales only occur when previous owners are unable to pay their debts, you may end up in a situation where the homeowner does not want to cooperate in selling the property. Viewing and inspecting the property prior to the sale may be difficult, and the property may even be damaged. It is best to focus on pursuing short sales with sellers who seem accommodating and eager to sell the home.
3. A Lack of Repairs
Keep in mind the seller may not be required to make lender-mandated repairs if the buyer is purchasing the property with a VA or FHA loan. The responsibility for these repairs will then be on the buyer, which can add many unexpected costs to the purchase. Set aside some money for repairs and get a thorough inspection to avoid unpleasant surprises.
4. Liens Filed Against the Home
One of the biggest obstacles to a short sale occurs when there is already a property tax or UCC lien filed against the home. When this occurs, the seller may not actually have the right to be selling the property. Instead of waiting for sale approval before doing a title check, do a quick check of the property's public records before you begin the negotiations.
5. Lengthy Negotiations
Many people who are participating in a short sale for the first time are surprised to find out how long it takes. A short sale requires approval from the lenders, so you may end up needing to go back and forth between lending offices talking to many people. Working with an Irvine real estate agent who is experienced in short sales is a good idea because the expertise and connections may be able to smooth out any issues and speed up the sale.
6. Unexpected Loan Modifications
A short sale alternative is seeking a loan modification, but loan modifications cannot be pursued alongside a short sale. If the homeowner starts a loan modification, the short sale will be automatically halted. Strong communication is key to prevent this from happening. Make sure you are buying from sellers who have no plans to pursue a loan modification.
Only some houses for sale in Irvine, CA, will be short sales. It's far more likely you'll be seeing more traditional sales during your search. Get in touch with a trusted local real estate agent at 714-454-6304 to see what your options are.


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OAKLAND, Calif. — It is basketball by invitation only, and if you are lucky enough to receive one, you get to watch Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson hoist 3-pointers or gawk as Kevin Durant extends his impossibly long frame and soars to the basket. You also get to take in the rest of the Golden State Warriors, the most dazzling team in the N.B.A.
You get to do all this by watching the Warriors practice — yes, practice.
Not content merely to cheer at blowout wins, a growing number of celebrities, boldface names and "friends of the family," as the Warriors describe them, have sought entree in recent seasons to one of the more exclusive venues in sports: the team's practice site. For a select few — a group that includes authors, actors, politicians and athletes, some more notable than others — it is a rare opportunity to peek behind the curtain at a club now seeking its second championship in three years.
And maybe get a photo or two.
"I think people want to see what it's all about," the Warriors assistant Bruce Fraser said. "It's almost like being inside of a studio when they're making a record, right? There's something unique and authentic about that process. You want to see how it all works."
Sometimes, he said, those who secure the golden ticket to take in a practice walk away feeling disillusioned: Is that it? they ask.
"Because you've missed so many steps that have led up to that one practice," Fraser said, "and it's just like, 'Man, all they do is play loud music and shoot around.'"
Of course, nobody really complains, at least out loud. After the romance author Danielle Steel stopped by last season with her daughter, she posted a breathless 762-word summation of the experience on her blog.
"It was just plain WOWWWW!!!!" she wrote in closing.
It should be noted that not all Warriors invitations are equal. Some people get to watch the whole practice; others are allowed in toward the end when players are working on their shooting. Some guests sit courtside; others observe from a balcony. It depends on the person and the day, and at many practices, there are no outsiders at all.
"But when people reach out and are interested in coming, Steve's pretty generous with his time and with our access," said Nick U'Ren, the team's director of coaching operations, referring to Steve Kerr, the Warriors' coach.
On rare occasions, Kerr invites a distinguished person to attend practice and address his players. The author Malcolm Gladwell spoke to them about his book "Outliers." Before last year's presidential election, the sociologist Harry Edwards led a discussion about cultural and political issues. Members of the Blue Angels, a group of elite Navy pilots, came one day to talk about leadership and teamwork.
There are lighter moments, too. At training camp last season, Brandon Armstrong, a basketball impressionist with a large online following, shared some of his comedic stylings with the players.
Other guests have included children from the Special Olympics and the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Mike Brown, the team's associate coach, recently invited a couple of technology gurus whom he had befriended. Mike Trout of the Los Angeles Angels made a cameo with several teammates. He played P-I-G against the Warriors' Draymond Green — and won.
As celebrities themselves, the Warriors are seldom star-struck. Nor do they seem to mind that people keep showing up at practice.
"We don't even know that they're there half the time," forward David West said.
James Michael McAdoo, a reserve forward, said his wife had texted him after a recent home game to tell him that the actor James Franco was hanging out in a corridor near the locker room.
"And I'm like, 'O.K.,'" McAdoo said. "She always gets a kick out of that stuff, and I'm ready to go home."
But McAdoo said he had had a memorable experience this season when Billy Blanks, the creator of the Tae Bo exercise program, arrived at practice with other cast members from his television show, "Celebrity Sweat," which is on the A&E channel.
McAdoo did not know his name — he kept referring to Blanks as "Tae Bo" in a recent interview — but he recognized him immediately.
"I remember when I was a kid, I'd wake up on Saturday morning and come downstairs and my mom would be working out to Tae Bo videos," McAdoo said. "So I was stoked to be able to take a picture with Tae Bo. I even put it on Instagram: 'Our practice was a little different today.'"
Likewise, West made sure to introduce himself.
"That was one where I was kind of like, 'Yeah, let me get over there to say hello,'" West said. "Smaller than I thought."
Blanks said it had been a thrill to study how the players trained. He was struck by Durant's work in the weight room.
"I didn't know he was that strong," Blanks said in a telephone interview. "The guy is strong!"
Sometimes, celebrities find the Warriors when they take their show on the road. That was the case when Golden State visited the Nets in December. Chris Martin, the lead singer of Coldplay, dined with the Warriors the night before the game and then had an opportunity to watch Curry's private pregame workout at Barclays Center.
It was all arranged through a mutual contact at Under Armour, the apparel brand that sponsors Curry. After watching Curry warm up, Martin approached Fraser.
"He was just blown away that he makes every shot," Fraser said. "He was like, 'You guys make it look like it's choreographed.' And I was like, 'Yeah, I guess it is choreographed.'"
Soon enough, Martin had a courtside visit from Zaza Pachulia, the Warriors' starting center and an admitted Coldplay nut.
"His shows are amazing," Pachulia said. "I just told him that I love what he does."
So it goes for the Warriors, at least when they're not dealing with LeBron James.

subset: commoncrawl


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Welcome to Source of Steel - The Heavy Metal Museum. For the metal head who likes to own or collect physical CDs, Source of Steel is my website dedicated to the love of physical metal on shiny plastic discs. Micro-reviews, thoughts, pics of my own collection and random utterances galore. The site started out purely as a way of sharing my rarities to like-minded fans, but now (for longevity's sake more than anything) it is open to new physical metal music bits I've picked up, including new releases and other random shit.
Cannibal Corpse - Hammer Smashed Face EP
Cannibal Corpse's most famous track? I'd say so, but there are so many classics from their early years to choose from. This is the original first press uncensored version of the 'Hammer Smashed Face' Ep, released by Metal Blade. Later censored pressings decided to go for a red background with a skull/candle combo, but this has the oh so offensive and realistic (yeah right - cartoony more like) smashed up face. Via hammer, no less.
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SPC's vision
A secure, resilient and prosperous Pacific Community, whose people are educated and healthy and manage their resources in an economically, environmentally and socially sustainable way.
SPC is committed to helping Pacific Island countries and territories (PICTs) address the risks posed by climate variability and climate change. The Pacific region has for centuries been vulnerable to natural climate hazards such as floods, droughts and cyclones. The frequency of such events varies from year to year and decade to decade due to phenomena such as the El Niño Southern Oscillation. Climate change resulting from increased greenhouse gases is posing additional risks for the region, such as increasing air and sea surface temperatures. SPC is working to help PICTs respond to the risks and impacts of climate variability and climate change through its sectoral work and its 'whole of organisation' approach and in partnership with other members of the Council of Regional Organisations in the Pacific (CROP).
Climate Change Engagement Strategy for SPC 2011–2015
The strategy provides an overarching framework for SPC's climate change work, sets organisational objectives and identifies key result areas against which progress can be monitored.
The Goal
Pacific Island countries and territories are able to effectively manage the risks presented by climate change.
Basis of the strategy
To assist Pacific Island countries and territories to adopt a sustainable 'whole of country, whole of region' approach to addressing climate change challenges, through identification of risks and provision of relevant climate change knowledge, technical assistance and resources to enable them to make informed policy and operational decisions.
Strategic outcomes
The climate change engagement strategy targets three strategic outcomes that are linked directly to SPC's vision. These are:
- Strengthened capacity of Pacific Island communities to respond effectively to climate change
- Climate change integrated into SPC programmes and operations
- Strengthened partnerships at the regional and international level
SPC's support for achieving these outcomes is described in the following matrix:
SPC climate change support activities in Pacific Island countries and territories
SPC is carrying out a variety of climate change activities through its six technical divisions and its Strategic Engagement, Policy and Planning Facility. For more information about specific activities relating to climate change, follow these links:
SPC is also implementing several climate change projects through to 2015 that are funded by external partners; these include:
- Coping with Climate Change in the Pacific Island Region (CCCPIR) Implemented in partnership with Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) on behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ)
- Global Climate Change Alliance: Pacific Small Island States (GCCA: PSIS) Implemented by SPC and funded by the European Union (EU)
International Climate Change Adaptation Initiative: Building resilience in fisheries, agriculture and health Implemented by SPC and funded by the Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID)
- Vegetation and Land Cover Mapping and Improving Food Security for Building Resilience to a Changing Climate in Pacific Island Communities Implemented by SPC and funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID)
High-level Dialogue on Climate Change
17 November 2014, Noumea, New Caledonia
At the initiative of SPC, Pacific Island leaders gathered in New Caledonia to discuss critical challenges linked to climate change with the President of the Republic of France, M. François Hollande, French Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Development, M. Laurent Fabius, Minister for Overseas Territories, Mme George Pau-Langevin, and the President's Special Envoy for the Protection of the Planet, M. Nicolas Hulot.
The High-Level Dialogue on Climate Change, hosted by SPC at its headquarters, has given Pacific leaders a platform to move the agenda forward on the serious climate change challenge for the region and its real impact on the lives of Pacific Island people.
Leaders discussed the profound effect of climate change and related extreme weather events on fragile Pacific economies, on people's livelihoods and on their access to food and water.
The event occurred nearly one year before France hosts the 21st session of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in Paris, where a new, universal climate agreement is due to be adopted.
Follow the High-level Dialogue on climate change
SPC and climate change
The High-Level Dialogue on Climate Change was convened by SPC following an invitation extended to President Hollande and the Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Development on behalf of the Pacific Community by SPC Director-General, Colin Tukuitonga, during his European visit.
Recognised for its world-class scientific and technical expertise, SPC has a comprehensive programme to help Pacific Island countries and territories respond to the risks and impacts of climate variability and climate change.
Development partners – Agence Française de Développement, Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) and European Union ‒ and representatives of Pacific regional organisations including the Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency, Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat and Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme, were also invited to attend.


