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I am taking a step away from the fashion front today…..this post is going to be a long one so just hang in there with me!
I have never really been one to be super "clean" if that makes sense. I drink diet soda on the regular. I eat processed foods. I always have. I take medicine, I have tried so many different diet pills and bogus diet drinks, powders, etc. that my body is probably just so out of whack.
The thought or idea of being a little more clean with my body has always been appealing to me, but it just seems so overwhelming- all of the food to eat and not to eat, what to do, what not to do.
For some reason though, over the last few months I have been super intrigued by essential oils. I felt like something like that would be an easy step in the direction of treating my body a little better.
A couple of months ago, it was like the stars aligned when one of my favorite bloggers Molly of Still Being Molly posted about essential oils. At the time, she had been using them for a few months and finally was ready to share her experience with her readers. You can check out her full post here. It was so helpful for me because I had so many questions!
First, let me tell you that this is just my personal experience using the oils. I am not an expert-not even close, I am not a doctor, I am not a nurse. I am just someone who has been using essential oils on the regular for the last few months in the hopes of living a healthier lifestyle.
What are essential oils?
Essential oils are just that- the oil that is extracted from a plant. The oil is extracted through steam distillation and/or cold pressing. The oil is the plant in it's purest form, and is the most beneficial.
Why do I use them?
If I am being honest, one of the main reasons I wanted to start using them was because of the headaches I get. Like clockwork, I get a headache just about every day. It sucks, it's awful. They aren't migraine, but more tension. Not bad enough to put me in bed, but certainly enough to put a hinder on my day and make me want to do nothing but lay in bed. I had tried physical therapy, I had tried prescription medicine, but nothing seemed to work consistently. Plus, I didn't really take the medicine that frequently, mainly because I didn't want to have to rely on medication all the time. I wanted to give an alternative, more natural method a try.
I also just wanted to rid my body of anything gross. I know I am not the best eater. I know what I put into my body has to leave pretty nasty stuff behind, so I wanted to just be cleaner and more natural.
What oils I use.
I personally use Young Living Essential Oils. I signed up for the Premium Starter Kit-it is worth every penny. I settled on Young Living because I just felt the most comfortable with their oils based on the research that I did and also after chatting with Molly (she also has an amazing facebook page that is a great resource for anything and everything). Plus, almost all of their oils can be ingested. No matter what oils you use, it is SO IMPORTANT that you make sure they are able to be ingested.
First, I will share with you a breakdown of some of their everyday oils, and what they are used for. I will also share with you the oils I have used so far, for what, and their benefits.
How do I use them?
There are a TON of uses for each of these oils as well as a ton of other oils that I don't even own yet (although I would love to own them all!). These are just currently the oils that I own and use on a regular, as well as what I have been using them for and some of their more popular uses. I have found that pinterest is a great resource for oils and their uses.
Peppermint: This is by far my favorite! I use this just about every day. I put it in my home diffuser just to refresh the air, but I use it for headaches. Any time I feel a headache coming on, I apply a drop on my temples and on my forehead. Since I have started using oils in November I have only had to breakdown and take headache medicine one time. ONE.TIME. I used to have to take medicine several times a week. Peppermint is also great for a fever reducer, freshen breath, upset stomachs and even teething problems
Pan Away: You could consider this the pain reliever. I use this for general aches and pains, if my back is sore, or even if I have a headache. This is good to use with what is called a carrier oil (I use coconut oil as my carrier oil). Mixing the two makes a great rub.
Stress Away: I use this in combination with peppermint a lot when I get headaches. I also use this on days where I feel particularly stressed and just feel like I need to calm down a bit. My bottle of stress away is a roll on, so I typically roll it on my wrists.
Lemon: Love, love, love lemon! This is one of my favorites to diffuse. There is just something about lemon that is so refreshing. I like putting a drop or two in my water- so tasty. You can also cook with it, and even use it to make a homemade house cleaner.
Lavender: This oil gets a good bit of use as well. I have used this on curling iron burns to soothe, I mix it with coconut oil for diaper cream, and it smells great in the diffuser. I also like to rub it on the bottom of my feet at bedtime (and my girls too) to aid in sleep.
Purification: Any time we have been somewhere that I think was basically a petre dish of germs, I drop some of this in the diffuser (along with thieves) to purify the air. This also makes amazing bug repellent and also disinfects cuts and scrapes.
Thieves: This stuff is AMAZING. I feel like I sound like a broken record, but I use this a lot. My husband felt a sore throat coming on, and on top of that his brother (who he works with) was out sick on Friday throwing up. To combat the sore throat and possibly prevent the flu, he has been placing a drop of Thieves under his tongue a few times a day for the past two days. He feels great, and no sore throat! Ella woke up yesterday with a cough that sounded potentially awful- I mixed some thieves with coconut oil and rubbed some on her feet- no cough since!
The story behind the thieves oil, which Molly share in her blog post as well, is so awesome:
During the time of the black plague, there were thieves who were robbing the graves of the plague victims. Even though these thieves were robbing the graves of the plague victims they weren't getting sick OR dying-they weren't catching the plague. When they were finally caught, they were asked how they were able to keep from getting sick. These thieves were actually spice traders by day and were using a blend of natural essential oils to prevent themselves from getting ill, which is how the thieves essential oil came about!
Thieves has been proven to kill about 99% of airborne bacteria-because of that, it is one of my most diffused oils.
Deep Relief: I feel like this is Pan Away but amplified. I purchased this in a roll on, so I use this in combo with my headache remedies, or a day where I may not have a headache, just some tension in my neck and shoulders. I roll this on and usually feel relief within a few minutes.
Joy: I use this one in the diffuser a good bit. It's supposed to lift your spirits and has a really nice smelling. It's also known to decrease stress and bring you….joy!
Frankincense: While it isn't one of my favorite smelling oils, it does have some great uses. When I use it in the diffuser I usually combine it with other oils. This has a lot of healing properties to it like blemishes/wrinkles, warts, asthma relief, eczema, and it has even been linked to fighting cancer.
Peace and Calming: This is a really soothing oil. The smell isn't one of my favorites, but I just diffuse it with something like Joy and the smell doesn't bother me as much. This is a good oil to use in conjunction with lavender in the evening to wind down.
Valor: This is supposed to be a big help for snoring. I haven't tried it for that because my husband and I don't snore, but in my research I have read that a lot. This can also be used to make a pain relieving muscle rub (mixed with a carrier oil like coconut oil).
En-R-Gee: This is great at just revitalizing you and making you more alert. It is great at boosting your energy. I have only ever used this in the diffuser and topically. I will say that I do not like the smell of this at all, but I just deal with it because I like the effects of using it. It pairs well with lemon-it helps increase your energy level and lifts your spirits!
Grapefruit: Besides smelling delicious this tastes great with water. It also aids in weightloss, cellulite, fluid retention, and it can help with kidney issues as well.
How do I use them?
There are a few different ways that you can use oils-topically, inhalation, ingesting and diffusing.
Topically– I use a lot of the oils neat (meaning by themselves) because I don't have super sensitive skin. Topically is just simply rubbing/dabbing the oil right on your skin.
The pictures below of the flex points on our feet is a great reference. Just one more way you can use the oils topically.
Inhalation– this is literally just that- inhaling the scent of the oil. This works well for things like headaches, sinus problems, stuffy noses. Rubbing some oil in your hands and sort of cupping your hands around your nose works well.
Ingesting– First things first, you need to make sure whatever oils you are using are safe to be be used internally. I am only using Young Living which I know are safe to be ingested. There are several different ways you can ingest the oils- tea, water, cooking, taking the oil neat in your mouth (like my husband was doing with thieves), or even in capsules.
Diffusing– this helps purify and clean the air. Not only do they make your house smell great, but you also get the benefits of the oils.
Favorite Uses
Headache combo: Peppermint on my temples and forehead, Pan Away and/or Deep Relief on the back of my neck/shoulders, and Stress Away on my wrists. It works wonders and like I said before, I have only had to take headache medicine one time since I started using the oils!
Weightloss combo: I have only been doing this particular thing for a couple of days. I am by no means expecting to lose a lot from this alone, but the overall benefits are great. I combined peppermint, lemon, grapefruit and coconut oil in vegetable capsules to create my own "pills" to take on a daily basis. I posted a picture to instagram sharing this- I plan on keeping everyone posted on the longer term results of using these capsules. It is also really beneficial for your metabolism to add some grapefruit and lemon to your water on a daily basis. Super, super excited about this particular combination!
Sunscreen: Of course this really isn't need as much now as it is over the summer months, but carrot seed oil can be combined with coconut oil for homemade sunscreen with about a 35-45 SPF. This is something I cannot wait to use on the regular.
Icy Hot: Combining pan away, valor, peppermint and coconut oil is a great rub for sore muscles.
Face cream: Frankincense and coconut oil are a great combination, simply because of all of the great effects that frank provides.
I could really go on and on and on about all of the tiny specifics of each of the oils and why they are so amazing. It is amazing how quickly they have become a part of my daily life. I am slowly trying to get my husband to jump on the oil wagon with me. It's taking some time, but I am hearing "do you have an oil for this?" more and more from my husband! Over the last few months, our household has been relatively medication free. I think a lot of that can be attributed to the oils-using them to prevent illnesses, bugs and other issues and to just maintain health!
It is an investment, but one that is SO worth it. Not that I need to justify to myself or my husband the cost of "transitioning" into using oils more frequently, but here is a really great breakdown on overall costs of using oils vs over the counter:
Have I overwhelmed you enough? Confused you enough? I know it can seem overwhelming at first. I was REALLY overwhelmed when I first started using them, but I literally just took it one oil at a time.
The first thing I did when I got my oils was research what oils were best for headaches because that was my main priority. From that point on, I would just look up the oil and it's use as needed. That seemed to work the best for me!
If you have any questions at all just let me know. Like I said, I am not even close to being an expert, and the intention of this post isn't to tell you that you should be using oils and nothing else! I just simply love this new path I have taken, and I have gotten a lot of questions over the last few weeks about oils!


