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Archive for January, 2008
McCain/Kennedy Bill – January 30, 2008
The McCain/KENNEDY bill
John McCain, Democrat-light, teamed up with Sen. Ted Kennedy (a favorite of Republicans) to push an immigration bill. He would say that he reached across the aisle, worked in a bi-partisan fashion to bring about change and reform the immigration mess in this country.
I would say that he turned on the Republican principles again and lent his support to the Democrats' intentions. This bill went down in flames due to the public's outcry, which was very loud and very upset. The bill would create a new visa category, called H-5A. It was for illegal alien workers who would perform jobs not previously covered in the existing visa categories. So we already had a program for aliens to apply for a work visa and McCain and Teddy created more. This category would lead to a green card and permanent residence after three years of working here. Spouses and children would be able to follow the principal applicant.
One thousand (a ridiculously conservative number) applicants could translate to two, three, four thousand or more. Multiply that by an estimated 12 million applicants (x 2, 3, 4 or more in spouses and children). We could be inviting 12 million, 24 million, 36 million, 48 million (with one spouse and two children). The Democrats must have noted that those "new citizens" could vote and would vote for the Dems who gave them amnesty. 48 million additional Democrat voters. But that probably wasn't why the Democrats supported this bill. John McCain must have known that he planned to run for President of the United States and could tout that his name is actually on that bill!
Sure, McCain and Kennedy gave lip service to border security and funding for such, but who needs it after you allow everyone in and give them amnesty. Who is going to weed through the backgrounds of 48 million new applicants to see who is a drug dealer, who is a terrorist, who is a fugitive from justice in their home country, who has a communicable disease and the list goes on. There is no provision in the bill limiting the number of children an applicant can bring. What if some have six or eight children?
What will our country look like, sound like, vote like, if 48 million aliens from another country flood in? YOU will be a minority and never be able to out-vote them. They will vote for government entitlement programs giving themselves money and benefits from your tax dollars and your paychecks.
John McCain isn't a true Republican. He's a Democrat-light.
Why else would Joe Lieberman endorse John McCain. Joe Lieberman was Al Gore's running mate. Remember?Read Full Post | Make a Comment ( None so far )
We've Got to Be Smart – January 30, 2008
Last night I heard Glenn Beck say that he may not vote if John McCain is the Republican candidate in the 2008 Presidential election. Why? Because he has principles. He believes that voting for a nominee who doesn't represent his principles is part of what is wrong with our current political system. He's tired of playing that game and doesn't want to do it anymore.
I don't want to vote for John McCain, either. Right now, I have no idea who I could vote for. It's tough this year. But one thing I DO know, is that I have to do whatever I can to keep Hillary Clinton or Barak Obama out of the White House. I guess I would vote for the Republican candidate as a vote against the Democrat candidate. And if it's McCain, I would get a tiny benefit over a Democrat. Remember, if Hillary gets into the White House, she will spend us into oblivion. At least, McCain hasn't been a big spender like Hillary WILL BE.
John McCain is Democrat-light in my opinion. He's angered me countless times. I don't view him as the candidate of change just because he bucked his party, MY PARTY, at nearly every turn. I want a Republican, not a Democrat-light.
Unity is not the result of bucking your party on almost all issues. We're in the Republican Party because we share values and core principles. John McCain does not share our values. He votes against them routinely.
McCAIN/FEINGOLD BILL – a bill pushed into law by John McCain and Russ Feingold (Democrat).
This abomination restricts our political free speech before an election. America prides itself on free speech to a fault. But McCain-Feingold (D) prohibits national political party committees (Republican Party) from raising or SPENDING any funds not subject to federal limits, EVEN FOR STATE AND LOCAL RACES OR ISSUE DISCUSSION. It restricts issue discussion funded by Republican Party committees prior to an election. What is this? Free speech? Not by any definition! What is the Republican Party? It's people who have joined together to support their principles in our government's policies and who support candidates that can make that a reality. They are the electorate – the voters. Why should they be restricted from speaking out just before an election? I don't know. Ask John McCain – Democrat-light.
This law restricts issue ads, defined as "electioneering communications" broadcast ads that name a federal candidate within 30 days of a primary or caucus OR 60 days of a general election. This prohibits non-profit issue organizations such as Right to Life from running ads naming a candidate 30 days before a primary or caucus and 60 days prior to a general election. So if a pro-abortion candidate is running, Right to Life is prohibited from running ads informing the public about that candidate's stance on abortion within that time period. Note that the time period controlled is the most important time to get your message to the voting public. Most people pay more attention very close to time to vote. That's when they are most listening. In my opinion, McCain has told us to shut up.
McCAIN-FEINGOLD (D) violates the First Amendment guaranteeing us freedom of speech, which addressed free politcal speech, in particular.
This is not Republican or even American or democratic. Let everyone talk all the way up to an election.Read Full Post | Make a Comment ( None so far )
Clintons' Charitable Foundation – January 29, 2008
Since I questioned the Clintons' dedication to helping African-Americans, and the Clintons' charitable contributions, which I suggested may be lacking in that regard, I want to refer to an article written by John Soloman and Matthew Mosk, February 27, 2007 for the Washington Post. The link to this online is www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/02/26/AR2007022601542.html. I recommend reading it.
The article states that Hillary Clinton failed to comply with the Ethics in Government Act which requires members of Congress to disclose positions they hold outside of their office, including non-profit foundations. She has served as treasurer and secretary of the family foundation that she and Bill Clinton founded in December of 2001. She failed to disclose this on five of her ethics reports.
Of note, the Clintons were allowed to write off more than $5 million from their personal taxable income since 2001. They dispensed $1.25 million in charitable contributions during that period. ACCORDING TO THE AUTHORS OF THE ARTICLE, THE CLINTONS WROTE OFF ABOUT FOUR TIMES WHAT THEY DONATED.
Now, where did that $1.25 million dollars go? Did it benefit charities helping African-Americans or the city of New Orleans? Without a complete list, I can't say, but the article in the Washington Post online does list Yale University where the Clintons attended law school; groups named for deceased heads of state in Israel and Jordan (what???), and a charity connected to the Arkansas businessman who helped Hillary make $100,000 on a single commodities trade (cattle futures, and I wonder if Hillary knows anything at all about cattle or cattle futures).
Hillary didn't amend her ethics report until some of her colleagues, Bill Frist and Nancy Pelosi, came under scrutiny. Her spokesperson said that it was simply an oversight – five times – the smartest woman in the world – ready to start running our country's affairs on day one. (I don't think so.) "The only time Hillary did mention the foundation on her ethics report was in 2002, in a FOOTNOTE about their $800,000 donation that year, but DID NOT DISCLOSE HER POSITION OR OTHER INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOUNDATION." The Washington Post, Soloman and Mosk
Bill is the president and Chelsea is the director. None of them are compensated (unless you think a $5 million dollar write-off on contributions one fourth that amount is compensation enough). They fund this foundation with money they've received from Bill and Hillary's lucrative book deals and Bill's speechmaking. (How long will it be until Hillary charges for her speeches and Chelsea writes a book?)
The Clintons have another one, the New York-based William J. Clinton Foundation. This is a larger foundation which directed $10 billion dollars in corporate money and resources to slowing global spread of AIDS, climate change and reducing hunger and poverty in DEVELOPING COUNTRIES. Perhaps they've done something for poverty and hunger in America, also, but the article does not mention such.
According to the article, the foundation was launched during Hillary's first year in the Senate, when the Clintons gave that $800,000 to launch the organization in 2001. "The charity distributed no funds that year. The next year, the Clintons made $170,000 in donations while adding $100,000 of their own funds." The Washington Post, Solomon and Mosk
The article gives more specific information about the donations of this family foundation towards the end. African-Americans should definitely read it.
I need to re-read Hillary's campaign speeches. Did she criticize "the rich" for not paying their fair share of taxes? Who is she? " The rich?" Who is Bill? "The rich?" Have they taken steps to avoid paying taxes? What is the definition of "hypocrit?"Read Full Post | Make a Comment ( None so far )
Democrats' Debate – January 25, 2008
The Democrats' debate a couple of nights ago was a very racist affair. For people who claim they want to end racism, they failed to remain neutral on race and stick to the issues facing our country. All they talked about was race and gender, race and gender, race and gender. Poor John Edwards starting feeling guilty about being white and male. He came very close to apologizing for it. He was visibly squirming and looked very uncomfortable. The jokes made by Hillary and Obama poked fun at Edwards for being white and male. It's a good thing Edwards wasn't a conservative as well or he would have been under his chair. John Edwards may as well quit now. He is a victim of his own party's racism.
There was no appeal made to whites and only black males' votes were sought in this shameful exhibition. I was shocked when the discussion turned to Bill Clinton, America's first black president. Poor Obama would love to be America's first black president, but a white man has stolen that from him. Obama is a victim of Clinton racism.
If Bill Clinton is America's first black president, then Hillary is America's first black first lady. Obama should point out that there is nothing black about Bill or Hillary. Neither of them have ever suffered discrimination or true hardship because of the color of their skin. Neither of them have ever been denied entrance to a school, a public restroom, a job, a rental apartment or a seat on the bus because of their race. These two people live in the lap of luxury with multi-millions of dollars in each of their bank accounts. They vacation in the finest places, eat in five star restaurants, fly first class and wear expensive clothes.
They claim to care so much for the blacks of this country and claim to have worked to help them. How much of their wealth do they donate to help black children, families, seniors, disabled, veterans, or black institutions? I never hear of any. I would be very surprised if they give any of their money at all to black causes. I only hear them asking for people to give money to them. There is nothing preventing either Clinton from being generous with their vast wealth. Let them put their money where their mouth is.
The same goes for the Democrat party. Why aren't more of them donating a portion of their wealth and resources to rebuild New Orleans? Black Americans should open their eyes to the truth. When Bill Clinton left the White House, he took an office in a predominately black area just for show. Everytime he appeared in a news story, he was in a foreign country, not the office in the black neighborhood. He raised money for tsunami victims in Asia, but how much time did he spend in New Orleans?
Maybe I'm wrong, but I don't think so. Racism is alive and well in the Democrat Party and two faces that represent it well are Bill and Hillary Clinton.
P.S. Why is Bill Clinton called America's first black president? Was it because he appointed Joycelyn Elders as Surgeon General to repay a favor for his mother? How long was Elders in office before she had to resign in disgrace? Perhaps appointing Ron Brown as Secretary of Commerce earned the title for Clinton. Of course, if Ron Brown had not died in a plane crash, he may have ended up in prison on multiple charges. He was under investigation at the time. Did Clinton appoint any other blacks during his administration? I can't remember any others. Clinton had eight years. He could have appointed so many that we would easily remember them, but he didn't.
On the other hand, Pres. George W. Bush appointed Condoliza Rice as Secretary of State, General Collin Powell as Secretary of State, Rod Paige as Secretary of Education and they all served well and with honor. But it wasn't enough to label Bush as a black president. Can't explain it.Read Full Post | Make a Comment ( None so far )
Duncan Hunter – January 23, 2008
The news media did a lousy job covering the campaign of Duncan Hunter, while over-covering one who was obviously missing in action – no, make that two MIA's – Rudy Giuliani and Fred Thompson. Sen. Hunter was there in the states, campaigning while Rudy decided to pass on them and put all his chips on Florida. Fred Thompson was pretty indecisive as to whether or not he wanted to run at all. I guess he knows now that he waited too long to make up his mind.
However, Duncan was in there campaigning for conservatives dissatisfied with this cycle's crop of candidates. News worthy? Just as much as any other candidate. Covered by the media? Not so you'd notice. Why not? Could it be that they don't want a conservative in office? The media is known to be mostly liberal. Polls have shown that to be true. They know more than anyone how their coverage helps shape an election and/or the public's perception of a candidate, an issue or even a falsehood. If the public hears something long enough, they believe it must be a fact – even if it's a lie.
Right now, the media is hyping John McCain as if he had already won the nomination of his party. When his candidacy was thought to be DOA, they were hyping Rudy – the other white meat – I mean, "barely Republican" candidate. McCain and Giuliani are putting on their best Republican face because they know they need that perception to win. They will take it off after they win, if they do win.
Duncan Hunter's big mistake was not putting his face on every milk carton in America. MISSING – WHITE MALE CONSERVATIVE
Senator Hunter dropped out of the race recently and is supporting Mike Huckabee. I guess now we know who will be ignored by the media the most in the next few weeks.
"Mike, listen to me. Put your face and name on all the milk cartons! Please!"Read Full Post | Make a Comment ( None so far )
Universal Health Care – January 22, 2008
Ahhh. Sounds good, doesn't it? Universal. That means that no one will ever live without health care again. How comforting. No more little children without medical treatment. No more senior citizens choosing between food and medicine.
Now where will we find free health care? Is there such a thing? Nooooo. No matter what, health care has to be paid for – by someone. The government will make "deals". They will call it, "negotiate contracts", but it will still be "making deals in a closed room" and we won't be there to represent ourselves.
We won't ever hear all the wheeling and dealing that went on. We won't know, at least right away, who banked a profit – politicians, I mean. We won't find out until it's too late, whose brother, husband, uncle, son or daughter, had the contracts directed to their companies. (Is it possible that any company who refuses to play that game, will simply be cut out of the game all together?) Absolute power corrupts.
The government will decide how much coverage each one of us can have and how much is "excessive" or "unnecessary". If they decide that the care you want is not "cost effective", you won't get it. You also won't be allowed to buy it separately and pay for it yourself. After all, if you can afford to buy health care that others can't afford to buy, that would not be fair. Some politicians are adamant about "levelling the playing field." In other words, bringing everyone DOWN to the level of the lowest denominator. It's impossible to bring everyone up to the highest level, so everyone must come down.
If they decide that you don't have that many years left (in their opinion), they will refuse certain medical care because it isn't cost effective. Now don't forget that they originally sold Americans on this deal by using senior citizens who couldn't afford health care. They had to choose between their food and their medicine. But universal health care will look at cost efficacy, not the plight of the senior citizen. (I believe it's called "a bill of goods".) Don't be sold on this.
I can tell you right now, they will cover abortions and euthanasia. How do I know that? Look at who is fighting for universal health care and what else have they fought for in their lives. If they can marry two or more of their goals into one solution, they most definitetly will. Whether we like it or not, those of us who believe abortion and euthanasia is morally wrong will be party to the practice.
Now back to who will pay for it. People who don't buy it now because they can't afford it, will be forced to buy it. The government will look at all citizens' earnings as a big money pot. Everyone puts their earnings in the big pot. Then the government divides it up equally and disperses as they see fit. Doesn't this sound like socialism? Where has that ever worked successfully? I can't think of any place. Isn't that totally opposite our original founding fathers plan of government? That isn't democracy or a republic. It's socicalism. You earn it. They take it. Someone else gets it.
I hope you get it.Read Full Post | Make a Comment ( None so far )
Enough Already – January 21, 2008
Hugo Chavez has probably explained himself better than he realizes. In a four hour speech to the National Assembly, Chavez stated that he chews cocoa paste every morning. Cocoa paste is made from cocoa leaves and can be made into cocaine. He receives it from President Evo Morales of Bolivia. My question is whether Pres. Morales is sending it as a favor to a friend, or an effort to "off" the guy who is crazy and a threat to his neighbors (my personal assessment of Hehr Hugo). When I heard Hehr Hugo speak at the United Nations a while back, I immediately thought the guy was crazy. Now, I think I know why.
This man controls part of the world's oil supply, commands an army and controls the lives of the people of an entire nation. AND HE CHEWS COKE EVERYDAY.
There is some fear that Hehr Hugo may be planning to overtake Guyana in an effort to control it's oil fields. If I lived in Guyana, I wouldn't take this lightly. Neither should our government or the United Nations.
For more information on the Guyana story, see the link below.
http://housley.blogs.foxnews.com/2008/01/20/chavez-wants-guyana/Read Full Post | Make a Comment ( None so far )
Black History – January 21, 2008
No African American soldier was awarded the Medal of Honor during World War II. In 1993 the Army contracted Shaw University in Raleigh, North Carolina, to research and prepare a study "to determine if there was a racial disparity in the way Medal of Honor recipients were selected." Shaw's team researched the issue and, finding that there was disparity, recommended the Army consider a group of 10 soldiers for the Medal of Honor. Of those 10, seven were recommended to receive the award. In October of 1996 Congress passed the necessary legislation which allowed the President to award these Medals of Honor since the statutory limit for presentation had expired. The Medals of Honor were presented, by President William Clinton, in a ceremony on 13 January 1997. Vernon Baker was the only recipient still living and present to receive his award; the other six soldiers received their awards posthumously, with their medals being presented to family members.
Follow the link below to read the accounts of the African-American soldiers who were awarded the medal of honor.
http://www.history.army.mil/mohb.htmRead Full Post | Make a Comment ( None so far )
Iraq Missing from the Headlines – January 14, 2008
Have you noticed that Iraq no longer dominates the headlines? I remember when the news media gave us a daily update on the number of deaths in Iraq. They paid special attention to the magic numbers, i.e., 100 deaths, 200 deaths, etc. Every day they discussed the Bush mistakes in Iraq. Why is it conspicuously missing from the news today? Why aren't they still counting the deaths or pointing out the Bush mistakes? Could it be because the deaths are very low now; the surge is working; violence is waning; peace is growing; hope is taking hold among the Iraqis; things are improving very much? The success in Iraq is not news worthy because …………………….?
Read Full Post | Make a Comment ( None so far )
Get the Democrats Vote! – January 12, 2008
Get that Democrat's vote! We hear it every election year. The Democrats, of course, are trying to win the votes of other Democrats. But they never speak of winning the votes of Republicans. It's very different for Republicans. The news media, the pollsters, the candidates themselves, all talk of moving to the center to persuade Democrats to vote for the Republican candidate. Why is that?
Republicans are expected to move to the center to be more appealing to Democrats, while Democrats are moving farther and farther to the left. Why is pressure put on the Republicans to compromise their priniciples to appeal to the other party? Why is there no pressure or expectation for the Democrats to move to the center to appeal to Republican voters?
It's not going to happen. And why should it? There are two schools of thought. Allow Republicans to hold their opinions and not give them up for the other side. If Republicans do move toward Democrat views, then we only have one party – Democrat. We need candidates who will stand up for their constituents and not cave in. Let the other side cave in this election year!Read Full Post | Make a Comment ( None so far )
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subset: commoncrawl