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text: American Picker -Mike Wolfe gets a windmill by Paul Behrends | Mar 7, 2018 | Windmill Service Had the pleasure of installing a nice vintage Aermotor A702 x 33 for Mike Wolfe of American Picker fame. Nice guy! Other than the heavy rain and bolders in the ground, it was a fun day!


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Exploring English: Shakespeare
Improve your English language skills by looking at the life and works of William Shakespeare and his enduring popularity.
- Duration6 weeks
- Weekly study2 hours
- CertificatesAvailable
Exploring English: Shakespeare
Why join the course?
This free online course will look at the life and works of William Shakespeare and take you from his Birthplace in Stratford-upon-Avon to the Globe Theatre in London, from where he secured his central place in English literature.
We will look at five of Shakespeare's plays with the help of actors and experts from around the world. They will explain and explore the universal themes Shakespeare addressed in his work.
The plays are: Romeo and Juliet, Hamlet, Much Ado About Nothing, The Tempest and Macbeth.
Our video tutor will guide you through the course and look at some of the words and expressions that Shakespeare introduced to the English language.
Short quizzes will check your understanding and you'll be asked to share your ideas and opinions on the topics Shakespeare raises.
When would you like to start?
Most FutureLearn courses run multiple times. Every run of a course has a set start date but you can join it and work through it after it starts. Find out more
Available now
Who is the course for?
This course is for people who are learning English and interested in the language and legacy of William Shakespeare.
The material is designed for non-native English speakers who have studied English to around intermediate level (approximately B1 on the CEFR).
What do people say about this course?
Who will you learn with?
Anthony Cosgrove is an author and consultant in the field of English Language Teaching. He works as a consultant for the British Council.
Learner reviews
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Do you know someone who'd love this course? Tell them about it...
You can use the hashtag #FLShakespeareEE to talk about this course on social media.


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• Must possess a Bachelor's Degree in Elementary Education
• Must have a Michigan Teaching Certification with an Elementary Endorsement (ZG)
• Thorough knowledge of Michigan Core Curriculum
• Must be computer literate and proficient in the use of Microsoft Office software
• Must possess excellent verbal, written and interpersonal communication skills
• Experience working in culturally diverse setting.
• Ability to work independently and within a team environment
• Flexible open minded, self driven team member
• Must be authorized to work in the US
• Prepares for classes assigned and shows written evidence of preparation upon request of supervisor(s).
• Creates a classroom environment that is conducive to learning and appropriate to the maturity and interests of the students.
• Prepares and implements lesson plans that are aligned with curriculum maps for the grade level/subject area, & include activities for differentiated instruction to meet the varied learning styles , abilities, and needs of students in a culturally sensitive environment
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According to the Harvard Center of Risk Analysis, cell phone use contributes to 6 percent of all crashes, which equates to 636,000 crashes, 330,000 injuries, and 2600 deaths each year.
Oprah Winfrey just announced her "Hang Up and Drive Campaign" to educate consumers on distracted driving (i.e. texting, phone calls etc.) On her show today (Monday, January 18, 2010) she had guests on who have lost loved ones to distracted-driving crashes. Furthermore, a law was passed on January 1, 2010 that banned texting while driving in the state of Illinois (a law that has been in act since October 2008 in Chicago.)
So, texting and cell phone talking and electronic distraction while driving is illegal in Illinois... for good reason.
Monday, January 18, 2010
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News - Component Test
AWG with Real time Precompensation
08 March 2019 - Zurich Instruments introduces real-time precompensation technology for the HDAWG arbitrary waveform generator. By inverse filtering, precompensation minimizes effects of imperfections in the wiring and ensures that the signal applied to the device under test equals the signal designed on the HDAWG. Multiple filter types are available to correct for AC coupling, spurious inductances and capacitances, impedance mismatches, amplifier ringing, and others.
With the HDAWG-PC Real-time Precompensation option, each channel of the HDAWG is equipped with a chain of digital filters between the waveform generation unit and the digital-to-analog converter. Each filter can be individually enabled and configured in situ while monitoring the effect on the signal at the device under test, e.g. as displayed on an oscilloscope. The LabOne Precompensation Simulator allows the user to match the measured signal with the simulated effect of the inverse filter and thus helps finding the right filter parameters quickly. Once this is done, the user can proceed to work in the LabOne AWG Sequencer and rely on the visualized waveform data. Real-time precompensation considers the full history of the signal over long time scales without consuming waveform memory and is compatible with dynamic sequencing where the pattern is only known at the time of the experiment.
The main application for the 4 and 8 channel HDAWG with the precompensation option are quantum computing application with flux bias pulses for superconducting qubits or gate voltage pulses for spin qubits. Other applications are EPR (electron paramagnetic resonance) or NMR (nuclear magnetic resonance).
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For more information please contact us
ashmail [at] ashmoregroup [dot] com (Email Ashmore)
17 January 2013
Weekly investor research
24 January 2013
The clouds are gathering over global currency markets. So far we are only seeing minor skirmishes in a phony currency
war. The outbreak of serious hostilities is further down the line. We believe it is the time to begin to accelerate the exit
from HIDC (Heavily Indebted Developed Countries) bonds and currencies in favour of safer (and better yielding) Emerging
Markets assets.
The clouds are gathering over global currency markets. So far we are only seeing minor skirmishes in a phony currency war. The outbreak of serious hostilities is further down the line. We believe it is the time to begin to accelerate the exit from HIDC (Heavily Indebted Developed Countries) bonds and currencies in favour of safer (and better yielding) Emerging Markets assets.
Global sentiment became more unsettled over the past week as the US debt ceiling and the Italian election draw nearer. Both risks are specific to the HIDCs. US government bond yields fell from 1.89% to 1.83%, but US stock markets rallied 4bps over the same period. Spanish yields rose slightly, but EURUSD rallied following Draghi's hawkish stance last week to 1.3340 vs. 1.30 pre-Draghi. Indeed, the overriding focus in the global market place is currencies. All the big HIDC governments are basing their economic rescue efforts on monetary easing by their central banks (having run out of other policy instruments). Thus, the Fed is on QE 4.0, the BOE has moved to credit easing, Draghi is going to do "whatever it takes", and since the Japanese election we have seen extremely aggressive rhetoric from newly elected Prime Minister Shinzo Abe calling for higher inflation, and much more monetary stimulus, while his government has approved massive new fiscal stimulus. After moving lower recently, JPY stabilised this week as voices within Japan argued against further weakness (due in part to the resulting higher price of oil in Japan). But at the same time Germany announced its intention to bring back its gold from foreign central banks and at least one political party in the Netherlands demanded that Holland do the same. Fed Chairman Bernanke announced this week that the worst thing the Fed could do would be to raise interest rates prematurely. China responded by setting up an office specifically tasked with diversifying its FX reserves. We believe these are early skirmishes in what is still a phony currency war. So far, the extreme reliance on monetary easing has reduced tail risks in the HIDCs, though it has not created growth nor is it likely to do so. But extreme monetary easing is not a risk free strategy: The policy only works as long as the currency is credible, i.e. inflation expectations do not spiral out of control. Draghi knows this very well, which is why he is not cutting rates. The tricky balance, which central banks are trying to strike, is how to shift inflation expectations higher without losing control of inflation expectations. If central banks lose control government bond yields will rise and central banks will then be forced to print more money in a bid to bring yields down so as not to create a fiscal crisis (given high debt levels in the HIDCs). But this only worsens inflation expectations further. So the question is this: Is it possible to be reckless in a controlled fashion? Roosevelt successfully reversed deflation in the mid-1930s, but the Weimar Republic spectacularly failed. And when everything hinges on something as fickle and unpredictable as inflation expectations the risks in HIDC bond and currency markets are truly enormous. There is a real currency war lying in wait behind the thin veneer of today's phony currency war skirmishes.
Latin America
Brazil's COPOM monetary policy committee left policy rates unchanged as retail sales and broader activity measures were stronger than expected by the market consensus. Moody's, the ratings agency, cut the outlook for Venezuelan debt to negative over the continuing uncertainty surrounding President Chavez's health. Given the heavy concentration of power in the hands of the ailing president rather than in institutions, the business of government has ground to a halt following the deterioration in Chavez's health. Peruvian economic activity rose to 6.8% yoy, according to fresh data from the government. .
China announced that it is setting up a new government unit to help diversify the country's $3.3trn of FX reserves. Quotas limiting foreign inflows were relaxed, and the regulatory commission will let foreign companies issue in CNY. As China moves from export to domestic led growth the domestic bond market will assume greater importance as a transmission vehicle for monetary policy in the context of a more flexible exchange rate. China's CNY fixed at a new low of 6.2691 on Tuesday. Philippine manufacturing rose 9.6% yoy in November and remittances rose by a larger than expected 7.6% yoy in November. Indian inflation surprise - positive at 7.18% yoy vs 7.4% expected and the government took steps to remove uncertainties over the tax treatment of foreign investors.
Eastern Europe, Africa, and Middle East
Russia's President Putin noted that the greater flexibility of the Ruble has reduced macroeconomic risks in Russia (by insulating the fiscal from changes in dollar oil prices). South African retail sales beat expectations of 1.5% yoy growth by coming out at 3.4% yoy, but manufacturing was softer and industry continues to struggle with strikes. Qatar announced that it will lend $2.5bn to Egypt. Serbia and Bangladesh secured new financing from Russia in a further indication of the growth not just of South-South trade, but also South-South financing. Poland's inflation rose by a lower than expected 2.4% yoy. Romania was put on track for admission to JP Morgan's GBI local currency government bond index.
No part of this article may be reproduced in any form, or referred to in any other publication, without the written permission of Ashmore Investment Management Limited © 2013.
Important information: This document is issued by Ashmore Investment Management Limited (Ashmore), which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority. The information and any opinions contained in this document have been compiled in good faith, but no representation or warranty, express or implied, is made as to accuracy, completeness or correctness. Save to the extent (if any) that exclusion of liability is prohibited by any applicable law or regulation, Ashmore, its officers, employees, representatives and agents expressly advise that they shall not be liable in any respect whatsoever for any loss or damage, whether direct, indirect, consequential or otherwise however arising (whether in negligence or otherwise) out of or in connection with the contents of or any omissions from this document. This document does not constitute an offer to sell, purchase, subscribe for or otherwise invest in Units of any Fund referred to above and is not intended to provide advice on the merits of investing in any particular Fund. The value of the Units may fall as well as rise and investors may not get back the amount originally invested. With the exception of the SICAV fund, Ashmore's public Funds are only available to persons defined as Professional Clients and Eligible Counterparties under the rules of the Financial Services Authority of the United Kingdom. Prospective investors should obtain and review the Scheme Particulars or other offering documents relating to the Units or Shares of any Fund, including the description of risk factors/investment considerations contained in the Scheme Particulars or other offering documents, prior to making any decision to invest in such Units or Shares. The Funds are offshore and not regulated in the United Kingdom.


