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How to deal with the crucial policy issue of the 2005 election, that of Lax Sexual Practices has been put by this blog to the main political parties.
Remember – we talk to these people so you don't have to.
All are taking it very seriously now we've got this silly tax stuff out of the way, and broadly speaking, the approach reflects the political philosophy of the parties involved.
Those on the Left view Lax Sexual Practices as an unfortunate legacy of the 1990s which needs to be addressed by government action and truckloads of lecturing, finger wagging and general guilt.
Those on the Right say such practices should be left to the invisible hand and trickle down; and, by the way, the party is at their place.
New Zealand First demanded to know who was asking, and why, and whether the other parties were being asked about their preferences as regards Lax Sexual Practices. It says the most lax are immigrants and journalists who print scurrilous stories without a skerrick of evidence: the least lax are decent hard working New Zealanders over about 60.
United Future is looking for a Sexual Practices Party to merge with. There must be one somewhere.
The Maori Party believe Sexual Practices are protected by Article III of the Treaty, which covers taonga, or nappies, and that any laxness is due to colonisation.
The Greens are against Lax Sexual Practices as they might lead to free trade. Sue Kedgely is to be in charge of lecturing us on which foods contribute to Lax Sexual Practices.
Act, meanwhile, says any problems there are with Lax Sexual Practices are entirely up to the individual, and in any case will be cured by a tax cut. And a deal with National in Epsom. Real soon. Please.
Labour will set up a Task Force on Lax Sexual Practices which will then recommend a strategy which will be implemented in a whole of government fashion. It will be included in the Growth and Innovation Strategy. Probably a one-stop-shop will be involved. It will deliver this strategy through targeted relief aiming at families and spend billions on it, but in a non-inflationary way.
National is going to have a policy on Lax Sexual Practices but it doesn't want to shout it as there are women involved.


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Subscriber Retention Management™
SRM™ : Create life-long relationships with your subscribers
Using our experience with 250+ broadcasters, the Cleeng team ensures that you see the turning points in your subscribers' journeys. Our SRM stack integrates with every step, from authentication to billing to engagement.,
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subset: commoncrawl


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If you take a boat from Venice out into the lagoon, this vast watery expanse of mud flats, islands and channels stretches as far as the eye can see. This is the realm of legends and dreams.
Navigation of the lagoon is tricky, the water is shallow and you have to follow the marked channels. Over the centuries 'briccole' or wooden piles driven into the sandy sediment of the lagoon bed have guided boatmen safely across the water. Every Venetian knows that you have to follow the markers, if you don't then the risk of running aground is high. The early settlers used flat-bottomed boats or skiffs to get around, either pushed with a pole, like a punt, or fitted with a small sail. The combination of mud banks, shallow water and reeds make this a perfect habitat for all types of birds. Hemingway loved to hunt duck, in the remote corners of the lagoon.
Perhaps the most atmospheric island in the lagoon is Torcello. Located close to the northern shores, Torcello once had a population of about 20,000 people. Today less than 100 live on the island, in fact it might be less than fifty. The island has an abandoned almost ghostly feel. On a cool autumn morning, with the dew thick on the ground, a labyrinth of spiders' webs criss-crossed the pathway. The delicate filaments still in tact, heavily loaded with water droplets and completely undisturbed by visitors. A painted sign on the wall says 'Ponte del Diavolo' which means Devil's Bridge. My imagination cruises into third gear, the journey has just begun. I'll come back to this legend last.
Torcello was the first island in the lagoon to be inhabited by mainland folks after the fall of the Roman Empire. The story goes that Roman citizens fled their burning, ransacked towns as Barbarian hordes, including Attila the Hun, arrived from the east. They found safety in the watery wastes of the lagoon. This is actually not totally true. Torcello was almost certainly a port for the thriving Roman town of Altinum. Recent archaeological work has revealed evidence of channels and canals linking the town of Altinum and the island of Torcello. In all probability Torcello was a 'transhipment' point for goods leaving Altinum and being shipped to other parts of the Roman Empire.
Torcello – Legend Number Two
The stone chair or throne that now sits in the grassy, overgrown piazza of Torcello was allegedly the throne of Attila the Hun. Attila was a tribal chief famous for his brutality and aggressive military campaigns. There is no evidence to support the story that Attila ever visited Torcello or sat on this throne. However this doesn't deter the hordes of Italian school children who come to Torcello on school trips and take it in turns to sit on the throne and take a selfie.
Torcello – Legend Number Three
The beautiful and elegant 'Locanda Cipriani' is a traditional inn that was opened by Giuseppe Cipriani in 1934. Still run by the same family the 'Locanda' has looked after countless celebrities, politicians, film stars and artists over the years. It is famed for its beautiful gardens, fabulous food and a delightfully discreet ambiance. There are a few bedrooms above the restaurant. Ernest Hemingway stayed here in 1948 and wrote his novel 'Across the river and into the trees' during his month long residence. He found the peace and tranquility of the island ideal for writing. He had a particular chair by the open fire and a bottle of his very own 'liquor' behind the bar. Just outside the inn there is a small canal, with moorings for boats. Hemingway's boatman would wait here for the writer to emerge for his daily duck hunting excursions. All of this is true.
The 'locanda' has entertained the rich and famous for decades. Charlie Chaplin, The Queen, Margaret Thatcher, Prince Charles and Lady Diana, Maria Callas and Paul Newman have all visited. During the Venice Film Festival there's a stream of sleek water taxis waiting for the latest Hollywood stars to finish their lunch. There's even a small water colour hanging on the wall that was done by Winston Churchill during a visit in the 1950s!! I wonder if Giuseppe Cipriani realised that he was creating a legend when he bought the old inn back in the 30s. In recent years the 'locanda' has hosted some wonderful weddings – I've included a short video produced by Locanda Cipriani at the end of this article. It captures beautifully the charm and tranquility of the island of Torcello and its idyllic garden setting…………….
Whenever I come to this island I am enchanted, captivated even, by its sense of history. I follow the red brick road from the jetty towards the piazza, like Dorothy in 'The Wizard of Oz' and each time I see a rather strange sign painted on the wall. The sign says`Ponte del Diavolo'. It's Legend Number Four on my list.
Why did the 'Ponte del Diavolo' or 'Bridge of the Devil' get its rather scary name? Firstly I have to explain a little background. For almost one thousand years Venice was an independent city state known as The Republic of Venice. During this period the Venetians dominated trade in the eastern Mediterranean. The Venetians were proud, resilient and fiercely independent people. Then in 1797 their long history of independence came to a brutal end when the Austrians invaded Northern Italy as part of Napoleon's campaign to control the Italian peninsula. The Austrians seized Venice and that was the end of the Venetian Republic. The Venetians were furious, broken-hearted and bereft.
Legend has it that a young Venetian girl fell in love with an Austrian soldier. Her family decided this romance could not, under any circumstances, be allowed to continue. The young girl was sent far away from Venice. Shortly afterwards the Austrian boy was assassinated, by an 'unknown hand'. On hearing of his death the girl was allowed back to Venice. But her grief was so great that she refused to eat and fearing her death the family sought advice from a local wise woman (or witch). The witch came up with a plan. She suggested a meeting with the devil on the bridge at Torcello, at night, away from prying eyes. The young girl agreed and made her way to the bridge, which she climbed. She had a candle to guide her, and a gold coin in her hand. As soon as the devil saw her climbing the bridge, he spat out the 'key of time' thus releasing the Austrian boy from his deathly fate. In his greed the devil grabbed the gold coin. As the girl reached the top of the bridge, out of the darkness emerged her young lover walking towards her. Just as they were reunited at the top of the bridge, a gust of wind blew out the candle, and the two were lost in the darkness. Reunited and gone forever.
However the witch had promised the devil, a pure young soul, every year at Christmas, in exchange for the Austrian soldier. She didn't carry out her part of the bargain and it is said that every Christmas Eve the devil appears at the bridge, in the form of a black cat, waiting to receive his payment. It's hard to know if Legend Number Four is true or not. It's got all the typical hallmarks of a European folk tale. Good and evil, dark and light, greed, romance and hope. Star-crossed lovers, a romance that cannot be. It's all so familiar. In fact just about the same time this story was being concocted (1790s), the Brothers Grimm travelled through Germany writing down traditional stories and folklore that had been passed from father to son and mother to daughter as fireside tales. Their compilation of stories has become the definitive collection of children's tales which we all know and love.
In a funny sort of way it doesn't really matter whether these stories and legends are true or not. What matters is our engagement with a place. If a story captures our imagination and enables us to understand a little more about the past then that is a good thing. Next time I am on the island of Torcello, I'll definitely be taking special notice of the Ponte del Diavolo – who knows I might even see the black cat!
Just a few steps beyond the Ponte del Diavolo is the seductive terrace of Locanda Cipriani, ideal for a perfect coffee. I always used to enjoy a quick peep at the small water colour painted by Winston Churchill hanging just inside the restaurant door. One day I'll have lunch in this hallowed place. Until now the pull of 'Da Romano' a fish restaurant on neighbouring Burano has been too strong. However, it's time to visit the Basilica and to gaze at a truly spectacular medieval mosaic.
The medieval cathedral – a stone reality – not a legend
Less than five minutes further along the path is the Church of Santa Maria Assunta and the older romanesque church of Santa Fosca. Stepping inside the Church of Santa Maria is quite surprising. Externally the church is built of brick, it is unadorned and very simple. When I walk through the huge wooden doors into the apse I'm confronted by an enormous 'Last Judgement' mosaic that covers the back wall of the church. Created in the Byzantine style from the 11th century onwards, thousands of tiny 'tesserae' pieces of glass make up this vast, sparkling picture. The mosaic is very graphic. Christ sits in judgement, deciding who should go to heaven and who should go to hell. Individuals are being assigned an eternity in paradise or alternatively an eternity in hell. On the left hand side of the mosaic there are beautiful people, wandering around in a verdant garden. It is all sweetness and light. Blue, green and gold soothes the eye. The colours are restful and serene.
On the right hand side of the mosaic there is hell, drenched with blood red flames, contorted bodies, tortured figures and dismembered limbs. Worms crawl through eye sockets, hopeless souls stand submerged to the waist in red-hot blazing pyres. The message is crystal clear for the church-goers of the Middle Ages, live a good life and go to heaven. Live a mean, evil, greedy, sinful life and go to hell. The graphic and powerful nature of the mosaic always leaves me transfixed. I sit gazing at the tortured souls and the vibrant red and gold colours for what seems to be an eternity. When my kids were little and we came to Venice 'en famille' we always used to have a day out on the lagoon and Torcello was included. William, my second son, in particular was fascinated by the skulls and snakes in the 'inferno' part of the mosaic at the bottom right hand corner. The idea that evil people would finish their lives in hell, in a dismembered state, with worms crawling through skulls and broken bones littering a burning cavern is a powerful message to deliver to the living.
Torcello is a delightful confection of the real and the imagined. A combination of Roman history, medieval churches and Byzantine mosaics. A place of exceptional peace and quiet. An isolated settlement in the Venetian lagoon, that in many ways was the fore-runner to the City of Venice. A place that has inspired visitors including Hemingway and Churchill. A place rich in legend, history and folklore. A place where a black cat frequents the 'Ponte del Diavolo' each Christmas season. A warning to us all that you never know when you might run into an evil spirit and what the consequences of such a meeting might be.
- To read more about Locanda Cipriani's fascinating history – visit their beautiful and interesting web site: https://www.locandacipriani.com/
- I'd strongly recommend reading Hemingway's novel 'Across the river and into the trees' written whilst he stayed at Locanda Cipriani in November 1948. The novel conveys the atmosphere and ambiance of the lagoon in the cold winter months.
- For a little more on Hemingway – here's a short article I wrote: https://wp.me/p5eFNn-3ns
- For more on the Venetian Lagoon may I suggest an article I wrote a year or so ago about this unique and fascinating wetland: Venice – A day on the lagoon in Venice
- I'd also suggest a visit to neighbouring Burano especially Olga's Lace Shop! One of my favourites: Burano,Venice, Italy – The kindness of women
- For unique, tailor-made travel to Italy www.grand-tourist.com offers a bespoke travel service, planning itineraries and delivering a highly personal service.
- I couldn't resist sharing a really good and informative food blog about Locanda Cipriani. Particularly the photo of 'cannochie' a type of Venetian crayfish. They are absolutely delicious. Elizabeth Minchilli's blog on the food at Locanda Cipriani, Torcello
- 08-06-2018
- 15-10-2019
Happy Reading – I'll be visiting Torcello next week and will be back with an update.