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Dahi Handi, a traditional event is celebrated with extreme fervor in Maharashtra as part of Krishna Janmashtami festival every year with great pomp and show which marks the birth ceremony of Lord Krishna. To celebrate Dahi Handi, some of the tallest human pyramids are made in Mumbai. Dahi Handi festival is celebrated to mark Lord Krishna's childhood notoriety. With nearly 1,000 mandals and Govinda brigades, Mumbai is one of the biggest centers for Dahi Handi celebrations
A 21-year-old 'govinda' died after suffering epileptic attack during the Dahi Handi celebrations on Tuesday in Palghar, while in Airoli, a 34-year-old died of electrocution while forming a human pyramid as part of the festival. Another 'govinda' suffered the heart attack after the celebrations and died in Pune.
In the past few years, Government of Maharashtra has strengthened laws and it's applications following the festivals dark records. The Bombay High Court had in 2014 restricted the height of the human pyramid to 20 feet and had also stated that youngsters below the age of 18 would not be allowed to participate in the game citing safety hazards.
Supreme Court had on August 17, 2016, refused to relax conditions put by the High Court like barring youths below 18 years of age from participating in 'Dahi-Handi' festival in Maharashtra and capping the height of the human pyramid at 20 feet.
The Maharashtra government had drawn sharp criticism in 2015 for passing a resolution that notified 'dahi handi' as an adventure sport.