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Tag Archive: MoneyBrilliant
April 8, 2015 / Wellbeing
De-clutter your finances to simplify your life
If you haven't noticed, there's a whole 'minimalist movement' going on. The benefits of decluttering are well known. You feel good,... View Article
March 29, 2015 / What's New
MoneyBrilliant CEO Jemma Enright talks portfolios, property and her new pet puppy
We kick off our series of fun, fabulous, financially-savvy female interviews, with MoneyBrilliant CEO Jemma Enright
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What is Rooh Afza?
In the sweltering sunlight of summer, if anybody visiting one's friend's house, especially in the Indian sub-continent, there is a greater possibility of getting served the refreshing drink i.e. Rooh Afza. Roof Afza is a natural concentrated squash cum refreshing syrup famous worldwide for its flavor sherbet, cold deserts, lemonade, milk recipes, etc. Due to its herbal and aromatic flavor, it can be used with milk shakes, lassi, falooda, kulfi, phirni, pudding and kheer. It is widely used in the holy month of Ramadan. Generally, known as the 'summer drink of the east' has long lasting cooling effects, provides freshness and energy in the scorching summer. The drink has made its solid platform because of its unique taste, excellence formula, fragrance and unraveled qualities. Though, the chilling syrup is generally not promoted by any celebrities yet it has solid base in the market and gives tough competition to other syrups. Rooh Afza is consisted of two words: Rooh means soul and afza means nourishes the soul. A brief review of the exhilarating drink is being mentioned below.
Roof Afza History
The soothing cooling agent Rooh Afza was the discovery of Hakim Abdul Majeed, a renowned Unani physician of herbal medicine. The great visionary started this chilling drink from Old Delhi in 1906. Now, it is being prepared from three Hamdard (Waqf) laboratories-India, Pakistan and Bangladesh. From a simple establishment Lal Kuan, Old Delhi; Rooh Afza has successfully made a niche as one of the leading refreshing syrups in the world.
Roof Afza Syrup Ingredients
Hamdard Rooh Afza, the chilling agent, is the combination of fruits, herbs, vegetables, flowers and roots. The unique components of this cooling drink are:
Fruits: Many fruits are used as the components for the drink. The different fruits are pineapple, apple, berries, orange, watermelon, citron, strawberry, raspberry, loganberry, cherry, concord grapes and blackcurrant.
Herbs: The herbs group ingredients contain European white lily (Nymphaea alba), Blue star water lily ( Nymphaea nouchali), lotus (Nelumbo), purslane/tukhm-e-khurfa (Portulaca oleracea seeds), coriander, chicory (Vitis vinifera), and borage
Vegetables: The important vegetables, which are the part of this herbal syrup, are carrot, spinach, mint and Luffa aegyptiaca
Flowers: Flowers are also the integral part of this delicious drink. It covers rose, lemon, orange and (keora) Pandanus fascicularis
Roots: Only one root, which is being used in it is vetiver.
Roohafza Health & Medicinal Benefits
• Cardio vascular health: It shows positive impacts on the cardiovascular functions. It enhances the cardiac efficiency, smooth cardiac blood supply and also controls the heart beat.
• Dehydration: It is good in the management and controlling of water balance in the body because of the presence of some important minerals like sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, phosphorous and sulphur thus helpful against of dehydration, heat exhaustion and excessive sweating.
• Weight gain: It increases weight by promoting nitrogen balance in the body.
• Anemia: It shows positive result in the improvement of haemoglobin content in blood.
• Indigestion: It is also preferred in case of giddiness, indigestion, stomach ache, kidney and numbness.
• Fever: It is used in the treatment of fever due to heat exposure thus helpful in reducing body heat.
• Vomiting: It is effective in case of vomiting and diarrhea.
• Enhances vigor: It enhances the vigor, vitality, activeness and makes the energy level high.
Roohafza Recipes
1. Rooh Afza & Sabja Seeds
It's a chilling drink used widely in the summer season.
How to prepare
• Take chilled water (4 cups)
• ½ tbsp sabja seeds
• Rooh Afza and sugar as required
• Initially soaked the sabja seeds in a cup of water for half an hour
• Now, add it to rest of water
• Add rooh afza to the mixture
• One can also add sugar and ice cube, but these are optional
• The recipe is ready to drink
2. Rooh Afza Lemon Sharbat
• Take chilled water (4 cups)
• 5 tbsp sabja seeds
• 3 tbsp lemon juice
• 1 tbsp sugar
• Ice cube
• Now mix all these thing suitably


