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iOS 4 brings an entirely new way to organize apps on the iPod touch and iPhone. Previously, the only organization available was to separate the apps on different pages and flick between them. After a few pages of apps, it became much harder to find the one you were looking for.
Spotlight search helped somewhat, but I always found it a bit awkward, and not as fast as memorizing where the apps were. All of the default Apple (s aapl) apps were on the last screen, kids games on the next to last, my games on the screen before that, and the rest was filled up with whatever apps I had downloaded. The front screen was for my favorites, ordered by how much I used them in decreasing order going back to the games. Not a perfect system, but not too terrible.
Thankfully, iOS 4 introduces folders. By holding down on an app until it shakes, and then dropping one app on top of another, you can make a folder containing those two apps. Then you can drag and drop up to 12 apps into that folder. The folder is named by default after the category of app that you drop on top of the other. For example, if I drop iBooks on Plants vs Zombies, it creates a folder named Books. But if I drop Plants vs Zombies on iBooks, it creates a folder named Games.
The icons for the folders are a three by three grid of the first nine icons for the apps inside the folder. I have an 8GB iPod touch, and holding it about a foot away from my face I can see the icons fairly well, but I think that this is a feature that was clearly designed with the iPhone 4's "Retina" display in mind. Normally, I read the title of the folder at the bottom, which means, for me, that the default titles of folders make no sense.
I have eight folders, listed below, which let me organize my apps. I separate the default apps into "Apple Apps" and "Utilities." I drop the apps I use on a daily basis into "Faves," then separate out the games I like from the games the kids like, and then break up the rest of the apps into "Reading," "Education," and since I couldn't think of a better name, "Lifestyle." Lifestyle is a bit of a catch-all for the miscellaneous apps that do not fit in anywhere else. Faves contains apps that could probably fit in another category, but I use them so often that they need to be together.
The organization is not perfect, and will definitely evolve over time. So far I've found that abandoning screens and using only folders has reduced the friction between me and finding the app I want. I have only four apps that are not in a folder: the four in the dock, Safari, Mail, Twitter, and ByLine. While it is possible to put a folder in the dock, I thought that it seemed unnecessary. The whole point of the dock is quick access to your top four.
I am also a little disappointed with spotlight search. If you know the name of your app, it is easy enough to search for just that name, but searching for a folder name brings up nothing. It would be nice if Spotlight would list the apps in that folder. I have two folders with the word "Game" in their title, if Spotlight were really useful, typing "Game" would list the contents of both folders.
I absolutely love what folders has done for the overall feel of my iPod. I now have a single screen, with easy choices for launching the app I'm looking for. The folders hold four less apps than a screen, so there is less to look at in each one, reducing the time it takes to find what I'm looking for. Where I had informal organization for my apps before, I now have a more formal, named, organization in the folders.
iOS 4 is a big update for users of newer generation iPods or iPhones. Fast task switching is the headline feature of this update, which owners of older devices miss out on. However, even for devices without as much power, the addition of folders (as well as a nice speed boost) make upgrading well worth the time.
Are you using the new Folders feature? How do you organize your apps?


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The other day I wanted something sweet and I could not figure out exactly what to make. Then I was doing a little searching on the internet and came across a red velvet cake. My mom used to make red velvet cake, but I totally forgot about it. Reminiscing I decided to make one.
As you can see the white of the frosting and the rich red cake make a perfect looking dessert.
Red Velvet Cake – (From Pinch My Salt)
- 2 1/2 cups sifted cake flour*
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 2 Tablespoons cocoa powder (unsweetened)
- 2 oz. red food coloring
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature
- 1 1/2 cups sugar
- 2 eggs, at room temperature
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup buttermilk, at room temperature
- 1 teaspoon white vinegar
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
Cream Cheese Frosting
- 16 oz. cream cheese (2 packages), softened
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter (one stick), softened
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 1/2 cups powdered sugar, sifted
- pinch of salt
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Butter and flour two 9-inch round cake pans or three 8-inch round cake pans. I also find that placing parchment on the bottom of the pans helps the rounds come out of the pans easier. I have included a pictorial on how to make perfectly round parchment pieces for the pans. It is very similar to making paper snow flakes.
From the top left – fold the parchment in half and then in half again. Top right – fold the parchment on the diagonal. Make sure to fold with the point being the one that will be in the center of the circle, if not you will end up with a half circle. If that happens try again. Bottom left – hold the point in the center of the pan and cut the parchment to size. Bottom right – unfold and place the parchment in the pan.
Sift the flour, baking powder and salt onto a piece of parchment or wax paper. This will allow you to easily funnel the dry ingredients into your mixer bowl. Separately mix the cocoa powder and food coloring into a small bowl. The original recipe was for liquid coloring and all I could find was gel coloring. The pre-mixing the color and cocoa to form a paste does not really work with the get coloring. So if you have gels add the coloring directly to the bowl later on. If you have liquid food coloring, mix it together to form a paste.
In the bowl of a stand mixer, beat butter and sugar together until light and fluffy. When fluffly, Beat in eggs, one at a time, then beat in vanilla and the red cocoa paste (or the cocoa and red food coloring gel). Reduce the speed to low and add one third of the flour mixture to the butter mixture, beat well, then beat in half of the buttermilk. Beat in another third of flour mixture, then second half of buttermilk. End with the last third of the flour mixture, beat until well combined, making sure to scrape down the bowl.
Line up the greased and parchment lined cake pans. In a small bowl add the vinegar and baking soda. Give it a quick stir, let it fizz and add it to the batter. Working quickly, divide batter evenly between the cake pans and place them in a preheated 350 degree oven. Bake for 25-30 minutes. Check early, cake is done when it starts to pull away from the edges of the pan and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
Cool the cakes in their pans on a wire rack for 10 minutes. To remove the cakes from the pan, place a wire rack on top of the cake pan and invert, then gently lift the pan. Allow cakes to cool completely before frosting.
With an electric mixer, blend together cream cheese and butter until smooth. Turn mixer to low speed and blend in powdered sugar, salt and vanilla extract. Turn mixer on high and beat until light and fluffy. Use immediately or refrigerate, covered, until ready to use. If refrigerated, the frosting will need to be brought to room temperature before using (after frosting softens up, beat with mixer until smooth).
Place the cake on a pedestal or serving plate. Lining the outer edges of the cake with wax paper will help keep the serving tray clean. When you are done icing, just remove the wax paper to reveal a clean serving tray. Cover with 1/4 of the frosting.
Place the second cake top side down onto the iced cake. The bottom of the cake is nice and flat and will make your final cake look the best. Cover with 1/2 of the remaining icing. This will be a crumb coat. There will be some crumbs in this. It will be alright as we are going to put another coat on top of it.
Clean the spreader/knife and cover the cake with the remaining icing. This will be the final coat. Since the crumbs are stuck in the previous layer this layer will be white and crumb free. Well hopefully crumb free. For best results, place the cake in the refrigerator for 10 minutes after doing the crumb coat. That way the icing will set and you won't have to worry about crumbs at all.
This cake was delicious. The cream cheese frosting with the red lightly chocolate cake was amazing.

subset: commoncrawl


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The new season means that it's time for a new training wardrobe! The hmlGRO PANTS are the perfect autumn/winter bottoms made from a cotton/polyester mélange fabric. Our logo tape adorns the sides of these hummel® joggers and our Bumblebee® logo is printed on the leg. The waistband is fitted with a drawstring for securing fit. Pair with the matching zip jacket for a full-on tracksuit look!
Item no.. 204340-2001


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The search found 5 results in 0.016 seconds.
For years social scientists have grappled with the question of why men receive far more media coverage than women, and now a new study reveals the answer.
Social scientists have long argued documentary films are powerful tools for social change.
But a University of Iowa (UI) sociologist and his co-researchers are the first to use the Internet and social media to systematically show how a documentary film reshaped public perception and ultimately led to municipal bans on hydraulic fracking.
In an era where popular culture is increasingly recognized for its impact on lay understanding of health and medicine, few scholars have looked at television's powerful role in the creation of patient expectations, especially regarding pregnancy and birth.
It appears that people who actively participate in demonstrations during social movements on behalf of those dissimilar to them do so for two important reasons.
First, they trust their outgroup peers. Secondly, the political climate in their home countries actually fosters both trust and political engagement, and this is particularly true in countries with well-functioning political institutions.
Protests that bring many people to the streets who agree among themselves and have a single message are most likely to influence elected officials, suggests a new study.
"We found that features of a protest can alter the calculations of politicians and how they view an issue," said Ruud Wouters, an assistant professor of political communication and journalism at the University of Amsterdam and the lead author of the study. "More specifically, the number of participants and unity are the characteristics of a protest that have the greatest ability to change politicians' opinions."


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Well, it has been a while, hasn't it? I'm not really sure why. Things happen, days become weeks become months, life gets in the way. My health continues to be a problem, I'm getting to know the hospitals of Kent extremely well. Some days are very dark, others not so bad,
However, I have no intention of regaling you with all the messy details of my life. What I will do from to time is include a snippet of a story, the odd photo here & there & of course, some cards. Because, even though there haven't been a vast number of cards made, there have been some.
Here is a card for a swap. The subject was New Year, so I did a search for a sentiment or quotation that was appropriate & found this, TS Eliot. The little angel is a PaperArtsy stamp, I used Gilding Flakes to make her wings sparkle. Everything else is from my stash – in other words I can't remember where everything comes from.
These ATCs were also for swaps, earlier in the year. the bird in a heart stamp is by Chocolate Baroque & was a freebie in an issue of Craft Stamper magazine. My favourite thing in these ATCs is the Beadazzles, from Ranger. You'll be seeing these A LOT from now on.
I've spent too much time on this post – while I was away Blogger has been changed, so I'm trying to work out how to do everything. Good for the brain, I suppose.
Thank you to those who have visited & taken the time to leave comments, I will try to reciprocate.
Until next time,
Love & Light.