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Alexander R. ItsDistinguished Professor, Department of Mathematical Sciences
Prof. Its' major area is integrable systems. His current research interests are concentrated in the following directions: (a) Asymptotic analysis of the matrix models and orthogonal polynomials via Riemann-Hilbert and isomonodromy methods; (b) The asymptotic analysis of the correlation functions of quantum exactly solvable models and the related aspects of the theory of Fredholm and Toeplitz operators; (c) The theory of integrable nonlinear partial and ordinary differential equations of the KdV and Painleve types.
Publications & Professional Activities
A. R. Its, F. Mezzadri, and M. Y. Mo, Entanglement entropy in quantum spin chains with finite range interaction, Communications in Mathematical Physics, vol: 284 (2008), 117-18.
A. Its, I. Krasovsky, Hankel determinant and orthogonal polynomials for the Gaussian weight with a jump, Contemporary Mathematics, v. 458 (2008), 215-247.
A. R. Its, A. B. J. Kuijlaars and J. Ostensson, Critical Edge Behavior in Unitary Random Matrix Ensembles and the Thirty-Fourth Painleve Transcendent, IMRN, Volume 2008: article ID rnn017, (2008) 67 pages.
T. Claeys, A. Its, and I. Krasovsky, Higher order analogues of the Tracy-Widom distribution and the Painleve II hierarchy, to appear in Comm. Pure. Appl. Math. (arxiv:0901.2473)
P. Deift, A. Its, and I. Krasovsky, Asymptotics of Toeplitz, Hankel, and Toeplitz + Hankel determinants with Fisher-Hartwig singularities, preprint, arXiv: 0905.0443
A.R. Its, Asymptotics of Solutions of the Nonlinear Schrodinger Equation and Isomonodromic Deformations of the Systems of Linear Differential Equations, Soviet. Math. Dokl. 24, N 3, p. 452-456 (1981).
A.S. Fokas, A.R. Its and A.V. Kitaev, The Isomonodromy Approach to Matrix Models in 2D Quantum Gravity, Comm. Math. Phys. 147, 395-430 (1992).
P. A. Deift, A. R. Its, X. Zhou, A Riemann-Hilbert Approach to Asymptotic Problems Arising in the Theory of Random Matrix Models, and Also in the Theory of Integrable Statistical Mechanics, Ann. of Math. 146, 149-235 (1997).
P. Bleher, A. Its, Double Scaling Limit in the Random Matrix Model: the Riemann-Hilbert Approach, Communications in Pure and Applied Mathematics, Vol. LVI, (2003) 433 - 516.
P. Deift, A. Its, I. Krasovsky, Asymptotics of the Airy-kernel determinant, Communications in Mathematical Physics 278, 3 643-678 (2008).
Honors, Awards and Grants
- The Prize of the Moscow Mathematical Society (1976)
- The Prize of the Leningrad Mathematical Society (1981)
- 2002 Hardy Fellow of the London Mathematical Society
- 2009 Batsheva de Rothschild Fellow of Israel Academy of Sciences and Humanities
- American Mathematical Society Fellow (2012)
Honorable Lectureships
- Invited Address to the AMS - MAA - SIAM Joint Mathematical Meetings, January 22, 2000.
- Hardy lectures to the London (June 21.02) and to the Edinburgh (May 24.02) Mathematical Societies. Series of Hardy lectures in several universities in the UK ( March 12 - June 28, 2002 )
- Invited Speaker to the IMC 2010


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Adobe earnings beat goal
SAN JOSE — Adobe Systems Inc. surpassed Wall Street expectations with its second-quarter earnings Thursday, but said the economic slowdown has spread abroad and will flatten revenues in the upcoming quarter.
For the three months ending June 1, Adobe earned $61.3 million, or 25 cents per share, compared with $65.8 million,or 26 cents a share, the same time a year ago.
Excluding one-time items, the company said it earned $121.5 million, or 34 cents per share, compared to $97 million in the year-ago period.
Analysts surveyed by Thomson Financial/First Call had expected Adobe to show a per-share profit of 29 cents in the second quarter.
The San Jose-based company, the leader in desktop publishing software, reported that revenue for the three months was $344.1 million, up 15 percent from $300.1 million a year ago.
The results were helped in part by the release of Adobe Acrobat 5.0, a new version of the portable document format, or PDF, reader that has become a de facto standard for document distribution on the Web.
The product achieved record revenues, the company said, and led the so-called e-Paper Solutions segment to a 67 percent revenue growth rate for the quarter.
But company officials said they expect overall revenues will flatten in the upcoming quarter, citing the continued slowdown of sales it experienced in Europe and North America during the second quarter.
The company also factored in a "potential slowdown" in Asia.
The company did not give specific numbers but said it expects year-over-year revenue growth to improve in the fourth quarter when major product upgrades will be rolled out.
Chief executive Bruce Chizen reassured analysts during a conference call that the company does expect to "return to revenue growth rates in the mid 20s once the economic downturn has subsided."
"But will it happen as soon as the fourth quarter? Will the econonmy turn around that quickly? I don't think so," Chizen said later in an interview.
With the Nasdaq Stock Market reeling from profit warnings from other high-tech companies, shares of Adobe closed down $1.17, or 2.9 percent, at $39.01 Thursday. Following the results after the market close, the stock price rose to $39.55.
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by Matt Cuccaro, Ed.M.
Courage. Those who have it seem to thrive, endure and consistently separate themselves from the rest of the population in powerful and meaningful ways. It allows individuals to adapt, evolve and continue pursuing fresh, meaningful opportunities – all characteristics of our most inspiring leaders, performers and admired role models. Courage may be the most important attribute for success in today's ever-changing world. So…is it possible to increase courage? Can courage be maintained and nourished to enhance performance and catapult one's self to achieve feats once deemed unattainable? The answer to both of these questions is – YES.
While courage can be fostered and maintained throughout a lifetime; it's not a common nor easy path to endure. There is a reason why few are able to sustain it. We are wired to survive; and playing it safe is a fundamental key to survival. For those looking to do more than just survive, those looking to thrive instead, are encouraged to make a mindful choice to pursue the following guidelines. These keys will maximize one's trajectory moving forward and provide every opportunity to strengthen courage, enhance confidence and nudge an individual toward leading a more powerful and fulfilling life.
1) Courage begets courage. Yes…it takes a miniscule particle of courage to start an unbridled chain reaction. Start small and momentum will slowly build. Take a minimal calculated risk in an otherwise mundane, everyday activity. Gauge how it makes you feel. If a hint of adrenaline and positive emotion came your way, you might be onto something.
2) Own your emotions. An elevated heart rate, increased perspiration and shaking hands are the tell-tale signs of anxiety. They are also signs of excitement. Believe it or not, you decide how to view your physical sensations. Perception of anxiety causes hesitation, over-thinking and undue delay; while interpreting those same physical cues as excitement leads to eagerness, positive energy and enjoyment. How physical feelings are interpreted dictates emotion…and emotion guides the choice to surge ahead, find another path or abort the mission completely. Courage seems to find a way to nudge forward with purpose, especially in the face of challenge and discomfort.
3) Recharge. In terms of energy, we are wired much the same as a mobile device. Our battery has a limited capacity to perform before it needs a recharge. Courageous acts take their toll and it's difficult to take on further challenges when feeling depleted and fragile. Dedicate personal time to sleep, stretch, breathe and connect with others. Soak in your favorite sights, sounds, smells, and tastes. Find recharge techniques that work for you in order to produce even greater and more purposeful efforts moving forward.
4) Environment matters. Do those around you tend to be supportive or harsh following setbacks? The human experience causes us to cue off of each other's energy more than we realize or often care to admit. Environment may actually be the most important key to enhancing or diminishing courage. When those around us possess a mindset which is harsh, critical or inflexible our choices toward future action are negatively affected as well. The opportunity to approach risks, especially appropriate ones, becomes less enjoyable as subtle tension bubbles below the surface. These distractions often appear at critical moments when courage and focus on the task at hand are needed most. The wandering thought of the possible critique and retribution to follow a mistake can magnify a slight bobble into a seemingly tumultuous, career-ending blunder. On the other hand, when those around us encourage stretching limits for growth and see personal experiences as learning opportunities (regardless of the result), confidence and courage are consistently fostered. Those same "critical" moments don't feel as critical anymore, allowing skills and ability to emerge in abundance, leading to more desired and consistent results.
Courage is a highly desirable and potentially contagious attribute. Take the first step, own your emotions, recharge and surround yourself with those who support what you stand for. Courage comes from a willingness to fail from time to time. That willingness is the same thread that leads to consistent, enduring and courageous successes that last a lifetime.