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Translucent Honeycomb and Stainless Steel
A prototype public art display designed by Architecture Research Office (ARO) and built by Goetz Composites adds color and interesting surfaces to Bogardus Plaza in Lower Manhattan. The initiative is part of NYCDOT's Urban Art Program that brings art to unexpected places throughout the city.
Full story, and images, Branden Klayko – Architects Newspaper. Project timeline images

subset: commoncrawl


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Routers View All
Whole Home WiFi View All
Cables, Adapters and Power Bars View All
Smart Home Solutions View All
Hubs and Switches View All
Wireless Network Cards View All
Range Extenders and Powerline View All
Networking and Internet
London Drugs Networking & Internet – an assortment of devices and equipment including hubs, switches, routers, modems, network cards, wireless network cards & access points and more.
London Drugs has an exceptional selection of internet devices and networking equipment for home or work. Most computer networks span a small area and our LAN (local area network) hubs become the centre point for peripherals and other equipment. You'll find a lineup of 3 port to 10 port hubs to expand the connectivity options on your PC or Mac desktop or laptop computers.
Switches work with modems and routers to make your network more efficient. Like hubs, switches direct traffic but use far less bandwidth for better productivity. Browse our selection of switches from trusted brand names like D-Link, Netgear and Iogear.
Even if your network consists of one desktop computer, your Internet service provider (ISP) needs a router to connect to it. A wired router is ideal for independently wired rooms, allowing you to plug all devices directly into one unit for a fast, secure network connection. Wireless routers create a network in your home or office that allows you to share printers with other computers, as well as wirelessly stream content to and from media streamers. Shop our selection of quality routers including top performing models with advanced WiFi technology that connects all your devices including laptops, tablets, phones, TV, music streamers, game consoles and cameras.
Does your network have dead zones? Check out our selection of extenders and access point devices to boost the signal strength and coverage of your wireless network. Shop for wireless network interface cards designed to provide a dedicated full time connection to a network.
At London Drugs we have a full range of accessories and devices to increase the speed and coverage of your network so you can surf the internet from any corner of your home, even outdoors.
For over 50 years, Canadians have been shopping at London Drugs. You can order networking and Internet merchandise online and get the same quality and service you've come to expect – all from the convenience of your home.


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Pepsi may be slippin, but our Black card is here to stay.
From Bilal to Lupe Fiasco, #BlackBookLA has got you covered!
Twerk Shop
Thursday, April 6 | 8PM-9PM | $5
Crenshaw Yoga & Dance | 5426 Crenshaw Blvd. LA, CA 90043
If you're looking for a great workout, come through to Jenae's dance class, infusing cardio workouts and hip hop. Come ready to sweat out your twist out.
Knee pads or pants/leggings are suggested!
For more info, click here.
Friday, April 7 | 8PM | $25
OC Observatory | 3503 S Harbor Blvd. Santa Ana, CA 92704
Our fave NoName is comin thru to the OC Observatory this Friday. Get your girls and come out for a night to remember.
For tickets, click here.
Black Book LA Meet-Up
No Justice, No Peace: LA 1992 @ CAAM
Saturday, April 8 | 1PM | FREE (Parking is $12)
California African American Museum | 600 State Dr. Los Angeles, CA 90037
Come join Black Book LA Founder, Tyree, for a tour of "No Justice, No Peace: LA 1992, his first exhibition at CAAM. The show revisits the events that led up to the Los Angeles riots and, through more than 250 images and objects, digs deep, looking at the long history of policing and communities of color in Los Angeles, as well as housing segregation, the drug war and the other social and political forces that made the uprising so explosive.
Our Family Dinner LA: California Love
Saturday, April 8 | 2:30PM | $47
Pez Cantina | 401 S. Grand Ave. Los Angeles, CA 90071
Our favorite Family Dinner is coming to LA! Bring your appetite and come ready to grub with the homies.
For tickets, click here.
Iconic: Black Panther Art Exhibit LA
Saturday, April 8 | 7PM | FREE
Gregorio Escalante Gallery | 978 Chung King Rd. LA, CA 90012
Celebrate the legacy of the Black Panthers this Saturday at Gregorio Escalante Gallery and Zack De La Rocha Gallery in Chinatown. Pay homage to the OG freedom fighters and check out some dope, thought-provoking art.
For more info, click here.
#ThankYouLA Networking Brunch
Sunday, April 9 | 2PM | $29
Busby's East | 5364 Wilshire Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90036
Live it up this Sunday at #ThankYouLA, a brunch series that celebrates Los Angeles and all it has to offer. Come give thanks and enjoy bottomless mimosas, and great musical vibes provided by Kenway Live.
For more info, click here.
A Night w/ Sho Baraka
Sunday, April 9 | 8PM | $20
Resident | 428 S Hewitt St. Los Angeles, CA 90013
Join Sho Baraka as he takes you on a journey you won't forget.
For tickets, click here.
Bilal at SOL
Tuesday, April 11 | 7:30PM | $20
The SOL Venue | 313 E Carson St. Carson, CA 90745
Bilal is performing at the SOL Venue for the first time for an intimate show. If you're looking for a soulful night, this is the move.
For more info, click here.
Lupe Fiasco
Wednesday, April 12 | 7PM (Doors open) | $29
The Novo | 800 W. Olympic Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90015
In need of a mid-week pick me up?
Assemble the squad and come kick it with the one and only Lupe at the Novo next Wednesday.
For tickets, click here.
Vince Staples + Kilo Kish
Wednesday, April 12 | 8PM | $25
Fonda Theatre | 6126 Hollywood Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90028
Wanna throw it down for the LBC?
Come rep Long Beach at the Fonda next Wednesday to see Vince Staples shut it down with Kilo Kish.
For tickets, click here.


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Wicked Comics are proud to announce that the first phase of Malta Comic Con 2017 have already sold out. Phase 2 Super Saver tickets are now available online from the Malta Comic Con website (http://www.maltacomic-con.com/product-category/tickets) and offline from Pandora's Box Collectables (Tarxien), Toy Town (Birkirkara) and RC World (Naxxar) at – 10 for 1 day and – 14 for 2 days.
Wicked Comics are also proud to announce that guests Lee Townsend, Ian Sharman, Cliodhna, Clint Langley, Leonidas 'Steve' Stivaktis and Lea Gerard as well as exhibitors Agenda Bookshop, Daniel Mercieca, Jonathan Shaller, Leanne Agius, Lawrence Paul Zrinzo and Scatterbrian will be joining the previously announced guest and exhibitors amongst the highlights of Malta Comic Convention (MCC) 2017. The 9th edition of the Malta Comic Con (MCC) will be held on Saturday 2rd December (10am-6pm) and Sunday 3rd December (11am-7pm) 2017 at the Mediterranean Conference Centre, Valletta.
Lee Townsend
Lee Townsend started working in the comic industry in the mid 90's. Throughout his career he has worked on titles such as Action Man, Transformers (Marvel Uk), Spider-Man, Avengers, X-Men, Iron Man, Hulk (Marvel), Judge Dredd, Sinister Dexter, Flesh (2000AD), Hellblazer and World of Warcraft (DC). He has also spent several years working in the animation industry for Disney and Dreamworks and is currently drawing comic strips for Cartoon Network and storyboards for adverts and films. He is also in discussion on new comic projects with Marvel and DC.
Ian Sharman
Ian Sharman is the award winning writer of Alpha Gods, Hero: 9 to 5, Hypergirl, The Intergalactic Adventures of Zakk Ridley and Spacescape. He also contributes and edits the Eagle Award nominated anthology Eleventh Hour. Ian has also inked titles such as Spider-Man, Iron Man and X-Men for Panini Comics and lettered the Doctor Who graphic novels and the AX Collection of underground manga published by Top Shelf. He's also Editor In Chief of Markosia, one of the leading independent publishers of graphic novels in the UK, and runs Orang Utan Comics, a UK based collective of comic book creators. In addition to this Ian is also the producer and one of the stars of the audio drama Ray Gunn & Starburst and recently released a collection of flash fiction and poetry called Words On A Wall.
Cliodhna is an Irish animator and illustrator. She studied animation at Ballyfermot College in Dublin and comics at the School of Visual Arts in New York. Her film credits include 'The Secret of Kells, and 'The 99 Unbound'. She has also contributed to several comic book anthologies including War: The Human Cost, Ink+paper and The Whores of Mensa as well as editing the charity anthology 'I'm sorry I can't take your call right now but I'm off saving the world'.
Clint Langley
Clint Langley is a British comic book artist best known for his work on series Slaine and ABC Warriors with Pat Mills at 2000AD and as the cover artist for Marvel Comics – Guardians of the Galaxy, Hawkeye and Ghost Rider. He has also produced art for Games workshops – Warhammer universe, Radical Comics – Hercules and collectible card art for Magic the Gathering and World of Warcraft.