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Pulitzer Prize Centennial
To help celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Pulitzer Prize, we produced a handful of special programs to recognize Wisconsin's unique winners and to encourage our next generation of writers.
Thornton Wilder, Edna Ferber, Zona Gale, Hamlin Garland, and Frederick Jackson Turner of Wisconsin are all past winners of the Pulitzer Prize. Wisconsin Life producer Erika Janik shares their stories as part of this special radio series on Wisconsin Public Radio to accompany her essay On Remembering.
Celebrating Excellence in Wisconsin
Joseph Pulitzer was an American journalist whose standards for excellence established him among his peers in the late 19th century. Not only a pioneering newspaper editor and publisher, he was also an advocate for university-level training for journalists, and a visionary whose legacy has endowed the professions of journalism, photography, literature, poetry, music, and drama for the last century. The Pulitzer Prize Board annually awards 21 prizes for excellence.
The WHC's Pulitzer Centennial projects were funded with a generous award from the Pulitzer Prize Board to raise awareness of the state's past and present journalistic and literary stars, and their accomplishments.
Journalists in the Community
Kathleen Gallagher, Mark Johnson, Gary Porter and Allison Sherwood shared their stories as presenters for our ShopTalk program. This team of journalists won a Pulitzer Prize for their reporting for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel on a story called 'One In A Billion: A boy's life, a medical mystery.' Their talks were free, through ShopTalk, throughout the year.
Thoughts On Excellence & Writing
In these two special issues of our print publication, you'll find special essays by two of Wisconsin's finest journalists, David Maraniss and Erika Janik. On Excellence and On Remembering point to the vagaries of our collective cultural memory and the unchanging values for which the Pulitzer Prize stands.
Public Service Reporting Training for High School Students
High School journalists at 50 schools in northeast Wisconsin spent the year studying Pulitzer Prize-winning news stories and writing their own stories on a related local topic. Three student stories were chosen for cash awards from Northeast Wisconsin Scholastic Press Association (NEWSPA), the project co-sponsor and creator of the new high school journalism curriculum.
This program was part of the Pulitzer Prizes Centennial Campfires Initiative, a joint venture of the Pulitzer Prizes Board and the Federation of State Humanities Council in celebration of the centennial of the Prizes. The initiative sought to illuminate the impact of journalism and the humanities on American life today, to imagine their future and to inspire new generations to consider the values represented by the body of Pulitzer Prize-winning work.
- Homepage
- 'Noble Work' an essay by Mike Perry
- About Us
- Apply for a WHC Grant
- Blog
- Books to love and to make you think
- Calendar
- Grant Program
- Grants
- Funding Priorities
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- Current Programs
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- Resilience, an essay by Bill Berry
- Sample page using the new Bobbette custom theme
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- The Paradox of Being a Black Police Officer
- What does the WHC do?
- Working Lives Project Grants
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- "In the Breakroom" Interviews
- Partners
- Stories: Past, Present & Future
- Radio Essays: Workers Profiled
- Working Warriors
- Our Working Partners
- Error 404
Help support the Wisconsin
Humanities Council.


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The brand-new bedframes & bedroom furniture Singapore that are offered are quality pieces of furniture. They might even be worthwhile of ending up being room sets that you pass down to your kids when they choose it is time to relocate away from home and live in their own home.
You can develop a master collection that is suitable for a master when you have a look at a brand-new room collection and a comfy bed mattress to support it. All of it begins with the bed. It is the focal point of any kind of and all bedrooms. Therefore, you should select the excellent bed prior to carrying on to the rest of your furnishings and accessories. You could have a covered head board, a slatted headboard, and strong ones that are constructed from wood. All of it relies on the style that fits your individuality and your choices.
Do you recognize exactly what it will take to assist you have the bedroom you desire of when you are resting? Your dreams can come to be a fact and also you can make them also much better with bedframes & bedroom furniture Singapore.
When you think of the private areas in your residence, your room is most likely one of the initial things you believe of. One of the ideal methods to attain this is to have actually freshly developed bedframes & bed room furniture in Singapore
A terrific bed room could make the difference between a great night's rest and also a poor one. If you intend to rest well, you require a place that permits you to feel completely kicked back. Having actually updated bedframes & bedroom furniture Singapore could provide you a starting factor as well as assist you get the evening that you have been looking for.
Getting other bed room products to go with your brand-new bedframes & bedroom furniture in Singapore will certainly be simple. You can choose from a selection of things, consisting of dressers as well as mirrors, storage space locations, and much more. Some individuals additionally want to do even more in their room than sleep because it is their shelter. For that reason, they could have overstuffed chairs, end tables, a tv, and also much more. It all relies on just how much room you have available and what you wish to be in your room.
Some individuals might balk at the idea of new bedroom furniture. There are some very popular bedframes & room furniture in Singapore on sale at this time. It is something that profits you in every way since it does not stop at room furniture.
There are likewise people who utilize their bed room for even more than merely resting spaces and also resting areas. If this appears like something you would appreciate due to the fact that you like unwinding while checking your e-mail, you could have a wood desk to go along with your new bedframe.


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Red Tiny Flower Ceramic Tiles
Click on image to zoom
Red Tiny Flower Ceramic Tiles. This Tiles Can be Used as a Wall Hanging, Good for Decorate Table Desks, Install in Fireplaces, Bathrooms, Kitchens, Splash Guards etc.
Pack of one Piece
Material: Ceramic
Dimension: 3 X 3 Inches Approx
As it Appears
Posted in: Old tiles
Product Code: OT-98/35347
Size: 3.00
Material: Ceramic
Color: Multicolor
1 In Stock


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Free Book Giveaways
The Beginning - Breath of War
The Beginning: Breath of War tells the story of young man wandering through a ravaged post-apocalyptic world in search of his younger brother. Faced with brutality, death and pain from both humans and the fantasy creatures that have invaded his world, he changes.
Togran Ka an Orc Warlord and conqueror of many lands finds himself embroiled in ancient rivalries and blood feuds. His attempts to reunify the Orc clans and adapt to the humans use of technology causes much division and unrest among the clans. But his greatest fear is that the Orcs will lose their ways and become just like the humans they hunt into extinction.
Cora a spirited ranger with skills in stealth and ambush heads out with her squadron to protect her settlement. Only to learn of an even greater threat to her home...
The Beginning - Edge of War (Prequel)
Short story.
The Beginning: Edge of War tells the story of a soldier trying to keep his family safe as the world around him goes up in flames with fantasy creatures slaughtering all in their path to conquest.


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JFCY has been working on reforms to Ontario's child welfare legislation to give options to older youth to reach out to CAS care. Currently, the legislation does not allow youth over age 16 access CAS's for the 1st time. A Private Member put forth a Bill to extend services and incorporate the UN Declaration on Rights of the Child into the CFSA, and we've been supporting its evolution.
Bill 88 – Right to Care Bill is being called to Committee next Wednesday for public hearings and submissions (for consideration to be brought to 3rd Reading and passed into law). This is unexpected good news & a quick turn-around for help to support Bill 88 going forward.
Sign our petition to support the Bill.
And distribute widely! We are trying to collect 500 signatures by Wednesday. Your leadership and support will make a huge impact.
Feel free to contact Johanna Macdonald, Street Youth Lawyer at JFCY for questions or to learn more about how to get involved.
originally posted: Friday, November 29, 2013


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ACC, Pac-10 and SEC Capsules Week TenNovember 8, 2009
Atlantic Coast Conference
Conference Leaders: Clemson (Atlantic Division; 6-3, 4-2), Georgia Tech (Coastal Division 9-1, 6-1)
Lurking: Boston College (Atlantic Division; 6-3, 3-2)
Game of Last Week: Georgia Tech 30 vs. Wake Forest 27. Josh Nesbitt's rushing TD in overtime helped keep Georgia Tech among the best in the country, outlasting a tough Demon Deacon team.
Game of Next Week: Georgia Tech vs. Duke. The surprising Blue Devils at 3-2 in conference face off against the equally surprising Yellow Jackets
Bowl Eligible Teams: Boston College Golden Eagles, Miami Hurricanes, Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets, Virginia Tech Hokies.
Conference Leader: Oregon (7-2, 5-1)
Lurking: Arizona (6-2, 4-1)
Game of Last Week: Stanford 51 vs. Oregon 42. Coming off a huge, program-changing victory over USC, the Ducks failed to follow it up, falling to the unranked Cardinal in Palo Alto and seeing their seemingly easy track to the Rose Bowl made a whole lot tougher.
Game of Next Week: Stanford vs. USC. The Cardinal will get a shot at the Trojans, who now trail the Cardinal in the Pac-10 standings, but the meeting will be in LA.
Bowl Eligible Teams: Oregon Ducks, USC Trojans, California Bears, Arizona Wildcats, Stanford Cardinal, Oregon State Beavers.
Conference Leaders: Florida (East Division; 9-0, 7-0), Alabama (West Division; 9-0, 6-0)
Lurking: Both Florida and Alabama have clinched their divisions, and will face off in the SEC Championship Game.
Game of Last Week: Alabama 24 vs. LSU 15. LSU was looking to make a run at the West Division title, but the Tide put the Tigers away late, mostly with the legs of Mark Ingram, and clinched the West title.
Game of Next Week: Tennessee vs. Ole Miss. Both teams are looking to get to .500 in conference, although Ole Miss looks like they are on their way down, as the Volunteers look to be on their way up the SEC rankings.
Bowl Eligible Teams: Florida Gators, Alabama Crimson Tide, South Carolina Gamecocks, LSU Tigers, Auburn Tigers, Ole Miss Running Rebels.


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What is Glutathione and what does it do to the
Glutathione is a powerful antioxidant
that inhibits the formation of free radicals. It is a natural antioxidant that
is produced by your liver. It repairs damage caused by stress, pollution, the
sun, radiation, cigarette smoke, etc. It plays an important role in detoxifying
our bodies while supporting the immune system.