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FTJ Meets Keni Thomas
Posted on Friday, May 16th, 2014 at 4:22 pm by Renai
" Use gifts you have been given. Do what feeds your spirit, because when you do, the world around you becomes a better place. And you have made a difference."
Those are the words of Keni Thomas, country music star, author and former U.S. Army Ranger involved in the mission to find and capture an elusive criminal warlord-- Mohammed Farrah Aideed-- in Mogadishu, Somalia in 1993. This 18-hour fire-fight was later recounted in the highly successful book and movie Blackhawk Down.
Keni uses his experience to convey the message that any effective team is dependent on each and evry individual, and each member plays a crucial role in the team's success.
Thomas was the key note speaker at the General Session of the heavily attended conference of the Independent Jewelers Organization (IJO), held recently in Chicago, IL. He made himself available for personal photos with IJO members after his presentation.
"Keni was a really powerful speaker", sai Renai Keairns, "who captivated us with his story of extraordinary individuals and how they fought to bring eachother home. He truely inspires people to achieve greatness by stressing the importance of outstanding leadership at every level, even if the only person you are leading is yourself."
"When we previewed Keni as a potential speaker i knew immediately he would have a huge impact on our members," stated IJO president and CEO Jeff Roberts. "All of us at IJO were so excited and so proud to have him with us."
Vince and Renai Keairns are from Fort Thomas Jewelers in Highland Heights and is the areas exclusive IJO member. IJO holds semi-annual conferences offering advanced education to it's members as well as buying oppertunities a store would not have outside of the group.


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Kremlin AAA Spray Pump Is Skip Spraying10/14
Hi, I've got a Kremlin 20:25 AAA spray pump that is skip spraying. Guys sometimes call it "winking". If I'm not mistaken, it does it every time the piston starts to stroke downward. Every time I hear the piston change direction and start downward, the finish coming out of the gun will stall for just a quick second. It is definitely aggravating when you are spraying a large cabinet. Do you guys know what I need to do to fix it? I would appreciate any help. Thanks in advance.
Your pump would be skipping a stoke if you have a stuck ball.
take the bottom foot valve off and clean it out.
did it just start doing it , winking or did it just coming up
two things, like bob said, clean out the bottom ball check, take your time removing the clip that holds it in, it can be a pia
herb j
Thanks guys. I appreciate your advice. I took the lower part of the pump off and took the lower ball out. I checked everything and everything seemed to be fine and was totally clean. I ended up taking the pump to my local repair shop this afternoon. It turns out that there was a small crack in a plastic air fitting. It was a 90° fitting that came on the pump from the factory. The repairman said that he had seen that happen before. I guess it was sucking air through that crack in the fitting as it cycled. If anyone else has this problem, you might want to check your air fittings. It was a fitting on the right side, as you face the pump. Thanks again, guys.
thanks for letting us know very interesting learn something new every day
You are welcome. Hopefully, that information will help some other folks.


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Make or do?
Make and do can be a problem for many students because there are not specific rules that helps us decide which to use in every situtation. Most of the time we have to just learn when to use make and when to use do. However, there are some rules that might help you learn some of the expressions… Test yourself at the end with our Quick Quiz on make/do.
Make and do: MAKE
1: Used to describe something that we can create or produce
The table is made of wood.
The toys were made in China.
Wine is made from grapes.
He wants a wedding ring made of platinum not gold.
2: Used to describe food/drinks
Make breakfast, lunch, brunch, dinner, tea, coffee, a cake, a sandwich, a salad, a roast dinner etc.
I don't feel like making dinner tonight. Shall we eat out?
I'm going to make a cup of tea. Would you like one?
I don't normally make breakfast for the family now. The kids are old enough to make their own.
I've bought some rum. I thought we could make some cocktails for the party.
3: Used to describe sounds/noises/verbal language
Make a speech, noise, comment, sound, comment, promise, suggestion,
I've got to make a speech next week about the history of Linguistics.
Shhh, don't make a noise. The baby is asleep.
He told the journalist he didn't want to make a comment on the situation.
4: Used to describe reactions
Make someone cry, laugh, smile, happy, sad, angry etc
Make someone's eyes water
Make someone feel happy, sad, etc
I love that comedian. He always makes me laugh.
Thank you for the wonderful gift. You've made me so happy.
His behaviour at the party last night made everyone really angry.
Other words that go with 'make'
a bet
a call
a change
a choice
a complaint
a connection
a date
a decision
a demand
a difference
a discovery
a face (also 'pull a face' = to change your facial features to look different usually to show emotion)
a fool of yourself
a fortune
a friend
a fuss (to be unhappy or angry about something and complain)
a joke
a list
a living (to earn enough money to survive)
a loss
a mess
a mistake
a pass at someone (to show someone sexual/romantic interest)
a plan
a point
a prediction
a profit
a reservation
a scene (to show anger/emotions that make other people uncomfortable)
an appointment
an announcement
an attempt
an effort
an error
an escape
an exception
an excuse
an impression
an observation
an offer
amends (to do something good to show that you are sorry about something you have done)
fun of someone
someone rich
your bed (tidy your bed after you get up in the morning)
your mind up
Make and Do: DO
1: Used to describe work and tasks etc
Do the housework
Do homework
Do research
Do an exam
Do a report
Do the cleaning
I'm going to bed. I've got to do two exams tomorrow and I need a good nights' sleep.
I like to do my housework on a Friday so I can relax at the weekend.
Have you done that report on the sales figures?
2: Use 'do' to describe activities in general
I have a lot to do today so I can't stop to chat.
What can I do to help?
What are you doing this weekend?
3: We sometimes replace a verb with 'do' if the meaning is clear.
I'm going to do the dinner (instead of 'cook the dinner')
Have you done the living room? (instead of 'cleaned the living room')
I'm nearly ready. I just need to do my hair. (could mean wash, dry or brush)
Other words that go with 'do'.
a course
a crossword
a dance
a drawing
a favor / favour
a job
a painting
a project
a service
an assignment
right (the right thing)
the gardening
the ironing
the dishes
the rest
the shopping
the washing
your best
your hair
your homework
your job
your nails
your work
Thank you for reading the article 'make and do', why not try a quick quiz…


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In Tough Call, our TC Live panelists debate the toughest questions in tennis. Is Roger Federer or Rafael Nadal the GOAT? Who would win between 2007 Serena Williams and 2017 Serena Wiliams? On court coaching - yes or no? Tennis is a competitive, one on one sport. In Tough Call our experts debate - and our viewers decide who wins.
Debut Year of Show: 2017
Cast/Host: TC Live panelists (Martina Navratilova, Jim Courier, Mary Carillo, James Blake, Tracy Austin, Paul Annacone, Lindsay Davenport, Chanda Rubin, Mark Knowles, Jon Wertheim, Brett Haber)
Editorial Contributors: Tennis.com, Baseline and Tennischannel.com
Experts: Ed McGrogan, Brad Kallet, Nina Pantic, Steve Flink and Ashley Ndebele