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Brace yourself: a rant is coming…
About motivational mindset pants.
I'm interviewing a rather splendid lady today for my podcast. Her name's Stefanie Arroyo, and she runs a group call Marketing, NOT Mindset.Somewhat amusingly, she changed the name of her group fairly recently to focus on marketing, not mindset… and a bunch of her members got in a right huff and left.
Which tells you a lot about what they'll achieve (or won't, rather).
Because, like me, Stefanie is on a Mission to get business owners actually doing stuff that'll grow their business – rather than sharing fluffy motivational pants memes on social media and hoping that'll somehow magically manifest itself into piles of gold ingots.
Now don't wilfully misunderstand me here: mindset is important. If you're a Negative Nellie, shit will keep happening to you and you'll blame everyone around you but yourself and your life will never get any better.
If you're a Positive Penny, you will actively look for opportunities to improve your life, so you're more likely to take those opportunities and work to improve your own life.
See the difference?
What Stefanie was ranting about in her FB livestream this morning was similar. She was talking about all Gary Veeeeeeeeee's millions of followers, hanging off his every motivational meme, and desperate to be near him.
Now sure, Gary Veeeeeee has done very well for himself and built an amazing business. I'm not denying that.
But people don't follow him for his business savvy… they follow him for the motivational mindset pants he flings at them.
And following someone for that reason, because they simply make you feel good about yourself, will keep you broke.
Because what you need — what I need — is actual stuff to do that works.
We don't need any more motivational pants. I have many pairs of my own, and so do you.
So next time you decide to swap your money for the latest guru offering, ask yourself this: will that motivational guru actually help you grow your business? Will what you're buying give you something solid and real you can apply in your business right now?
Or are you really buying into the idea that "If I just do this one thing, everything will change for me"…?
Because if it's the latter, you're going to be disappointed. Again.
Instead, start with the basic stuff you need to do to grow your business.
And do it. One thing at a time.
That is my Mission — to help you do that.
If you're after action, not motivational pants, sign up here:
Vicky Fraser is a copywriter, author, and entrepreneur. She really did run away with the circus… but when she's not swinging from a trapeze, she's showing other copywriters and small business owners how to work with better clients, make more money, and stop missing bathtimes, first words, and dinners with angry partners. In fact, she wrote the book on it. Get your copy here.


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The City of Morden council governs in accordance to the authority of the The Municipal Act of the Province of Manitoba.
Council is interested in receiving feedback from residents regarding desired direction for municipal government, and residents are encouraged to review the statutes which outline the processes for a proper petition.
The Municipal Act subsections 153-159 outlines the proper petitioning processes required to petition a council:


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> Open your CompanyCam mobile app
> Tap the 'Menu' icon in the upper left corner of the screen
> Tap 'Upload Status'
> Swipe left and delete out the entries that DO NOT have a thumbnail image.
Too many to delete one-by-one? Skip this step and see the next step below.
> Too many to delete one-by-one? Tap the 3 circles in the upper right corner and then choose 'Delete All'
**IMPORTANT** Do not 'Delete All' if there are any entries that DO have a thumbnail image!


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In addition to our own website, there are other sites on the Web that provide interesting and helpful dental information. Because we are committed to improving the oral healthcare knowledge of our patients, we are providing the following selection of links to other sites you might find interesting and informative. We have grouped some of the links into various categories to provide quick access to the topics of greatest interest to you.
If you have a suggestion for a new link, please send us an email, as we are always looking for good resources to pass along to our valued patients and visitors to our website. We hope you find these sites helpful!
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Warren Buffett is considered by many to be one of the greatest if not the greatest investor in history. Consider that shares of Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (BRK.A, BRK.B) sold at their IPO in the 1960s for ...
See More From: Stocks & Bonds
Amazon.com, Inc. (AMZN) will crush the fashion industry into oblivion over the next few years as it sets out to conquer the apparel market. It may not happen tomorrow or next week, but it is in the cards.
Analysts ...


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Fellow Crafters,
Its difficult to get back to something after a break, and if you get back, you may get engrossed much that you tend to do more.
An attempt to make a decoupage tray using the "Papericious paper - Steal the Time". It was with me for a long time and I must say I love the theme and color combo used in it.
Preparation of the wooden tray was the first thing at hand.
I have tried to use an antique / distressed look along with it . I gave a coat of off white(peach) acrylic paint . Then rubbed certain areas with candle wax. The next coat was chalk paint - teal color as it matched with the prints of the Papericious paper. I sanded the area where I had applied wax to reveal the peach color. Next I glued the paper using Modpodge. Seal the decoupage surface with a few layers of mod podge. Let it dry thoroughly .
Next were the edges of the tray. I wanted a cracked distressed look. I used Ranger Texture and mixed a bit of Deco art crackle paste . I applied the mixture through Damask stencil and waited for ti get dry naturally. Once dry I could see the cracks appear. Dry brushing using acrylic - red, brown and Golden randomly gave a very distressed look. Once I was happy with the result , I sanded the edges and the texture( white) revealed through the colors, thus making it look embossed.
Hope you are inspired by this and make one for yourself.
Happy Crafting


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Jobs and the Economy
Keeping and creating jobs is Jim Butler's top priority. For too long, Ohio and the Miami Valley have fallen behind. Jim Butler is working to make Ohio a better place to do business by reforming taxes and regulations, improving education and cutting the skyrocketing cost of healthcare.
Health Care Affordability and Transparency
Jim Butler knows skyrocketing health care costs are straining Ohio families and are a major threat to Ohio's economy. He's been a leader in the effort to make health care more affordable and transparent. He authored landmark legislation in an effort to provide consumers with more information about the cost of their care. Butler has also proposed a plan to spur health care research to cure diseases and save lives. He is additionally working hard on legislation to introduce innovative substance abuse treatment to our state to curb the growing drug crisis.
Leadership for Our Schools
As a parent and community leader, Jim Butler supports our local schools. As our state representative, he has fought to make a difference. Jim Butler is an advocate for local control and voted to cut mandates on our local schools so teachers can teach and students can learn. He has supported increased funding for schools, including career tech education, so students can be prepared for a college or career after high school.
College Affordability
Colleges and universities are within geographic reach of every Ohioan. But for too many families, the cost of a college education is increasingly out of reach. Jim Butler knows it will take real solutions to solve the problem. He has supported major reform efforts to make colleges and universities more efficient and more accountable.
Balancing the Budget
Jim Butler has worked hard to make government more efficient and more responsive. He has fought to balance the budget, protect our tax dollars and cut taxes so families can keep more of what they earn.
Supporting Our Armed Forces and Our Veterans
Jim Butler is a graduate of the United States Naval Academy and flew F-14 Tomcats in the Navy. He has seen firsthand the commitment the men and women of our military have to protecting America and our freedom. He recently introduced legislation to cut red tape so military spouses and members can more easily secure state occupational licenses when they relocate to Ohio. As our state representative, Jim Butler has always supported our veterans. He authored and passed a law giving credit to businesses bidding on state contracts if they hire veterans.