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Attacking successfully! Seminar 17. + 18. November 2012 in Stuttgart
Picture from Chessbase.de
Alexei Shirov was born in Riga, just like the chess magician and World Champion Mikhail Tal. Being one of the strongest and most dangerous attacking players of all times and belonging to the best players of the world for more than 20 years Shirov has won numerous international tournaments. In 2000 the Latvian became Vice World Champion. In January 2008 he reached place 4 in the world rankings with an Elo of 2755. Famous for his dynamic attacking play Alexei Shirov is beyond that capable of passing his passion for attractive chess to other chess enthusiasts.
On 17 + 18 November, 2012 he provided an insight to the art of attacking chess.
The seminar was open for players of all levels and took place in the Seminarcentre Buocher Höhe about 15 km from Stuttgart, Germany. The focus was on the most exciting and tactical games of the top grandmaster. The seminar was held in easy English.
The seminar covered the following topics (amongst others):
• Spectacular sacrifices • Direct attack on the king • Attacking the castled king • Lead in development • Taking the initiative •
Day 1: 17. November 2012:
10:00 – 13.00 Session 1
13:00 – 14:30 Lunch break
14:30 – 18:00 Session 2
Day 2: 18. November 2012:
10:00 – 13.00 Session 3
13:00 – 14:30 Lunch break
14:30 – 17:00 Session 4


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Bundoora Homestead Art Centre
Bundoora Homestead Art Centre
August 12, 2017 - October 22, 2017In Confluence, Aaron Claringbold investigates non-Indigenous relation to place and connection to land in light of his personal heritage, and
a sense of being complicit in the ongoing colonisation of Australia. He explores the Birrarung and Merri Merri Creeks as a confluence a merging of movement and flow. Confluence is based around introduced elements within the urban and re-naturalised environment, the waterways and surrounding parklands of the Merri Merri area.
ARTIST'S TALK | Sat 16 September | 2pm | Details here


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Photo: Jennifer Davick; Styling: Lydia DeGaris Pursell
Go tropical and substitute chopped pineapple for the grapes and macadamia nuts for the pecans. Stir in about 1/2 cup coconut for more island flavor.
How to Make It
Combine first 4 ingredients in a bowl. Cover and chill until ready to serve. Serve with crackers or pita chips.


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A robot that simulates emotions was unveiled on a stage near Tokyo yesterday, interacting with its "father" and dancing and singing. Planned for wide Japanese availability, "Pepper" will be sold next year in the stores of its manufacturer, mobile phone giant Softbank. Pepper displays simulations of emotions through gestures, sound, movement, and eye expressions. Perhaps more significantly, it also reads the emotions of people nearby, listening to and recognizing voice tones and visual expressions.
In a YouTube video of the unveiling ceremony Pepper is seen on stage displaying a kind and gentle disposition. It interacts with Softbank founder and chief executive officer (CEO) Masayoshi Son and, in a memorable moment, the two reach out to each other in a tender Dr. Frankenstein sort of way. Son hands Pepper its heart and Pepper proceeds to "place" the toy heart "into" its display-screen chest. In a news conference later, Son said "we're giving a robot a heart, emotions."
In the video, Pepper performs a celebratory "this is a moment of glory" song-and-dance routine. Although the music is without a beat, the mechanical person is obviously dancing in its own way, and the movement and articulation of its arms and torso are extraordinarily fluid, not showing the jerkiness usually stereotypical to robots.
Japan is likely the most logical place for the first widely available, emotion-simulating robot. The country is well-known for its culture of cute, known as "kawaii." The price when it goes on sale next year will be approximately $1,900. The 62-pound, four-foot white robot is hairless and has two expressive, human-like eyes. The "eye sockets" glow and flash in various shades and subtle colors, simulating eye blinking and expressiveness in general. Pepper was developed by Aldebaran Robotics, which is majority owned by Softbank.
The richest man in Japan, Masayoshi Son told those in attendance that being in the business of personal robots has been his dream. The billionaire, whose net worth is currently $19.7 billion, also made history in 2000 when he achieved the distinction of losing the most money in history, $70 billion, in the dot-com crash. He has obviously recovered and now his company, Softbank, boasts 100 million global subscribers.
A large market for robots, especially in Japan, is forecast. That country's population is aging rapidly and its well-below-replacement birth rate of 1.4 means there are fewer and fewer people to fulfill the practicalities the elderly require, such as health monitoring and safety. Robots are also envisioned to play a part in reducing feelings of isolation and loneliness. Pepper, and whatever new robots appear on the world stage, could possibly pay for themselves in households in need of an alternative to paying workers for the care of elderly relatives.
Pepper is not the first attempt to get an endearing robot into the Japanese mainstream. Sony, the entertainment and electronics company, pushed its robot dog, Aibo, for a time. Honda Motor Co. also made a noble attempt with its Asimo, which U.S. President Barack Obama recently threw a football with. Asimo, which looks like an Apollo astronaut, was too complex and expensive for the mainstream market and now appears at special events of Honda dealers. The founder and CEO of Aldebaran Robotics, Bruno Maisonnier, says that emotion-simulating robots "will create a new dimension in our lives."
By Gregory Baskin
Belfast Telegraph


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TUESDAY TIPS from Campus Center & Event Services (CC&ES)
Are you thinking of hiring a photographer for your next event? Consider these tips for how to make your photographs count.
·Don't skip the photographs in the interest of saving money. They may be very useful for publicity purposes at a later date, or for annual reports, newsletters and releases, etc.
·Think about what photographs you need in advance. For many events it is possible to hire a photographer for an hour or two to get the shots you need. It is often not necessary for the photographer to stay for the whole event. Keep in mind that a photographer can be present at an event for an hour or and deliver photos that make it look like s/he were there the whole time. Not so with video.
·Be very specific about what shots you need and in what format (digital, prints, etc.) you need them.
TUESDAY TIPS from Campus Center & Event Services (CC&ES)
Are you bored and want something to do, but the thought of shoveling out your car to go downtown is just too much? Well why not get your friends together and head over to the Rec Center in Campus Center for a night of foosball, billiards, ping pong and other games?!
The Rec Center (located on the first floor of the Campus Center (Phillips Hall), around the corner from the Food Court) is open Monday-Friday 12:00 noon – 10:30 pm.
NOTE: This area is also available for reservations for groups and organizations. Party packages are available. Contact the Campus Center and Event Services Office (274-3313) for further details.
TUESDAY TIPS from Campus Center & Event Services (CC&ES)
Are you coming or not? What does RSVP mean and why is it important to events?
The term RSVP comes from the French expression "Répondez s'il vous plaît," meaning "please respond." If RSVP is written on an invitation it means the invited guest must tell the host whether or not they plan to attend the party. It does not mean to respond only if you're coming, and it does not mean respond only if you're not coming (the expression "regrets only" is reserved for that instance). It means the host needs a definite head count for the planned event, and needs it by the date specified on the invitation.
TUESDAY TIPS from Campus Center & Event Services (CC&ES)
Last week we told you how to use greener methods of advertising your meetings and events. One way was to advertise on the LCD display boards in the Campus Center. So what are you waiting for?! Here's what you need to know to get your next event noticed!
TUESDAY TIPS from Campus Center & Event Services (CCES)
Take a moment to review these 5 easy ways to "GREEN" your next meeting or event! You will save money and help the environment!


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Pets Central Hospitals & Clinics: Care from the Heart
Total, expert and loving care.
As the leading veterinary care and animal hospital in Hong Kong, Pets Central provides the most comprehensive veterinary services, blending world-class, professional vet care with state-of-the-art technology — anytime and anywhere.
To provide maximum support to our ever-growing clientele, two hospitals are set to operate on 24/7 basis, while two mobile clinics will bring pet care right where it's needed.


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Soothe, hydrate and heal sensitive skin with Lavender and Calendula. Enjoy this rich concentration of natural, organic botanicals that penetrate deep within the layers of your skin, leaving it soft and nourished.
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You will receive tracking information by email as soon as it leaves our workshop.
We ship to anywhere in Canada and USA as well as many international destinations.We offer a 100% money back guarantee including refunds and exchanges.
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International Air service (1 to 2 weeks - not tracked).
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grand prix weekend
Grand Prix Long Beach? Things to do this Weekend, Whether You're Going or Not
In Long Beach, this beautiful weekend is slated to become the backdrop for some of the greatest street racing in the country. For tourists and locals alike, here is our survival guide for Grand Prix weekend. Not into the Grand Prix? Don't worry, there is still plenty to do this weekend away from the track.


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There are a lot of management models and theories out there and they all sound great. The problem is that there's a lot of theory, which we don't always know how to implement in practical terms. For example, what can you do concretely on a Tuesday afternoon to work better with your colleagues? People need actionable advice, things they can start doing next week. That's where Management 3.0 comes in.
Management 3.0 is not another framework, it's a mindset, combined with an ever-changing collection of games, tools, and practices to help any worker manage the organization. It's a way of looking at work systems.
Gain Effective Management Skills: Management 3.0 follows the systems thinking idea that 95 percent of the performance of an organization is the result of the whole system, not the individual. Management 3.0 examines how to analyze that system to come up with the right solutions for better and effective leadership across organizations.
Can anyone be a leader? Can anyone manage a team?
We believe management is not only the manager's responsibility, but that it's everyone's job! Leadership pursues the goal of growing and transforming organizations, which are great places to work for. They care about having engaged employees because when this happens the work is improved and clients are happy. We've realized that almost every industry is ripe for change and ready for a new view on management. Management 3.0 is that future of management.
Management 3.0 is redefining the definition of leadership with management as a group responsibility.
It's about working together to find the most efficient way for a business to achieve its goals while maintaining the happiness of workers as a priority.
Management 3.0 is a global management revolution that brings together thousands of project managers, mid-level managers, CEOs and entrepreneurs, developing solutions together, using games to encourage employee feedback and team collaboration.
In leadership trainings, we usually talk on a meta-level. That's important and that's good. However, what is often missing are practical tools to connect with practice. With many leaders working in the huge company I work in, I see a great opportunity to make a difference here. However, being "only" Scrum Master, I am excluded from the trainings and coaching programs for leaders. Hereby I see the opportunity to develop more helpful leaders again.A Management 3.0 Facilitator about his motivation to teach the practices
You don't want theories and soft management science, you want hands-on approaches that can become solutions for increasing employee engagement and improving results. You want to build a future. You want the right skills and you want them now.
It's about concrete games, tools and practices
For all workers addressing many common leadership questions such as:
- How can we measure performance?
- How can we reward people in a better way?
- How can we replace performance appraisals?
- How can we motivate our teams?
- How can we change the organization's culture)
Management 3.0 is for you if you want to
- Become a better manager and leader
- Boost productivity
- Nurture innovation
- Motivate any team
- Change the culture
- Become more Agile
- Increase happiness at work
- Delight everybody
- Improve everything
- Engage People
- Managing the system, not the people
- Co-create
- Learn more about the Management 3.0 Principles
You want to delve more into Management 3.0? Become a Management 3.0 Supporter and gain access to our library of free readings, easy access to our downloads and the Foundation Workshop PDF files.