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If you think your spouse is cheating, you might want to check Morton's Steakhouse.
Online dating service AshleyMadison.com, which connects married individuals looking to having an affair, found in a recent survey that chain restaurants are the top locations cheaters go to meet.
The website polled 42,890 of their users who admitted which restaurants they most often frequent with their lovers; Morton's Steakhouse topped the list, The Huffington Post reported.
"Steakhouses are always a popular affair destination since they're not only dimly lit but also commonly found in business districts, close to hotels where these types of dates typically end," said Ashley Madison Founder and CEO Noel Biderman.
Popular chain establishments including Chili's, P.F. Chang's, The Cheesecake Factory and Red Lobster also made the top 10. Biderman said chain restaurants are popular among the affair-driven crowd, stating that those polled said they prefer to bring their dates to locations that are located at least 20 miles away from home.
"Chain restaurants are larger and more conspicuous," said Biderman, telling The New York Post that small mom-and-pop restaurants are seemingly off-limits to cheaters.
Other restaurants that fell short of making the top 10 included Italian restaurant Cipriani, and upscale seafood joint Blue Fin in Times Square, N.Y., that Biderman said are also ideal places for working adults looking to congregate.
"You can put it on your credit card and not worry about your partner seeing that you went somewhere romantic like Per Se," he said.
AshleyMadison.com made its debut in 2002 and has since attracted more than 18 million users across 26 countries.
Top 10 Restaurants Cheaters Bring Their Dates AshleyMadison.com Results:
1. Morton's Steakhouse
2. Ruth's Chris
3. Houston's
4. P.F. Chang's
5. The Cheesecake Factory
6. Del Frisco's
7. Chili's
8. Outback Steakhouse
9. Red Lobsters
10. Fleming's


text:
Test strictly before shipment phone parts for lg nexus 5 lcd screen replacement
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Before your installation, please check both appearance and function of the products, then install to the machine, any damages caused by un-professional installation is out of our responsibility.
If the products you received are defective or faulty, please let us know immediately.
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Welcome to contact me at any time for any question!


text:
Key Features / Performance Characterstics
- Series 806 is an innovative thermally broken aluminium CentreGLAZE™ framing system measuring 150mm x 60mm.
- Incorporating ThermalHEART™ technology, Series 806 delivers excellent thermal performance and is ideal for tall commercial frames where minimising heat or cold transfer is desired.
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- This insulating strip is manufactured from polyamide and delivers the same structural properties as aluminium to ensure the integrity of the system is maintained.
- Series 806 thermally broken CentreGLAZE™ framing has been designed specifically to accept 24mm Insulating Glass Units (IGUs).
- The 28mm deep glazing pocket is designed to accept thick heavy IGUs and allows glass to be installed easily with room to spare (catering for glass manufacturing and installation tolerances).
- This deep glazing pocket provides a 12mm bight as required by the IGU manufacturers and ensures compliance with glass warranties.
- Reinforced tall glazing bead at sill tolerates high negative wind loads.
- True captive glazing wedge on the outside reduces the chance of vandalism.
- Wet top (silicone) glazing option also available.
- Glazing wedges are recessed into the framing for a clean aesthetic appearance.
- Wide range of thermally broken sub-frames to cover most installations, including sub-sills with integrated nailing fin ideal for residential installations.
- Internal and external swing hinged door thresholds are also thermally broken.
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text:
- Home
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- Just for Kids
The mission of Gator Swim Club at Bosse Sports is to be an innovator in the avenue an athlete takes in pursuing excellence in the sport of swimming. With our collective resources and experiences, we seek to develop a long term all-inclusive, imaginative, energetic and progressive training environment that stands out as a brand for the well rounded development of swimmers striving for success at the High School, Collegiate, Local, National and/or International levels. Most of all the competitive swim team at Bosse Sports in Sudbury is fun!
For more information on trying out for the competitive swim team with Gators Swim Club at Bosse Sports please visit our Tryout Page


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news / blog
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The lnx page is done! That is to say, the php scripts are running and most of my most valuable links are stored there. However, this site is intended to change heavily, when I find new valuable sites. But well, unless you habe exactly the same interests as me, Google will most likely work better for you!
I went to visit a flat in Munich today for the first time for years. And it sucked. Not the flat as such, although it wasn't that nice, but all the stumbling through streets, not finding the right building, and hesitating to build up the courage to walk into foreign realms. Nah, will be more fun when my girlfriend and I do it together next week.
The PhotoPolis page is finished! It contains now complete information about getting PhotoPolis up and running! Also, I was amazed to realize that there are still webpages just discovering PhotoPolis and writing about them: Check the "press" section on the photopolis-page.
And to something complete different: I saw the movie "Zeitgeist" today. I thought, I would be immune against all these conspiration theories by now, but this movie really got me... Ok, they just showed the suspicious side of their themes - but hey, their argumentation was damn convincing. Now, I would like to see something like on youtube: a video-response! Time, anyone? I tried to check some facts of the movie myself, but didn't get far. Was "Horus" really a virgin-birth, too? Is there no law enforcing federal income tax in the united states? Could really use some answers right now, but - surprise!! - the web doesn't seem to contain any :/
My exams are done and went very well - much better than I expected, actually ... like always ;) This means I have now some time to recover and relax. Naturally, you would expect, I also have time to improve and complete this homepage. But since I do have time for everything, now, I will most likely not work on this page - it's just not the "forbidden fruit" anymore as it has been during the learning weeks :( I really wish, I had more motivation...
Well, at least you got a news entry about that, right?
Oh, and by the way, the PhotoPolis-page is nearly completed. You better like it!
Wohooo, now there is a 'change'-button under each news - I can now change news after they were added directly in the page via php :):) This is to cancel out typos and html-mistakes, not to change the semantics of what I've written - I know the netiquette for blogs!
If I continue like this, this page will someday be managed by a fullfledged content-management-system written by me ... that would really be fun ... hmmm ... I could do a little modelling ... NO gottalearn gottalearn gottalearn gottalearn
You just have to love these weird wired-articles, see here in an article about new slang evolving round the Apple's little audio-monster. My personal favourite:
There's a few sex-related terms. To say someone is an iPod in the pants means that person is under endowed, he is "small and white." Podfapping is watching pornography on a video iPod, or masturbating while doing so. "Podfapping is also known as iFapping or iFap, or podsterbating," the site says.
Now I can't wait to use "podsterbating" on some podaholics.
And now back to my whining: 5 days to my exams and I don't know SHIT. That's gonna be a problem!
The FourWins3D page is finished! Check it out and drop me a line, how you liked the the program and the page - if it worked that is. Have Phun!
YES, this is the second SQL-based news-entry and - *epicHeroicFanfare* - it was created through my very own interactive php-based AddNews-Form :) This is really fun - and took the better half of the day, although my exams are REALLY near already =_=
So, what's next? Will I learn or see what Perl can do ... hmm ...
This is the very first message that is read from the mySQL-database :) Sooo, now it's time to build a input-frame to actually add new content. Well, I hope that will be fun, too.
By the way: If someone wants to have write rights, too, just mail, skype or morse ... Then again, a comment-function would be fun - and then everybody could get limited write-rights.... hmmm, entdecke die Möglichkeiten :)
Woooh, I just found out, what Pearl and PHP can do and how to do it (well, the basics). Turns out, that this web-site is becoming rapidly a project of itself - instead of just a platform to brag about me and my m44d ski11z.
I never knew, how much work putting together a website is. I always thought "It's just a little layouting and writing. Something you do in a few hours." Goodie, I just proved ignorant again >_<. Now, I'm already the second day at it (although I should better learn for my exams) and most pages still lack content. But I'm not defeated that easily!
Launch entry. Nothing to say yet... Oh, wait: Welcome to my page ;)


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Between office parties, family gatherings, and glittering soirees, the holiday season can sometimes feel more like an Olympic marathon than a casual time to celebrate family and friends. And, just like the most elite of athletes, proper footwear can make or break your festive season. Good thing for us, there is no shortage of truly outstanding statement sparklers in the shops, and at price points for every budget.
Why invest in these crystal-encrusted beauties? For their versatility of course! Perfect for any occasion, these wardrobe MVPs work with every version of holiday dressing. Whether you're jazzing up a basic office look, adding just that little extra holiday cheer to a casual outfit, or finally creating the perfect OTT moment with an equally bejeweled dress that says, "I came to party," these glittering shoes are the ideal accessories of the holiday season. Don't believe us? Perhaps these shoes need to speak for themselves. Check out our complete round up below of the best holiday footwear around.
[metaslider id=244257]


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The Importance of a Counselor's Self Awareness Denise Eberhart
Client Rights and Confidentiality Sept 18, 2011 Instructor: Jerry Van Kirk Abstract
Counselors deal with wide diversity of cultures, religion, language, lifestyle, and values of people. In order to counsel effectively, a therapist must recognize his own value systems to have respect for human individuality and freedoms of choice. When a counselor assesses his own strengths and weakness, he can begin to positively assist the client in developing alternatives for problem solving. Who we are is a direct result of our strengths and weaknesses, our drives and personalities, our habits and values. Many of us are not inclined to spend time on self reflection. Even when personal feedback is presented to us, we are not always open to it because honest feedback is not always flattering. Self awareness can improve our judgment and help us identify opportunities for professional development and personal growth... "Counselors with well developed emotional self awareness are more effective intuitive decision makers. Intuitive qualities create a "gut feeling" or a "sense" of what is best. This can help guide in the counseling sessions for a more effective approach." (The role of Stress and Negative Emotions in Occupational Crisis, 2002).
How competent am I as a counselor? What are my strengths and weaknesses? The American Counseling Association (ACA) emphasizes the value of counselor self awareness in order to accurately appraise one' skills and boundaries of...