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Its satisfying just knowing Huthwaite-Online.net attracts readers of all ages from around the world. More so when able to answer queries or add information, especially photographic evidence covering your ancestral Hucknall Huthwaite ties. Genealogy has become a widely popular subject. Although time and cost does not allow me to delve deeply into others family trees, this album gives chance to feature your own research when offering a Huthwaite link, to also potentially attract any branched relations from world wide readers.
General local research uncovers some very notable Huthwaite names, upon which descendants have then expanded knowledge. Recently added are a few nationally recognised personalities although Huthwaite itself could boast several locally known past characters, perhaps also worthy of a nostalgic mention.
It must be realised however, that vast majority of our population would be lesser known people. Folk who simply moved here in search of work to raise a family best they could. Nevertheless, they all played a small part in building up a formerly named Hucknall-under-Huthwaite into a thriving mining community. Aiming to portray as many of your known Huthwaite relations would therefore creat a rich tapestry of past lives, when also proving who and why families either moved into or out of this rapidly expanding township.
Trev Ashmore discovers this grand photo holds an old Huthwaite connection.
Tom Robinson was born c1819 in Somercotes, but after marriage to Miss Ann Burton born c1822 in Hucknall Huthwaite, they lived at Huthwaite Farm.
We believe their addressing refers to old Quaker lands stood off Blackwell Road, topside entry for Little Lane now siting Whitegates housing estate.
One daughter named Mary married George Ward-Ball. They were listed in 1881 keeping the Robin Hood public house at Old Blackwell. Their small son Georgie, a grandson of Tom, was unfortunately lost by drowning there in 1889, just four months prior the death of his father George same year.
Another daughter named Lucy wed a John Ward-Ball in 1888, the two brothers apparently originating from Blackwell. Lucy and John were listed 1891 as keeping The White Hart public house in Huthwaite.
Written 19 Aug 06 Revised 07 Jan 14 © by Gary Elliott


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One of my all-time favorite quotes is, "If you don't stand for something, you will fall for anything." Variations of this quote have been attributed to Malcolm X, Martin Luther King Jr. and Alexander Hamilton. However, regardless of to whom the quote is attributed, the point is this: There comes a time when we have to decide what virtues we are going to stand for and what principles we are going to stand on.
This past weekend, God gave me the opportunity to author and produce What is Your Status: An HIV Awareness Story, which included live acting, choreographed dance routines, and a fashion show. The production was presented by approximately 100 teens ages 13-18, who through this production was able to learn about HIV/AIDS and impart that knowledge to their communities.
When I titled this production, I was very intentional. I wanted to create a title that would beg the question, "What is Your Status?" The question, "What is Your Status" was not merely meant to motivate people to learn their HIV status. It was also meant to challenge and stimulate thought. It was meant to ignite passion. 'What is Your Status" begged the questions: Where do you stand? What is your position? What will it take to motivate you to action? You see, many people talk about problems. Some people even talk to problems. But very few people are willing to step outside their comfort zone to find solutions. Finding solutions require sacrifice. It commands commitment. It necessitates more than some people are willing to give. It takes more than simply identifying a need. It means meeting a need. It means taking action.
The Bible says faith without works is dead (James 2:17). Many of us are waiting on God to perform miracles. Meanwhile, God is waiting on us to lend ourselves to be used by Him. If we truly believe that we are the light of the world, then we have to position ourselves to bring the world out of the darkness and into the light. What better way to do that than by meeting the needs of others.
This evening, I was touched by a Reuters' news article that reported an increase in the prevalence of HIV in South Africa. My reaction was two-fold. I was proud that I, and a group of dedicated world changers, were able to impact a community, a subset of a generation, and to teach them about HIV awareness. However, I was saddened to read that despite the global efforts of many, the rates of HIV in South Africa has continued to rise. According to the article, increased rates of HIV were attributed to an increased numbers of sexual partners, an increase in risky sexual behaviors, and a decrease in the availability of life saving HIV/AIDS drugs. The alarming statistics made me yearn to do more. It made me wonder what more I could do. Then, suddenly, the answer dawned on me. Faith without works is dead.
Our faith requires work, but our work MUST always be precipitated by our faith. What I mean by that is this. While the obvious solution to the HIV/AIDS pandemic is education prevention and medication. However the solution does not just end there. In the face of the HIV/AIDS pandemic, we have an opportunity to ask God to intervene. Before I go any further, I feel I need to address those who might be inclined to take my previous statement out of context. Let me be clear. In no way am I asserting that HIV/AIDS is a punishment from God. However, what I am asserting is that whenever we are faced with a problem (i.e. the HIV/AIDS pandemic or any other Earthly problem) we should invite God into the solution. In the case of our South African brothers and sisters impacted by this disease, we should pray that in addition to an increase in HIV/AIDS education and medications, we should also pray that there will also be an increase in God's favor on that entire country. We should pray for a movement of God. So with that said, I will end today's post with a prayer.
Dear Father, I pray for every single person impacted by this disease. Lord, I pray that you will restore them and their families. I pray over ALL nations impacted by this disease. I pray over every single person, particularly those in Swaziland, Lesotho, Botswana and South Africa. I pray that there will be an increase in education and resources to those nations impacted by this epidemic. I pray that those who receive the education will take heed and protect themselves and their families. Lord, I pray that you touch the hearts of doctors, educators and philanthropists across the world and that they will be motivated to take part in this global initiative. I pray that they will be moved to action. I pray that God's Spirit will be ushered into every village, every township and every city. I also pray protection over those praying this prayer. I pray that God's peace and protection will prevail in their lives. I pray that no weapon formed will prosper. In Jesus' name I pray.


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America's Lost Decades
Not too long ago an industrial giant experienced one of the greatest economic booms in its history. Thanks to easy credit and low interest rates investors in that country ran up astronomical debts and used those proceeds to bid up the price of real property and the stock market. With home values and pensions way up in value, folks were feeling very secure about their economic futures. For the average investor in that country it seemed like the good times would never end.
Then the bottom fell out. Realizing the boom was becoming unsustainable, the country's central bank raised interest rates. Suddenly, the enormous debt built up during the boom years went bad. Banks began to fail and the government responded by bailing out the "too big to fail" financial institutions in order to avert a total collapse of the economy.
Anyone who remembers the 1980s and early 1990s knows the country in question is Japan. Beyond bailing out the "too big to fail" banks, the Japanese government also attempted to use fiscal stimulus and the Japanese central bank attempted to use low interest rates to produce an economic recovery. The result has been two decades of little or no economic growth and an unemployment rate that has hovered around two times what it was in the 1980s. This period in Japanese history has come to be known as Japan's Lost Decades
Now, you may have guessed that the country being described in the first two paragraphs above was the United States. Obviously, you would have also been correct. During the 2000s, we experienced our own phony, central bank induced economic boom. Easy credit and low interest rates were used by many Americans to amass huge debt while bidding up the price of housing and the stock market. New found wealth through asset appreciation gave many a false impression that they were set for life and the good times would never end.
Like Japan, the bubble burst when interest rates rose and a heck of a lot of homeowners were holding mortgages that they could no longer afford. Banks failed and were bailed out by the federal government. Stimulus packages were passed and interest rates lowered to produce economic recovery.
If emulating Japan is not bad enough, the really scary thing is the Federal Reserve's Survey of Consumer Finances report that was released earlier this month. According to the report, the median net worth of American families dropped by 39 percent between 2007 and 2010. That means the typical American family is roughly worth what it was worth in 1992 – 18 years without any economic advancement!
And it gets worse. The report indicated that the median net worth of the middle class had the biggest drop – owing mostly to declining property values. At the same time, the median net worth of America's wealthiest families rose slightly.
So what does all this tell us? For one thing, we are in for a long period of sluggish economic performance and above average unemployment because the powers that be in America responded to the bust of 2008 in the same fashion the leaders of Japan handled their downturn in the early 1990s. Propping up failed financial institutions, stimulus spending, and below market interest rates did not produce recovery in Japan. In fact, 20 years later, the Japanese economy still has not recovered. Likewise, the same policy initiatives have not produced recovery in America some four years out from the crisis and if economic policy in the U.S. doesn't change soon, economic historians may be calling the next twenty years America's Lost Decades.
Secondly, the wealth that was produced in the last 20 years was phony. It was built on artificially cheap and widely available credit. This in turn produced false property values and huge consumer debt. When the crisis hit it the floor under the economy was apparently a long way down – at least 18 years down according to the Fed's report.
Lastly, what can be learned from our most recent economic experience is that Washington and Wall Street have hoodwinked the country into believing prosperity is a result of everyone spending beyond their means. In reality, true prosperity comes from hard work, thrift, and saving. It comes from the formation of pools of capital made available to business to borrow in order to open or expand operations. Simply having the central bank print more money does not produce wealth. In fact, the Fed's monetization of the government's debt has done more to destroy the American middle class than any other factor. Devaluing the dollar diminishes disposable income and erodes savings. Conversely, the price inflation produced by the Fed enhances the assets and investments of the wealthy.
At the end of the day, there are significant similarities between Japan's financial crisis in the early 1990s and America's in 2008. Due to its government's policies after the crisis, Japan has lost two decades of economic growth. According to the Fed's Survey of Consumer Finances report, Americans have already lost two decades of economic gain. Given that Uncle Sam's response to the financial crisis of 2008 mirrored Japan's in the 1990s, two more are potentially on the horizon. At that point, it would almost be a lost half century.
Article first published as America's Lost Decades on Blogcritics.
Kenn Jacobine teaches internationally and maintains a summer residence in North Carolina.