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Back to School Bash
PTSA, SGA and the Office of Student Activities invites you to our 10th annual
BTSB. This year the Bash is scheduled for Friday
September 28th at 4:30PM. After the Bash we hope you will stay for the Football game and
cheer on the Colonials as they compete against the Lee Lancers, kickoff is 7PM.
We have plenty of activities planned to include a DJ, Moon Bounce, and food trucks will be on-site to provide great food for purchase.
This is a great opportunity to relax, socialize with faculty members and
students, show your spirit, and support the Colonials to victory.
Please note: We are moving the Back to School Bash onto the Turf
practice field due to wet field conditions on the Baseball field.
The Office of Student Activities will presale tickets for the
football game during the school day on Friday. Admission price for the Football
game is $5.00.
See you at the Bash!
6560 Braddock Rd, Alexandria, VA 22312 | Main Office: 703.750.8300Attendance: 703.750.8315 | Web | Twitter
Update your subscriptions, modify your password or email address, or stop subscriptions at any time on your Subscriber Preferences Page. You will need to use your email address to log in. If you have questions or problems with the subscription service, please visit subscriberhelp.govdelivery.com.


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Intl. Finance Corp. lawsuit (re financing of coal-fired plant in India)
|In 2015, Indian fisherman and farmers filed a lawsuit against the IFC in US federal court over environmental damage form the Tata Mundra plant which the IFC financed. IFC argued they can not be sued because the did not engage in commercial activity and should be immune from suit. The case is ongoing.
Pour la version française de ce profil, cliquez ici.
Para la versión en español de este perfil haga clic acá.
In November 2015, Indian fishermen and farmers filed a lawsuit against the International Finance Corporation (IFC) in US federal court over environmental damage from the Tata Mundra plant in Gujarat, India, a power plant that the IFC financed. In March 2016, a judge ruled that the IFC could not be sued in this case.
In August 2016, affected communities and farmers filed an appeal arguing that, under recent US Supreme Court decisions, the IFC is not entitled to absolute immunity and should be subject to suit for damage caused by the power plant. On 23 June 2017, a US court of appeals ruled that the IFC is entitled to "absolute immunity" and cannot be sued by the communities harmed by IFC projects. In July 2017, the affected communities asked a court to review the "absolute immunity" doctrine. On 26 September 2017, a US Court of Appeals ruled that it would not reconsider the immunity rule. On 22 January 2018, the plaintiffs appealed to the US Supreme Court that agreed to hear the case, thereby accepting to consider the question of whether or not international organizations such as the World Bank are immune from being sued. On 31 July 2018, the US Government, as well as nine NGOs and experts, filed amicus briefs to the Supreme Court in support of the plaintiffs, arguing that international organizations like the World Bank Group should be subject to lawsuits for damages arising out of their commercial activities.
On 31 October 2018, the US Supreme Court heard Indian villagers' appeal challenging the immunity of the IFC under US law. On 27 February 2019, the US Supreme Court ruled that the IFC is not immune from proceedings in US courts and can in fact be sued when it is acting as a private player in the market. The case will return to the lower courts.
In January 2020, the US District Court heard oral arguments from the parties. IFC argued they did not engage in commercial activity by issuing and managing a loan and therefore should still be immune from suit. Plaintiffs countered issuing a loan for the coal-fired plant is commercial activity and since that loan was issued and managed by the IFC headquarters in D.C., there is sufficient contacts with the United States.Get RSS feed of these results
All components of this story
World Bank lending arm sees off lawsuit by Indian fishermen
Author: Claire Provost & Matt Kennard, Guardian (UK)
A Washington DC judge has ruled that the World Bank cannot be sued in a case brought by Indian fishermen and farmers who said that an investment by the Bank's private sector arm in a giant coal-fired power plant had "destroyed their livelihoods".In 2008 the International Financial Corporation (IFC) branch of the Bank announced a $450m loan for a subsidiary of the Tata Group conglomerate [Coastal Gujarat Power Limited (part of Tata Power)] to build the power plant in Gujarat...Their lawsuit marked the first time a local community had sued the IFC in the US courts... US district judge John Bates...accept[ed] the IFC's argument that it is immune from the suit...The decision is likely to inflame critics of the World Bank, who say it is almost impossible to hold the organisation to account.
- Related stories: Intl. Finance Corp. lawsuit (re financing of coal-fired plant in India)
- Related in-depth areas: Latest Legal News
- Related companies: Tata Group
District Court Rules World Bank Can't be Sued
Author: Valentina Stackl, EarthRights International
A federal district court in Washington, D.C., ruled last week that the International Finance Corporation (IFC), the private lending arm of the World Bank Group, has absolute immunity and thus cannot be sued in the United States...The district court concluded that it was required to find that the IFC is entitled to absolute immunity based on previous decisions from the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals. The plaintiffs had argued that recent Supreme Court cases addressing immunity overturned the D.C. Circuit's decisions. The district court did not consider that argument, but instead held that it should be heard and decided by the D.C. Circuit on appeal...From the start, the IFC recognized that the Tata Mundra project was a high-risk project that could have "significant" and potentially "irreversible" adverse impacts on local communities and their environment. Yet it failed to take reasonable steps to prevent harm to the communities and to ensure that the project abided by the required environmental and social conditions....
Indian fishermen & farmers sue Intl. Finance Corp. in US over environmental damage from power plant
Author: Matt Kennard & Claire Provost, Guardian (UK)
"Fishermen and farmers sue World Bank lending arm over power plant in India", 10 Nov 2015
In the first case of its kind against the private investment arm of the World Bank, fishermen and farmers from north-western India are suing the International Finance Corporation (IFC) in a US federal court over a $450m loan for a coal-fired power plant. The communities say the IFC has "destroyed their livelihoods" by reducing fish stocks and damaging the environment…[T]he IFC says the complaint…"must be dismissed in its entirety" because the IFC is entitled to immunity…"What are they afraid of?" asks Kristen Genovese, from [SOMO]…"you can sue your government, you can sue corporations. Why can't you sue the Bank? Why is it above the law? You need to have checks and balances." At the moment…"the entire World Bank group essentially plays by its own rules"…In 2008, [the IFC] announced a $450m loan for the…"ultra mega power plant"…The project was billed as critical to providing cheap and reliable power for India's industrialisation…[L]ocal communities say it has done more harm than good…The current case is important…not just for the plaintiffs to "get redress for their own suffering but also to ensure that other communities around the world don't endure what they've endured"…
- Related stories: Indian communities file lawsuit in US court against Intl. Finance Corp. over harm from coal-fired plant Intl. Finance Corp. claims immunity & moves to dismiss US lawsuit by Indian communities over financing of coal-fired plant Intl. Finance Corp. lawsuit (re financing of coal-fired plant in India) Show moreShow less
- Related in-depth areas: Latest Legal News Maritime Industry Maritime Industry and Human Rights: Fishing
World Bank Group Claims "Absolute Immunity" Allows it to Avoid Responsibility for Destructive Coal Power Plant
Author: EarthRights International
The International Finance Corporation (IFC), the World Bank Group's private lending arm, is claiming in court that it cannot be sued for enabling projects that destroy local communities' health and livelihoods, no matter how much harm it has caused. In April, fishing communities and farmers represented by EarthRights International (ERI) filed suit in Washington, D.C., against the IFC over the destruction of their livelihoods and property and threats to their health caused by the IFC-funded Tata Mundra coal-fired power plant in Gujarat, India. The IFC has now asked the federal court to dismiss the case based on its claim that it is entitled to "absolute immunity."…The IFC argues that it should not be accountable in court because the Compliance Advisor Ombudsman (CAO), the IFC's internal accountability mechanism, "provides Plaintiffs with an alternative means of recourse."
Jam, et al. v. International Finance Corporation - Defendant International Finance Corporation's Memorandum of Law in Support of its Motion to Dismiss
Author: White & Case, counsel for International Finance Corporation
This case involves the alleged environmental impact of a power plant in Gujarat, India…The sole U.S. touch-point of this entire case is that one minority lender to the project company is an international organization, International Finance Corporation ("IFC"), which happens to be head-quartered in Washington, but with which Plaintiffs have no legal relationship. Given the identity of the parties and the locus of the claims, this Court should dismiss this action in its entirety with prejudice for the following reasons. First, IFC is entitled to absolute immunity under the International Organizations Immunities Act…Second, the complaint should be dismissed in its entirety on grounds of forum non conveniens…Third, Plaintiffs have failed to join at least three indispensable parties to this suit…
Gujarat fishermen sue IFC in US Court for funding Tata Power's Mundra UMPP
Author: Premal Balan, TNN
Fishing communities and farmers from Mundra in Kutch district…filed suit against the International Finance Corporation (IFC), the private-lending arm of the World Bank Group, in federal court in Washington, DC, through their representative EarthRights International (ERI). The IFC provided a $450 million loan to the Tata Mundra UMPP. As per IFC's rules demand that its borrowers take precautions to protect vulnerable communities' and the environment. IFC is under obligation to supervise, monitor and enforcing these rules. The fishermen have alleged that the IFC caused the loss of their livelihoods, destroyed their lands and water, and created threats to their health by funding the Tata Power's coal-fired ultra-mega power plant in Mundra, Kutch.
Communities Sue World Bank Group In U.S. Federal Court for Destructive Coal-Fired Power Plant
Author: EarthRights International
Today fishing communities and farmers from India represented by EarthRights International (ERI) filed suit against the International Finance Corporation (IFC)…in federal court in Washington, D.C. The plaintiffs allege that the IFC caused the loss of their livelihoods, destroyed their lands and water, and created threats to their health by funding the Tata Mundra coal-fired power plant in Gujarat, India. The…power plant, owned by Tata Power, began operating at full capacity in 2013…The thermal pollution discharged from the plant's cooling system has led to a dramatic decline in the fish populations that local fishing communities depend on…The substantial coal dust and fly ash coming from the plant and its coal conveyor belt is also harming local farms, the quality of fish and salt from the region, and the health of local people.
Jam, et al. v. International Finance Corporation - Class Action Complaint For Damages and Equitable Relief
[Full text of complaint filed in US District Court for the District of Columbia.]
Lawsuit Accuses World Bank Arm Of 'Mission Failure'
Author: Michael Hudson & Barry Yeoman, International Consortium of Investigative Journalists
The World Bank Group caused serious harm to fishers, farmers and villagers in northwest India by bankrolling a giant coal-fired power plant on an ecologically fragile stretch of coastline, a lawsuit filed Thursday in U.S. federal court in Washington argues. The suit accuses the World Bank Group's private-sector lending arm, the International Finance Corporation (IFC), of "irresponsible and negligent conduct" in handling its $450 million financing package for the coal plant. Lawyers for EarthRights International…filed the case on behalf of people living and working near the coal plant…The IFC would not comment directly on the lawsuit's claims. An IFC spokesperson provided a statement saying that the Tata Mundra plant "provides reliable power to rural and urban-based domestic consumers…" The spokesperson said the IFC and the plant's operators have been working to address local community concerns.
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Every foodie needs a list of cracking country pubs across the South West, and Marshfield's traditional tavern merits a mention in your little black book says Kathryn Lewis
Just eight miles from Bath and thirteen from Bristol, you couldn't feel further away from the hustle and bustle of the cities than at The Catherine Wheel. The 17th century inn has long been the centre of this charming Cotswold village, fuelling the flock of weary walkers and country callers as they pass through.
VISIT FOR a fine bill of ales adjusted by the season, and pub grub in portions that'll see you through to spring. Build the natural winter layers with hearty venison casserole dotted with doughy dumplings, cranberry-dipped, deep-fried brie and rib-stickingly-good toffee pudding doused in custard, just a handful of the dishes threatening to disgrace any good intentions.
DON'T VISIT for an amorous evening for two. With locals spilling over at the bar and a lively menu of events, this is not necessarily somewhere to whisper sweet nothings.
WE LIKED the stack of board games squirrelled in the corner. After a feed of such epic proportions, a couple of rounds of Scrabble to see off the effects of a bottle of red is a good idea before heading home.
INSIDER'S TIP A short drive from the National Trust's Dryham Park, get the gang together for a stomp around the ancient deer park before refuelling the herd with a top notch Sunday lunch at the inviting inn.
What we ate (dinner)
Starter Duck and pork pâté with toast and chutney
Main Venison casserole with herby dumplings
Dessert Sticky toffee pudding and custard
Also try
Kathryn Lewis indulges in a little Middle Eastern inspired glamour at Berwick Lodge in Bristol
The ubiquitous tasting menu takes a whole new direction – east, in short – at The Mint Room in Bath, says Rosanna Rothery