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Small Master Bedroom Tips to Help You Get the Most Out of Your Space
When you hear about master bedrooms, the assumption is that there will be plenty of room. The design discussion is often dominated by talk of amenities like en-suite bathrooms, sitting rooms, and walk-in closets. Unfortunately, however, those extras aren't available to all of us, but that doesn't mean that your smaller master bathroom needs to be short on style.
If you're looking f0r tips on how to get the most out of your space, you're in luck. Keep reading to learn how to make a statement that fits your personality, while still making sure that function ultimately comes first.
Draw Eyes Upward
One of the most tried-and-true rules of interior design is when there's not much room to work with horizontally, go vertical. All you need to do is use optical illusions to create vertical height and trick viewer's eyes into taking in more of the room. Though you'll have the exact same amount of square footage, it will seem substantially larger.
The photo above is a particularly good example of this tactic. Every detail of the room, from the angle of the windows to the white paint and the shiplap, is aimed at opening up this tiny room. Your eye is drawn to the highest point in the room, the lamp in the centre of the ceiling.
You don't have to go to extremes, but you should make an effort to add height somewhere. Vertical shelving is a great choice, as it will give you a double dose of functionality. Alternatively, a patterned wallpaper or bold accent wall is a great way infuse the space with your personality.
Look for Hidden Potential
Where small spaces are concerned, it's all about making the most of every single inch. Most of the time, if you stop looking at spaces the way you think they're supposed to be used and start looking at them for what they are, you can start to see their true potential.
To do this, you need to start letting go of what you expected to have in your master bedroom. Then, think about what you need from the space. Notice how in the above photo, both a coat rack and a desk were added. The exact specifications you decide to meet will depend on your needs, but get creative here.
Embrace Aesthetically-Pleasing Storage
If you're dealing with limited space, you've undoubtedly heard that you should invest in some creative storage solutions. That said, we'd argue that not all storage is created equal. Especially in close quarters, where your storage will play a bigger overall role in your design, it's important that you make sure that the options you choose are aesthetically-pleasing.
Obviously, you'll want to choose solutions that mesh well with your personal design style. However, use the above picture as your design inspiration. Options that appear built-in to your design are ideal. Try things like under bed storage and headboard bookcases. Once you have your larger storage options in place, you can hide day-to-day clutter through drawers or coordinated baskets.
Keep It Simple
Above all, remember that in small spaces, less is ultimately more. Clutter has a way of mucking up a design, but that effect is magnified even more with the lower square footage. Streamlining your design as much as possible will have the added benefit of allowing your aesthetic choices to be fully appreciated.
To do this, you should allow the room's function to take centre stage, especially if you're using the space for multiple purposes such as a bedroom and home office. Invest in pieces that can be both purposeful and beautiful. Finally, cut down on clutter and be sure to clean often.
Let's be honest, most of us would love to have a palatial master bedroom suite, right? Unfortunately, though, that's not always possible. That doesn't mean that you can't make the most out of the space you have. If you're looking for advice on how to create a small master bedroom that's equal parts functional and fun, keep these tips on-hand. You can also partner with Perago Solid in order to help transform your space and take full advantage of the space you do have.
With courtesy of houzz.com


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The Great State of Indiana - Home of Indiana Camping
Each section of Indiana has a great amount to offer. Northern Indiana, home of La Porte and Porter County is filled with an abundance of nature. From the Dunes National Lakeshore and 123 foot sand dune to Mt. Baldy and Lake Michigan, this region is host to hiking, fishing, boating and more. Plus it is no stranger to the performing arts, offering plays, live music and festival events of every kind making Northern Indiana an amazing place to visit and explore for the whole family.
Less than 30 minutes away, is Portage and one of our award winning Jellystone Park™ Camp Resorts! Their entire summer schedule includes special events to celebrate 25 years as a Yogi Bear™ Camp Resort. From a Yogi Bear™ birthday party to pool parties and Lite Stick wagon rides, you can bet your trip and stay to Northern Indiana will be one your family will always remember. Plus Portage Jellystone Park has amazing amenities to make your Indiana Camping experience one to remember. Dive into one of their 4 pools or swim at their beach, fish, play tennis, mini golf, basketball and more. Cabins, Full hook up RV sites and tent camping are all available.
Please visit Portage Jellystone Park for an entire events calendar and to make your family fun vacation reservations today!
Heading south, and into central Indiana is home to the city of Indianapolis. With famous sporting events, an amazing mixture of culture, theatre, art and fine dining it's no wonder why the 12th largest city in the country is one of America's favorite cities. Plus Indianapolis this summer is featuring many incredible events the whole family will enjoy. Held on the grounds of the living history museum, Conner Prairie, you can relax to the serenading sounds of the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra, one of the best in the Midwest. The RCA Tennis Championships return to downtown Indianapolis for the 15th consecutive year. The "Tournament of the Year" has hosted such legendary names as Andre Agassi, Pete Sampras, Goran Ivanisevic, Jim Courier, Boris Becker and many more. Plus The Indianapolis Zoo's three Southern White Rhinos have arrived and were introduced to the public on May 26.
Only 25 miles east of Indianapolis is another award winning Jellystone Park located in Knightstown. Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park Indianapolis/Knightstown is 38 acres of quaint Midwest prairie, with a fishing hole, stream and an abundance of flowers right in the heartland of Indiana. Their facilities include 125 sites, cabins and pop up rentals for every level of comfort. Plus with two playgrounds, a game room, swimming pool, 24 hour laundry, free fishing in our stocked lake (state license not required), adults only hot tub, paddleboat rental, and camp store you can be sure your entire family will be entertained and you will experience why Jellystone Park is "Where you Camp with Friends."
Finally, our great Indiana escape ends in beautiful Southern Indiana, and the great city of New Albany. New Albany has a proud heritage along the mighty Ohio River. A center for commerce, this city has an abundance of natural resources and is filled with beautiful people and wonderful sights. Take a walk down Mansion row and into the Historic District. Or stroll down the riverfront to watch the river wind its way to the Mississippi. Visit the amphitheater, parks, museums, and the thriving downtown business district.
Or just get swept away by the other regional attractions that draw millions of people each year this thriving community. Minutes away are Huber's Orchard, Churchill Downs (the home of the Kentucky Derby), The Louisville Slugger Bat Museum, and Squire Boone Caverns.
Plus you can be sure there's a Jellystone to call your home near by. Located off I-65 in Scottsburg (exit #29AB) , this park features 91 fully equipped sites, cabins to rent and tent camping. Plus a great recreational building with game machines, a convenience store, swimming pool, stocked fishing lake (no license required), row boat & pedal boat rentals, mini-golf, and much more. Make your reservations today!
This trip planner only mentioned 3 of the 7 Jellystone Park Camp-Resorts in Indiana this month, but remember, there are three other locations in Fremont, Pierceton and Plymouth for you to visit & enjoy!
To plan your Yogi Bear Jellystone family trip, click on the following links and make your reservation today:
Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park Camp-Resort in Portage
Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park Camp-Resort in Indianapolis/Knightstown
Scottsburg Jellystone Park Camp-Resort
Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park in Fremont/Barton Lake
Pierceton/Kosciusko County Jellystone Park Camp-Resort
Plymouth Jellystone Park Camp-Resort
Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park Camp-Resort in Bloomington – Lake Monroe


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Trust MedjetAssist to get you back to your home hospital
MedjetAssist is a unique membership program, not a health insurance plan or travel insurance plan. Medjet will arrange long-distance medical transportation, medical flight and medical repatriation services for members, getting them to the hospital of their choice within their home country with no preexisting condition exclusions (under age 75), health questions, deductibles or claim forms. There is no monetary limit on the program benefits and no restrictions on the amount or type of travel taken. MedjetAssist is the perfect fit for any and all travelers—young and old, domestic and international, groups and individuals. Our medical transportation services are arranged by an expert team of travel and medical professionals who have one goal in mind: to get our members home. What's more, there are no additional costs to worry about and no limits on total air medical transport expenses.
On-board care
Aircraft operated by MedjetAssist authorized affiliates are fitted with state-of-the-art medical equipment and are able to operate as flying intensive-care units. Whether it's a long-distance medical transport or an international medical transport, all aircraft have the capability of accommodating one critical patient and family member (as long as the health of the patient is not compromised), along with a three- or four-person medical team.
Non-emergency transport
MedjetAssist members are transferred without regard to medical necessity. This means that as long as the member is hospitalized as an inpatient, even if it is not deemed a medical emergency, they can choose to be transferred to another hospital in their home country, even if the facility they are in is considered adequate. This is in direct contrast to many health and travel medical evacuation insurance plans, air ambulance providers and platinum card benefits. Many of those require the transfer to be emergent and medically required—otherwise nothing is covered and the patient can expect to pay an enormous out-of-pocket expense just to get home. But with MedjetAssist—the choice is yours.
MedjetAssist is an authorized Indirect Air Carrier (IAC) utilizing the services of licensed Part 135 air carriers to meet your air ambulance transportation needs. MedjetAssist does not own, lease or operate any aircraft, and has no affiliation with any direct air carrier. As an IAC, MedjetAssist contracts for the provision of air transportation services in its own name and coordinates the provision of medical services for your flight. All flights are operated by licensed direct air carriers.
Copyright © 2017 MedjetAssist