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No. 1 – Don't Get Married on a Saturday…in July
Around 80% of weddings held in the UK take place in 20% of the year – at weekends during the peak wedding season, which runs from April to September and includes Christmas. During this time, venues and suppliers are guaranteed to be busy and so don't need to discount their prices to draw in potential couples.
Taking advantage of the days and months when venues and suppliers are less busy is possibly the biggest saving you can make, as they will often be able to do significant discounts for weddings booked mid-week or during the off-season months, even if they aren't advertised.
So why not take advantage of the beautiful English Autumn and go for a gorgeous jewel-toned wedding in October, or make a week of it and get married on a Thursday? Family and friends will not mind taking the day off and your bank balance will love you too!
No. 2 – Take Your Time…or Consider a Last Minute Do
Most engagements last around 18 months. This sounds like a long time but arranging the perfect day takes plenty of research! As a result, many desirable venues and suppliers are booked one or two years in advance. By having a long engagement, you can spend time finding the best deals without the pressure, and once you find the perfect venue you can take advance of hire and supply prices before they increase.
Waiting longer also means that you can wait for discounts, sales and deals to come to you. How many times have you bought something only to get an e-mail the following week or month offering a discount on that exact item? With a long engagement you have time to wait for your favourite dress designer's sample sale, or for online stationery companies to release their discount codes.
On the other hand, consider a last minute wedding (less than nine months). Because most couples book their weddings a year to 18 months in advance, many wedding venues and suppliers will consider dates which are less than nine months away and not already booked as "dead". They are therefore more likely to offer you a discount or deal if you book your wedding on one of these last minute dates as receiving a discounted fee is better than having none at all.
No. 3 – Scrap the Traditional Sit-Down Meal
In the last few years we've seen a definite shift away from stiff, formal affairs towards more relaxed and informal settings, and so ditching the traditional wedding breakfast is a great way to save your cash. Instead of a three-course meal, why not opt for a food-truck style buffet where guests can help themselves to a variety of offerings such as freshly made stone-baked pizzas or pie and mash in customised boxes? You can even tie your choices into your theme or serve a signature cocktail instead of expensive Champagne.
Hog roasts and BBQs are also a great, popular choice and are significantly cheaper than traditional wedding menus. You can still set out tables for your guests to sit at, but allowing them to pull up a chair wherever they wish will create a more relaxed atmosphere and will save you money on seating charts and name places cards too!
No. 4 – Fake the Cake (or Do Without)
For 2016, the focus continues to shift away from elaborate and ornate wedding cakes which is good news for your budget as even outside of London, traditional tiered wedding cakes are expensive.
Many couples are opting for a small cake for a photo op as opposed to something which will feed their guests. If you do want a cake, one great trick is to find a baker who can make a fake, decorated cake with only the top (smallest) layer real for cutting. Then ask your baker to make a basic undecorated sheet cake which you can cut behind the scenes and to serve to your guests who will be none the wiser!
Alternatively, consider not having a cake at all – especially if you are planning to serve dessert. Dessert bars are becoming increasingly popular, and the most prevalent trend is the downsizing of desserts into individual portion sizes, presented in fun and unique ways – think cheesecake in jam jars! This means you can offer a wide variety of desserts while creating a beautiful and interactive display – no one is going to miss the wedding cake!
No. 5 – Seasonal, Abundant Foliage
Whether the style is rustic or elegant, we are seeing more and more brides wanting their floral design to be full with gorgeous masses of greenery and beautiful textures – something we couldn't be happier about! Tapping into this trend also represents a great way to save money, or at least make your money go further.
Firstly, pick seasonal choices. Locally grown and sourced blooms will be much cheaper than those which have come from half way across the continent. If you're getting married in September, ditch the peony dream and go for a beautiful bunch of deep, rich dahlias, or a delicate posy of gypsophila.
Secondly, speak to your florist about foliage, rather than flowers. You can still create that beautiful abundant look with leafy greens and could save hundreds. For 2016, bridal bouquets are larger and looser with a focus on texture and wildness, so it's a great time to opt for an on-trend all-green bouquet, or to make the most of trailing foliage as your table centrepieces.
No. 6 – Hire an Expert
Aaaaand finally! Hiring a wedding planner may seem like an unnecessary extravagance, but our expertise and connections could help you to save money in the long run.
If you've already booked your venue or don't need as much help with the choosing and hiring of vendors but still want someone to help with all the logistics of the day itself, hiring our on-the-day coordination service might be the way to go (if you'd like information about how hiring a planner could help you, have a look here).


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The future is in very safe hands. The students I met from Oldbawn Community School,Loreto High School Beaufort, Terenure College, Gaelscoil Choláiste An Phiarsaigh (Rathfarnham), Our Lady's ,Templeogue and Terenure College are a credit to themselves and their teachers and schools. I was delighted to get to meet the eventual winner, Shane Curran, a few hours before he new he had been selected as Young Scientist 2017.
Dublin South West
Fianna Fáil
Spokesperson on Dublin
Deputy Chief Whip
Member of Oireachtas Budgetary Oversight Committee


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Home > N.C. L. Rev. > Vol. 67 > No. 2 (1989)
North Carolina Law Review
Volume 67, Number 2 (1989)
Child Sexual Abuse and Statements for the Purpose of Medical Diagnosis or Treatment
Robert P. Mosteller
The Former Testimony Hearsay Exception: A Study in Rulemaking, Judicial Revisionism, and the Separation of Powers
Glen Weissenberger
The Bivens Constitutional Tort: An Unfulfilled Promise
Perry M. Rosen
Evening the Odds: The Case for Attorneys' Fee Awards for Administrative Resolution of Title VI and Title VII Disputes
Marjorie A. Silver


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The College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario recognizes that our health care system is changing; in order to better meet patient needs, health care has evolved such that delivery of care no longer takes place through exclusive domains of practice but through multidisciplinary teams. The creation of an Extended Class of Registered Nurses (nurse practitioners) is an example of how the roles of health professionals are changing and complementing one another.
We believe that collaborating with nurse practitioners advances the College's goal of working in partnership with other stakeholders to advocate for quality health care. Part of ensuring that the people of Ontario receive quality health care is improving access to this valuable resource and it is our belief that this partnership will contribute to this objective.
We are committed to fostering a collaborative relationship built on trust and mutual respect with our colleagues in the nursing profession and we look forward to working together in the interests of the people of Ontario.
Approved by Council: May 2003


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I know I'm bordering on the obsessive now, but I… I can't help myself… I found out about Horsley's latest bit of expert myth-making in the comments here and here, which have been attracting some search traffic over the past few days.
In a nutshell, Horsley has been turned back from the US border for being a fuckwit, and his PR machine has flown into rather flamboyant meltdown. Last night at the book's launch party, Horsley's publisher Carrie Kania wound up her speech by saying:
'Tropic of Cancer, Lolita, Catcher in the Rye, American Psycho: all of these books have been deemed dangerous by the authorities and unfit for the general public to read. The Sex Pistols, banned in 1978. Sebastian banned, 30 years later.'
What gall. What audacity. What offensive codswallop. Comparing Horsley to Miller, Nabokov and Salinger reminds me of Richard Littlejohn declaring that he was more complex than Tolstoy.
There is no denying however, that Horsley and his people are very good indeed at PR, and sly Horsley himself is just offensive enough to get himself turned away and talked about, but not offensive enough to get himself holed up in Guantanamo Bay with a matching fatwa.
Funny that.
Now let us never speak of him again.


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Free Trade and Other Things in Panama
The United States–Panama Trade Promotion Agreement came into force today. Ideally, trade agreements promote free trade by obligating each country involved to remove import barriers for goods coming from the other. This agreement does just that, and Cato's trade votes database counts a vote in favor of implementing the agreement as a vote opposing trade barriers. But the history of this agreement and the current lack of free trade momentum make it difficult to get very excited.
This agreement was signed over five years ago in June of 2007 but was not ratified by Congress until December 2011. Why did it take so long? In order to make the deal more palatable to certain interests, Congressional leaders and the Obama administration held up a vote until additional side agreements and assurances were made by Panama. These included a 2009 labor law that restricts the rights of nonunion workers in Panama, and a 2010 agreement that gives the U.S. government access to bank records of U.S. citizens in Panama. Even the original agreement contained contentious non‐trade obligations designed to further specific special interests; the last bits of implementing legislation that Panama enacted this fall were to expand its copyright laws and to provide patents for plants.
The agreement does lower barriers to trade in goods and services and open up government procurement markets in both countries, but the cost is sweetheart deals and handouts for Hollywood, U.S. agribusiness, and big labor. The fact that this agreement faced so many obstacles is a bad sign for the future of free trade agreements in the United States, especially considering that Panama's economy is roughly the size of North Dakota's. The obstacles that stalled and frustrated this agreement have very little to do with trade itself and will likely resurface in every free trade negotiation and implementation debate in the near future.
(Even if the goal is only export promotion, the U.S. government has better ways to do that than tinker with Panama's intellectual property rules. The long‐planned expansion of the Panama Canal will finish in 2014; if Congress seriously wants to promote trade, it could work to make sure U.S. ports are able to accommodate the New Panamax‐sized ships that will be traveling through.)
The United States signed 12 free trade agreements with 17 countries between 2000 and 2007, and none since. President Obama is working on the Trans‐Pacific Partnership which currently includes 10 other countries—but we already have agreements with all but four of them. Governor Romney has proposed signing more agreements with countries in Latin America, but there aren't a lot of countries left in that region that would be interested. A genuine free trade agreement with Brazil would be excellent, but it would likely require reform of U.S. agriculture subsidies—a tough sell requiring political courage and a commitment to trade liberalization.
The entry into force of an agreement with Panama today ironically marks a low point in the health of the free trade consensus. It is quite telling that free trade agreements are now called "trade promotion agreements" or merely "partnerships." The language of free trade is in desperate need of revival to ensure that these agreements do not become tools for exporters to pursue their special interests. Expanding exports, improving American innovation, and creating jobs should be touted as (some of) the benefits of free trade, not as the goals of managed trade policy. Free trade should be the only goal.