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Bee Pollen is one of nature's richest and most power-packed foods. Sweet and colourful bee pollen granules have long been prized around the world for supporting strength, stamina, longevity and youthful beauty.
The Bible, the Talmud and the Koran all praise the powers of bee pollen, and pollen was a staple for the athletes of Ancient Greece and Rome. In Ancient Egypt, Kings worshipped the bees and believed in the wondrous healing powers of bee pollen.
Longevity experts studying the people of the Caucasus Mountains in Georgia, who often lived beyond 100 years, found that many centenarians were beekeepers incorporating pollen in their daily diet. To this day, pollen is a super-food fuelling athletes and Olympic champions around the globe. Former heavy weight boxing champion Muhammad Ali apparently took bee pollen during all the years he was defending his world title. Athletes (and mere mortals!) report improved performance and reduced fatigue when taking bee pollen.
And bee pollen is not just for pros. Pollen is one of the most nutritionally complete natural foods available. It is a highly bio-available source of B vitamins, minerals, enzymes, amino acids, antioxidants and plant phytonutrients. It contains 7.5 times as much iron as beef and more protein than beef, eggs or cheese. Beyond strength and endurance, pollen boasts a huge number of reported health and beauty benefits, including immune support, skin elasticity, stress reduction, sound sleep, hay fever relief, coronary health, cell regeneration, digestive health, sexual function and prostate health. It is also said to support memory function, aid recovery from toxicity and radiation, and support a healthy metabolism.
So what exactly is this miracle food and where does it come from?
Pollen is essential to the reproduction of plants, and honey bees are largely responsible for the cross pollination that ensures a plant's survival. Pollen collects on bees' hairy bodies as they fly from flower to flower, packing tiny pollen grains in the "baskets" on their back legs. Beekeepers then collect the pollen that falls from the bees' legs as they climb through a fine mesh at the hive entrance. The bees are not harmed in this process and enough pollen is left for the bees' own needs (bees consume pollen in massive quantities and without it a hive will die). Pollen is naturally varied depending on the plant species in a given locality, and it is important to use pollen collected in a clean natural environment free of pesticides and contaminants. Bee pollen is generally very safe, but it should be taken with caution as it can cause allergic reactions in some people. If you wish to test your sensitivity to bee pollen, place one grain on your tongue and let it dissolve fully. If you experience no sensitivity then keep increasing the amount until you are sure that you can happily incorporate bee pollen in your diet.
Bee pollen can be taken by the teaspoonful, at 1-2 teaspoons per day. It can also be added to fruit juice or smoothies, mixed with honey or nuts, or sprinkled on cereals and salads. Don't heat pollen, however, as this will destroy many of its precious nutrients.
In these busy times, you don't have to be a top athlete to appreciate pollen's rejuvenating, energising and nourishing properties. Sprinkle a few of these gorgeous golden granules through your day and get in touch with your inner champion!
By Dr Lucy Butler
Director, HealthPost Ltd
Check out our range of Bee Pollen, available for secure order from our online shop.
We'd Love Your Feedback
Have you tried bee pollen? What's your favourite way of eating it?


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Court-ordered classes by TNTT
Minor in Possession class
A direct connection between intoxicant use and risky behavior
The Minor in Possession course is a court remanded program that focuses on the effects intoxicants can have on the adolescent brain. This three hour course is conducted by a trauma nurse who illustrates the direct connection between the use of intoxicants and risky behavior that can lead to trauma. This class is a perfect adjunct to peer court. It provides an educational diversion component to sentencing and acts as a behavioral change method.
The course includes the following topics:
- Responsibility and Integrity of the Adolescent
- Adolescent Brain Development
- Metabolism and effects of Alcohol and Other Drugs
- Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome
- Importance of "linking up" for the developing brain
- The consequences of substance use on quality of life
- Options for a healthy lifestyle
This class is for:
- Youth under 18 accompanied by parent
- Youth over 18
- Adult/Purveyor Furnishers
We encourage parent involvement for the minors referred to this course.
What is required to register for Minor in Possession?
- Registration in advance is required. Click here to search for class availability and register online.
- Classes fill up very quickly, so please register as soon as possible.
- You are required to submit payment at the time of registration. If you cannot register online, please call (503) 413-4960 or email us for assistance.
- A citation number is required at registration to receive a certificate of completion.
- If your preferred class date is full, you need to select another date and request an extension from the Court if the second date is beyond your compliance deadline.
- We welcome the public to attend our program for education free of charge; education participants do not receive a certificate of completion. Please do not bring children under age 12.
NOTE - If you must reschedule, please ensure that you remain within your compliance date with the court. Some courts require contacting them to reschedule. It is the responsibility of the individual to adhere to any restrictions and regulations set by the court.