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In honor of my slightly belated return to the blogging world, I have come up with a new meme to host. Introducing... Soundtrack Saturday! Every Saturday I will be posting a song I think goes along great with a certain book or series. I hope everyone will comment and let me know what they think about the meme idea in general, the song, or the book choice. =) I love to hear from you guys!
That's it for today! Let me know what you think, and feel free to use this idea yourself. I would appreciate it if you did use this meme idea, if you would link back to me and of course share your link with me so that I could spread the word. If by some chance someone else is already doing this, please let me know, so that I can give credit where credit is due. I don't mean to copy anyone!
Much love,


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You probably know April Margera as "Ape", the target of many off-the-wall pranks on several MTV hit shows including "Jackass", "Viva La Bam" and "Bam's Unholy Union", but there is so much more to "Ape" than what you have seen on TV.
April Margera, one of Chester County's most famous moms, is a star in her own right. April is a cookbook author, hair dresser, businesswoman, artist, painter, gardener, seamstress and dessert maker extraordinairre. But, what is April's favorite life role? None other than being a down to earth, supportive wife to her husband of 33 years Phil, proud and loving mother to sons Jess and Bam (real name Brandon. His Grandfather nick-named him "Bam" as a child because he always ran into things) and doting grandmother to Jess and Daughter-in-Law Kelly's three adorable children.
We recently had the distinct pleasure of sitting down with April in her beautiful Chester County home; chatting over homemade "Hula Cake" (recipe below) and lavendar lemonade.
When we first arrived, we were greeted at the door by April watering her flowers on her front porch. She welcomed us in and within minutes showed us pictures of her grandchildren. She beamed as she spoke of them. We sat and talked kids, toys and decorating while April was making lunch for Phil & his brother Vincent, (better known as Vito), who were hard at work in their home office. Talking with April was like talking with one of your girlfriends. She is funny, open and inviting. After lunch was delivered to Phil & Vito, April invited us on a tour of her home.
Despite years of enduring endless pranks, midnight renovation projects, stunts and both skateboarding and iceskating rinks installed INSIDE the house, the Margera's well-appointed home seems like something plucked right out of Better Homes and Gardens Magazine. April is so creative and enjoys refinishing furniture and handpainting murals throughout her home. She told us that one of her greatest pleasures is finding an old beat up piece of furniture and bringing it back to life with a fresh coat of paint. When asked about this seeming dichotomy of her beautifully decorated space versus the destruction that has occured on camera and off, April was quick to point out that painting and decorating are her "therapy"!
As we toured the house, we were guided through rooms that looked so different from when they were shown on TV. We visited Bam's bedroom, now the Margera grandchildren's nursery. The room is beautifully decorated with vintage pieces and floral patterns, a vast change from the Jackass Star's bedroom. April told us that shortly after she was done redecorating the bedroom, Bam was home for a visit and unknowingly went into his bedroom to get something only to open the door and find that his trap door was secured shut and that his once rockin' room was tuned into a peaceful baby nursery. April joked that making Bam's room frilly and pretty was payback for years of torment.
A not-so-common spot in the house is certainly their wall of fame. In the back stairwell leading to the second floor, the Margera's have all of their backstage passes cleverly displayed amid a sea of framed pictures of the family meeting a variety of fun celebrities from Billy Idol to Billy Crystal. April liked pointing out that she "was in bed with Billy Idol" (although it was to do filming!). Their increasing fame has certainly had it's perks as they've become dear friends with many of the famous faces on their wall.
The lower level of the home was once April's art studio. It was her place to paint and relax. As the years have gone by, her studio has turned into Phil's office, where he keeps a watchful eye on Jess's music career and Bam's ventures. We got to talk with Phil briefly in between phone calls and he was just a nice as you would imagine him to be.
Our tour concluded in the Margera's backyard oasis. April is an avid gardener. One would think with the level of fame her family has found that she would have gardeners caring for her property. Not the case! She is a do it yourself kind of gal! She is very proud of her backyard garden and spends hours pruning and weeding.
After our home tour, we were lucky enough to get to sit down with April on her porch and discuss the many aspects of her life. Check out "An Afternoon with April Margera: PART 2" that we'll post tomorrow for much more fun information about April and her famous family!
Want some delicious recipes from April? Click on the link above to order
April Cooks "There's An Alligator In My Kitchen" Book Cover Photo – Ryan Gee


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The Upright Citizens' Brigade (or UCB) Theatre is an improvisational comedy troupe from the United States. Starting out in its original, rudimentary form in the early '90s, the group has had numerous famous alumni, including Amy Poehler of Parks & Recreation fame, Matt Walsh of Veep, as well as Aziz Ansari and Donald Glover (aka Childish Gambino).
Improv comedy is a particularly challenging strand of comedy. Being spontaneous and improvised, its technique requires constant synergy between performers. Unlike scripted comedy, where the setups and punchlines have been neatly established and agreed upon beforehand, the art of improv is one of reaction; an art of being able not only to establish your own comedic threads, but to facilitate the others around you on theirs as well, all while not being entirely sure where your partner will take the scene next.
If you've ever experienced improv comedy first hand—or even read or heard about it from a professional comedian—you'll know that there's more bad improv comedy out there than good. When it's done well, it has the potential to create the most unexpected and absurd jokes you could imagine. When it's done badly, however, it can be excruciating. There's nothing more painful than watching a group of people struggle onstage with no set path to get them out their predicament.
One of the key mantras that UCB and many other improv comedy groups teach their members is that you should never obstruct or close off another player's thread; no matter how outlandish or unexpected their move, you should only build upon whatever idea they throw out there.
The reasoning is simple. If, for example, a player introduces a bear into the scene, you should assume they have a plan or narrative laid out so it will become relevant or humorous later on. If you reject their improvisation, you foreclose their ability to ever reach that point. The principle is comparable to "Chekhov's Gun" ('One must never place a loaded rifle on the stage if it isn't going to go off.')—if your partner introduces a rifle into the scene, however absurdly placed, you should assume they have a plan for it to eventually go off.
This principle is summarised neatly in two words: 'Yes, and'. When improvising a scene, you should accept whatever your partners put forward, and then use the new parameters to improvise and build further. As each player contributes their own unique elements into a scene, it establishes and fleshes out the full scenario, allowing the comical elements to be identified, thus helping the players to reach the fun part of exploiting those comedic aspects. Perhaps that bear turns out to be someone's visiting cousin from upstate, and someone else is a police officer hunting that bear down for stealing an artwork from the MoMA (full disclosure: I am not a comedian).
The principle of 'Yes, and' has interested me lately because of how it necessitates a productive and optimistic attitude. As Keith Johnstone, author of the book Impro puts it, 'Those who say "yes" are rewarded by the adventures they have. Those who say "no" are rewarded by the safety they attain.'
Between the various battles we are fighting right now on social, cultural, political and ideological fronts, to say that we are currently experiencing fractures is an understatement. A longstanding and well-acknowledged flaw of those of us on the left is our tendency to fragment into ever-smaller factions as our specific ideological goals appear to become incompatible with one another.
However chaotic, unaligned and backbiting the right wing might be—and make no mistake, it is—the fact that its leaders are largely able to unite behind simple, cohesive principles, whether overt (lower taxes, reduced immigration and free market principles) or unspoken (white supremacy, imperialism and western chauvinism), makes their politics much easier for its actors to sell, as well as for its target audience to buy.
That so many of the left's battlefronts are taking place on seemingly-contradictory planes only seems to complicate things further. On the one hand, one might be happy to see women rise to power in business and positions of leadership; on the other, they might be suspicious of capitalism as an economic model that necessarily depends upon exploitation of workers to sustain itself, and find the media's regular fawning over women generals in the US military to be a grotesque exploitation of identity politics in the service of promoting western military hegemony.
Similarly, the increase in representation of marginalised groups in the media is unquestionably a good thing, and yet the fact that so much of the power and ownership of the means of media production, from film production studios to network television channels, remains in the hands of predominantly wealthy, white, male elites, naturally raises questions as to whether such acts of inclusion by the levers of power are anything more than the latest in a long line of PR stunts. And even then, when this increased representation sheds light on deeper and more nuanced issues regarding representation and identity in media, the scale of the obstacles we have yet to overcome to achieve utopia can feel incredibly overwhelming.
It's when these uncomfortable but necessary truths are brought to light by our allies that dialogue has the potential to break down. As many of us have no doubt experienced when trying to correct friends, family members or random acquaintances for social transgressions, shaming and scolding is rarely an effective tool in winning someone around to your point of view—even less so when that person honestly believes they are trying to do the right thing. One of the greatest pitfalls among leftists is that our razor-sharp ability to identify our enemies sometimes leaves us less equipped to identify our allies.
But it was in this regard that the principle of 'Yes, and' came to mind recently. Despite its roots in the absurdly detached world of comedy, that core idea of seeking the reward of adventure rather than the security of safety seemed pertinent.
This is not to say that we should coddle people with dangerous views that are incompatible with our deepest-held beliefs—especially not those that threaten the safety, wellbeing or livelihood of others—but to say that we should seek out and leverage moments where we can build upon a potential ally's principles and invite them onto the journey with us.
Perhaps you meet someone who was angry that the British government tripled university fees to £9,000 a year back in 2010, and they think they should be reversed back to their pre-2010 level of £3,000. You could scold them for implicitly endorsing the notion of a market-based education system, or say, 'Yes, and we should work toward abolishing university fees in general, because someone's access to education should not be limited by their ability to pay for it.'
Or maybe you'll talk to someone who's uncomfortable with Richard Branson's creeping takeover of the UK's National Health Service with Virgin Care, or the East Coast railway line being sold back into private ownership after being made profitable again under public ownership. They think we should limit Virgin Care from monopoly, or that East Coast should have remained public. 'Yes, and we should fight to renationalise the NHS entirely, as well as the UK rail network.'
The three words I've found myself saying most to people in recent conversations when discussing our respective beliefs are these: 'Why stop there?' It seems to be the case that many of us, having been systematically beaten down by the system in which we're living, have been taught to simply accept whatever we're given. It can create difficult conversations between like-minded people when someone who is simply grateful for what little gains have been made encounters someone who is not happy to settle until we have achieved true utopia.
In such scenarios, the latter party—of which I am regularly one—can risk coming across as overly idealistic or dismissive of the importance of the victories achieved thus far, however small. As I seek to find a way to communicate the importance of continuing to strive for more, never settle, and remain suspicious of whatever crumbs of concession the powers that be offer us when the latest ideological shift occurs, I realise those three words, which can so often feel like a dismissal of what has been achieved, could be much more powerful in two.
'Yes! And…'