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Jobs in Anguilla
Anguilla economic system has lot of private owned enterprises and depends for more than 75% of energy requirements from import.The country encourages lot of investment. Anguilla's major export are motor vehicles home appliances, petrochemicals, chemicals,electricity.
It has prominence of export in commodities of fashion accessories,food industry.There are jobs in such sectors of various hierarchical levels. Jobs in beauty service,garment and textile, too have openings
Tourism too is a great boost to the economy.Jobs in hospitality related to catering etc are there for aspiring candidates. Besides there are jobs in other sectors also like teaching nursing,health services etc.
Placement Consultants in Anguilla
Job Categories
- Accounting
- Administrative
- Advertising
- Airline
- Architecture and Engineering
- Arts and Media
- Banking and Insurance
- BPO and KPO
- Business Management
- Content and Journalist
- Ecommerce
- Education
- Film Industry
- Government
- Hardware and Networking
- Homebased Jobs
- Hotel Industry
- Interior Design
- Marketing and Sales
- Nonprofit Sector
- Pharma
- Skilled Trade Craft
- Software
- Teaching
- Technical Support
- Webdesign and Development


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The Olympic Games bring together thousands of volunteer healthcare professionals
With the 2016 Summer Olympic Games about to kick off, the international sporting event is becoming more and more central in daily conversation. While competition is obvious among both athletes and spectators, the Games are ultimately about unity. Every two years (alternating between summer and winter), numerous countries — an impressive 204 in the 2012 Summer Olympics — put aside their political differences for 16 days to focus on their love of sports. The Games bring together athletes, national leaders, sports fans — and even healthcare professionals.
From August 5-21, an estimated 70,000 volunteers will gather in Rio de Janeiro, and approximately 5,000 of them will be healthcare professionals. These volunteers will be drawn from a wide range of fields, including nursing, first-aid, physiotherapy, massage therapy, pharmacy, dentistry, radiology, orthopedics, optometry and more.1
Crucial for Success
Although 5,000 healthcare volunteers may seem like a lot, they're crucial for the success of the Olympics: Of the 11,000 athletes who will compete in Rio, an estimated 10% will suffer an injury, and 7% will contract an illness.1-2 Indeed, with a large number of people comes a great variety of diseases. As Robert McCormack, medical director for the Canadian Olympic Committee at the 2012 Games in London, told the Canadian Medical Association, "The Olympics is where the viruses of the world come to meet."
However, the roles of volunteers from the healthcare industry will vary greatly. At the last Summer Olympics, many volunteers were placed in a polyclinic in the Olympic Village that offered primary care, sports medicine, physiotherapy, optometry, ophthalmology, dental care, medical imaging, podiatry and more.2 Others offered on-site support to specific teams' own medical support teams, or provided first aid to athletes.3-4
Although many of these volunteers will treat injuries, the bulk of the work performed by medical professionals at the Olympics is basic, primary care. Many athletes who don't have time for regular dentist visits due to their training schedule are able to briefly visit with a dentist in the Olympic Village. Further, athletes from countries with limited access to quality healthcare are able to meet with trained healthcare professionals who can offer them anything from physical therapy to contact lenses.2
Opportunity for Experience
While volunteer positions at Rio required applicants to have graduated or passed their professional qualifications by January 2016, according to the official website for the 2016 Summer Olympics, a great deal of professional experience isn't required. Rather, the Olympic Committee says, "This is a unique opportunity to enrich your CV, meet people from different cultural backgrounds and make new friends."5
Although professional experience was technically not mandatory, it may have been difficult to be accepted into the program without an impressive work history: Approximately 270,000 people applied to volunteer at the Olympics, and less than one-fifth were accepted.6
Even if someone is among the lucky number to be accepted, the journey to Rio still isn't simple. As Teresa Roe, RN, a soon-to-be volunteer at the 2016 Summer Olympics, told The Columbus Dispatch, the International Olympic Committee doesn't pay for volunteers' travel or accommodations. According to Roe, volunteers only receive a meal each day and a uniform — but the volunteers feel that the experience makes it all worthwhile.6
"It combines my passion for sports medicine, which is what I love to do every day, and a passion for traveling and experiencing new lands and cultures," Brian Krabak, MD, MBA, FACSM, told CNN.7
Different Paths
Not all healthcare volunteers come to the Olympics the same way. Jeff Goudreau, MD, FACP, started working with the U.S. Olympic Committee (USOC) 16 years ago, including roles at the Olympic Training Centers in San Diego and Colorado Springs. In Rio, he will serve as a physician for the men's and women's swimming and water polo events, overseeing all teams. Although he has worked with the committee for quite some time, he told ADVANCE that it wasn't a small feat to be offered his new supervisory position.
"I think I was accepted because of my 16-year experience with the USOC and my language skills," Goudreau said. During the application process, he was required to take language skills tests in Spanish, Italian, and Brazilian Portuguese — and passed with flying colors. In Rio, he anticipates that he will staff a clinic and take care of minor injuries but, as with most volunteers going to the Olympics, can't be entirely certain about what his days will entail until he arrives.
Passion for the Unknown
Healthcare workers at the Olympics will care for not only athletes, but also volunteers, members of the media, coaches, dignitaries, support staff and spectators.2 While most volunteers don't know the specifics of their roles prior to arriving at the Games, they aren't daunted by the unknown. Many see volunteering at the Olympics as a once-in-a-lifetime, "bucket list" opportunity — and, given the small percentage of applicants who are accepted, perhaps they should.
Do you think that volunteering as a healthcare professional at the Olympics could be a fit for you? While it might be too late to go to Rio, applications are open for the 2018 Winter Games in Pyeongchang, South Korea. Why not see where the Olympics could take you?
- Rio 2016. Olympic Athletes.
- Collier, R. Providing medical services at Olympics a huge task. CMAJ : Canadian Medical Association Journal. 2012;184(13): E703–E704. doi: 10.1503/cmaj.109-4268.
- Hughes, C. 2012 Olympics — the author's experience. Clinical Journal of Sport Medicine Blog. 2012.
- Heald, C. London Olympics: how volunteers made the games. BBC. 2012.
- Rio 2016. Calling all doctors! Rio 2016 looking for 5,000 volunteer healthcare professionals. 2014.
- Kurtzman, L. Nurse jumps into unknown to volunteer for 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio. The Columbus Dispatch. 2016.
- Pawlowski, A. Super volunteers globetrot for Olympics. CNN. 2010.