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All you need to know – Oxton Hill, Southwell
Oxton Hill, Southwell, Nottinghamshire NG25 0RB
We can't wait to welcome you to Puddle Ducks at Oxton Hill– in the meantime, here's some information that we hope you find useful. Have a splashtastic time!
Location: Oxton Hill, Southwell The pool can be found half way up Oxton Hill (the B6386) look out for the Puddle Ducks A Board to see where to turn in.
Essential Information:
- Please park within the grounds, see here for our handy parking map.
- Please do not come onto poolside any sooner than 5 minutes before your class to avoid congestion on the poolside.
- Please do not enter the pool unless told to do so by your teacher. We only have access to the sectioned area of the pool, the rest of the pool is out of bounds.
- Strictly no eating or smoking on the premises.
- Outdoor shoes must be removed on arrival and are not permitted in the changing areas or poolside.
- There are some Puddle Ducks change mats available to borrow at the pool or please feel free to bring your own along.
- A well-fitting neoprene swim nappy must be worn with a disposable swim nappy or one of our environmentally friendly NappyWraps & Liners underneath if your child is in Floaties, Splashers or Kickers and in other programmes if they are not yet fully potty/toilet trained. Why not buy one of our great value Starter Packs which contain everything you need for your swim lesson?
- You can find lots more useful information about attending our swim classes on our FAQs page
Exclusivity: Puddle Ducks have exclusive use.
Changing rooms: The main changing area is for ladies only, mens changing rooms can be found poolside. Boxes are provided for storing belongings whilst in the pool.
Pool temperature: 30.4°C
Poolside assistant: There is a Puddle Ducks poolside assistant.
Depth: 1.15m sloping to 2m. The pool is roped off at 1.4m
Maximum class ratios: 8 children/adult pairs:1 teacher
Parking: Parking is available within the grounds of the property, see here for our handy parking map.
Spectators: Spectators may watch from poolside, please use the tables and chairs near the loungers at the shallow end of the pool.
Don't forget:
Please remove your shoes at the door, no shoes are permitted poolside at all.
If you need to contact us, here's your local Puddle Ducks office details
Contact us on 01949 831322
Email our team on firstname.lastname@example.com
Visit www.puddleducks.com/lincolnshire
Helping you to make your special time last even longer….That's the Puddle Ducks' difference.
We like to make life fun and easy for our Puddle Ducks customers so here are some local places we think you and your children may like. You could even meet up before or after the class with your Puddle Ducks classmates.
Closest cafe:
There are a number of cafes in Southwell town centre.
Closest indoor and outdoor play:
Newfield Icecream parlour a fabulous icecream parlour and café including childrens menu and outdoor play area.


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Enterprise security tools allow you to rest easy.Get Started
Best-in-class class MSSP support to match our industry-leading solutions.Learn More
As a leader in cyber security consulting, we offer top-of-the-line solutions and servicesLearn More
Managed services that meet your most advanced challenges.Get Started
Cyber Security attacks have increased and adapted - so have the hackers committing them.Learn More
As a leading cyber security and information technology consultant our goal is to deliver the right services and solutions for your business to succeed.
We listen to clients and leading industry analysts, including Gartner, IDC, and Forrester, to deliver solutions using the best technologies in the market.
We take the time to sort through the ever-evolving resources and services available and work with you to understand the needs of your company before presenting the best solutions in a way that's easy to make decisions and implement.
a·lac·ri·ty n. cheerful readiness, promptness, or willingness;
Meeting the challenges of your business with alacrity.
As a full service partner we help address your needs from beginning analysis through evaluation and selection to implementation and on-going management. Our team of experts continue to develop their skills, knowledge, and certifications for the benefit of our clients.
"Princess Cruises' partnership with Alacrinet is exemplary of the model to which we would like all partners and vendors to aspire."
"Alacrinet has helped us expand and has supported us with a broad expanse of expertise and an eagerness to please which makes them a pleasure to work with.
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Sennheiser 507738 (507-738, 507/738, 50-77-38, 507 738) (ew-500-G4-MKE2-BW, ew/500/G4-MKE2-BW, ew500 G4-MKE2-BW) ew 500 G4-MKE2-BW Wireless Lavalier Microphone System
The pro's choice. Renowned sound engineers rely on ew 500 G4's flexibility, especially when handling multi channel settings on the world's music stages. Up to 88 MHz bandwidth, up to 32 channels. Ethernet connection for Wireless Systems Manager (WSM) control software included for advanced frequency coordination in multi channel setups.
The pro's choice for impressive presentations. The professional MKE 2 Gold omni-directional condenser microphone resists the test of time on any big live stage and ensures a high speech intelligibility on any stage, indoors and outdoors.
In The Box


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Continuing with our Search Engine Optimization (SEO) discussion, it's necessary to understand just how search engines see our WordPress sites. While the computation and algorithms are complicated and proprietary to each search engine, an understanding of the basics gives us the tools needed to optimize our sites.
A brief introduction to web crawlers
Hopefully, I'm not ruining any fantasies here, but there isn't a room full of people at Google looking through web pages and indexing the contents of different sites. That would require way too many people and cost way too much. Instead, large search engines generally implement web crawlers, programs which quickly read web page data. This process called crawling or spidering generally performs the following actions:
- Read the prominent* page data on the current page
- Read all hyper-links to other web pages and add them to a list of future pages to crawl
- Move on to the next web page
* What a particular crawler deems to be "prominent" data depends entirely on the purpose of the crawler
There are a two important things to note here:
- Once a crawler leaves your site, they may not come back for a while!
- Since a crawler follows the links on your page, you had better make sure that the links count (and link to more of your content)
Thankfully for us, there is a set of standards which are used a guidelines for these web crawlers (also called robots).
What are these meta robots?
Spend any time in a web design forum, or browsing through an HTML book and you're bound to come across the concept of meta tags. As defined by Wikipedia, meta elements are metadata which can be embedded in HTML web pages that provide structured information about the current page. These elements can include such things as keywords, location data, and content type.
The meta tag we're interested in right now is the robots meta tag. Using this tag carefully, we can specify three important attributes for links on our site**.
- noindex – An attribute suggesting that the robot not add the data contained within the tag to the index (or search engine as the case may be)
- nofollow – An attribute suggesting that the robot not add the link contained within the tag to the list of future pages to crawl.
- noarchive – An attribute suggesting that that robot not to store a cached copy of your page.
**There are more attributes that are search engine specific, but I'm only covering the major ones here
You will recognize a couple things right away. First, is that I was very careful to use the word suggest. The author of the robot can choose whether or not to take these suggestions to heart. Google seems to do a good job of following these suggestions, but I can't speak for other search engines. Second, the malicious user will notice that you can keep the robot from indexing other people's sites that are linked to from your page.
Using these meta tags in the heading of a particular page applies them to the whole page. The syntax is as follows:
<meta name="ROBOTS" content="NOINDEX, NOFOLLOW">
For more information, check out this helpful link.
The downside to this method is that you are specifying these properties for the whole page. While this may be desirable in some instances, more often than not it's desirable to specify such attributes on a link by link basis. We can do that by adding the "rel" attribute to the standard link syntax as follows:
Google
How to use meta robots for good?
So here's a true story. This may be a bit embarrassing for yours truly, but in sharing, I hope that I can help others avoid the same mistake. Earlier this year, I was looking through my Google Webmasters account to see which keywords I was hitting with this site. (For more information on how to setup Google Webmaster Tools and how to find keywords, see my post entitled What is SEO and why do I need it?) I was a bit surprised to notice that my my number one keyword was "RSS". Clearly, being a Photography / Blogging site, this wasn't good! Thankfully, if you click on a keyword in Google Webmaster Tools, you'll be given a list of what pages this keyword appears in. I was shocked to find out that the keyword "RSS" appeared numerous times on every page of my site!
Digging a little deeper, I found that every place I had a link to my RSS feed (sidebar, post metadata, etc…) these links were being indexed. And since the text that is also a link seems to be given a higher ranking by Google, the keyword "RSS" was doing very well!
So, I went and changed the links to my feed to add the nofollow and noindex attributes, and waited. One thing you will learn about SEO is that changes don't happen overnight! After a few weeks, the top keywords on my site were back to useful keywords.
Keywords are a very important since they are how new visitors can find your site. By assisting web crawlers and leading them to the correct content, you can make your site appear more readily when people search for the chosen keywords. However, do keep in mind that nothing replaces content. Just drawing visitors to your site and having them leave disappointed is not the way to go. It's important to realize that some search engines will penalize your site if they feel you are incorrectly guiding their web crawler. So I guess I would caution you, the designer, to ensure that you only use these techniques to help your site appear correctly in searches — or more importantly, to not appear in searches that are completely irrelevant. RSS Feed anyone?