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Show All Answers
When Lagunitas, Bon Tempe and Alpine are full, the overflow spills into other district reservoirs downstream. Water from Phoenix, Kent, Nicasio and Soulajule flows into local creeks where it provides many environmental benefits including habitat for endangered coho salmon and other fish and wildlife. Thus even water that goes over the spillways is put to good use.
When the district last filed for rights to expand storage in 1980, the result was 15 years of studies and hearings prior to reaching a court-ordered agreement. Since that time, stronger protections have been put in place for endangered coho salmon. Given the water needs for fish and the high volume of water we already divert, it is highly unlikely that MMWD would be granted the necessary approvals to further increase reservoir storage.
The simplest and least expensive way we can maximize our water supply is through conservation. That's why we ask our customers to use water wisely and why we offer a variety of conservation programs and rebates to help.


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Last week, the Clinton administration made a long-awaited admission: it had not turned over to the International War Crimes Tribunal all evidence it has of recent mass executions of Muslims by Bosnian Serb forces.
Many Bosnia watchers say the evidence may be necessary for prosecuting top Bosnian Serb leaders.
For the last two months, the US has had dramatic spy photos of six possible mass graves around Srebrenica - the smoking guns of the largest single mass execution in Europe since World War II - but failed to give all of its evidence to the Tribunal.
Critics warn that the administration's handling of the photos shows it may be willing to achieve peace at the price of justice in Bosnia, and is not fully supporting the Hague-based Tribunal.
''I bet that we don't have alot of it,'' says a Tribunal investigator.
State Department officials blame the delay on resistance from the CIA. Intelligence officials say they are cooperating as much as they can. Critics also question why the US has not released all the photos to the public.
Officials in the administration warn that releasing the photos could prompt the Bosnian Serbs to tamper with the graves. But intelligence officials say they already have evidence that the Bosnian Serbs are exhuming one of the graves.
Promise to cooperate
Administration officials, responding to complaints from the Tribunal, initially denied that they were withholding information from the Tribunal, and are now promising to fully cooperate.
Critics point out that the administration made a dramatic presentation of the Nova Kasaba photos to the United Nations Security Council in August. But during September and October - the two months when US Assistant Secretary of State Richard Holbrooke was trying to launch a new peace initiative in the region - almost no senior American officials mentioned Srebrenica.
UN officials have long said that the timing of the release of the Nova Kasaba photos was designed to divert attention from an embarrassing Croatian Army offensive launched on Aug. 4.
The Croatian offensive, led by officers trained in part by a retired American general, resulted in the ethnic cleansing of 180,000 rebel Serbs from Croatia, the murder of more than 100 elderly Serbs months after fighting ceased, and the burning of 60 percent of Serb homes in the former rebel Serb stronghold of the Krajina.
Tribunal most-wanted list
The Tribunal is urging that the arrest of all indicted war criminals in the former Yugoslavia - including Bosnian Serb commander Ratko Mladic and Bosnian Serb ''President'' Radovan Karadzic - be included in any peace deal worked out in Dayton, Ohio.
US officials are calling for the ouster of Mladic and Karadzic from power. But human rights groups fear the US may agree to a compromise with the Serbs that would tacitly leave them in Serbia and shield them from prosecution.
Human rights groups are also urging the US to block the lifting of punishing UN economic sanctions against Serbia until Serbian President Slobodan Milosevic gives investigators access to mass graves in Serb-held parts of eastern Bosnia and turns over indicted Bosnian Serb war criminals.
Mr. Milosevic, who is negotiating for the Bosnian Serbs and is the most powerful Serb politician, is offering to remove General Mladic and Mr. Karadzic from power, but not to turn them over to the Tribunal, whose authority he refuses to recognize.
Observers predict that unless war criminals from all sides in the conflict, including the Muslim-led Bosnian government, are brought to justice now, a desire for revenge will fuel future fighting in Bosnia.
The desire of the Clinton administration and the international community for a peace settlement in Bosnia, observers warn, could lead to war criminals escaping prosecution.