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As everyone knows, director Gary Ross' The Hunger Games is now playing in theaters. During the recent Los Angeles press junket, I landed an exclusive interview with Liam Hemsworth. Since he's been doing so much press recently, I tried to ask new questions like what's his favorite movie, director and actor, what's his karaoke song, what surprised him about making the film and the promotion that has come with it, deleted scenes, the mall tour and more. In addition, with Hemsworth busy with a number of other projects, we also talked about The Expendables 2, Phillip Noyce's Timeless, Dito Montiel's Empire State, and more.
Based on Suzanne Collins' novel and produced by Nina Jacobson, The Hunger Games stars Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth, Lenny Kravitz, Elizabeth Banks, Woody Harrelson, Donald Sutherland, Wes Bentley , Alexander Ludwig, Isabelle Fuhrman and Amandla Stenberg. For more on the film, here's three clips and six minutes of behind-the-scenes footage, as well as all our previous coverage. Hit the jump to either read or listen to the interview.
As usual, I'm offering two ways to get the interview: you can either click here for the audio, or the full transcript is below. And if you missed my exclusive interviews with Jennifer Lawrence or director Gary Ross just click the links.
Collider: You've been asked a lot of the same questions, just like the rest of your cast, and I assure you that none of my questions will be the same. Favorite movie, favorite director, favorite actor, if you have a favorite. If not, what are some of your favorites?
Liam Hemsworth: One of my favorite movies is, A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints. One of my favorite directors as well, Dito (Montiel). I'm actually doing a film with him mid this year, which I'm excited about. What was the second part of that?
Director, actor, movie.
Hemsworth: Okay so that's the movie and director. Favorite actor…I have so many actors. You know who I love right now is Neil Patrick Harris. [laughs] I think that dude is one of the funniest, most talented guys out there and completely underrated. I'm going to go with Neil Patrick Harris on that one.
Is this also a subliminal way of telling the universe you want to be on How I Met Your Mother?
Hemsworth: Yeah, sure. I love it. Me and my buddies have recently gotten really into that show. Obviously it's been around for a long time, but I don't think I realized how funny it was and I've been watching it a lot lately and I think Neil Patrick Harris is ridiculously funny.
I agree with you, actually. I think he's great. Now, has this inclined you to suit up?
Hemsworth: Suit up? Wear suits in every one of my performances? [laughs] Yeah, he's always looking pretty cool.
Okay, next "fun" question: what is your go to karaoke song?
Hemsworth: Guns N' Roses, probably. Paradise City.
Not bad! When you got cast, everyone already knew what this was, a big property based on a very successful book…you guys just did a mall tour yesterday…did you feel the need to call anyone on Twilight and say, "What's the advice?"
Hemsworth: I didn't feel the need to do that. I don't know what the advice would be anyway. I feel like anything I'm doing in life, I try to stay myself and be as honest and true as I can be, you know, and be a nice person. I've always been taught to be kind to people and have an open mind about life. So, I think just keeping all that there and not losing my head too much.
Often times when I speak to actors, directors, people involved in the film, they always try to take home something from set, a prop if you will. Did you manage to hypothetically borrow anything from set?
Hemsworth: God, did I? Did I steal anything? [laughs]
No, I said hypothetically. Because you would actually not take anything from the film.
Hemsworth: I never got it in the end, but when I was shooting there I got forgotten by a transpo two days in a row. Basically, they forgot to pick me up. So I turned up to work the next day and there was a mountain bike in my trailer the producers had gotten me and they said, "If we forget you again, you can ride to work." It was kind of a punch in the face and a gift at the same time. But then I never took it away. I asked Josh [Hutcherson] about the bike the other day, because I was there for the first six weeks of the shoot and he said, "Yeah, the bike kind of went in and out of my trailer for the whole of the shoot and I just got them to send it back to my little brother, so he has it now." And Josh said, "Are you going to take it away from a fifteen-year-old? Are you going to take a bike away from a kid?" So he has it now.
This is obviously a big project, it's a big deal. What has surprised you the most so far about making this film and the promotion that has come with it?
Hemsworth: It's grown more and more as time's gone on. When I signed on, it was already big and everyone was expecting it to be big. Now, it's even bigger than ever. I keep hearing about more craziness that's going around it and we're about to do this big tour that I'm very excited about. I don't think I've ever promoted something as large as this, so it's exciting. I'm extremely fortunate to be in the position I'm in.
Some actors like the method of two takes, like Clint Eastwood. Some like the David Fincher method of fifty takes. Where do you fall on that scale and what's the most you've ever done?
Hemsworth: I'm all about working with directors that are doing different techniques and I think everyone has their way of getting it to the place that they think is best. Yeah, sometimes it requires fifty and sometimes you can do it in two. The most I've ever done? I don't know. I shot this film called Triangle, actually, and there was this scene where I choke…I strangle Melissa George. It was a really hard scene to do because, obviously, you want it to look real but at the same time I don't really want to be strangling her, I don't want to injure her. So I had to come up to her and kind of slam her in the throat and then choke her. God, we did a lot, a lot of takes and it just got to the point where we both were like, "You've got it. We can't…" She was exhausted. It was really tough not to be hurting her in every take. I can't remember how many takes we did, but we did a lot.
Talk a little bit about deleted scenes. Were there any scenes that you shot that were lost, that you didn't see in the final product? Anything you were sad to see go? Or did you not notice when you saw the movie?
Hemsworth: I didn't notice. I don't think there was. I don't remember anything that we shot that wasn't in the final cut. I thought everything fit perfectly and everything flowed perfectly and there was great pacing and extremely powerful. I don't think anything that I shot was cut. [laughs] Not that I remember.
Often when I speak to actors, when they book a big gig, or gigs like this project, they buy themselves a gift. Did you buy yourself a gift when you got cast?
Hemsworth: [laughs] I don't think so. Honestly, I'm not an extravagant person, I don't spend a lot of money. Most of my money goes back to Australia for my older brother; I buy him gifts all the time and my parents. I don't spend a lot of money on myself, really. I probably just had a big party with everyone. That was the gift.
Obviously the second film in this is moving forward like a freight train, this whole entire endeavor. What's it like for you, right now, being in the middle? Are you excited to go back so soon to playing the same character? Could you talk about that?
Hemsworth: Yeah, obviously my character, he grows more and more through the books and there's a lot more different stuff to do in the other books. I'm a fan of the books and would be extremely happy to shoot the other two. We're going to hopefully shoot, if this does as well as what everyone thinks it's going to, I think we'll shoot the second one later on this year.
Often times when I speak to actors, some people love to start preparing for their role the second they know they have it; they're working the script, they're breaking it down. Some actors wait til a lot closer to shooting because they want to just give it everything. Where are you in that process?
Hemsworth: It depends. If I have nothing before whatever I'm shooting, I'll start as soon as I can. But if I have two films, I think I'm going to be shooting at least two films before The Hunger Games, I have two lined up, so I'm not really thinking about Hunger Games Number Two too much at the moment because I've got to do other stuff for these other roles, so I kind of focus on what's the next job.
If I'm not mistaken, you might have worked with some big action stars recently in some sequel to something that will be unnamed. What the hell was that process like for you and how exciting was it?
Hemsworth: I did, yeah. It was pretty amazing. Do you not want me to…?
No, I was just joking.
Hemsworth: [laughs] Yeah it was The Expendables 2 which I shot. Originally I was supposed to be in the first one. This was three years ago when I was in Australia. Stallone called me in Australia and asked if I wanted to be in the first one and the script ended up getting rewritten and it didn't end up happening. But he brought me back in the second one and called me up and said he had this part and I said, "Absolutely." Yeah, I got to be on set with a bunch of the biggest action heroes ever. It was a dream come true and pretty amazing as a young male and actor, just to be on set with those guys.
If I'm not mistaken, I was looking at the always accurate IMDb, we have Timeless, Empire State which…you know. Talk a little bit about what you have coming up and what you're excited to make.
Hemsworth: I have Timeless, which I've been working with Phillip Noyce for a little while to try and get going. And then I have Empire State, which is the next thing I'm going to shoot. Honestly, it's probably one of the most excited I've been for a project, just because I love Dito Montiel. A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints is one of my favorite movies if not my favorite. I've always liked those types of films, those gritty crime films. I just think they're very interesting and the way he shoots things is interesting and different. Yeah, that's going to be very cool to shoot.
I'm running out of time with you but I definitely have to ask, you guys did day one of the mall tour yesterday. I saw some pictures online, it seems like there was a decent crowd there. What was that experience like for you?
Hemsworth: Me and Jennifer did a little bit in Mexico a few weeks ago and that was a similar kind of thing. It was fun, you know? It was pretty cool to see a large amount of screaming fans and people who are extremely passionate about the books. It's exciting. I just want the movie to come out and I want people to see it.
Because it's actually really good.
Hemsworth: Because it's really good. I'm very proud of it.
For more Hunger Games interviews from the recent Los Angeles press junket:
Jennifer Lawrence Talks The Hunger Games, the Mall Tour, Director Gary Ross, and More
Josh Hutcherson and Liam Hemsworth Talk The Hunger Games, the Sequels, and More
Producer Nina Jacobson Talks The Hunger Games, Sequels, the Violence, and More
Elizabeth Banks, Lenny Kravitz and Wes Bentley Interview The Hunger Games
Donald Sutherland The Hunger Games Interview
Alexander Ludwig, Isabelle Fuhrman and Amandla Stenberg Interview The Hunger Games


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Steve Goode
White Genocide Project
January 24, 2014
Officials at Boston public schools are promoting and maintaining an environment which aggressively tries to stop White people from teaching. In Boston public schools Whites are the first to be fired, and last to be hired.
The Boston Globe reports that one plan of action is to institute a marketing campaign which targets non-Whites and deliberately excludes White people. The adverts are going to be placed on mass transit, and also in nation-wide education publications.
The percentage of Black teachers in Boston schools is decreasing slightly, and another policy is to give out "letters of reasonable assurance" to non-White teachers, in hopes that they will stay in the school system.
While he was in office, deceased Federal District Judge, Wendell Garrity, imposed a quota on Boston public schools forcing them to seek out and hire non-White teachers. Garrity's edict, which is still in effect today, says that all public school's staff must be at least 25% Black, minimum, and 10% other non-White groups, minimum.
Garrity's decades-old edict, and the current "affirmative-action" employment is aiming to kick out White teachers and replace them with non-White teachers. School officials and other high-ranking officials want these policies so that non-White teachers represent the percentage of non-White children in Boston schools.
Boston public schools superintendent, John McDonough said that affirmative action is "simply the right thing to do".
"It's essential for the district to have a diverse staff" said Johnny McInnis, president of the Black Educators Alliance of Massachusetts, and he expects recruitment efforts to make a difference.
There are around 4,500 teachers in Boston's public schools, and the majority are white. However, 87% of the students that the teachers teach are not White.
All this "diversity" was never about representing everyone. Isn't it strange how all this "diversity" only applies to countries with a lot of White people in them?
Isn't it strange how out of all the countries on the planet, the ones chosen to be mixed-race just happen to be full of White people?
This is what the United Nations Genocide Conventions meant when it defined genocide as the targeting of a group in order to harm or utterly destroy the group.


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Wings for Warriors
Donation towards salary of veteran pilot trainer Chris Kirk: June 2016
Wings for Warriors (W4W) was established to train injured service people as helicopter pilots. It operates near Aberdeen and has been supported by a number of large organisations including Aberdeen Asset Management and Help 4 Heroes. The first pilot through the system gained his commercial helicopter's licence in 2012. Training anyone to fly is an expensive task but also offers a fantastic opportunity for injured service personnel to be given the challenge and possibility of a second career.
DDMT was approached for funds early in 2016 and was impressed with the organisation, its founder Mark Radcliffe, and its connection with large donors and a number of helicopter operators including CHC helicopters which is the largest helicopter operator in the world and which gave W4W a training helicopter.
After much discussion as to the best use of the DDMT money the Trustees were delighted to accept the proposal from W4W that it should be used to help fund the salary of Pte Chris Kirk (ex 5 Scots and seriously injured in Helmand**) who has completed the W4W course and who, being qualified, has been invited to join W4W as an in-house instructor.
The Trustees are therefore delighted to announce a commitment of £10,000 per annum for two years towards Pte Kirk's basic salary and wish him every success in this career. To read more of the story of W4W and Pte Kirk we strongly recommend a look at the website and its video.
**On his first tour to Afghanistan in October 2010 Pte Kirk was on patrol in Helmand Province when he was blown up by an IED. He lost the lower part of his left leg and suffered fragmentation wounds to his arms (losing his right brachial artery) and lower body.
He was casevacced back to the UK where he made a good recovery but was unable to continue his service and was medically discharged in 2013. He found out about Wings for Warriors and joined in February that year, graduating as a commercial pilot in 2015.