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After a hiatus, I present itiriti readers a place tucked away on the first floor of the India Mall, New Friends Colony Community Centre which I want to rename as a paradise of kebabs. For all those in Delhi, and for all of us who love kebabs, our share of succulent mutton pieces in an aromatic gravy, time to settle for Rampur Kitchen, New Friends Colony community Centre. Last year, I was introduced to this place by Vi and Sa. Four of us trekked down to New Friend's Colony, a place etched in my memory since college days for serving the best Shawarma (Al Bake) for Rs 20. The place has a neat, comfortable seating arrangement for a leisurely meal for family dinners, and quiet lunch and dinners as well.
"Rampur kitchen", true to its name offers some of the prized dishes from Rampur. Where is Rampur? Not far away from Delhi it boasts of a royal past which cascades into its cuisine and it is a place known for the knives, as a centre for arts and academics, distilleries and much more. Anoothi Vishal in a piece "Royal Rampuri cuisine, a blend of Delhi's Mughlai tradition and Avadhi food" (The Economic Times, 3 November 2013)1 points out that this court cuisine is a melting pot of Mughlai, Afghani, Avadhi and Rajput influence after it became a stable princely state when the Nawab sided with the British following the revolt of 1857. Rampuri cuisine, Anoothi Vishal points out is known for taar qorma, shambhal ke sheekh, home style urad gosht and lauki gosht.
In my introductory visit to Rampur kitchen Sa convinced me to order qorma. Dreading the overpowering smell of spices and the rich thick gravy that one associates with qorma, I decided to skip it. Sa ordered the qorma and when it arrived I polished it almost half of the qorma. Taar qorma a speciality of the region can be eaten when the weatherboards read 48 degree Celsius. The succulent mutton chunks in a nice rich gravy with a right amount of bite and balance of texture without an overpowering smell of the garam masala has become rare even in specialty restaurants. Taar qorma remains a favourite from the first visit and I never get tired of eating this dish. I would recommend you to order half a plate of taar qorma and I assure you will fall in love with it as much as I have.
What about starters? Hang on! There are ample choices. For kebab fanatics there is a wonderful chapli kebab. You can get an imagined sensual treat from Anoothi's article, but you have to taste the chapli kebab with the slightly spiced mint dip. Kakori kebab tastes heavenly and galauti melts in your mouth. My favourites and recommendations for starters would remain galauti kebab rolls. The star of this roll/ wrap is the ulte tawa ki paratha which is sweet in texture and complements the mildly spiced galauti kebab which true to its fame melts in your mouth. The wrap is a mouthful of spices and the creamy light green dip adds the perfect kick start to your meal. The best part of the Rampuri food is the right balance of spices and the treatment of the spices and Rampuri kitchen lives up to that in its treatment of spices and texture.
Thankfully, neither the gravies nor the dips look or taste the same. Each of the dishes evokes a confluence of cultures and synthesis of varied culinary traditions which is a product of people's mobility. The best food emerges as a confluence of traditions and Rampuri cuisine's attraction lies in its ability to embrace varied traditions. This, in a way urges us to rethink of culinary traditions as torchbearers of our identity politics and instead treat it as a melting pot of varied cultures.
- For details visit Vishal, Anoothi.2013. "Royal Rampuri cuisine, a blend of Delhi's Mughlai tradition and Avadhi food" The Economic Times, 3 November 2013. http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2013-11-03/news/43611823_1_cuisine-taar-qorma; Accessed on 9 June 2014.
Cost for two: 2 starters, one main course and rotis ( 900 INR)
For address and menu visit
http://www.zomato.com/ncr/rampur-kitchen-new-friends-colony-delhi; Accessed on 9 June 2014.


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Missouri Certificate of Good Standing
The Missouri Good Standing Certificate (Also referred to as the Missouri Certificate of Status or Missouri Certificate of Existence) is an official document issued by the Missouri Secretary of State that certifies that the legal entity is registered with the State of Missouri and is compliance with all state required formalities.
Upon application to the Office of the Missouri Secretary of State a Certificate of Good Standing will be granted to any domestic or foreign profit and nonprofit corporation that was duly registered or formed within the State of Missouri.
See to the left is an image of Certificate of Good Standing Missouri
|WE CAN PROVIDE YOU WITH A CERTIFICATE NEXT BUSINESS DAY FOR $59 - Plus State Fees


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I live in San Diego. My husband Steven lives in San Antonio. We've been a long-distance couple since I began grad school (and he began working as on officer in the US Army). San Diego-San Antonio is actually the closest we've ever been to each other: it took at least two flights plus a few hours in the car to see each other when he lived in Kansas, and visits were not possible when he was deployed in Kuwait. We're grateful that a non-stop flight can take us from one city to the other, but it's far from ideal.
We were even more grateful that I was able to arrange my teaching and research so I could spend two months in San Antonio recently.
We'd been married for over a year, and the two months we recently spent together were our first opportunity to live together. It wasn't a test of whether we're truly compatible (we are, we always have been), and it wasn't a vacation. We did real life (albeit a different real life than we're used to), and we did it while living under the same roof. It was wonderful.
In the mornings, I made his breakfast while waiting for my own tea to brew. In the evenings, he tucked me in as tightly as possible, a practice we began referring to as Burrito Rose. We went to the gym together and made jigsaw puzzles. I cooked most dinners, he cleaned most dishes. We spied on neighbors, I gave him haircuts, he did our laundry. We settled into a precious rhythm, and the two months were wonderful for the person at my core.
For my academic mind, though, they left something to be desired. As I expected, working remotely and Skyping into the necessary meetings was a little boring. But this was a small price to pay for the freedom of working from a location that strengthened my relationship with Steven. The time in San Antonio helped me realize how much I prioritize freedom to work on what I want, when I want, where I want, but I also really value working with other smart people. Having little imposed structure to my workdays and fewer obligations to fulfill than normal allowed me time and space to reflect on my values and how they'll factor into priorities for my career, or at least for my next career step. I asked myself, do I really like research that much? But how much does this submersion in relatively isolated research reflect what a research career would be like? How important is geography to me? How much money is important to me? How much free time do I need? Should I just graduate and move on with my life? Or should I shirk the subconscious sense that external signs of "progress" are to be constantly striven for?
I'm so grateful that I could continue to work while spending two months with Steven. We probably benefitted more than we had anticipated, and I proved to myself that I can be productive while working remotely. I'll be back there soon, and someday home will actually be the same place for both of us.


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What's not to love? Adorable,fun and forever green! This fabulous Set of 12 Artificial Succulents already potted in 2" White Ceramic Vases are a marvelous addition to even the smallest of areas! Plants, greenery and florals add so much life and vitality and here"s 12 doses of essential daily energy to brighten up your day!
Plants are naturally calming which lowers our stress level and allows us to maintain a healthy, peaceful outlook. These succulents are so realistic looking in color and texture and the variety of shapes is visually appealing. The heights range from 3" tall to 4" tall. Some have slender or spikey leaves and some have thick fleshy leaves. Some are all green and some have tinges of burgundy. Each succulent is ipotted" in tiny dark brown rocks which are glued in and the white ceramic vase is a 2" square. If they get knocked over, no big deal!
From the patio to the kitchen to the window sill and tub, these luscious little desert treasures will enhance every nook and cranny but they also make an incredibly carefree and easy party favor! Garden parties or nature themed events will have your guests admiring your caring, thoughtful gift that they can use all year round and not have to tend to! For weddings, these make the perfect, effortless, trouble-free centerpiece! Group several on Centerpiece Mirrors or use them to encircle Flameless LED Candles. You could even attach a ribbon to color coordinate with your event. Clean and Simple!
Personalize by painting on individual names, symbols or designs, add your company name or brand logo. What a delightful and clever memento! Create a rustic tablescape setting by combining Driftwood Garlands with these colorful, no-fuss plants!


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It's time to kick-off another week of storytelling in Voice by the staff and volunteers at the Seanchai Library. As always, all times SLT, and events are held at the Library's Second Life home at Bradley University, unless otherwise indicated.
Sunday, March 12th
13:30: Tea Time Mysteries!
Seanchai Library launches a Tea Time series, featuring everything non-Holmesian from Christie to Hamett, classic sleuthing to hard-boiled detectives of the noir-ish hue.
This week: more Agatha Christie.
18:00: Magicland Storytime
How to Cheat a Dragon's Curse continues with Caledonia Skytower at the Golden Horseshoe In Magicland.
Monday, March 13th 19:00: Enemy Mine
Gyro Muggins starts reading Barry B. Longyear's novella which first appeared in a 1979 issue of Isaac Asimov's Science Fiction Magazine, before becoming the basis of the of the 20th Century Fox film of the same name, starring Dennis Quaid and Louis Gossett, Jr. This led to Longyear producing an expanded version of the story, written with David Gerrold.
In the midst of an interstellar war between humans and Dracs (a race of humanoid reptilians), Willis Davidge, a human fighter pilot, crashes on a hostile planet after a dogfight with a Drac – who is also forced down on the same planet.
The two initially continue their hostilities towards one another. But the planet proves so hostile that Davidge and the Drac, Jeriba Shigan (whom Davidge nicknames "Jerry"), are forced to join forces in order to ensure their survival. Then Davidge learns Jeriba is pregnant – Drac being entirely asexual …
Tuesday, March 14th 19:00: Save Room for Pie: Food songs and Chewy Ruminations
Comic writer Roy Blount Jr has been a life-long eater of food. He's not sure where his attraction to food began, but he knows that eating isn't always easy – beyond the sitting doing, chewing and swallowing, that is: those most assuredly are the easy parts.
But, what effect is the global climate and the ups and downs of the economy – local and global – having on the food he eats? How much does his own sinusitis, with its deadening of his sense of taste and smell, impact on his actual enjoyment of eating and food?
In poems and songs, limericks and fake (or sometimes true) news stories, Blount talks about food in surprising and innovative ways. In these pages he ruminates on everything from bacon froth to grapefruit, Kobe beef to biscuits. He defends gizzards, mullet, okra, cane syrup, watermelon, and boiled peanuts; he seeks imagined observations from Frederick Douglass to Louis Armstrong to Blaze Starr. There's even an imagined conversation between Eve and Adam in the Garden of Eden.
And we shouldn't forget the shampooed possums and carjacking turkeys! With Kayden OConnell.
Wednesday, March 15th 19:00: Celtic Tales
Fairy Tales and Stories of Enchantment with Caledonia (also presented in Kitely).
Thursday, March 16th 19:00: From The Shadows
Celtic Darkness, Tales from the otherworld with Shandon Loring (also presented in Kitely, and InWorldz).
Please check with the Seanchai Library's blog for updates and for additions or changes to the week's schedule.
The featured charity for March April is Project Children, building peace in Ireland one child at a time.