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Stand your ground. Don't back down.
What does it mean to stand your ground? People today are
constantly making commitments and breaking them. Look at
divorce rates, credit card debts, New Years's resolutions... and
the list of unfulfilled promises goes on. It it even possible to
keep our commitments?
Stand your ground, Don't back down.
Joel Penton says, "Yes it is possible" - he knows from
experience. Like most of your students, Joel was put into
situations in middle school and high school where it would
have been easy to compromise and break his commitments.
However, he chose to rise above the pressure and keep the
committments he made in school, in football, and in life.
Stand your ground. Don't back down.
Joe will say that it takes character, it takes will, and the road
will be hard. But his personal experience is proof that ordinary
people can accomplish great things by simply following through
with the commitments they have made. Your students will be
inspired and reminded of the importance of not just making
committments, but also keep those commitments.
Don't back down. Stand your ground.


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Kitten sisters Goldy, Lindy, and Laurel were rescued during the brutally cold winter of 2013-2014. They had found shelter under a shed and were lured out and live-trapped one at a time. After spending some time in a foster home, the girls were adopted. Here is another great update from Rosemary, who adopted all three of the sisters, now called Priere, Pujah, and Sala:
This past year I've done what I could to socialize her and I wondered
what else I could do, but I'm realizing now this is the way it's going
to be. She'll be with her sisters, and that's the best outcome for her,
and I'll do my best to give her a secure loving environment...
In spite of her past trauma and ongoing fears, I do believe she is where
she belongs. And I will always thank you for the joy I receive
Saturday, May 16, 2015
Sala and her sisters
Posted by molly at 8:25 AM 2 comments Links to this post
Labels: Adoption Update, Outreach
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Wii Yoga
Wii Yoga confirmed by JoWood
Publisher JoWooD has announced Wii Yoga. The game will use the balance board the will "play a central role for the exercising (gaming) experience." It'll also feature an "adaptable weekly schedule of exercises that will leave you feeling freshed." We can't wait. The game was first brought to light during "Intellisponse Gate" last month. By […]
Wii Yoga headlines
Intellisponse rumour round-up - lest we forget
Intellisponse, a market research firm, last night got "internetalised" in a rather brutal way, causing a flood of rumours on unannounced games. We're mindful that some of you don't have to convince your wives and husbands that writing nonsense about spacemen and pretend cars in the middle of the night is "necessary", so here's everything […]
Rumour: Wii Yoga concept revealed
A concept for a game called Wii Yoga has been found on the Intellisponse site. The research firm came to the attention of teh internets tonight after it yielded what appears to be a concept for Microsoft Mii-alikes, dubbed "Avatars". After the link.


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Status: Closed
Know more about this business than we do? Cool! Please submit any corrections or missing details you may have.Help us make it right
Be the first AL.com user to add photos or videos of Means Family Counseling
Since 2010, Means Family Counseling has been providing Family (marriage) Counseling from Birmingham.
Means Family Counseling is located at 5530 Highway 280, Birmingham, AL. This business specializes in Mental Health.


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I am a highly creative person and I love to dabble in many forms of arts and crafts. I have been blessed to have been raised in a creative environment. Someone was always drawing, painting, quilting, sewing, crocheting, or turning junk into art. I had patient parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles who taught me as they created.
I primarily work with beads and making jewelry, but I also enjoy drawing, quilting, sewing, crocheting, wireworking, precious metal clay, and metalsmithing. My favorite technique changes often because I make each piece unique and my work is always morphing into something new.
Currently I am in love with bead embroidery process and incorporating Shibori silk ribbon, glass seed beads, pearls, crystals and vintage glass cabochons into my work.
Having owned and operated Bella Beads in Marquette for almost 10 years, it afforded me the opportunity to be in a creative environment on a daily basis. During that time I was able to take classes around the country from world famous jewelry artists and sharpen my jewelry making skills.
Some of my designs have been published. One piece, a red necklace that was crocheted, was featured in chapter 14 and the back cover of the book "Bead Crochet Basics & Beyond" by Candace Sexton.


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UFC Champ Amanda Nunes: 'I'm 100-Percent That I'm Going to Beat Ronda Rousey'
UFC Women's Bantamweight champion Amanda Nunes will be fighting against the returning Ronda Rousey at UFC 207 on December 30. And, in preparation for the long-awaited fight, Nunes has a message for her opponent.
In an interview with TMZ, Nunes thanked Rousey for giving her the opportunity, while also warning her opponent to be prepared for the fight of her life.
"My message to her is to say thank you, this fight's going to change my life, my career and I hope she's ready. I know she's a very tough opponent, but I'm the best in the world."
However, Nunes also stood up for Rousey against claims from fighters such as Cris Cyborg and Julianna Pena that she doesn't deserve the title shot.
"She only has one loss and all the UFC champions had rematches right away. I think Ronda Rousey, I think everybody wants to see (this fight) and Ronda Rousey deserves this fight again," Nunes said.
But Nunes isn't going to mince words when it comes to what she has planned for Rousey.
"I know how I'm going to beat Ronda Rousey. I've been training for Ronda Rousey since my first fight in the UFC," Nunes said. "I don't know if you know, but I come from the same background as Ronda Rousey. I've been training judo my whole career, since I started jiu-jitsu. I understand everything Ronda Rousey's going to bring that day. I don't think she's going to be able to deal with my striking."
Nunes would go on to proudly declare, "I'm stronger than ever. I'm 100-percent that I'm going to beat Ronda Rousey — I'm 200-percent."
That confidence and swagger adds to the intrigue behind this fight, because we have Rousey returning to face someone who is supremely confident, similar to how Rousey was during her dominant run as UFC Women's Bantamweight champion. Should be an interesting fight, if nothing else.
What do you think of what Amanda Nunes had to say to Ronda Rousey? Sound off in the comments!
And for more UFC news, get all the details on Nunes vs. Rousey at UFC 207!


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In other news, spaceships have side effects.
Managing resource dependencies with Puppet is relatively straightforward. You describe any relationships with metaparameters and Puppet figures out the order it should enforce them in. Most dependency issues arise when users try to overspecify dependencies as if they were writing a shell script. Puppet works best when you think in terms of relationships and dependencies rather than ordering.
But there is one giant sticky issue. What about when you don't know the exact resources you need to set relationships on ahead of time?
A good example of why that's useful is the use case of running an internal Yum repository. Large infrastructures which can dedicate the resources to this will often selectively mirror the upstream repositories. This reduce reliance on external services, and allows greater control over versioning. Instead of just trusting that upstream won't ever break, packages can be integration tested against internal configuration and tooling before importing them to the internal repository. High security sites may perform auditing as well.
Of course, this comes with a slight catch. The internal repository must be enabled before installing packages. This ensures that internal-only packages will install correctly, and it ensures that only trusted upstream packages are installed. If you build this as part of your Kickstart provisioning, that's taken care of. But what if you want to manage it with Puppet?
In the past, we've used primarily two solutions; run stages, and resource collectors. I'll also present a new and better solution to the problem.
Run stages:
This is how you'd solve the use case above with run stages:
# define a class class internal_yum { yumrepo { 'internal': ensure => 'present', baseurl => 'http: //yum.example.com/el/7/products/x86_64/', descr => 'Local packages', enabled => '1', } } # declare a stage and specify that it happens before main stage { 'first': before => Stage['main'], } # declare the class and assign it to the 'first' run stage class { 'internal_yum': stage => Stage['first'], }
This looks fairly straightforward, but run stages come with their own can of worms. As such, docs has a pretty strong recommendation against them:
Due to these limitations, stages should only be used with the simplest of classes, and only when absolutely necessary. Mass dependencies like package repositories are effectively the only valid use case.
Resource collectors:
In recent years, we've been recommending using resource collectors with the spaceship operator 1. That would look something like:
# declare the repository yumrepo { 'internal': ensure => 'present', baseurl => 'http: //yum.example.com/el/7/products/x86_64/', descr => 'Local packages', enabled => '1', } # then set a relationship so it's enforced before all packages # ** don't actually do this! ** Yumrepo['internal'] -> Package<| |>
This is exploiting a side effect of resource collectors. Their primary purpose is to realize virtual resources. This means that any resource matching the query in the collector will also be realized!2 Because of this, I've also recommended against using virtual resources at all. That isn't always a pragmatic recommendation, however, and in recent releases the
puppet_enterprise module itself began using virtual package resources!
The practical effect of that is that the code snippet above has the small side effect of potentially disrupting your entire Puppet infrastructure due to attempting to install all Puppet Enterprise packages on all nodes.
For best practices, you should never use an unbounded resource collector.
For best practices, you should never use an unbounded resource collector. You should always provide a search query that matches exactly what you intend to set relationships upon. Unfortunately, it's impossible for all intents and purposes to make a negative search expression matching tags3, so it's not possible to make a relationship against all packages except those in the
puppet_enterprise module.
Introducing the
manifold resource type:
Luckily, I've got a new solution for you that avoids these side effects. I created a new
manifold resource type that creates resources programatically for you. In a sense, it's somewhat like the
anchor type. It will allow you to declare a
manifold resource and provide it with patterns of other resources to generate dependencies on. Now, when you make a dependency on that
manifold resource, you can be assured that the dependencies will transfer to all of its dependent resources as well.
# create the manifold resource manifold { 'internal': type => 'package', # the type of resource to match match => 'tag', # what attribute to match on pattern => 'internal', # provide a pattern to match relationship => before, # set relationships on all matching resources } package { ['foo', 'bar', 'baz']: ensure => present, tag => 'internal', # the manifold will match on this tag } yumrepo { 'internal': ensure => 'present', baseurl => 'http: //yum.example.com/el/7/products/x86_64/', descr => 'Local packages', enabled => '1', before => Manifold['internal'], # standard resource relationship }
yumrepo resource will be enforced before the
manifold resource, which in turn will be enforced before any
package resources tagged with '
internal'. The benefits of the resource collector search expression, without the side effect of realizing virtual resources. It's also a little more explicit about what your intent is.
So why the name? The intake manifold4 in your car's engine is a component that takes a single stream of air and carefully splits it into a stream for each piston. The exhaust manifold works similarly, only it takes each exhaust stream and combines it into a single5 exhaust system.
manifold resource type works similarly. It will allow you to set a single relationship on that resource, and effectively transfers that relationship to multiple other resources based on pattern matching rules. You can match based on the title or any other attribute, and you can provide a string or a regular expression to match against. You can also provide an
invert bit which will invert the effects of the search expression. Note that this is true inversion, and doesn't have the same ineffective negation problem that resource collector search expressions do.
It's early in development, but I hope that it becomes a standard part of your toolbox and that you provide feedback in the form of issues or pull requests to improve its functionality. It's got the potential to make this type of relationship orders of magnitude safer.
Install it with puppet module install binford2k/manifold or by adding it to your
Puppetfile and try it out today!
- 1. The spaceship operator is so named because it resembles a spaceship: <| |>
- 2. https://docs.puppet.com/guides/virtual_resources.html#how-to-realize-res...
- 3. https://docs.puppet.com/puppet/latest/reference/lang_collectors.html#non...
- 4. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inlet_manifold
- 5. Or two, in vehicles with dual exhaust.