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Phil Hinman has won the Midlands Construction Training Group Outstanding Employee of the Year Award for his work on the Perry Barr and Witton Flood Defence Scheme in Birmingham.
Through a series of initiatives Phil has transformed the way his site teams operate, and improved their health, safety and wellbeing at work.
The judges heralded Phil's dedication to producing 'outstanding working practices' and described him as 'an inspiration to the industry'.
Outstanding work practice
In a bid to improve health and safety, Phil introduced a simple but innovative 'Tool Card' system, to ensure the usage of tools on his site were monitored and regulated safely.
He explains: "On a large site like ours, a lot of kit goes in and out of the stores each day. The aim of the tool cards was to add another layer of safety to ensure all the kit was being used correctly."
The tool cards are a set of laminated, illustrated cards which are displayed in the site's tool stores detailing precisely what PPE, training and authorisation is required for each tool to be used. It also details the noise levels that will be generated from the equipment, the safe levels of usage per day for the operatives, whether a drip tray is required, and whether a special permit is required.
When an operative requires any tool, the store person must check they can fulfil each and every requirement shown on the card relative to the tool.
This simple method ensures the operative is fully qualified to use the tool required, therefore eliminating the risk of improper usage leading to injury. The tool card system has since been adopted as best practice and rolled out across the company.
It is also published on the Considerate Constructors Best Practice Hub


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Here is some useful information about the hotel which should help answer most frequently asked questions by guests. We do hope you find it helpful.
If you are celebrating a special birthday, anniversary or just want to treat someone during your stay.... we can make it memorable.... Champagne, chocolates, flowers, beauty treatments, a Scottish piper, a serenade!! Many rooms have queen and king sized beds available to upgrade to. Gourmet packed lunches are available, as well as Scottish, continental or champagne breakfast in bed by arrangement


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Yes, everyone is ok. No, the kids weren't with us.
So, last night, we packed up Housemate's car full of boxes and some small funiture and this morning, we headed out to go up north. The plan was to unpack the car, pick up the kids from A-MIL's and Husband's, and head back down here.
We made it less than 5 miles from the house before getting involved in a multi-car pile-up.
All of the people were ok, all of the cars are still driveable, no tickets were issued. Ours had the worst damage (crumple zones do, in fact, crumple! Truth in advertising!), and will need some big time front end work, but seems to be mechanically sound. Thank the gods for good insurance.
My chest is a bit sore from the seatbelt, but we weren't even going fast enough for the airbags to go off, so that's good. The lamp shade on my grandma's lamp got slightly mashed by a box of books that slid into it, but hey, I'm really not complaining. Could have been a LOT worse!
But yeah, I now have 2 unscheduled days off moving because we can't get a rental car til Monday.


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Wow never thought I would see that from Keven,
http://www.yelmonline.com/articles/2012 ... 221096.txt
Time to send that bigoted old warrior into retirementBy Keven Graves
Published: Friday, December 7, 2012 3:57 PM PST
Frankly, I've grown weary of the JZ Knight/Ramtha debacle.
I'm sure many people have. It seems to be a story that won't be going away any time soon. That's in large part because of Knight's own litigious actions.
This week it became clear that Yelm's world famous channeler isn't content to go after her former student, Virginia Coverdale, for releasing what Knight attorneys argue is copyrighted materials — namely very unflattering videos of Knight slurring her speech and disparaging Catholics, gays, Mexicans, Jews and organic farmers.
When you watch the videos, Knight's remarks appear to be nothing more than the rantings of a bigot sitting at the end of a sticky bar.
Somehow that falls under copyrighted material.
Knight is now going after The Freedom Foundation, a conservative think tank in Olympia that posted copies of Knight/Ramtha videos on its website.
JZK, Inc.'s lawyers subpoenaed The Freedom Foundation and employee Glen Morgan seeking information relating to the case
In response, The Freedom Foundation is claiming it has the Constitutional protections of freedom of assembly. The Freedom Foundation is represented by Michelle Earl-Hubbard, a media law attorney well known to the Nisqually Valley News.
Earl-Hubbard very capably represented the NVN in 2005 against former Roy councilwoman Anja Alston's attempt at prior restraint against the newspaper.
Alston paid the NVN $22,000 to settle that case.
From an outsider's perspective, I think the strategy at hand is pretty clear — Knight is effectively trying to make all of the videos that show the profanity-laden diatribes pouring from her mouth disappear from public view.
Unfortunately for Knight, things posted on the Internet have a way of hanging around for a while.
There are undoubtedly copies of all of those videos downloaded on more than one hard drive. At the very least, they cannot be unseen.
Meanwhile, through her public relations machine and most vocal supporters, she is trotting out the notion that her insensitive and despicable remarks pertained to the child molestations covered up by the Catholic church.
How noble.
Another JZK strategy is to paint Coverdale as a "woman scorned" because Coverdale had a relationship with Knight's former companion, James Flick.
It all sounds a bit like a sordid soap opera.
If she's not going to apologize for Ramtha's offensive comments, I have another suggestion for Ms. Knight — it's time to send that old blowhard into permanent retirement.
Whatever his brand of so-called wisdom might be, the world will be a better place without his offensive and disgusting remarks


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This year has been thematically focused on an intensely concentrated storyline. Mars has spent the bulk of the year in two signs, with most of that time — about 150 days — in Aquarius alone. One area of life has had an incredible amount of martial energy pumped into it for the past couple … Continue reading
Aquarius / Mars / pisces / Retrogrades


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On a Collin's day off, we just decided to walk before dinner and to eat out somewhere. The daytime in Summer was longer and bright, and it was nice to walk whether in the woods or not.
As he had never been to this restaurant, we chose to go. Jambo Grill & Good Morning Paan serves Iranian, Indian, African food. It is a walking distance from Joyce Skytrain station.
We ordered from their regular menu. He ordered an extra garlic naan, adding to his butter chicken curry.
Butter Chicken Curry
He liked this, but he preferred butter chicken to the other place on Commercial Drive.
Nyama Choma Combo & extra Garlic Naan
(1 Lamb Kebab & Kuku Choma, 2 pieces of Masai Ribs, Masala Fries, Garlic Naan, Salad & Raita)
I ordered the same one last time and really liked it, so I did order again. The great thing with this plate is that you can enjoy different tastes little by little and you won't get tired of eating.
I want to order something new next time! (I said that the last time, too. :))
(All pictures taken by iPhone)
Want to see more pictures for this restaurant? click here.
Jambo Grill & Good Morning Paan
Address: 3219 Kingsway, Vancouver, B.C. (map)
(1.5 block west from Joyce Street)
Facebook: page
Urbanspoon: page
[Mon – Thu] 11:00 – 22:00
[Fri – Sat] 11:00 – 23:00
[Sun, Holidays] 11:00 – 22:00
*Lunch Specials menu: Tue – Fri 11:30 – 16:30
Price Note
– Chai Tea $2.50 (Refill free)
– Butter Chicken $13.95
– Nyama Choma Combo $16.95
– Garlic Naan $2.75


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So on went the Brooks saddle leaving the Giant looking a bit sheepish with its new finery : Axiom rack and bar ends to boot. But no crud catcher on the back: won't fit with the rack any which way I tried it. So how to stop a damp bum as the Ortliebs leave a gap up the middle? Roll up stuff in a waterproof bag and bungee it on I guess. Front crud catcher and milk bottle junk modelled extra fender will suffice up front http://singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/amazing-i-want-one-diy-front-fender
..and the Ortlieb barbag soon to be fitted (securely at last) with my new Klickfix adapter. The old wire cats' cradle from Ortlieb was hopeless and bag droop was inevitable..
This fitted like a dream and with the optional extender lets me fit lights that don't hide behind the bar bag (Ah! Sadly this proved wrong and am looking for a longer extender that means light not hiding behind top of bar bag!) and my iPhone in TorTec case (again proved not quite enough room : unless you leave bar bag at home which rather defeats object.) Road trials ( see prev post ) went well and lead me up to dress rehearsal level try-out today with Ortlieb rolltops – no,' iPad, not rollmops, that's herring- ( loaded up of course) .


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When biology and the prejudices of others conspire to keep H.I. and Ed childless, what do they do? Steal a baby, of course. Now they're embroiled in a scheme that involves Huggies, the Federal B.I., The Lone Biker of the Apocalypse, blackmailing best friends, Dr. Spock, and two convicts who released themselves on their own recognizance. It must be Raising Arizona!
The trailer:


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Project Description
Bianco Evento – Heidi
Bianco Evento – Heidi
A wedding dress made of high quality lace and chiffon.
Non-slip elastic strap to hold in place, 4cm seam allowance, zipper and buttons at the back.
Carefully designed and manufactured within the EU in their own production facilities.
Bianco Evento is a European manufacturer of high quality bridal fashion. We find our inspiration from the beauty of the emotions which a woman goes through on her special day. Our passion for unforgettable moments is reflected in every single design and careful preparation.
The diversity of our collections makes it possible to combine the wedding dresses and accessories in various ways – so you can create your dream outfit while remaining true to your own style. Because the charm is in the details , we decorate our fabrics by hand with pearls, crystals and fine embroidery..


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Beautiful flowers from award winning Dublin florists
Order online and get free delivery to Dublin.
Same day flower delivery to Dublin, Ireland & worldwide
Order online or call +353 1 491 0233
It may be said that your wedding is the most important day of your life. Whether this is true or not it is certainly one that should live long in your memory and all those involved in this very special day.
Flowers provide a very important visual part to this day. They can set a tone or theme, they can be used to enhance, complement or contrast. They are the finishing touch and the final flourish to your whole ensemble so it is vital that you get the very best of expert advice.
At Blooming Amazing Flower Company we believe that each wedding is a unique event and as a result we start out with a blank canvas. This is why we do not offer "wedding flower packages" or "off the shelf" solutions. This doesn't necessarily mean large and expensive but it does mean that in order to provide you with the very best in terms of style, design and service we need to spend time to get to know you, your likes and dislikes and what you would like to achieve. The starting point in this process is a one to one consultation with our award winning florists.
There are no strict rules when it comes to your wedding flowers however we have included some tips and ideas that you may find useful as well as small selection of our sample images and some guide pricing for you to browse.
For expert advice regardless of whether you are planning a small intimate wedding or something more lavish please contact us to arrange a free one to one consultation.
Finding flowers is easy. Just use our flower search to find what you are looking for!