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Commissioner Mattax appoints three to Texas Property and Casualty Insurance Guaranty Association Board of...
Insurance Commissioner David Mattax has appointed three members to serve on the board of directors of the Texas Property and Casualty Insurance Guaranty Association. The board oversees the association, which helps to protect Texans if a property and casualty insurer fails.
Rep. Cuellar Adds Language in Transportation-HUD Funding Bill to Enforce Public Housing Income Requirements
Congressman Henry Cuellar (D-TX-28) announced the inclusion of language in the Fiscal Year 2017 U.S. House Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies (THUD) Appropriations bill that encourages the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and local public housing authorities to reduce the number of residents who exceed the maximum income requirements ("over-income residents") in order to provide housing assistance to vulnerable persons and families who are most in need. The bill passed out of the full U.S. House Appropriations Committee Tuesday.
Congressman Cuellar Includes Language in Appropriations Bill to Help Homeless Veterans
Congressman Henry Cuellar (D-TX-28) announced he included language in the U.S. House's Fiscal Year 2017 Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations bill to support homeless veterans.
Only Two Weeks Left to Register for March Storms Disaster Assistance
Texans who suffered damage or losses from the March 7-29 severe storms, tornadoes and flooding only have until Wednesday, May 18, to register for FEMA assistance. "We do not want to see anyone lose the opportunity to receive money that they are due," said Federal Coordinating Officer Kevin Hannes, who is in charge of FEMA's operations in Texas.
Justice Department Reaches $475,000 Settlement With Beaumont, Texas, to Resolve Disability Discrimination in Housing...
The Justice Department today announced that the city of Beaumont, Texas, has agreed to pay $475,000 and change its zoning and land use practices to resolve a lawsuit alleging that it discriminated against persons with intellectual or developmental disabilities who sought to live in small group homes in the city's residential neighborhoods. The consent decree must still be approved by the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas.
Rep. Culberson Joins Texas Delegation in Request for Disaster Declaration
Representative John Culberson joined all House Members of the Texas delegation in sending a letter to President Barack Obama in support of Governor Greg Abbott's state disaster declaration request
Congressmen Al Green and Gene Green Introduce Legislation to Fully Fund Houston Area Army...
On Thursday, April 21, 2016, Congressmen Al Green (TX-09) and Gene Green (TX-29) introduced H.R. 5025, the 2016 Tax Day Floods Supplemental Funding Act, which would appropriate $311 million for Army Corps flood control construction projects in the Houston area. The legislation would fund the projects using supplemental appropriations until 2026, and return any funds not used on these projects to the U.S. Treasury.
Federal Judge Sides with City of Dallas over Banning Pornography Expo on City Property
A federal judge ruled in favor of the City of Dallas following its decision to ban a pornography convention from being hosted at a city-owned convention center. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton and the Dallas Citizens Council filed an amicus brief earlier this month in support of the city
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announced a graduate student team from the University of Texas at Austin the winners of HUD's third annual Innovation in Affordable Housing Student Design and Planning Competition. The Austin team was one of the four team finalists to develop a plan to redevelop the public housing project Monteria Village in Santa Barbara, California. HUD also announced a team from University of Maryland as the runner up.
MPD to hold public viewing of recovered stolen property
The Midland Police Department will give citizens an opportunity to retrieve stolen property through a public viewing from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Thursday, April 21 at the MPD armory building (3900 N. Lamesa Rd.).
Spend FEMA Grants Wisely
The Federal Emergency Management Agency has already put more than $5 million in federal disaster relief funds in the hands of Mississippians recovering from flooding and severe weather. The Mississippi Emergency Management Agency and FEMA want to remind those receiving grant payments to spend those funds wisely. Survivors should use Housing Assistance and Other Needs Assistance grants on housing repairs and other essential needs.
FEMA, State Grants Will Not Affect Social Security Or Other Federal Benefits
Texas residents affected by the severe storms, tornadoes and flooding in March will not lose Social Security benefits, pay additional taxes, or give up income-based benefit programs if they accept federal or state disaster aid. This includes homeowners, renters and businesses in Erath, Gregg, Harrison, Henderson, Hood, Jasper, Limestone, Marion, Newton, Orange, Parker, Shelby and Tyler counties who register for disaster assistance.
Preliminary Flood Maps for Three Texas Counties Ready for Public View
New preliminary flood maps for residents of Chambers, Liberty and San Jacinto counties area ready for residents to review. Communities affected by the maps include Liberty, Dayton, Dayton Lakes, and Mont Belvieu.
Public Invited to Appeal or Comment on Flood Maps for Willacy and Cameron Counties...
New preliminary flood maps for residents and business owners in Willacy and Cameron counties are now ready for residents to review. Local, state and Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) officials teamed up to produce them
Nearly 200 People Attend Flood Disaster Assistance Workshop Hosted by Babin Office in Deweyville
Nearly 200 people attended a "Flood Disaster Assistance Workshop" on Thursday night hosted by U.S. Rep. Brian Babin (TX-36) and his staff at the Deweyville High School gymnasium. The event, which featured representatives from FEMA, SBA, FSA, TDEM and other community recovery agencies, provided flood victims in Newton, Orange and Jasper Counties with an opportunity to ask questions and hear directly from these agencies on applying for assistance.
Two Federal District Courts in Texas Rule MERS Has Authority to Assign Deed of...
MERSCORP Holdings, Inc. today announced that the United States District Courts for the Southern District of Texas, Houston Division and the Northern District of Texas, Dallas Division held MERS' assignments were valid, and granted motions to dismiss in two cases.
Four Additional Texas Counties May Now Apply for Disaster Assistance
At the request of the state of Texas, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has added Henderson, Limestone, Shelby and Tyler to the federal disaster declaration of March 19. They join the nine counties already approved for both Individual Assistance and Public Assistance: Erath, Gregg, Harrison, Hood, Jasper, Marion, Newton, Orange and Parker.
Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson Joins Bipartisan Group of Members of Congress to File Amicus...
Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson joined a bipartisan group of 44 current and former Senators and 164 current and former House members from 38 states as well as the District of Columbia in filing an amicus brief in support of the Obama administration's historic 'Clean Power Plan' (CPP). The CPP will reduce carbon pollution and address climate change, save consumers $155 billion by 2030, create jobs, and prevent 90,000 childhood asthma attacks through 2030
FEMA Provides Funding to Rowlett, Texas, for Tornado Debris Removal
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has awarded an initial payment of $1,875,000 to the state of Texas for the city of Rowlett for debris removal. A tornado swept through the city on Dec. 26, 2015, along a 3.5 mile track. Storm debris blocked the paths of emergency vehicles and the general public and created significant danger to motorists. The city of Rowlett removed debris to eliminate threats to public health and safety.
State housing agency's online homebuyer education tool takes the complexity out of home purchase...
Free pre- and post-purchase education, mortgage credit courses result in more informed buyers positioned for success. First time home buying is among the biggest and most complex decisions most of us will make in our lives. Besides the financial commitment, buying a home also comes with a whole new world of unfamiliar terms and responsibilities.


text: I've kept very detailed records from all of our doctor's visits and prescription medications since we started the infertility testing, I'm a little OCD like that. While we didn't end up having a viable pregnancy at the end of our journey I just wanted to give a "grand total" of just how much infertility ended up costing us *financially*. I think it might be helpful information to someone just starting out. The total cost was $33,783.29, and after insurance (which covered more than we anticipated) we ended up being out of pocket $10,964.83 (I stopped tracking costs after October, but I went on to have several more HCG tests until my number returned to 0 after my ectopic pregnancy). Infertility is NO JOKE emotional, physically and financially! We began working with our RE in September 2013 and ended our journey after our 5th IUI (that resulted in an ectopic pregnancy) in August 2014.