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Attached Images
__________________Kathleen aka Leen
O.K. - I discovered that chicken hearts make really great pill pockets! Mine is raw fed so I'm used to getting my hands in there. Most dogs love these things and it makes it so easy when you have pills to give for 2 weeks!
4 Tablespoons Boric Acid Powder
16 Drops Gentian Violet Solution 1%
We use the eggcrate form 3 inch mattress topper as well. I buy mine at overstock.com, I think they are least expensive.
Any advice for a puppy pimple?
stridex pads
A great idea for an elevated food stand: 5 Gallon pal (put a heavy rock or brick inside to weigh it down) and put the top on it. Then put your bowl on top. It doesn't slide, spill over, or move!!!!!!
HA Tina - yeah, sometimes I've got to warm up to an idea first LOL
For a single hot spot I have found the following works better and faster than anything in the world.
This is a great idea if your bitch needs to have her puppies weaned from her but you don't want to separate her from them: I used old t shirts (the longest ones work best) Her head and legs fit perfectly in them and then I gathered the t-shirt up at the back and used an elastic band to wrap around the extra gathering of material. This way I could adjust the tension when I needed to. The t shirt also serves to support the teats as they begin to dry up. I used heavier t shirts in the winter as this served to keep her warm when she went outside (we have -40 up here during our winters! ) The pups learned quickly that scratching at their mom for food produced no results as I would just replace the t shirt if it got torn.
Magic Erasers are made by Mr. Clean. You can find them in you laundry isle in you grocery store. They are like a sponge only have something in them that just are magic. LOL Just wet them and wipe. They really are wonderful for all kinds of cleaning.
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__________________Linda Greeson Rice
AKC Breeder of Merit
The Mastiff Sweet Spot
We do not breed often, but we do our best to breed top quality mastiffs
with excellent pedigrees to back them up. All breedings are carefully planned to produce
the very best mastiffs, sound in both body and mind, beautiful and strong,
representing the true mastiff standard.
We fully test our dogs. We believe that a person that "just wants a pet" has a right
to own a beautiful, well bred dog that is sound and healthy
every bit as much as someone wanting a "show dog".
This recipe is one for putting weight on an animal quickly, as some use it for putting a couple extra pounds on a show animal prior to the big day, or an animal that may have been ill and needs a weight gain program. It has also been reported that this recipe will help with some forms of hair loss, such as when your dog(s) blow their coat, to keep the coat healthy and shiny. This recipe is intended to be fed raw.
10# hamburger meat 1 jar wheat germ 1 lg box of oatmeal (uncooked)1 1/4 Cup vegetable oil10 eggs 10 sm pkgs unflavored gelatin 1 1/4 Cup unflavored molassesA pinch of salt1 lg box Total cereal (2lb's)(You may also add a pinch of garlic powder to add flavor)
Mix all ingredients together well, much like a meatloaf....put into separate freezer bags and freeze, thawing out as needed. It puts weight on in a very short time, not to mention the gloss in their coat. You can use it every day when they have a show to do and it does not produce diarrhea. It can be fed alone or with kibble.
I don't like the Satin Ball recipe b/c of the sugar- laden Total Cereal. Here's the fat ball recipe that helped put weight on Druid.
1 lb ground beef1 8 oz pkg cream cheese1 jar all natural peanut butter1 jar (smaller of the sizes) wheat germ1 doz egg yolks1 cup or so of flaked oats soaked in heavy cream
I like to roll them in oatmeal before I freeze them-they don't stick together.
I just wanted everyone to know that this is an amazing thread and I LOVE everyone's ideas. I'm wondering now how much money I'm going to spend this weekend collecting items I may possible need in the future!
#4 - To stop a dog from chewing on a body part (or to stop a small puppy from sucking on a body part as we all know babies do) apply clear gel deodorant. It lasts a good 24 hours.. they hate it!
You put it on the body part - no body sucks on that part.
PANO Formula
Occasionally a growing Mastiff puppy gets "Pano" . .. this is caused by too rapid growth of the long bones which leads to inflammation of the bones. The symptoms are limping and soreness, usually in the front end. The most commonly affected bones are the long bones in the front legs and sometimes the shoulders. If your puppy limps you need to have this diagnosed by a vet. But if you do get Pano in your puppy, I have a nutritional formula passed down to me from another Mastiff breeder of many years, that really works well to cure this problem, and usually in just a week or so. I have tried probably every cure there is and find this formula to be above and beyond all others in results!
"Pano" Formula (via Patty Gropetti)
This conglomeration of ingredients is mixed up together and fed once a day over food. (All at once)
Alfalfa Tablets – 15
Cod Liver Oil - 2 teaspoons ( or Capsules – 10 )
Wheat Germ Oil – 2 Tablespoons (or Capsules equal to 30 grms)
Lethecin Granules – 1 teaspoon
Yogurt – 4 Tablespoons
Egg - 1 (raw, minus shell)
Explanation via Steve Oifer:
The Alfalfa contains Saponin, which is anti-inflamatory Cod liver oil, which contains Vit D and improves calcium absorption Acidophilus which helps general nutritional absorption Yogurt, which contains calcium & acidophilus Lecithin, also in eggs, which converts to acetylcholine and aids in nerve transmission In a growing giant breed, D, calcium and the ability to absorb nutrients, are essential for good structural soundness to develop. If the pup limps, it can be a sign that the ideal balance has been compromised and the above supplements may be indicated.
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BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The No. 25-ranked Birmingham-Southern baseball team defeated the Sewanee Tigers 11-10 in the opening round of the 2019 Southern Athletic Association Tournament on Friday afternoon.
The Panthers won the game in walk-off fashion after a throwing error by the Sewanee third baseman scored A.J. Hunt (Memphis, Tenn./Memphis University School) from third base.
BSC, which had 14 hits in the game, was led offensively by Preston Munns (Marietta, Ga./Lassiter HS), Hunt and Alfredo Granier (Atlanta, Ga./Holy Innocents' Episcopal School), who each had two RBIs each. Munns also had three hits, including a two-run home run in the sixth, and three runs scored.
Senior Jake Cook (Oxford, Ala./Oxford HS) got the start on the mound, pitching five innings. Three other Panthers came in in relief of Cook to finish out the game with senior Richie Misischia (Dothan, Ala./Regis HS) picking up the win.
The win advanced BSC to the quarterfinal round of the SAA Tournament to face the winner of No. 3 seed Berry and No. 6 seed Oglethorpe.
JOIN THE B-FUND TODAY – Support BSC Athletics today by joining the B-Fund. Gifts to the B-Fund help support all of our 22 sports teams, coaches, and 450+ student-athletes. Used as the common funding source for championship rings, championship banners, facility upgrades, new transportation, and more, the B-Fund allows the department to enhance the athletic experience of every student-athlete at Birmingham-Southern.
Click HERE to join the B-Fund today