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Brownsville Welcomes You
Just a 10-minute drive from Gladys Porter Zoo, this hotel provides a complimentary continental breakfast and features an outdoor pool. Its pet-friendly guest rooms have free Wi-Fi and a TV.
The rooms at La Copa Inn have a microwave, fridge and tea/coffee-making facilities. The simply styled rooms also include a work desk.
Guests of Inn La Copa can work out in the fitness room or work in the business center. Outdoor barbecue facilities are also available.
This inn is within a 10-minute drive of Sunrise Mall and Childrens Museum-Brownsville. Valley International Country Club is about 3 miles away.
We speak your language!


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Attorney General Fox to EPA: Dialogue with All States, Not Threat of Lawsuit from Few, Should Drive Any New GHG Emission Regulations
Today, Montana Attorney General Tim Fox and attorneys general from 20 other states wrote to the acting U.S. EPA Administrator to urge him to resist creating new regulatory guidelines for greenhouse gas emissions in response to a litigation threat from seven states in the northeastern United States.
The northeastern states filed Notices of Intent to Sue the EPA in April, and then notified the EPA they would not sue if the EPA wrote new regulations on greenhouse gas emissions from new electric generating units. Today's letter from Attorney General Fox and others urged the EPA to decline entering into any settlement negotiations with the northeastern states to avert a lawsuit, and asked for an opportunity to participate in the resolution moving forward.
"Air quality is of equal concern to all states," said Attorney General Tim Fox. "Effective policymaking should not be forced to happen under the threat of litigation. If the EPA needs to make new rules on greenhouse emissions, all states need a seat at the table, and Montana's interests must be represented."


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The River Rock Meal Ministry is a group of volunteers that provide meals to church or community members during times of need. The Meal Ministry serves as part of River Rock's Care and Support Team.
We desire to provide meals to families and inviduals in need or crisis; to be a blessing to families who are welcoming a new child into their home; to be a comfort in a time of loss and grief; to be a community outreach; and to provide a tangible opportunity for church attendees to express their love and care for our church body and local community.
To find out more about the Meal Ministry click here or contact us at firstname.lastname@example.com.


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|Fall Term 2020 The Holocaust - 5898 - PSYC 220
Prerequisites/Notes: Sophomore standing
Catalog Description : An examination of the social psychological dimensions of the Holocaust. Topics include social psychological and cultural origins of the Holocaust (including the role of Christian anti-Semitism); social psychological aspects of Nazi ideology; and understanding perpetrators, victims, and bystanders.
Attributes: Social Science Div GER (01cr), Diversity-Dimens GER (01cr), BM Social Science (01cr), Foundation/Gateway Course


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There are over 4,000 colleges and universities in the U.S. And while the media tends to focus on just a handful of schools, we at College Coach encourage students to think outside the box during their college selection process and explore a wide range of colleges. As such, we are highlighting a new college each week in our School Spotlight series. Check out the college below, along with the other posts in our series, and you may just stumble upon your dream school!
School Spotlight: Illinois Institute of Technology
Chicago, IL
For students who live and breathe science, technology, engineering, or math, and long to be surrounded by classmates and professors who are as equally passionate about the same, look no further than the Illinois Institute of Technology. IIT's 2,800 undergrads can choose from six academic divisions (such as science, human science, and applied technology) and 36 majors, including popular programs in architecture, electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, and computer science. A brand new major, bioanalytical chemistry, is the first bachelor's program of its kind available in the US! Given that IIT is a Ph.D. granting institution (with more grad students than undergrads), opportunities for student research are outstanding. Professors' interests range from macromolecular crystallography to statistical modeling of psychopathology, and the school's 30 research centers and institutes nearly guarantee that undergrads will find a mentor in their area of interest. Although technology permeates all aspects of academic life, students here still know how to have fun. Active students can turn to 16 D3 varsity sports or more than 150 clubs and organizations, including Greek life and a cappella. Fun fact: IIT's 120-acre campus, which located just three miles from downtown Chicago, is incredibly diverse; international students and students of color each comprise approximately 25% of the student body.
Image Credit: Top, Courtesy of Illinois Institute of Technology


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The 2018 International Human Rights Day was more of a funeral than a celebration in the Middle East. The wreckage caused by the autocratic crackdowns on the Arab uprisings of 2011 has created perhaps the worst regional human rights environment since the 1980s. But while few who work on or in the Middle East can be optimistic these days, there are reasons to believe that human rights norms are poised for a revival in the not-too-distant future.
The present situation offers few signs of such a revival. Saudi Arabia has captured the headlines over the past two months since the brazen murder of Jamal Khashoggi. Saudi prisons are full of civil society activists, human rights campaigners, independent religious figures, and potential sources of opposition to Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. The viciousness of the crackdown is directly related to the prince's insecurity at home and the failure of his policies abroad.
However, the human rights catastrophe is not limited to Saudi Arabia. Bahrain remains unrepentant for its brutal, sectarian crackdown on the 2011 uprising. The United Arab Emirates retains an iron grip on its public sphere. Egypt is mired in perhaps the most oppressive environment since the years of president Gamal Abdel Nasser. Tens of thousands of political prisoners languish in Egyptian jails, while hyper-vigilant and capricious security services arrest a steady stream of independent voices for often minor displays of criticism. Harsh new laws governing the media and non-governmental organizations have constricted the margins of civil life.
Turkey, too, is in one of the worst human rights crises of modern times. Since the abortive coup against Recep Tayyib Erdogan in 2016, the Turkish state has undergone a systematic purge of alleged Gülenists, academics, journalists, and other critical voices. Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank suffer from abuses at the hands of all parties, including Hamas, the Palestinian Authority, and Israel. Yemeni suffering because of the Saudi-UAE blockade and severe Houthi rule has reached crisis levels, despite the fact that Yemeni parties reached an agreement on the port of Hodeida this week, which may improve the situation. Syrians continue to suffer war and displacement even as President Bashar al-Assad's regime regains control over the country, and there are few signs that justice for its crimes during the conflict will be served anytime soon.
Even in the less openly abusive Arab states, the margins for political engagement have narrowed and scrutiny for human rights abuses has receded. Even more troubling, there have been open campaigns in favor of impunity, which seek to legitimize and even celebrate abusive practices rather than simply engage in them. Regimes have grown skilled at using media and online manipulation to generate nationalist support for their policies and divert external criticism.
Why would anyone see hope for human rights in this environment? The tragic trajectory of the region since those electric moments of hope in 2011 certainly chastens anyone even considering optimistic projections. But several recent events suggest that the moment of impunity may be nearing its final stages. The campaign for justice for Jamal Khashoggi has led a wide swathe of Western media to rediscover the escalating pattern of Saudi human rights abuses since the ascension of Mohammed bin Salman. The remarkable scale and endurance of the pressure on Saudi Arabia, its bipartisan backing in the United States (leading to a Senate vote on December 13 to end U.S. participation in the Yemen conflict), and the inability of Saudi propaganda to block the criticism, are all new.
The UAE's release of British doctoral student Matthew Hedges, arrested on implausible spying allegations, came only after an unusually potent public campaign against the decision threatened to do real reputational damage. This shows that sometimes, under unusually favorable conditions, public pressure campaigns can still work against even the most impervious of targets.
There are several factors which suggest that human rights may soon return as a viable normative force in the region. The most important is the impending change in American politics. Whoever replaces Donald Trump as president of the United States is very likely to reprioritize human rights. The backlash against Trumpism is going to be fast and furious, and the next president—Republican or Democrat—will almost certainly seek to differentiate himself or herself as much as possible from the current administration. The autocrats of the Middle East who have taken full advantage of Trump's disregard for human rights have in the process allowed themselves to become viewed through a partisan lens, and are not ready for the backlash that they may soon face.
Contempt for human rights is one of those core attributes of Trumpism that the bipartisan foreign policy community in the United States nearly unanimously rejects. Increasingly, so too is Trump's uncritical support of Saudi Arabia and Mohammed bin Salman. Since the Khashoggi killing this has been forcefully challenged by Republican stalwarts, such as Senators Lindsey Graham and Bob Corker. The outlines of this post-Trump focus on reclaiming U.S. leadership on values can already be seen in the positioning of almost every plausible presidential candidate, and in the rapid rise of junior senators critical of the Saudi war in Yemen, such as Democrat Chris Murphy and Republican Todd Young.
The form and nature of this post-Trump return to a discourse of American values is more likely to focus on human rights than on democracy promotion. While the next president will likely want to be seen as more committed to moral leadership, there is little appetite left (if there ever was one) in the United States for advancing true democratization in the Middle East. Focusing on human rights offers a way to reorient U.S. policy without entering controversies over democracy promotion or regime change. Everyone can likely agree on demanding that allied regimes scale back their arrests and torture of activists, ease their iron grip on media and civil society, and allow a wider margin of political opposition.
The regimes will of course aggressively resist any such pressure, but may find themselves hamstrung as they confront the reality of the political predicament they have created through their own post-2011 policies. Egypt since the 2013 coup is only the most extreme case of a wider trend in the region in which the hollowing out of political institutions has left few avenues for managing discontent. In the absence of serious domestic or external constraints, most regimes are relentlessly expanding their repression out of a profound sense of insecurity. But each incremental increase in repression only increases the likelihood of new political crises involving popular mobilization as economic hardship escalates, as civil society develops new forms of mobilization, and as the international arena grows less supportive. The underlying problems revealed by the Arab uprisings have only grown worse, and the restless, creative, and deeply unsatisfied force of Arab youth will almost inevitably seek an outlet for its frustrations.
Human rights could emerge as a useful compromise—a positive, normative set of values with indicators for which the next U.S. administration can push. Autocrats may reluctantly go along with this to avoid stronger demands. International Human Rights Day may remain a grim affair in the Middle East for the coming years, but prospects for something better may be closer than we know.