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Saturday, July 19, 2003
Dean @ Lessig: the broadband divide http://cyberlaw.stanford.edu/lessig/blog/archives/2003_07.shtml#001367
As governor of Vermont, I made expanding internet access a priority. Vermont is a national leader, with over 99% of our schools connected to the Internet. In rural states like Vermont, the Internet can make a real difference by providing telemedicine and telework opportunities, as well as distance learning.
As a community that actively discusses these issues, I'm interested in your opinions on how to best bridge the digital divide. The US ranks 11th in the world on broadband penetration. How do we bring broadband to more people in the most cost-effective manner? What role will WiFi play? I understand that the emerging technology of WiFi may make it easier to bridge the digital divide. What would your recommendations be?
If you are knowledgeable on the topic, or are just a regular WiFi user, do comment!
DiscussionPost a Comment
Obama 2008 - I want my country back
About Nation-Building
Nation-Building was founded by Aziz Poonawalla in August 2002 under the name Dean Nation. Dean Nation was the very first weblog devoted to a presidential candidate, Howard Dean, and became the vanguard of the Dean netroot phenomenon, raising over $40,000 for the Dean campaign, pioneering the use of Meetup, and enjoying the attention of the campaign itself, with Joe Trippi a regular reader (and sometime commentor). Howard Dean himself even left a comment once. Dean Nation was a group weblog effort and counts among its alumni many of the progressive blogsphere's leading talent including Jerome Armstrong, Matthew Yglesias, and Ezra Klein. After the election in 2004, the blog refocused onto the theme of "purple politics", formally changing its name to Nation-Building in June 2006. The primary focus of the blog is on articulating purple-state policy at home and pragmatic liberal interventionism abroad.


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Management Team
Chief Executive Officer
Mr. Lamkhomang Kipgen is responsible for the representation and overall smooth functioning of the management of the institutions towards steering the Institution into a resilient and committed organisation. It is solely due to his foresight that WSDS-initiate has transformed as one of the leading institutions that the rural poor can bank upon. His commitment towards economic empowerment of women is his chief asset.
Internal Audit and Control Officer
For the endurances of an organisation to conduct smoothly the functions of the organisation an Internal and Audit Control is a must. The Internal and Audit Officer is headed by Mrs. Chongjakhol Kipgen, retired AGM of Vijaya Bank. She monitors the organisation adherence to company policies and procedures and suggests measures to combat anomaly. She executes financial audits to ensure the accuracy of accounts and reports, to ensure that employees follow the policies and procedures correctly such as credit evaluation, disbursement, and repayment procedures are being appropriately applied in all the branches. She identifies weak spots and ensures check and balance to ensure that WSDS's internal controls are adapted to the new system introduced. She and her team visit the branch monthly for its monthly audit, which is thence submitted to the Board of Members after reporting its report to the CEO.
Chief Operating Officer
The overall functioning of the Operations department and its team is under the supervision of Mr. Seikhothang Haokip. His expertise lies in the areas of achieving motivation, and soft skill development. His expertise helped WSDS-initiate in grooming, development and leadership building of the Cluster Manager, Branch Head and its subsidiary Community Facilitators. He makes frequent visits to the branch offices and supervises their performances. He is assisted by an Operation Manager who relays the important and decisive action that needs to be intervened and implemented. He looks after the overall operational process of WSDS-initiate and plays an immense role in training clients about credit value and the benefits of Group organisation.
Operations Head
An articulate Finance & Business Development professional with a vast experience in microfinance industry in both NBFC-MFI and BC models with nationalised banks and financial institutes across finance, risks and operations, relationship management, business development, audit compliance, marketing and strategic planning, Mr. Shamim Akhter looks after the functioning, systems and processes of Operations in line with the Chief Operating Officer. He studies and develops process layout designs and systems as per the compliance process of the funders/investors from time to time. He develops digitalisation of the entire branches by linking them to a common hub i.e. the Administrative Office.
Finance Manager & IT/MIS
Mr. Phanjoubam Inaocha Singh is the current Finance Manager, who has been working for the success of this institution since its inception. His knowledge and expertise of long years of working has commensurate to the overall growth of the institution. He constantly makes the Institute gets adapted with continuous improvement, documentation and implementation. He is instrumental in strengthening and streamlining of the Information Technology & MIS. He is assisted by Assistant MIS officers. He is responsible to the Board for the Annual Audit of matters related to financial statements, cash flow management etc.
Ms. Konthoujam Ronita Devi, the account officer assists him in all matters pertaining to Audit, Taxation, Financial statement reviews & financial projections, release of loan, income and expenditure etc.
Human Resource Manager
The Human Resource Department is headed by the Human Resource Manager Mr. Gemson Shimray Awungshi and assisted by an Assistant Human Resource Manager under the guidance and supervision of the CEO. A polyglot, whose command over numerous language assists in communicating with the multicultural clients. He recruits, develops and motivates the staffs to accomplish the Organisation's mission. He strives to ensure the organization has the right people at the right time with the right skills and motivation to achieve the institution's goals and objectives. He provides the locus of interaction between the MFI and its customers. He focuses on creating and maintaining a capable workforce, recruits, organise staff trainings for new and existing employee, adding new skills and knowledge and responsibility, supervision of employee's performance.
Edify Program Coordinator
Edify, US based NGO providing MSME school loan and school transformation program. This program is looking after by Mr. Biakchungnunga Varte (Biaka), who completed his Bachelor of Computer Science Engineering and continue his profession on Master of Business Administration in the field of Human Resources and Marketing. He had previously working for P&A Associate as an architecture in web-base Company as Business Representative. This Edify program is function under the guidance of Chief Operating Officer and the Operations Head.
KIVA & MILAAP Co-ordinator
The position of KIVA & MILAAP Co-ordinator is currently under the overall command of Ms. Neipineng Sitlhou, who communicates with KIVA based in San Francisco, USA. She is responsible for the monthly profiling and uploading of all documentations and journals of the member clients to the KIVA and MILAAP websites. She is currently assisted by Mr. Alfred Lalruatdika for MILAAP client members of Aizawl Branch and Kolasib Branch in Mizoram.


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Laid Back Stripe
This curvy top is soft and comfy! These stripes will have you looking amazing and gives you a great shape! It is roomy, so you can look great and feel comfortable!
FIT: True To Size, but has plenty of room around the middle
96% Rayon
4% Spandex


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Hello, and Welcome!
There are many reasons that people seek out a church community. Whether you are seeking connection with other people, Religious Education for yourself or your family, time and space to reflect on your life, ways to put your values into action, or just a place to wonder about the big questions, we would love to have you at Thoreau Woods UU Church.
Ours is a vibrant, life-filled, caring community of people who come from different kinds of families or partnerships, hold different beliefs, come from different cultural and economic backgrounds, and find a home here, together, in the wider embrace of Unitarian Universalism. Our church strives to Love the Hell Out of the World, through a variety of worship, learning, spiritual practice, and our social justice work in the community. Whatever your story may be, however your life is unfolding at the moment, you are welcome here!
Whether you are a life-long Unitarian Universalist discovering Thoreau Woods for the first time, or whether you are new to Unitarian Universalism, we want to help you find what you are seeking. If you have additional questions about the church or membership, please contact our church office by email at [email protected]. We're glad you're here.
If you are interested in membership, please contact a board member.
President Rosanne Barker


text: I joined the Mod club today. I just bought my first Mod, the Innokin Itaste MVP V2.0. I love this thing, for about 5 months I was using both the Kanger Evod Twist and the Vision Spinner batteries. Both batteries go from 3.3 to 4.8 volts. This is my first experience with a Variable Voltage and Variable Wattage device.The store I bought it from is Vapers On Bloor in Toronto, ON Canada. The store owner cut $10.00 off the price from $79.99 to $69.99. My wife helped me buy by giving me $100.00. She told me that she would help me buy e-cigarette supplies because e-cigarettes saved my life by helping me quit smoking.