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48 Days to the Work You Love
As I wrote back when I started the 30 Day challenge, I got introduced to Dan Miller and his work through an interview he did with Dave Ramsey. His book is what eventually led me to taking this challenge, so it seems only fair that I review it as one of my final posts in November.
48 Days to the Work You Love is a book about changing and improving your career, by giving you a better outlook on what your work should mean to your life. It is tragic that so many of us find ourselves trapped in the daily grind of a job, rather than doing something that takes full advantage of our strongest skills while fulfilling our passions. Miller walks readers through the basic steps that one has to take if they want that to change, while challenging them to accept their compliance in the empty nature of their life thus far.
The secret to creating a career that is both nurturing to the soul and the pocketbook is, as theologian Frederick Buechner said, to find where "your deep gladness and the world's deep hunger meet." There you will find a job, a career, a business, and a life worth living.
When we talk about work today, most of us immediately think of being an employee at some business. We'll show up for a certain number of prescribed hours, and get paid for our time. Do what's necessary to get that regular paycheck, and it will always be there. Job security drives our decision making.
48 Days bursts that bubble. Miller correctly points out that the nature of work is constantly shifting, and that the only true job security is our willingness to make the most of our skills to actually produce a needed good or service. Advances in technology mean that the types of positions that need to be filled are changing, and in some cases unpredictably so. The average job in America lasts 3.2 years. As we continue to shift away from production-based toward knowledge-based business models, the idea of you being paid for your time is, once again, being replaced with you being paid for your results. With all of that, the job you have today may not exist in five years. What then?
Right now we need to be taking steps to prepare for that challenge, and Miller does a excellent job of laying out a process for doing so. How do you identify your marketable and transferable skills, especially the ones you don't think of as business skills? How do you write a résumé to target the career you want, rather than another job like the one you just left? How do you perform a job search that will get you several offers to choose from, instead of being forced to jump at the first offer that finally comes along? 48 Days presents the reader with answers to all of these questions, and more. Miller even provides an appendix full of examples to crib from.
Expect change and workplace volatility to enhance your chances of creating meaningful work. It is often in the midst of change and challenges that we find our true direction.
Miller leans heavily on information and quotes of other great minds, including Martin Luther, General Douglas MacArthur, Dale Carnegie and Stephen Covey, just to name a few. In some ways, reading 48 Days is a lot like reading a compilation of several other career oriented books. Thus, individuals with a lot of job hunting experience might not find much new to grab their attention here, but I doubt Miller wrote it with that particular audience in mind. 48 Days is really written for the people who feel trapped in their careers and are struggling to believe there can be something more for them. It's as much self-help as it is a career improvement book.
If you're one of those people, I can't recommend 48 Days to the Work You Love enough. It is a great jumping off point as you grow more serious about leaving the job that you hate, and begin the search for a meaningful career that you can really feel passionate about.
A Restful Day 28
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So, what happened to yesterday's post?
Well, I sat down and started writing something, and after three hours of typing and linking and rewriting and editing, I just wasn't happy with the result. I kept massaging the message, but it just wasn't delivering the way I wanted it too. Plus, I'm feeling challenged that I'm making these blog posts too long, so my internal editor was getting more of a workout than he's used to.
Unfortunately, this far into the challenge, I'm running low on quick filler posts that I can whip out and drop in without a lot of effort. All the previously half written posts have been finished. I haven't sketched anything lately that I want to share. As late as it was, I decided I would just go to bed.
Sleep is some very good stuff. There is a very good reason why God made taking a Sabbath one of his Commandments. When I got sick earlier in the month, it was directly related to how little rest I was giving myself. I've since turned off my alarm clock, and let myself to take as much rest as I need, as opposed to how much I think my schedule can stand.
Yesterday and today, I got a little work around the house done. I did one thing that absolutely needed to get done. I spent three hours writing a post that went nowhere (for now). Mostly though, I've slept.
So, what I wrote last night starts the new pile of unfinished posts, which is good to start building again. After I post this, I'm going to write my next book review, which should be up later this evening. Tomorrow, I'll wrap the 30 Day challenge up.
Do Not Pursue Perfection
(This covers the fourth chapter from Rabbi Daniel Lapin's book Thou Shall Prosper. Each chapter is one part of a set of core principles that approach business and money as spiritual practices, referred to as the 'Ten Commandments for Making Money.' I'm reviewing the fourth 'Commandment' here. My plan is to go through all ten. You can find out more in this post discussing my thoughts on the book. All quotes, unless otherwise attributed, come from the book.)
Neither neglect the imperfect nor expend yourself on futile pursuit of perfection, while failing to make the most of less perfect circumstances.
You might be familiar with this statement: "You can want it fast, good and cheap, but you're only getting two of those three." I've heard it repeated often, and it's fairly intuitive that it's true. If we complete a high quality project ahead of schedule we've likely blown the budget (or suffered costs in other unforeseen ways). Maybe an aggressive schedule and budget results in frustration when project requirements are overlooked, reviews are not performed, and the quality of the end product suffers. Our judgement can be clouded by the desire for that ideal outcome, and instead of making decisions grounded in reality, we shoot for the moon and fall hopelessly short.
More broadly, some even reject the very idea of doing business because all they see (and are presented with) are it's imperfections. They cannot comprehend how so many can continue to engage in an activity that is immoral and/or unfair, and they struggle to find a more perfect way to exchange goods and services to combat these perceived failures.
Beyond our careers, the desire to grasp perfection affects the decisions we make regarding our spouses, families, hobbies, and even our politics. We look for each of these to fill in our gaps, and to perform in ways that are, in actuality, wholly unrealistic. Then there's the way we plan for perfection in ourselves, but I think I've belabored the point.
So, instead of pursuing unattainable perfection, what should we do?
1. Become energetic about the second-best solution. The idea is to maximize the potential of a realistic goal, not pine for the unreachable ideal that we wish could be. You can't approach this as though you are settling for a lesser choice. The ability to consistently achieve the milestones you've set is key to long-term success. Each step achieved builds enthusiasm which creates intensity and momentum. If you regard your chosen goal as an inferior one, you've erased that momentum before it ever had the chance to build.
2. Avoid envy. It does us no good to spend our time gazing upon the wealth and success of others and wish it to be our own. Part of what drives the desire for the perfect is the envy of what others have achieved. Instead, we should be filling ourselves with empathy and compassion for those who have less, and recognizing the progress that we've made and will continue to make. Yes, they are mutually exclusive. One breeds negative thoughts, the other leads to positive ones.
These are a few quotes from the chapter that stood out to me:
Many well intentioned people also constantly convene meetings to probe the root causes of poverty. They question what brought the plane down or why everyone isn't airborne and wealthy? The answer is simple, if unpopular: Poverty is normal, just as a plane on the ground is more normal than one in the air.
It takes enormous energy to boost a 100-ton airplane off a runway and it takes enormous energy to create a society of wealth. A society of wealth is not made any less amazing by the fact that some or even many individuals in that society own less than many others.
One thing that has become very apparent to me is that I won't become successful at anything by sitting at my desk watching videos on YouTube. Doing well with my work and my money takes effort. A lot of effort. Anything that matters will take tremendous effort.
Business is a tool of human cooperation, and like any tool, it can be mis-used and abused. However, you should distinguish between judging certain conduct by business professionals as unethical and judging business itself. Only humans are capable of making moral decisions, and only humans can be judged and held accountable for those decisions and the actions that flow from them.
The Rabbi focuses on the tendency of people to allow the cultural bias cloud their judgement regarding business, when they should realize that it is individual members of the business community acting unethically whom they should be judging. I agree with that. I also think the same can be applied to government. Too often the entire government system is painted as corrupt, when we should be judging individual officials.
Later, I wanted my father to explain why he had encouraged me to play with the clocks. His response was that he was waiting for me to discover the moral message of mechanical clocks. … [M]y father believed, and I have since learned, that for perceptive people there is a moral message in almost everything and the challenge to find it can't start too early. To this day I recall how my father applied that message: Although there are many ways to reassemble a clock, it only runs when you do it the one right way.
I found this part of the book fascinating. The Rabbi obviously advocates a moral message in business, but is there a moral message in marriage? or parenting?
Why should you give away to others something that rightfully belongs to you? Is this because it helps them? No, helping those who have less is a side effect. The main reason is because it helps you. In this context, I recall, as a young student, encountering the Biblical admonition, "You shall not curse the deaf." This is not because cursing the deaf person will hurt him. Clearly the handicapped human will be quite oblivious to your curse. The reason not to do it is because of what the action does to you.
Our choice to bless or curse those around us has a direct impact on our daily lives. If you want to read the passage he is quoting in full context, it's Leviticus 19:14.
Finally, for the purpose of dealing with the allegation that business professionals only do what they do out of greed, you need to dispense with the silly notion that in human affairs, intention trumps action. People are mere mortals and often don't even understand their own real intentions. How can people possibly be so arrogant as to suppose they can determine someone else's true intentions? It is impossible to know what is in another's mind, so the only way for humans to judge one another is on their actions, not on their intentions.
I love this point, but I also see an application that leans more internally. Our actions mean more than our intentions. We need to evaluate our actions and ask whether we appear to be acting in service or selfishness.
That's my take on Rabbi Lapin's Fourth Commandment for Making Money. Six more to go. Keep looking here for my thoughts on the Fifth Commandment: Lead Consistently and Constantly. Fair warning, it might not come for a couple of weeks. Feel free to comment and share your thoughts and questions about this chapter, whether you've read the book or not. Thanks.


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Wetland Walks: A Guide to Washington's Public Access Wetlands
Fort Canby State Park
2 miles southwest of Ilwaco
Contact: Washington State Parks, Region 1, (360) 753-7143
Fort Canby is a 1,700 acre park where the Columbia River meets the Pacific Ocean. It offers four trails which wind through the forests and headlands. Marsh, swamp, saltflat, and tidal creek areas can be found here. Migratory birds are often seen on the beaches.
Leadbetter Point State Park
Stackpole Road, 3 miles north of Oysterville
Contact: Park Manager, (360) 642-3078
Located at the northern tip of the Long Beach Peninsula, this state park offers a unique blend of natural areas, including dunes, ponds, and marshes. It is best to call ahead for information. No fees for day-use.
Palix River Access Area
1/2 mile south of Palix River Bridge off Highway 101
Contact: Department of Fish and Wildlife, Region 6, (360) 533-9335
An interpretive sign is in a pullout off the east side of the highway, from which the saltflats at the mouth of the Palix River can be viewed. Travel west on the nearby Bay Center Dike loop road to view a variety of other wetland types. No trails or restrooms.
Willapa National Wildlife Refuge, Lewis Unit
4 miles east of Long Beach on Jeldness Road
Contact: Refuge Manager, (360) 484-3482
This refuge unit has freshwater marshes at the south end of the bay which provide habitat for numerous waterfowl.
Willapa National Wildlife Refuge, Reikkola Unit
2 miles east of Long Beach on Yeaton Road
Contact: Refuge Manager, (360) 484-3482
The gravel road ends at a field where you can walk to wetlands. A good example of a diked tideland, this area provides feeding areas for shorebirds and waterfowl. Call ahead to check for seasonal closure.
Willapa National Wildlife Refuge, Leadbetter Point Unit
End of Stackpole Road, Oysterville
Contact: Refuge Manager, (360) 484-3482
This site offers a look at a variety of wetland types: marshes, swamps, saltflats and tidal creeks.


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Instagram the famous instant photo-sharing app owned by Facebook has again challenged its rival Snapchat with two new features Live video and disappearing photos/videos. Both of them can be proved highly useful to enhance the usability of Instagram application.
Now you can broadcast Live videos on Instagram and send ephemeral images and videos to an individual friend or the entire group in Instagram Direct. These pictures and videos will disappear from the inbox of the recipients, once they view them. However, your friends can take a screenshot of such photos and even reply back to you once.
The process of sending a disappearing photos and videos in Instagram to anyone is so simple and all you need to do is just launch the camera. So, in this article, we thought to share the small tutorial that will help you send disappearing photos and videos in Instagram. Please follow the below steps to do so:
- In order to launch the camera either tap the camera icon which is located on the top left or swipe towards the right from the Instagram feed. Take the photo or capture a video by tapping the circle at the bottom of the screen.
- You can tap on the pen icon to draw something or font icon to add text and make photo more effective.
- Once you are done with the image/video, tap the arrow icon at the bottom right.
- Choose a person or create a New Group from the top right hand corner and tap Send.
You Might Also Like: How to Link Instagram Account with your Facebook Page
You can create a group quickly in few taps, and send it to multiple friends at a time. If your friend takes a screenshot or reply to the message, then you will come to know about it. Though, after your friend replays back to you, the status of the disappearing message will not be available.
This is how you can send disappearing photos and videos in Instagram Direct. There are many other things to keep in mind while using this service. Check below to know more about this feature:
There would be a separate message bar in your Instagram Direct inbox above the permanent messages.
You Might Also Like: How to Filter Out Offensive Comments on Instagram
Once you receive an ephemeral video/image from any of your friend then open inbox by tapping on the paper airplane icon which is located on the top right corner of your Instagram feed and swipe towards the left. The image/video will appear at the top bar with a blue ring so you can tap on it and see what has been sent by a friend to you. In order to replay back an ephemeral video or image that you receive, you need to press and hold the message and tap Play Again.
Since the images and videos are not going to be saved in your friend's inbox, you can share them in a relaxed way. It is good for those who receive messages as well because if their phone has the low storage capacity.
The new disappearing photos/videos feature has already been rolled out to all Instagram Direct users, but the Live video on Instagram Stories will be available after a few weeks.
Instagram Direct has been underestimated by many people in the early days, now its gaining popularity quickly. According to Instagram around 300 million users monthly take advantage of this service to send photos, videos, profiles, locations, posts etc. as a message to their friends.