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As a Christian, Apostolic Teacher, and former Pastor, I am asked a lot of questions about life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. I have always been a Second Amendment supporter. In light of recent National and International Terrorist attacks I have found myself in more open discussions concerning guns. Many of the questions and discussions have centered on whether or not it is appropriate for Christians to use guns in the defense of their lives and the lives of their families, friends, and other innocents. I have always believed that it is appropriate for a Christian to defend innocent life. Not only is it appropriate, it is their obligation. How that defense happens is perhaps the question of many.
In order to give an apologetic (defense) answer, I feel that I need to define a couple phrases. Almost inevitably, someone asking the question about deadly force in reference to guns, will use the phrase "shoot to kill". That phrase seems to come with a lot of assumptions and attitude behind it. That negative connotation is expressed, especially when in reference to property and protecting the "stuff" in life (not people). In my Concealed Handgun License classes in Florida this was brought up and discussed. The point is that there are many circumstances surrounding protection of property, and "what if" questions are always abundant. The main point, to me is about the threat and the circumstances around the threat towards yourself and other innocents.
The other phrase though should be more common than deadly force, or shoot to kill is: "shoot to stop the threat". Shooting to stop the threat is much less ominous, and in fact more appropriate for all cases when you need to react to that threat. Before continuing remember that all states treat various situations differently (unfortunately), and you need to be completely and fully aware of your state's (and sometimes even city) laws and eccentricities when it comes to owning, carrying and using a firearm.
- In Psalm 82:4 (Lexham English Bible) it says that we are to "Rescue the helpless and the needy; deliver them from the hand of the wicked."
- Nehemiah 4:14b (LEB) we are told to "…fight for your brothers, your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your houses." These passages and others in like contextual reference, show us that we are required by biblical principles to defend innocent life, be it our families or merely the "helpless and needy".
This defense is especially compelling when it comes to our own household.
- I Timothy 5:8 (LEB) states that "…if someone does not provide for his own relatives, and especially the members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever." In New and Old Testament scriptures we find command in reference to providing for the defense and safety of our loved ones?
Now that we have mentioned defending yourself, loved ones and innocents, how this is accomplished in our fallen world is the next phase. I believe that scripture is clear that we can not only arm ourselves in response to life threatening situations; but skill at arms is presented in a positive light as well. We are expected to have the tools and to acquire the skills needed to fulfill our obligation in protecting innocents from the evil that is loose in the world. This is clearly demonstrated Psalms:
- Psalm 144:1 (LEB) "Blessed be Yahweh, my rock, the one who trains my hands for battle, my fingers for war—" and again in
- Psalm 18:34 (LEB) "He trains my hands for war, so that my arms can bend a bow of bronze."
Yes, thee is the context of war, and not self-defense, but he the Lord's teaching if focused on the training and the center of faith of being prepared in the proper use of arms.
- Luke 11:21-22 (LEB) tells us that "When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own palace, his possessions are ⌊safe⌋. But when a stronger man attacks him and conquers him, he takes away his full armor in which he trusted and distributes his plunder."
This passage of scripture not only allows specifically for armed defense, but serves as a model for what we refer to as the Castle (your home is your "castle") Doctrine. The peoples of the New Testament were fully aware of our lost and fallen world. So, for me, stopping the threat is something that is part of my worldview and awareness of what's around me. The most grand and exotic worldly possessions do not have the value of any human life. I would probably not use deadly force in defense of property, but I would not hesitate to stop the threat, to save the lives of family and innocents. Home invasions are not uncommon and having armed intruders is reason for defense and an attitude of wanting to stop the threat. Make no mistake, malicious people are in the fallen-world these days, in droves.
This "stop the threat" way of thinking is supported by scripture. On the other hand, we see clearly that murder is not permissible, but we should also understand that not all killing is the same as murder. Biblically speaking, we see that if the break-in occurs in light of day, deadly force is not automatically mandated. The point here, as I mentioned previously is that deadly force is not commanded simply to defend property. It shows that in the light of day it is possible to discern whether or not the intent of the malicious person(s) run deeper than mere theft. Today, as in Exodus-Bible-days, thieves who would enter your home under cover of night often have intentions that include violence, home invasions stand out in my mind. In the dark it must be assumed that there is a deeper level of threat and stopping the threat with deadly force can be an acceptable response.
The New Testament affords fewer references to arms and an armed defense. But Jesus does give us some insights into his thoughts on the matter:
- Luke 22:35–39 (LEB) 35 And he said to them, "When I sent you out without a money bag and a traveler's bag and sandals, you did not lack anything, did you?" And they said, "Nothing." 36 And he said to them, "But now the one who has a money bag must take it, and likewise a traveler's bag. And the one who does not have a sword must sell his cloak and buy one. 37 For I tell you that this that is written must be fulfilled in me: 'And he was counted with the criminals.' For indeed, what is written about me ⌊is being fulfilled⌋." 38 So they said, "Lord, behold, here are two swords!" And he said to them, "It is adequate." 39 And he went away and proceeded, according to his custom, to the Mount of Olives, and the disciples also followed him.
We see that Jesus wished for at least some of the Disciples to be armed, presumably for the purposes of defense. It is Important to note that the sword was the "assault rifle" of the day, so Jesus not only wanted his men armed but well-armed. Even when Jesus allowed himself to be taken by the Pharisees, and stopped his disciples from using their weapons to defend Him, he did not condemn arms.
- John 18:10–11 (LEB) 10 Then Simon Peter, who had a sword, drew it and struck the slave of the high priest and cut off his right ear. (Now the name of the slave was Malchus.) 11 So Jesus said to Peter, "Put the sword into its sheath! The cup that the Father has given me—shall I not drink it?"
Simon Peter was told to sheath his blade, not to abandon or relinquish it. Armed defense, although appropriate at times, was the path that Jesus wanted to follow at the moment. He had other things to do on our behalf, but that is another story.
Is it appropriate for Christians to keep arms for the purpose of defending innocent life from evil people in this currently, fallen world? It is. God in his infinite wisdom has seen to it that we are cleared to use this option should it be necessary. There is no inconsistency in followers of Christ, while striving for peace, using arms when called upon to do so. The use of deadly force to stop the threat is a tremendous responsibility though. One that should not be entered into in any but the most pressing of circumstances.
There are some home defense points and comments that I would also like to make that are part of the overall relationship in stopping a threat. The first thing I want to say is that whether your state laws require a permit or license and you have had training, owning a firearm does not make you invulnerable. Many times, especially people that choose to legally carry a firearm, tend to think that because they have this tool, that it will somehow keep them from violence. That way of thinking is a false dichotomy and incorrect. Every situation is different and always being aware of your surroundings should always be kept in the forefront of your mind.
Some firearms owners believe that a pistol is only there to help them "fight their way to their rifle or shotgun". This too, is an incorrect perception of firearms in actual use. The majority of gun fights start and finish in less than 20 seconds. And they're even more likely to be over in 10 seconds or less. As with any other tool, you should try to master it. Training and practice will help to make every shot count. Train and practice at every opportunity you get.
Training isn't merely shooting paper targets at the range, though this may be the best available way to practice. Real threats move, and they're fighting back. Nothing will ever make you 100% prepared for an active threat that needs to be stopped. However, the closer you get to the real thing, the more prepared you'll be to stop the threat and defend your life and the lives of other innocents.
For firearm owners, there's talk of something that is referred to as "stopping power". Don't let anyone tell you differently, in reality and this fallen and cursed world, there is no such thing as stopping power. It doesn't really matter the caliber of choice. More often than not, the threat you face, will be on drugs. Illegal/illicit drugs have a way of numbing the mind and senses. There are many stories of drugged up criminals taking over a dozen shots, and still fleeing the scene. With that said, there is something to be said for larger caliber and specially made self-defense ammunition. But the best stopping power is whatever you have that you have trained and practiced with and are not afraid to use to stop the threat.
I really hate to say the next one, but keep in mind your particular neighborhood and where you live. You may want to think about whether you let your children answer the door and at what time of the day. Seriously, most home invasions aren't initiated by kicking in the door, they generally knock first. And as soon as your child opens the door, they've got a hostage… or worse, their first victim. Just something to think about. Speaking of home invasions, they are not as rare as we might hope. Thinking that it might happen to you isn't paranoia. There are more than 40,000 of them each year. Just go to Google and type in "home invasions". The sheer number of stories that pop up will shock you. Again, of course, you will want to know your local area and ascertain your risk or not. The important thing to remember is that your home is your "castle", and it needs a well-trained, armed, intelligent defender.
What we're seeing today is not a gun problem; it's a violence problem, it's a moral problem; it's a sin problem. We are witnessing the rapid deterioration of a nation, and Christian worldview. We have lost our moral compass and we have lost the fear of the Lord. When the fear of the Lord decreases, evil increases. "A people that values its privileges above its principles soon loses both" (Dwight D. Eisenhower).
One of the Scriptures often used to support banning weapon-use (especially for Christians) is found in Proverbs:
- Proverbs 20:22 (LEB) – "Do not say 'I will repay evil'; wait for Yahweh and he will deliver you."
This Scripture is dealing with vengeance and vigilantism, not self-defense. Those who want to do harm will always find a way around the law. Restricting firearms is not the answer. For the Christian, self/personal defense is not about vengeance at all, let alone vigilantism.
Many people, including Christians misapply some scriptures, because they don't understand that there is a different sphere of understanding when it comes to the authorities versus, or over and against the individual.
- "Men, in a word, must necessarily be controlled, either by a power within them, or by a power without them; either by the Word of God, or by the strong arm of man; either by the Bible, or by the bayonet". (Robert Winthrop)
As Christians, I believe that we are to seek peace at every turn and not drape the cross with the flag. But what about self-defense and biblical mandates to protect when spouses or children are involved, especially? The Old Testament offers a plethora of examples, but what about the New Testament?
- Matthew 26:52 (LEB), Jesus says to Peter, "Put your sword back into its place! For all who take up the sword will die by the sword."
Interesting scripture, but what you won't find is Jesus denouncing the sword, instead He clarifies it's place. When we take premature, emotionally charged action, it may cost us our lives. Then in
- Luke 22:36 Jesus says, "But now, let him who has a purse take it and also a bag. And let him who has no sword sell his garment and buy one."
As a Christian, err on the side of peace, but this isn't always an option. One thing is certain: A sword was for defense. Jesus initially sent them on a peaceful mission trip where they did not need these items, but now Jesus may have been saying, "I was your provision and your safety, and I still am, but I also want you to be prepared … to use wisdom."
But some may argue, "Didn't Jesus say to love our enemies, and bless those who curse us, and do good to those who hate us, and pray for those who spitefully use and persecute us?" (Matt. 5:43-48.) Yes. However, these references refer to personal assaults, offenses and character assassinations. It is a quantum leap to believe that Jesus is saying, "Do good to those who are trying to physically harm your family."
Paul tells Timothy that if "any do not care for their own, and especially for those of their own house, they have denied the faith and are worse than unbelievers" (1 Tim. 5:8). But those who seek to protect their family, which is often a greater responsibility (if not equal), are often labeled war-mongers, violent and accused of misapplying the Scriptures, if they believe in having and training to use a gun.
The Scriptures must be read in their totality. For example, when Jesus was slapped, He didn't turn the other cheek. He said, "If I have spoken evil, bear witness of the evil, but if well, why do you strike me?" (John 18:23). Although we are to err on the side of grace and peace, there is a time and a place for confrontation and protection. Understand that I'm not advocating violence or aggression; I'm advocating scriptural consistency and continuity. Context is the key factor here. Forgiving is not being passive, and granting grace is not being gullible.
Are we called to guard our families spiritually, emotionally and financially but not physically? This makes no sense. However, my concern with the current gun debate is that we are buying into the fear frenzy. A minimizing of sovereignty is directly related to a magnifying of worry.
- "Most Christians salute the sovereignty of God but believe in the sovereignty of man" (R.C. Sproul).
Many are prepared militarily but not spiritually, instilling unhealthy fear in their families. We are putting the fear of man into them rather than the fear of God. I hear all about Colt, Glock, Smith and Wesson and Remington, but little about brokenness, surrender to God and humility. Our gun safes are full, but our prayer closets are empty. This is the real problem—we need to spend less time listening to and watching conservative talking-heads, and more time reading Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.
Every time God's people trusted in their weapons and armies, He called them to repentance. Our protection is in daily submission to Him.
- Psalm 121:1-3 adds: "I will lift up my eyes to the hills, from where does my help come? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth. He will not let your foot slip; He who keeps you will not slumber."
Our current trend beckons us to be very careful about who, or what, we "worship." Who, or what, we place our trust in.
This is an article, which I have taken some literary freedom with, but which I believe is a very timely article for today's Christian.
The article was written by: Brent Hoefling·Tuesday, December 22, 2015


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Amy Schumer and DJ Khaled Team Up To Raise Money On World AIDS Day
AllHipHop Staff
(AllHipHop News) Comedian Amy Schumer and donated $50,000 to AIDS charity RED to fund a campaign with DJ Khaled, in honor of World AIDS Day.
Amy put up the cash, which will allow one lucky fan to win a jetski ride with DJ Khaled, all in support of a good cause.
Khaled is currently hosting the first ever "Snapathon" with (RED), where he will tell his fans what they need to know about HIV and AIDS, and what can be done to combat the spread of the incurable disease.
"I'm super excited to be supporting the (RED) SHOPATHON with something pretty wild," DJ Khaled told AllHipHop.com in a statement. "To date, 35 million people have died of AIDS, and 37 million are living with the disease. It's crazy when you know this, it costs just 30 cents a day for the life-saving meds that stop an HIV+ mom from passing the virus to her baby. And crazier still is that by 2020, we could see world where no baby is born with HIV. I've just become a father, so I'm really seeing the importance of this fight. But we won't win the fight unless we get up, raise money, amp up the noise and fight this disease to the end."
Fans can go to Omaze.com/Khaled and donate as litle as $10 to (RED), which was created by U2 frontman Bono and Bobby Shriver, to fight the global spread of HIV/AIDS.
Check out DJ Khaled's special (RED) Snapchat filters for his fans to find in select locations in New York, Los Angeles and Miami, available only on World AIDS Day, which is today (December 1).
The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation is involved in the campaign as well, by matching all donations 10-1, with the possibility of raising up to $6 million.