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The democratic uncertainty of Pakistan December 2006
By Ejaz Haider
For now, continuing civil-military partnership is the only thing that can save Pakistan from descending into the chaos of a 'mass praetorian' society. However, all actors must be careful to use the time they have to establish democratic norms and institutions.
We are democrats, not because the majority is always right, but because democratic traditions are the least evil ones which we know. If the majority (or 'public opinion') decides in favour of tyranny, a democrat need not therefore suppose that some fatal inconsistency in his views has been revealed. He will realise, rather, that the democratic tradition in his country was not strong enough. Contained in this analysis are two crucial points. First, democracy is not only about the rule of majority opinion. Second, while it is vital to keep the state in check, it may in some situations be equally or more crucial to use the state's protection to safeguard and advance an eminently sensible course of action, which may not have the power of public opinion behind it. The past few decades have seen the failure of people's power in various states. Flower and coloured revolutions in Eastern Europe have given way to the same old governmental lethargy and the lack of an internal norm so essential for preventing politics from degenerating into anarchy. The "certain tradition" Popper talked about seems missing. The incisive Alexis de Tocqueville expressed concern about precisely these circumstances when he wrote, his 1835 Democracy in America: "If men are to remain civilised or become so, the art of associating together must grow and improve in the same ratio in which the equality of conditions is increased." Any discussion of democracy in Pakistan, as in other states that have seen its ebb and flow, must move away from a near-absolute faith in its dividends, and towards consideration of the paradoxes contained in the Popper quote above and of de Tocqueville's pre-condition of the "art of associating". Equally dangerous, however, is the reformist who comes to power, whether through a vote or a coup, and waves a blueprint of reforms that he and only he can deliver. Pakistan, as it stands today, is the story of these paradoxes. For this reason, any discussion or analysis of the country's politics must be watchful on the one hand of simplistic understandings of democracy (what political scientist Fareed Zakaria calls 'illiberal democracy'), and on the other of the proven inability of strongmen to determine the exit strategy from the hold they have put on democracy in the name of reform. Praetorian fault-lines Pakistan's 59-year-long history is replete with political uncertainty. Each brief run of democracy has ended in a military coup. For this reason, the country has remained unable to complete the transition from an authoritarian system to a democratic one. While Pakistan has not seen mobilised violence, which drastically reduces the prospects of political democracy, it has suffered from an inability on the part of political actors during periods of transition to determine how and to what uses newly acquired democratic authority should be put. For the most part, this has resulted in political brinkmanship among leading political actors, which in turn leads to the breakdown, at some point, of the democratic cycle into another military coup. This is why Pakistanis initially welcomed all the three coups d'etat (leaving aside the internal transition in 1969 from General Ayub Khan to Yahya Khan, and the 1993 'soft coup' by General Waheed Kakar) as respite from the uncertainty of poor political governance. It is a matter of record that when Pervez Musharraf mounted his coup – or what he calls the 'counter-coup' – on 12 October 1999, he was hailed by a large segment of the Pakistani people. The Pakistan People's Party, the country's largest political force, which the ousted Prime Minister Sharif had chased from pillar to post, was ecstatic. Many of its workers distributed sweets on the streets. The intelligentsia was relieved that Sharif had gone and the era of democratic totalitarianism had come to an end. The liberal-secular sections of society were glad that he could no longer fulfil his agenda of making Sharia the basis of legislation, which would arguably have converted Pakistan into a theocratic state. At this stage we run into a paradox. It is important for a genuine political process to begin, in order to fill in the current fault-lines within the polity; yet, to open up the system by means of a vote would sharpen the salience of these fault-lines. What is the remedy? This is not a theoretical question. Last October, Anatol Lieven wrote in the International Herald Tribune: Most developing countries seem closer to the melancholy pattern of most of Latin America over the past century, of a cyclical movement between flawed democracies and ineffective dictatorships and back again – a process interspersed with numerous 'people-power revolutions' that turn out to have made no real difference whatsoever. This assessment brings us to what Samuel Huntington posited in the late 1960s: some societies evince a praetorian strand. 'Praetorian' normally refers to a military that displays a tendency to mount coups. Huntington, however, used the term to describe societies in which, in the absence of a normative basis for political functioning, all groups, including the military, vie to capture state power for themselves. Looking at the issue of military interventions, Huntington dismissed the thesis that an explanation of these interventions would require an analysis of the military itself: "Military explanations do not explain military interventions … because the most important causes of military intervention in politics are not military but political, and reflect not the social and organisational characteristics of the military establishment but the political and institutional structure of the society." Huntington sought to look for explanations in society itself, because countries grappling with the cycle that Lieven described show that the "society as a whole is out-of-joint, not just the military". As such, the military usually wins. As Thomas Hobbes put it aptly, "When nothing else is turned up, clubs are trumps". The political interregnums are as bad as the military ones. In a praetorian society – Huntington lists three stages of praetorianism: oligarchical, radical and mass – political participation and modernisation do not result in political development but in political decay. This is why as a society graduates from oligarchical to radical and, finally, mass praetorianism, its chances of getting out of the cycle steadily diminish. Increased political participation in such a society, in the absence of political norms and "political institutions capable of mediating, refining and moderating group political action" means increased anarchy and chaos. Huntington's thesis steadily lost adherents because, besides being culturally deterministic, it was also seen as an apology for military interventions. His praise for military dictators or reformers – in the case of Pakistan, Ayub Khan – was deemed inimical to a movement towards political participation and activity. Yet, when Pakistan finally managed its first national election in 1970, the exercise in political participation did not bring about national cohesion or an aggregation of interests. It tore the country asunder. Furthermore, it may be noted that while accepting reformist or military rule in a praetorian society at a particular point in history, Huntington does not accept it as desirable beyond that point. He makes clear that military leaders or reformers need to take steps towards two goals. First, they must not allow oligarchical praetorianism to move towards radical praetorianism, or the latter to further degenerate into mass praetorianism – in which everyone enters into the political fray in the continuing lack of political evolution and the absence of acceptance of the rules of the game. Second, they need to break the praetorian cycle. If a country, despite a line of reformers and military leaders, has not broken the cycle, one can only say that the problem is even more complex than Huntington thought it was. The third party Pakistan's case also relates to the problem of military interventions and flawed democracies. In attempting to capture the country's political space, the two parties that alternated in power from 1988-99 failed to devise a code of conduct or a norm for political practice. Nawaz Sharif's PML-N, much more so than the PPP, had allied with the army to put down the opposition. But the 11-year opportunity to agree on an endogenous norm was squandered by both parties as each tried to pull the other down. On 14 May this year, when they signed the Charter of Democracy in London, the pressure to offer a mea culpa and the resolve to stay the democratic course in order to retain the legitimacy of the political opposition were born of the regret the two parties now feel, having been thrown into the political wilderness. However, given their conduct since then, it is clear that they agree on nothing beyond getting rid of General Musharraf. In 1999, however, the situation was different. As per the past script – in which the decline in the fortunes of one party meant an automatic incline in the fortunes of the other – the PPP was confident that with Sharif and his League shown the door, the PPP was the natural candidate for the high table. But Gen Musharraf had other plans. The first thing he did was to chalk out a seven-point agenda for reform, which he announced before the country. The army, by this plan, would immediately get to work restructuring the political system – "total restructuring", as Gen Musharraf put it. Its first task was to cleanse the system of the two parties – PML-N and PPP – that had shared the spoils of power during the 11-year 'democratic' interregnum. This entailed the ouster of both the premiers who had also alternated during that period. In his recently published autobiography In the Line of Fire, Gen Musharraf recounts: I set myself a seven-point agenda … 1. Rebuild national confidence and morale. 