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A new year once again. Time to get out that new datebook and draw up plans for the next 365 days. Lofty goals, mad schemes, strict regimens, exciting getaways, plans, plans, plans. Some challenging and tough, leaving us quaking a bit in our shoes but determined nonetheless. Some big and exciting and wonderful, leaving us exhilarated and chomping at the bit. All mapped out resolutely, whether pen in hand or fingertips firmly on keyboard, with all the bright-eyed and buoyant intention a new year brings.
I, for one, am not immune to this dewy feeling of slate-wiped-cleanliness. And no matter how many resolutions I have hoodwinked in the past, I still like to set out, sails a-flutter, with what I'd like to do this year carried jauntily on my sleeve Maid Agency.
Live Simply
Minimize. Avoid waste. Focus on the things that are truly important to me and trim away the excess. Learn to say no. Consume less. Save. That's not to say I won't treat myself to little luxuries…but they will be luxuries I can comfortably afford and that are truly, 100% appreciated by me. And also, it must be said, organize! De-clutter this flat and our lives.
Live More
Do more. Experience more. Laugh more. Open my eyes. Put myself in new situations that may make me extremely nervous. Say yes more (seems to contradict with the statement above but it really doesn't – it's all about mindfulness of choice). Live on purpose. Meet more people. Engage. Travel (even if it's just to the next city). Make memories. Be in the now.
Be Grateful
Every day. Be conscious of it. Record it. Share it. It's amazing how being thankful can make you feel like you are twice blessed…once for the blessing and then again for the happiness of realizing it is a blessing. Nip negative thoughts and comparisons at the bud. Focus on all the amazing positives that abound!
Be Fabulous
Can you live simply and be fabulous? Absolutely! Fabulous is in the way you live, the way you are, not in the things you have. Other people like to refer to this as "awesome", but I prefer fabulous. Under this would fall being kinder to my body. No, you won't be seeing trendy eating regimes and fancy exercise routines here. I don't think you ever will, truth be told. But I will be less reckless about my health. I will also be looking for ways to move more (I think my old ticker needs and deserves it) that do not involve the gym or sports or special outfits. Also, I may finally be wearing makeup this year. And perhaps moisturizer (with sunscreen). At 39 years of age, I think it's about time. Suggestions are welcome! But most of all, being fabulous means feeling fabulous and making others feel that way too tube amp.
And, as always, there will be cooking…and eating.
Bamboo Clams Asian-Style
1 kilo bamboo/razor clams
2 tablespoons canola oil, or any mildly flavored vegetable oil
6 cloves garlic, peeled and finely chopped
2 red onions, peeled and sliced
1 thumb-sized piece of ginger, peeled and sliced
1 tablespoon hoisin sauce
2 tablespoons soy sauce
1 tablespoon mirin
1 tablespoon oyster sauce
1 tablespoon sesame oil
3 teaspoons honey
5 spring onions, sliced
1 bunch of cilantro, leaves picked
Optional: bird's eye chili or siling labuyo, or chili oil…if you like a little heat!
- Soak your clams in cool, clean water for a couple of hours (or more), changing the water 2-3 times until water is clear. Scrub any impurities off the shells.
- In a small bowl, mix together the hoisin, soy sauce, mirin, oyster sauce, sesame oil, honey, and chili (if using) until thoroughly combined. Set aside.
- Heat a large skillet on medium-high heat. When the pan is hot, add the oil, swirling to coat the bottom of the pan.
- Add the garlic, onions, and ginger to the pan and sauté until the onions are soft and translucent. Add the clams to the pan and toss until coated in all the garlicky, gingery oil and soft onions. Add the sauce and toss until evenly distributed amongst the clams. Cover the pan and cook until the clams have opened up. This won't take long…under 5 minutes most likely.
- When the clams are done, take the pan of the heat, strew with the spring onions and cilantro, toss, and serve immediately nuhart .
These shellfish have nothing to do with New Years resolutions but I'll share them anyway because they're delicious. I think these are referred to as razor clams but my mother calls them bamboo clams, and since I like bamboo better than razors, so will I. The juices here are fantastic spooned over some warm rice. This is an easy, light dish with a lot of flavor…as with many Asian, or Asian-style, dishes. Something to start the New Year on a vibrant note!


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SRI is a new W3C specification that allows web developers to ensure that resources hosted on third-party servers have not been tampered with. Use of SRI is recommended as a best-practice, whenever libraries are loaded from a third-party source.
Learn more about how to use subresource integrity on MDN.
TLS ensures that the connection between the browser and the server is secure. The resource itself may still be modified server-side by an attacker to include malicious content, yet still be served with a valid TLS certificate. SRI, on the other hand, guarantees that a resource hasn't changed since it was hashed by a web author.
Use the generator above or the following shell command:
openssl dgst -sha384 -binary FILENAME.js | openssl base64 -A
Check out SRI on caniuse.com to see specific browser version support information.
To fully test your browser for subresource integrity support, please open this page.
Your browser supports SRI
Your browser does not support SRI


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Monthly Archives: February 2014
Young Drivers Of Canada
So it's my birthday today and I got thinking about my driver training I received when I turned 16.
- Look ahead
- Look where you want to go
- Shoulder check and mirror check
- Drive, according to the weather conditions
- Anticipate problems and have room to react
Still no accidents and I can attribute this to my excellent driver training.
We can apply this same train of thought to successful businesses and how to avoid pitfalls or failure. Look ahead, anticipate problems and deal with them before they become problems.
Evaluate your business, look ahead, where do you want to go?
Morale, also known as esprit de corps when discussing the morale of a group, is an intangible term used to describe the capacity of people to maintain belief in an institution or a goal.
Right from the start of every military career, esprit de corps is taught to young recruits as an essential part of being in the military. It is the "Glue" that keeps a unit together, ready for whatever challenge may arise.
Being posted to a warship I know how true this really is, for example, when a ship has a high morale thing are good; the food is great, everybody is rested and feeling energized.. smiles.. jokes and high fives all around. Nothing can stop us!
On the flip side, when the morale is low it can be like a jail with no escape. People are upset, frustrated and even emotionally damaged. You just don't want to be there anymore, but you don't really have a choice because you can't just get off a ship in the middle of the ocean.
Interestingly enough, the Captain of the ship and how he treats the crew, is the sole reason for good or bad morale.
"One With The Strength Of Many"
Psychosocial Hazard?
When we think of hazards at work, we generally think of physical hazards like: pinch points, nip points, trip hazards and guarding issues.
Psychosocial hazards are just as real as physical hazards at work, and in some cases, if not recognized and controlled they can have a very negative impact on your bottom line.
Many studies have been done on psychosocial hazards, and the impact on the workplace. Dr. Martin Shain and Health Canada have put out a recent study called Best Advice on Risk Management in the Workplace. It simply states that workers with a high demand for production and little or no control, and, or, high effort/low reward are at risk of being frustrated, angry, and stressed, which can contribute to aggressive behavior, sabotage, poor physical and mental health and a general lack of safety. These negative feelings can be multiplied two to three times if the employee perceives the employer as being unfair.
We can come up with many situations that exemplify this research, such as the example of a good marriage. When you ask two people who have been married for a long time "what helped them stay together"; they always say the same thing… "it is a relationship of give and take" which means the effort/reward system is good. On the other hand, ask a divorced couple to highlight the reasons why they got divorced and the answer is mostly…"I gave so much and got nothing in return", Which means the effort/reward system has failed and so has their relationship.
Oddly enough, the marriage scenario is most like our workplaces. The relationship between employer/employee both have basic needs that have to be met to feel good about the working relationship.
Recognizing that psychosocial hazards exist is the first step in a process set up to control them, and controlling them can put you in Canada's top 100 employers list where the effort/reward system is working; and it is the main reason why they are considered Top Employers!
How to Keep Workers Happy [Infographic]
How to Keep Workers Happy [Infographic].
"The Right to Refuse"
We here in Canada have some great laws that protect the worker's safety, however, they're widely unknown and unused.
The most unused law is the right to refuse unsafe work. It's probably the most powerful and important "right" workers have, yet it goes unused. Just think of all the deaths and accidents that could have been prevented if they had used that right.
Every person I hire starts their fist day with me. We go through training videos, have a safety tour of the plant at which time I show them all the does and don't s and what to watch for. I also explain in detail the right to refuse unsafe work and I encourage them to use it. By doing this I give them the knowledge and tools to stay safe and go home at the end of each shift.
5 Ways CEOs Can Keep Employees Happy | CEO.com
5 Ways CEOs Can Keep Employees Happy | CEO.com.


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In my post yesterday on being late to class I mentioned I had to give a presentation for school. The topic I was assigned to discuss was children diagnosed with malignant cancer. I was supposed to address specific issues or concerns teachers might face or at least need to be aware of while instructing said students.
At the end of my presentation I asked the class if anyone was a cancer survivor. One man, Matt (not his real name) raised his hand. I asked Matt if he had any special advice for the rest of the class on how we could appropriately interact with people who had cancer. Matt then took the floor for a few minutes and held everyone spellbound. It definitely brought some life to my boring presentation and woke everyone up.
In case you're curious, one thing Matt said we should do was to just listen and empathize instead of launching into personal stories we may know of others who had cancer. He said that hearing second hand stories of other cancer patients never helped him feel better. In fact, Matt said when people would do that it made him feel like they considered themselves a cancer expert (because of the stories they knew) when in reality he didn't feel like they understood what he was going through at all.
Matt pointed out too that all cancer stories have one of two endings: Either the person survived or died. In his opinion neither outcome was very comforting and here's why:
Obviously the stories where the patient died was not very comforting. But the survivor stories weren't comforting to him either because he felt they implied the individual who survived was especially tough or somehow super human. And Matt said (I'm paraphrasing) he didn't feel that tough or super human while going through cancer treatments. And wouldn't that imply he might not make it?
It seems to me that a lot of being "Christ-like" is true humility, thinking about others, putting ourselves last, genuinely caring, and keeping our mouths shut. (All things I don't do well!)
I love what C.S. Lewis had to say about humble people in his book Mere Christianity:
"Do not imagine that if you meet a really humble man he will be what most people call "humble" nowadays: he will not be a sort of greasy, smarmy person, who is always telling you that, of course, he is nobody. Probably all you will think about him is that he seemed a cheerful, intelligent chap who took a real interest in what you said to him. If you do dislike him it will be because you feel a little envious of anyone who seems to enjoy life so easily. He will not be thinking about humility: he will not be thinking about himself at all."