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We are all born with an intuitive voice. This voice is the wisdom of our heart and our soul, and it leads us on a path of learning throughout our lives. With Liz Vance's Intuitive Life Coaching, she connects with the voice of your heart, and helps you find deeper meaning in the events of your life. Liz is a Claivoyant and is able to see energy and she calls her sessions "intuitive readings."
~Trust your inner voice
~Find your unique purpose
~Give your life focus
~Reduce stress and anxiety
~Work with important and/or problematic relationships
~Alleviate fears and addictions
~Discover meaningful life work
As an Intuitive Life Coach and Clairvoyant, Liz Vance helps hundreds of people around the world from Los Angeles to New York and into Europe. Liz works with people through her phone sessions, on-site consultations in Albuquerque, NM, as well as YouTube Videos, classes, and video seminars.
Visit the Video Seminars page for Video Seminars that you can purchase.
View and dowload your own video seminar created by Liz. Each video is filled with insightful guidance and super-charged with energy and love so you are healed and inspired at a deep level.
My spiritual practice is based on gratitude and love and I feel deeply grateful for the honor of being a part of your journey, whether it is just in this moment as you look at my website or whether I get the divine luck of connecting with you in person. This short video is a tribute to my clients over the years who have shared a part of their lives with me.
Much love and light,
Liz Vance
Get support, guidance, and clarity on any and all areas of your life.
|Single Group Reading - $15
|Package of 4 - $50
Listen to a sample of the opening of a group reading.
Join Liz Vance at 7:00 MST, every 1st Monday of the month for a night of intuitive insight, self-growth, and inspiration. Find out more about Group Readings.
© 2005+ IntuitiveLiz.com. All Rights Reserved.


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Grocery List
Shopping for healthy + whole foods can feel overwhelming if you're unsure where to start. You may think to yourself, "What do I even buy". Well, to help simplify things I have written out my current personal grocery list below. Feel free to use it as a guide. I consider these foods essential and have them in the house every week if I can.
Add or subtract as you wish. And remember to choose *organic when possible.
Essential foods:
Almond milk (Soy-free /dairy-free / gluten-free)
Sweet potato
Zucchini squash
Bananas (2 bunches-peel and freeze the ripest bunch to use in smoothies during the week)
Low GI frozen fruit (and any type of frozen berries)
Wild caught Salmon or Organic free-range Chicken (whole or breasts) + keep in mind that it is best not to eat animal protein everyday or at every meal for that matter
Fresh Garlic
Ginger root
Longer lasting items that you can buy less often:
Grass-fed Butter/Ghee
Almond butter (if you are NOT allergic to nuts)
Turmeric Seasoning (powder)
Pink Himalayan sea salt
Cacao Power or Cacao Nibs (to use in my smoothies because I do love chocolate!) – I use Navitas Naturals Organic Raw Cacao Nibs and their Organic Raw Cacao Powder
*You can check out the EWG's shoppers guide to show you the most important produce to buy organic. Keep in mind that this is the list for the 2014 year as the 2015 list has not come out yet. Nevertheless it is still great info to be aware of.
Can you think of any other whole food essentials to add to this list?
What are your favorites?
Please Comment below.


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"Every action that is not rooted in contemplation is doomed to sterility from the start." —Hans Urs von Balthasar
It is raining today. And instead of trying to say something important, I will say that.
My office is on the second floor of my home, a little cutaway in the upstairs dormer. The the ironically-shaped octagonal window is situated just over my desk, both inviting me to look outward and warning me against getting distracted. This window represents my question.
We need a boundary to our work, something that gently (or occasionally rather roughly) reminds us that our work is on the page, on the canvas, on the potter's wheel. Writers write, artists deliver, deadlines and completing and all of that. Certainly.
But on the other hand, art can be a lonely affair, especially if your art is of the solitary type. And what's more, the introspection of the artists—a gift and a burden (he says, oh, so self-importantly—and now he's writing in third person, as if to mitigate the irony with meta-irony—well, you can see how quickly it spirals into indulgence and distraction of a different sort.
So what is the proper relationship between a) self-directed, introspective, let's do THIS work here because this work is the work to be done, and b) the abandonment that is the root of contemplation—disinterested, outward, inviting?
How can my window be both a window and shaped like a stop-sign?


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BRUSSELS (AP) — Over Russia's objections, Ukraine's new president on Friday signed a free-trade deal binding his country more closely to Western Europe, sealing the very agreement that triggered the bloodshed and political convulsions of the past seven months.
Russia, meanwhile, fended off for the time being a new, more crippling round of Western sanctions over its intervention in Ukraine, where a fragile cease-fire between government forces and pro-Moscow separatists in the east expired Friday night with no immediate word from Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko on whether he would extend it.
"What a great day!" a beaming Poroshenko said in Brussels upon the signing of the economic agreement with the European Union. "Maybe the most important day for my country after independence."
Since it became independent in the 1991 Soviet collapse, Ukraine has been involved in a delicate balancing act between Russia and the West. The Kremlin wants to keep Ukraine, the birthplace of Russian statehood and Russian Orthodox Christianity, in its orbit.
In November, under pressure from Moscow, Ukrainian President Viktor Yanuknovych spiked the EU pact, triggering huge protests that drove him from power. Moscow responded by annexing the mainly Russian-speaking Crimean Peninsula in March, and pro-Russian separatists soon rose up in Ukraine's eastern provinces.
While Friday's signing marked a defeat for Russian President Vladimir Putin, who has threatened to cancel trade preferences for Ukraine, the Kremlin made no immediate move to punish its neighbor or the two other former Soviet republics that joined the pact, Moldova and Georgia.
Putin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Russia will take the necessary measures to protect its markets only when the agreement takes effect. That will take a few months.
Meanwhile, EU leaders decided not to immediately impose new sanctions on Russia for the uprising. But they warned that punitive measures have been drawn up and could be levied immediately.
And they gave Russia and the rebels until Monday to take steps to ease the violence, including releasing all captives, retreating from border checkpoints, agreeing on a way to verify the cease-fire and launching "substantial negotiations" on Poroshenko's peace plan.
The weeklong cease-fire, which both sides have been accused of violating, expired at 10 p.m. local time (1900 GMT). Poroshenko earlier said in Brussels that he would decide whether to extend it after consulting with military and security officials, and his office said that the meeting was under way.
Insurgent leader Alexander Borodai said the rebels were ready to do so and would also soon release the European observers they have been holding for weeks.
At the signing ceremony, Poroshenko reminded EU leaders of the bloodshed in his country.
Ukraine "paid the highest possible price to make her European dreams come true," he said, asking the EU to pledge that one day Ukraine can join the 28-nation bloc. Membership "would cost the European Union nothing," he said, "but would mean the world to my country."
In Kiev's Independence Square, the site of last winter's huge protests against Russian domination, balloons the color of the EU's blue flag were released over the crowd as a rock band pounded out the European Union's anthem, Beethoven's "Ode to Joy."
The crowd of several hundred was far smaller than the hundreds of thousands who jammed the square at the height of the protests. Rain, people getting out of town ahead of a long holiday weekend, and the simmering conflict in the east worked to restrain the mood.
Protest veteran Oleg Mityukhin, 48, came wrapped in the Ukrainian flag.
"I think there will be less corruption, there will be better quality goods, and it will be a push forward for the development of Ukraine," he said.
The agreements signed Friday let businesses in Ukraine, Moldova and Georgia, trade freely in any of the EU's nations without tariffs or restrictions as long as their goods and practices meet EU standards. Likewise, goods and services from the EU will be sold more easily and cheaply in the three countries.
Amanda Paul, a policy analyst at the Brussels-based think tank European Policy Center, said Russia has levers to inflict serious economic pain on Ukraine, Moldova and Georgia through trade restrictions, cuts in energy supplies or the deportation of migrant workers from those countries.
European Commission experts estimate the deal will boost Ukraine's national income by 1.2 billion euros ($1.6 billion) a year.
The deal also demands that Ukraine adopt EU rules on government contracts, competition and copyrights — steps that could reduce corruption and make the country more attractive to investors.
Isachenkov reported from Moscow. AP correspondents David McHugh in Kiev, Geir Moulson in Berlin, Juergen Baetz in Brussels, Laura Mills in Moscow and Balint Szlanko in Donetsk, Ukraine, contributed to this report.