2. Strengthen the federation, remove inter-provincial disharmony. 3. Revive the economy and restore investors' confidence. 4. Ensure law and order and dispense speedy justice. 5. Depoliticise state institutions. 6. Devolve power to the grassroots. 7. Ensure swift accountability across the board. Having swept aside the two main political parties, he decided to embark on this programme in a political vacuum. As most military dictators are, Gen Musharraf was convinced of several things: the political system should be purged, corruption should be uprooted, the economy should be put in the fast lane and, for all this to work, the country should be depoliticised. However, to make all this happen, the army needed to retain its primacy without having to constantly intervene in the system as an external player. In other words, the system needed to be engineered to bring the military in as the legitimate arbiter, rather than as an actor that must jump into the arena from the outside and then seek legitimacy through the highest court. To this end, Gen Musharraf presented his epigram: if you want to keep the army out, bring it in. But alongside the military, of course, he needed a political partner, and got down to the task of creating a third, viable political force – an entity that would not only neutralise the two main political parties, but also give him the political legitimacy he needed to pursue his agenda. This party was created from Sharif's PML-N. He also brought into the loop some smaller political groups, and managed, after some initial difficulty, to wean from the PPP some of its members. This project of creating an alternative political force severely compromised the idealism of the seven-point agenda. Most of the currently ruling PML – which began as the PML-Quaid-e-Azam and has since rechristened itself the Pakistan Muslim League – members are equally, if not more, corrupt than the opposition members that Gen Musharraf has since chosen to target. Simultaneously, to keep the PPP and the PML-N out of political reckoning, the general-president supported the six-party religious alliance, the Mutahidda Majlis-e-Amal (MMA, the United Action Front), to become the official opposition in the National Assembly. On the plus side, even before he decided to ally Pakistan with the United States following the events of 11 September 2001, Gen Musharraf was a cultural liberal. Before the 2002 elections, he ran government through a quasi-political arrangement that included liberal technocrats and members of NGOs. Since 9/11, he has coined and made famous the slogan of 'enlightened moderation'. However, his cultural liberalism has not prevented him from pursuing a politics that is socially conservative. He supported the religious right not only in order to keep at bay the PPP, which shares his liberalism, but also because, with the MMA enjoying the spoils of the system, the federal government can more easily remain engaged in the pursuit of al-Qaeda and Taliban fighters in the North-West Frontier Province. For Gen Musharraf, this has spelled a gradual break with liberal elements that have watched him with increasing suspicion, and now distrust his motives. This mistrust is exacerbated by the impunity with which Gen Musharraf has gone about amending the constitution while pussyfooting on issues such as the repeal of the Blasphemy Law and the Hudood Ordinances, the streamlining of the seminaries and the purging of textbooks. Indeed, it is only recently that the president has recovered a little of the ground he has lost with liberals, by pushing a reluctant ruling party to pass a Women's Protection Bill, which has taken some of the sting out of the Hudood Ordinances (see accompanying story, "Fighting Hudood, protecting women"). Since the PPP took a principled stand on the issue, it voted in favour of the government's passing of the bill. For Gen Musharraf, equally damaging as the lack of liberal support is the threat of resignations he now faces from the MMA, which is becoming increasingly strident and which also shows internal fault-lines. Gen Musharraf's dilemma is a classic one. On the one hand, he genuinely wants to effect certain reforms to improve Pakistan's image as a moderate state. On the other, he is reluctant to broaden his political support-base in pursuit of this agenda, because doing so – especially if he co-opts the PPP – would mean allowing space to a political actor that could ultimately challenge the primacy of the Pakistan Army. Any clipping of the army's wings, he feels, could once again plunge the country into the old cycle. The fact that he still feels this way means that the institutionalisation he talks about (and is often downright boastful of) – whereby norms are developed on the basis of which politics is practiced, leading to an inclusive system of governance – is far from fruition. Nothing makes this more evident than the general's insistence on not doffing his uniform – because, he claims, to do so "is not in the country's interest". A new alliance? Two factors emerge from this. First, despite having engineered the system as he pleased, Gen Musharraf knows that his real power-base is the Pakistan Army, and not the office of president. Second, he knows that the opposition in Pakistan is waiting in the wings, and that if it were to smell blood, it would quickly move in for the kill. On both counts, and despite some of the good work he has done – bringing Pakistan out of isolation, improving the economy, normalising relations with India, making the press more free, referring to and promoting liberal values – the system atop which he sits remains fragile. Equally, however, the political parties do not seem to have overcome the flaws that have led the country to the crises it has experienced, both past and present. The rightwing suffers from an intolerant ideology, and if elections were to bring to power certain elements within the MMA, Pakistan would lose whatever progress it might have made in the past seven years – at least in terms of the economic upturn and social liberalisation. The ruling PML has a natural affinity with the MMA, rather than with the PPP's liberal agenda. The PML-N is also much closer ideologically to the MMA than it is to its Charter of Democracy partner, the PPP. The MQM, despite its secularism and full support to Gen Musharraf, remains an ethnic party confined to urban Sindh. Other secular parties are mostly NWFP- and Balochistan-based nationalist groupings. They may like Gen Musharraf's liberal agenda, but are completely out of tune with some of his policies; most feel that instead of devolving power, he has further centralised it. Decentralisation being the main plank of their provincial politics, they remain even more cut off from the federal government. Islamabad's development agenda for Balochistan has great economic, social and strategic significance for Pakistan. But the Baloch are not prepared to buy into these plans because the divisive nature of politics over the past six decades has ensured that national consensus remains elusive, even on issues of vital importance for everyone. As the country moves towards the 2007 elections, the president will have to rethink some of his strategies in view of the response to the Women's Protection Bill by various political parties, including his own ruling PML. One third of the PML members abstained from voting on that bill, and it could not have been passed without the support of the PPP, which has yet to accept Gen Musharraf as the country's president. Meanwhile, his religious allies, the MMA, are increasingly seeking to distance themselves from the general-president, and may resign ahead of the elections so they can again campaign on the basis of Islam. The PML-N, despite its alliance with the PPP, opposed the Women's Protection Bill, reflecting the long-known truth that they hold nothing in common aside from their desire to oust Gen Musharraf. The ruling PML, meanwhile, has shown itself incapable of carrying forward the president's liberal agenda. If a premium is placed on the agenda for reform, Gen Musharraf will have to think about allying with the PPP. Reaching out to the PPP, however, would require making a deal with that party, and would also mean a major realignment of political forces in Pakistan. If Gen Musharraf does extend a hand to the PPP, allowing that party to be a true political actor and to link up with other secular-liberal elements across the country, the next elections would be contested by the consolidated liberal camp against the culturally conservative and Islamist elements. In some ways, such a changed dynamic would free Gen Musharraf of the conflict that has continued to run throughout his seven-year tenure. It would also, however, sharpen the fault-line between the liberals and the conservatives. Of course, this scenario presupposes that Gen Musharraf is likely to stay in the driver's seat for at least another five years. If that does come to pass, the political environment of Pakistan will depend on how effectively he can sell his policies by enlisting genuine political actors. The process of reform may slow down in such a case, but it will definitely acquire more legitimacy, and may become more acceptable to recalcitrant elements within the smaller provinces. President Musharraf's review of his alliances will not automatically resolve the issue of the place of the army within the system. As such, it is difficult to see what kind of arrangement may evolve in the future. But until such time as the political parties come of age and the army loses its praetorian edge, the pattern of Pakistan's political experience suggests that a civil-military partnership may be the safest bet.
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Penguin India withdraws The Hindus
On 11 February 2014, Penguin India decided to recall and destroy all remaining copies of Wendy Doniger's book The Hindus: An Alternative History. The decision was part of an agreement between them and Shiksha Bachao Andolan, a Hindu campaign group that filed a case against the publishers in 2010, arguing that the book was insulting to Hindus and contained "heresies".
From our archive:
Diwas Kc reviews The Hindus: An Alternative History. (March 2010)