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How to Pick Your Father-Daughter Dance Song
Picking THE song for your father-daughter dance can be a real head-scratcher. There are a lot of feels in the air that day. So do you go sentimental? Or do keep things fun and upbeat? We get it, it's a difficult decision. So here are a few tips to help guide your song search. Step one: Pick your mood. Make this a joint decision with you dear old dad. Would you both rather jump around and get silly? Or would you like to keep it elegant and nostalgic? Settling on this will help narrow down your song options out there. Read More


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In Vogue Studios does fast, reliable and high quality service work and Michael makes sure our deadlines are always met at competitive prices.
The printing looks great and the turnaround time is very quick.Yael Langman
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Brand Colorist at Lilly Pulitzer
At Fossil, In Vogue is our go-to provider for all of our digital printing needs. Their attention to detail and unbelievable speed bring us quality, consistent results exactly when we need them. Laurel and her team provide some of the best customer service I've experienced- they will make sure you are 100% happy with your order every time. I cannot say enough good things, we love working with In Vogue.Emily L. Robinson
Fossil Brand Team | Associate Textile Designer
To Whom it May Concern:Diane Piedmont
This is to confirm that Revman International, Inc. has been working with In Vogue Studios for many years as our primary resource for outsourced design work to supplement our in-house capabilities.
Whether it is developing a unique design from an original reference inspiration, creating a repeat, or developing colorways, our designers have always found them to be talented, reliable, and able to meet deadlines. We also rely on them to provide CAD printed fabric samples when needed to mock something up for presentation.
Their artists are equally capable of drawing and painting as well as CAD which assures that they can handle the full scope of design needs and we work with a wonderful account rep who has a design and styling background himself which facilitates the design direction and communication flow with the studio, insuring a good result in the shortest time possible.
VP of Creative Services
As a long time veteran in the fashion industry I can honestly say In Vogue Studios is by far one of the best.Joseph Marino


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Bill would bring universal background checks on gun sales. Cue the backlash.
Sen. Ron Latz (DFL-St. Louis Park) and Rep. Dan Schoen (DFL-Cottage Grove) introduced a new gun bill Thursday morning in a room packed full of cops, advocates from Moms Demand Action and Everytown for Gun Safety, and their cooing babies.
Standing in the back of the crowd were the tearful family members of murder victims who had been gunned down in recent memory: Rachael Joseph, whose aunt was killed in Hennepin County court, as well as Pastor Rolf Olsen, whose daughter was lured to her death by a killer who'd posted a babysitter ad on Craigslist.
The bill is simple and straightforward: background checks on all gun sales.
Currently, all licensed gun dealers in Minnesota have to conduct background checks, but private sellers don't. They can sell guns from a booth at a gun show, via an ad posted on Armslist.com, or out of the back of a van in a McDonald's parking lot — without having to check if the buyer is legally allowed to have firearms.
According to a Star Tribune poll, 82 percent of Minnesotans want to fix this private sale loophole. Nationally, about 74 percent of NRA members even agree.
As if to intercept the inevitable tide of fear-mongering from gun lobbyists, Latz introduced his proposal by rattling off a list of all the things that this bill wouldn't do. It won't create a registry of guns, which is illegal at the federal level. It won't take away anybody's guns, which are protected under the Constitution. It won't restrict the kinds of guns that people can purchase.
Maplewood Police Chief Paul Schnell, a gun owner, spoke in support of universal background checks. He said his department processes hundreds of free permit-to-purchase applications from Maplewood residents every day. Most sail through without a hiccup, but every year background checks disqualify a small number of people who can't have guns because of a felony conviction, a domestic violence protection order, or a mental health court order.
Not long ago, Schnell's officers were called about a drunk and suicidal man with a gun. His family, who feared he was a danger to them and others, asked police to confiscate his gun until he could complete his treatment. The very next day, the man asked cops for his gun back. There was little they could do, since the man hadn't been court-ordered to commitment in a hospital.
Mike Goldstein of the Plymouth Police Department recalled the recent murder of 28-year-old Trisha Nelson, who was shot and killed by her fiancé in a busy Plymouth intersection. The fiancé, Corey Perry, shot a police officer in the ensuing standoff before taking his own life. He was not legally allowed to own a gun because he had been convicted of making terroristic threats in 2014.
"This tragedy is just one example of how this change in law might prevent a dangerous individual from purchasing a firearm," Goldstein said. "Is it a cure-all? No, but it is a prudent attempt to fix the existing loopholes. I clearly understand the sensitivity that surrounds any conversation around firearms, just as I firmly support the Second Amendment for law-abiding individuals."
"We have to do something because what we're currently doing isn't working," he said.
At the same time that Latz and Schoen introduced their bill, the Minnesota Gun Owners Caucus launched the predictable shrieking in opposition.
"Senator Latz and Representative Schoen have unveiled a gun control bill that is being portrayed as a comprehensive gun safety measure. In fact, this bill is nothing more than a gun owner registration bill, requiring law-abiding citizens to submit government paperwork for any purchase or transfer of a firearm," said executive director Bryan Strawser.
Legally, that paperwork is only available to cops investigating individual gun crimes, and only if they can locate the gun to begin with.
Schoen says that the bill isn't guaranteed support from Republican leadership. Rep. Tony Cornish (R-Vernon Center), chairman of the Public Safety and Crime Prevention Committee, is a noted skeptic of gun control proposals. At the same time, Cornish supported Latz and Schoen's 2014 bill to keep guns out of the hands of domestic abusers.
"You can't lose faith that there's an opportunity for people to see the wisdom in doing the right thing," Schoen says. "Rep. Cornish and I actually have a really good working relationship on many issues. He has what he puts out in public, and we all know where that's at. We have to convince legislators that their citizens will send them back to the state Capitol and they won't be targeted because of their vote, that the outside interests' money shouldn't be the issue."


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The Reading Jeremiah 4:11-12, 22-28
In the late sixth century before Christ, the reformer king Josiah, who had begun to lead Israel back to a right relationship with God, died in battle. He was succeeded by sons who failed to follow his example, under whom God's chosen people continued breaking God's law in letter and spirit. Today's prophecy from Jeremiah is vivid and, for those of us who know drought, earthquake, and wildfire, horrifyingly familiar in our own time.
The Response Psalm 14
"Every one has proved faithless; all alike have turned bad; there is none who does good; no, not one."
The Epistle 1 Timothy 1:12-17
The author of the letters to Timothy may or may not be the man we know as Saint Paul or the Apostle Paul—the letters were probably written a generation later—but this towering hero of early Christianity paints himself as having been the worst offender against God, to whom nevertheless God saw fit to extend mercy. There might just be hope for the rest of us.
The Gospel Luke 15:1-10
"'I tell you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.'"
Further thoughts
Among the themes of the epistle and gospel readings for Proper 19 is surely seeking and finding.
The gospel gives us God's determination to mount a search-and-rescue operation for the lost: sheep by sheep, coin by coin, sinner by sinner. Jesus' choice of exemplars is as striking as his choice of dinner companions: shepherds were stereotypically grimy, uncivilized losers, and ordinary women were outside the terms of the covenants. But shepherds and women are Jesus' chosen stand-ins for the seeking, finding, , rejoicing-in-the-lost God, and we the lost (or at least self-misplaced) can properly take comfort in the prospect of being both God's found and God's finders. Similarly, whether or not 1 Timothy was composed by the saint himself or (more probably) by a second-generation wannabe, this lesson is clear: if the likes of sinful Saul can be sought and found and straightened out by God, so can anyone else, including even me.
In the psalm and the Old Testament, however, the LORD is seeking but not finding the righteous—and in Jeremiah's prophecy, disaster is promised as a consequence. It will begin with the hot wind: farm folk in that part of the world would toss threshed grain in the air so the wind could blow away the chaff—but this wind will blow as though from the very mouth of Hell, and the quaking fields and black, birdless skies both cause and result from the absence of worthy grain. Hope is not altogether gone: in the psalm God will shield the afflicted, and even Jeremiah's exasperated Adonai adds, "yet I will not make a full end." But the people who ought to be leaders in righteousness are instead the source of affliction and wickedness.
This brings us back to Saint Paul, self-proclaimed foremost of sinners. Consider his sins, however: sins not of the body or of unclean hands, but sins of hardness of heart. In God's eyes, clearly, there are worse things than being a nobody; failing to "do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with your God," as Micah 6:8 resonantly puts it, is at the top of the list of those things.


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Like all U.S. employers, companies that operate call centers are required to adhere to the law. Unfortunately, many don't.
Call centers employ workers as customer service associates, support specialists, agents, and representatives to handle all sorts of incoming and outgoing telephone calls. Employees may be required to use computers and automatic phone-dialer software applications, and follow specific instructions and scripts that can change daily, yet many call centers make them perform certain tasks "off the clock." When this happens, those employers are breaking the law.
Compensation abuses in this industry are so prevalent that the U.S. Department of Labor's Wage & Hour Division issued an alert specifically condemning call centers for failing to pay workers for job-related activities performed before and after their shifts.
These often un-paid activities include:
- Starting the computer to download work instructions
- Booting up computer applications
- Shutting down a computer and other systems
- Reading work-related emails
These necessary activities can amount to 30 minutes or more of overtime each day,time for which workers are often not paid.
The attorneys in Sommers Schwartz's Employment Litigation Group have fought for call center employees across the country to recover unpaid wages and overtime pay. If you have worked as a call center agent or representative and believe that an employer withheld your compensation unlawfully, please contact us today – you only have a limited amount of time to pursue your rights!