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Unity is a product for a new way of working. Built on a superb and strong frame, Unity benching can be built to any size, with no upper limit.
Meeting zones can be easily incorporated into any configuration allowing enhanced workplace communication. All Unity benches come as standard with full integral cable management and a useful slide top access. The complementary range of screens come in plain fabric or with integral power and tool rails.


text:
Pirate Staffing is the industry leader in customer satisfaction. We will help you increase your productivity and profitability. Use our flexible staffing to fill your short term needs or to cut your overtime expenses.
Pirate Staffing is always seeking outstanding people to join our Construction team.
Join the Pirate Staffing Talent Network today to stay up-to-date on our current openings for Construction jobs as they become available!


text:
Clock Hand
It's been a while since we have discussed a SuperWeb application. Clock Hand is a new adware program from the SuperWeb family that enters your computer with the intention to make money for its creators. Unlike rogues or ransomware applications, Clock Hand does not try to steal your money directly. Nevertheless, that is no reason to keep this app on your PC, so the sooner you remove Clock Hand, the better. Bear in mind that adware programs always travel in packs, so you need to scan your PC with a licensed antispyware tool to search for other potential threats.
Clock Hand functions as a browser helper object (for Internet Explorer) or browser extension (for Mozilla Firefox and Google Chrome. The official website via myclockhand.com maintains that this application is compatible with all the major browsers, although our security researchers say that newer Google Chrome versions can easily block Clock Hand extension. It is necessary to block this add-on because Clock Hand can collect data on your web browsing habits. It cannot gather information that would allow it to identify you personally, but all the data this program collects is used for online marketing.
Some users think that Clock Hand is a malicious infection, although it is clear to see that it is very far from the truth. Not to mention that Clock Hand does not enter your system surreptitiously. As mentioned above, it is a SuperWeb application, and all the other programs from this family (like Key Lime Lizard, Rad Rater, Dynamo Combo, etc.) are known to be distributed in software bundles. This means that you most probably installed Clock Hand along with other freeware apps accidentally, when you downloaded some program from a third-party website. Think back to everything you have downloaded recently: have you read all the installation steps carefully? If not, chances are that you definitely installed Clock Hand yourself.
This application promises to improve your online browsing experience, but we know better than that because it is very far from the truth. Clock Hand will spam you with ads that are labeled as "Ads by Clock Hand" or "Provided by Clock Hand." If you notice a lot of commercial ads with such labels on your screen, then you definitely have this adware program installed on your PC.
Although adware programs are not direct computer security threats, you should not rule out the possibility that Clock Hand could be exploited by malevolent developers. If you want to protect your PC and your personal data, you have to remove Clock Hand right now.
It is not hard to remove Clock Hand on your own, but even after manual removal you should make use of a computer security program of choice to see whether your system is absolutely safe. For any further questions, do not hesitate to leave us a comment.
How to remove Clock Hand
Windows 8 & Windows 8.1
Windows Vista & Windows 7
Windows XP
Download Spyware Removal Tool to Remove* Clock Hand


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Every now and then, a confluence of events in California underscores how differently state leaders see the world than the rest of us.
A classic example came Wednesday. Following up on revelations that the state Department of Parks and Recreation was sitting on $54 million in hidden reserve funds even as it advocated closing more than a quarter of the state's 278 parks, The San Jose Mercury News took a closer look at the state's 500-plus similar funds. It found that there is "no system in place to account for $37 billion in 'special funds' scattered throughout state government. Instead, finance officials revealed, they rely on an honor system to track money that could be stashed away in untold accounts" – with no checks and balances.
"The scandal has been a huge embarrassment for the Brown administration, which in campaigning for a November tax initiative had argued that the state was so broke it needed to close dozens of parks," the report noted.
Hours after the Mercury News findings were printed, however, Jerry Brown disagreed. The governor wasn't embarrassed at all. In his first direct comments on the parks scandal, he downplayed it, telling reporters that it was a problem but of a good sort: "When somebody comes and says, 'Hey, guess what, we have some money over here,' well, that's better than saying, 'Whoops, we don't have the money.' "
This is hard to fathom. Yes, we may learn that state parks' officials hiding of funds was an exception, vindicating Brown's view that it's not a harbinger of more scandals. But we're coming off a six-month stretch in which volunteers up and down California worked like crazy in raising funds and setting up foundations to prevent their beloved local state parks from being closed. Such efforts saved Palomar Mountain State Park, for example, from the budget ax.
To learn all this frenzied hard work came as a result of lies about poverty told by state parks officials is a tough pill to swallow. Park rescuers deserved a heartfelt apology.
But Brown not only didn't provide one, he wouldn't even acknowledge the genuine public fury over the hiding of park funds. His what-me-worry act came even as his administration was moving to force the departure of a third top parks official, the agency's chief counsel.
How does this add up?
As we've observed before, the narrative that holds Jerry Brown is the smartest guy in the room – the veteran pol who knows all the angles better than everyone else – has long since become a convenient fiction for Brown's allies in the Legislature and the media.
There's nothing shrewd about a governor downplaying a scandal over $54 million in hidden parks funding after months of the same governor warning 70 state parks had to be closed to save money.
Especially when that same governor wants voters to raise taxes on themselves so he can maintain Sacramento's broken status quo.


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Special Events, Trips and Visits
We hope you enjoy looking through our photo/video gallery of a selection of Special Events, Trips and Visits. Please click on the images below to see more.
Eclipse Holocaust Year 5 Choir sing at the
Albert Hall, London Visit to France
Chef of the Year 2017 Year 8 Year 7 World Book Day
Career's Fair Goodrich Castle
Behaviour & Attendance Behaviour & Attendance Celebration
Summer Reward Autumn Reward Assembly Book Fair
Black County Museum G&T Maths Group Spoken English First School
at Warwick Races Competition Sharing Concert
Year 6 studying Year 5 studying Art Exhibition The Big Poppy Make
Ancient Greece Stone Ages
Year 8 at The Herbert Malvern 2018
Gallery & Museum
Stargazing Evening
Activity Week in Year 7


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I have an inconsistent and sometimes lazy flame. Blower pressure is normal, suspect dirt/ debris in the regulator. Can I clean the regulator without opening the diaphragm?
A lazy flame usually indicates that the air/gas mixture is gas rich, although there are other less common causes
The solution is to decrease the gas flow by closing the air/gas mixer ratio valve.
Flynn has a video that shows how to do this.
Less common causes are:
The air orifice in the air/gas mixer is partially blocked and/or dirty.
Disassemble and clean it.
The zero gas pressure regulator has been adjusted or the inlet pressure to the regulator exceeded the inlet pressure rating of the regulator which is 1 psig.
Zero regulators should never be adjusted, or subjected to high pressure.
If they have, they must be replaced
The filter on the combustion air blower is dirty, or the motor is turning backwards.
Clean or replace the filter and check the blower rotation
Clean or replace the filter and check the blower rotation
If using compressed air, be sure the air is clean and dry and the pressure to the air pressure regulator Is 85-125 psig
Some gas pressure regulators have removable orifices. The regulator can be disassembled and cleaned.


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James Brown
This is a story about a 91-year-old
active AMA member, James Brown,
of Falkville, Alabama. James still
drives, flies, and scratch-builds model
airplanes, and has been associated
with the Decatur
Model Airplane
Club (DMAC) for
more than 70 years.
Organized in 1937,
DMAC is the second-oldest AMA chartered
club in America.
James is the kind of
AMA member we wish
we all had in our clubs.
He is knowledgeable,
kind, and willing to
help anyone who asks.
He is still a bundle of
energy at age 91, and
that in itself is amazing.
He is well-known for his
scratch-building skills, is
an excellent builder, and
remains a good pilot.
James was honored at a
surprise luncheon on June
6, 2015, with members
of his family, 37 DMAC
members, and District V Associate Vice
President Rick Grim in attendance. He
was honored with a plaque, presented
by DMAC club president Jim Forthman,
which reads:
We are grateful for the years you've
shared your aviation talents with the
Decatur Model Airplane Club and your
lifelong support of the Academy of Model
Aeronautics. Thank you for the sacrifices
made during your WWII service on B- 17's
and B- 24's and bringing your love of
aviation to the DMAC.
June 6, 2015
After the luncheon
and presentation, most
of the members, along
with James and his
wife, met at the flying
field and continued
the celebration. We
can all hope to still be
building and flying at
age 91 and beyond!
—Rick Grim and Jim
A history of the DMAC is available
in AMA's History Project at www.
2016 Nats Dates
The National Aeromodeling
outdoor events
will be held
at AMA's
Center in Muncie, Indiana, on the
following dates:
RC and CL Scale: June 24-26
Scale Aerobatics (IMAC): July 5-8
RC Aerobatics (Pattern): July 10-15
RC Pylon Racing: July 15-22
Control Line (Navy Carrier, Precision
Aerobatics, Racing, Combat, Speed):
July 16-23
RC Combat: July 18-21
RC Sailplane (Soaring): July 23-30
Outdoor Free Flight: July 25-29
RC Helicopter: August 1-4
Indoor Free Flight: to be determined.
If you have participated in the Nats
within the last two years, you will
receive an entry form in February. For
more information, or to obtain an entry
form, visit www.modelaircraft.org or call
(765) 287-1256.
Joseph Elgin Collection: AMA
Foundation Donation
The AMA Foundation wants to
recognize the family of the late Joseph
(Joe) Elgin for its recent donation of his
model collection. The items donated
MN; Christopher Melhaus,
Cape Canaveral FL; Anthony
Chorosevic, San Jose CA; Brian
D. Callahan, Huntington Beach
CA; Brendan Schulman, Short
Hills NJ; Michael J. Stevens,
Ridgecrest CA; Thomas Minnick,
Baltimore MD; Cameron
Krupiarz, Gaylord MI; Paum M.
Graves, Morrison CO; Marcus
J. Edwards, Jamestown NY; Jack
E. Gilbert, San Jose CA; David
L. Palmer, Somerset KY; Gary
Fuller, Claremore OK; Nathan A
Rea, Loveland CO; Mike Reiber,
Valencia CA; and Les K. Harris,
Aguanga CA.
For information about becoming
a Life Member, contact AMA
Headquarters at (800) 435-9262.
—AMA Membership Department
AMA Thanks Its
Lifetime Supporters!
11 Model Aviation JANUARY 2016 www.ModelAviation.com
Membership news and updates
from AMA Headquarters Air inthe
James Brown,
DMAC member
ca. 1930s.