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SWG Awards & Competitions
The Cheryl and Henry Kloppenburg Award for Literary Excellence recognizes Saskatchewan writers who have written a substantial body of literary work. The prize consists of an award of $10,000 donated by Cheryl and Henry Kloppenburg and a framed print of a work of art by Saskatchewan artist Dorothy Knowles. Submissions for this award must be postmarked or emailed by June 30 annually. (If this date falls on a weekend or holiday, the next business day is accepted.).
City of Regina Writing Award provides $4,500 to a Regina writer to reward merit in writing and enable a writer to work on a specific writing project. The Award is funded by the City of Regina and is administered by the SWG. Submissions for this award must be in the SWG office, emailed by January 15.
The Currie-Hyland Prize was established as a tribute to Robert Currie and Gary Hyland in recognition of their literary excellence, commitment, and generosity to students and fellow writers. The prize is awarded annually by the current editor of Windscript and is presented annually at the Windscript launch.
The Hyland Volunteer Award has been established to recognize the many achievements of Saskatchewan Writers' Guild members through their volunteer support of the Saskatchewan literary community. Nominations for this award must be emailed by early October each year. This award is presented at the annual Fall Conference.
The Jerrett Enns Awards are awards of excellence named in honour of Victor Jerrett Enns, Executive Director of the Saskatchewan Writers' Guild from 1982 to 1988. It was Victor who first presented the idea of Windscript to the Board of the Guild in 1983. The prize is awarded by the current editor of Windscript and is awarded annually at the Windscript launch.
The John V. Hicks Long Manuscript Awards recognizes excellence in unpublished book-length manuscripts of poetry, fiction, and non-fiction by Saskatchewan authors. Each year the competition is open to a different genre. Submissions for this award must be emailed by the last working day of June each year. This award is in honour of distinguished Saskatchewan poet John V. Hicks. The awards are presented at the annual Fall Conference.
For more information contact the Program Manager at 306.791.7743 or firstname.lastname@example.com


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Not ready to let go of Breaking Bad? You don't have to with this insanely cool timelapse pilgrimage to the show's most iconic filming locations. Our resident photographer (and die-hard Walter White fan) wasn't ready to say goodbye. So he hopped in his van and drove 1,365 miles from Vancouver to Albuquerque.
Photographer and hardcore superfan, Joel Schat created this amazing timelapse that forever immortalizes Walter White's epic journey from high school chemistry teacher to New Mexico's meth kingpin. All the major filming locations are represented, from the White house, to Los Pollos Hermanos, to sleazy Saul's office.
After wrapping up filming, Joel attended the funeral for Walter White. Oh yes, the city of Albuquerque held a funeral for Heisenberg himself, in an actual cemetery, no less. While the ceremony was a purely symbolic way for the city to say goodbye to a series that brought so much to the area, it was also used as an opportunity to raise awareness (and funds) for healthcare for the homeless.
R.I.P. Breaking Bad.

subset: commoncrawl


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Emergency Response Volunteer
Location: Toddington Fire Station - Must live within 30 minutes of the fire station
Commitment: Minimum of two shifts per month between Monday-Sunday. Must also be available for one Thursday evening each month
About the role
As an Emergency Response volunteer, you may be providing much needed practical and emotional support to individuals, as part of a team, in support of category 1 and 2 responders and other agencies following an emergency or major incident.
In addition, you could provide "behind the scenes" support to the response.
About the team
Sometimes a little help can go a long way.
The Independent Living (IL) & Crisis Response (CR) service (IL/CR) are dedicated to making the lives of vulnerable people that little bit better. We're a small team dotted all over the country that share the same goal - to help those that need it most.
From picking up groceries to helping out around the house, we're there to make a difference. There's nothing better than knowing the time we spent with someone made them feel safer, happier, and more able to deal with crisis.
About the person
We keep the service users at the heart of all we do working to understand their needs and the difference we make. As well as good interpersonal, diplomacy, communication and teamwork skills, we are looking for people who have, or are willing to undertake further training, particularly any technical requirements.
- Willing to respond if on call, including unsocial hours.
- Able to support others in a calm, logical and responsible manner, with listening and empathetic skills, even when under pressure.
- Able to follow processes that relate to the role.
- Committed and available to undertake training and attend exercises which are appropriate to the role.
- Willing to uphold the Fundamental Principles of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement and adhere to the Society's Equal Opportunities Policy.
- This role requires a DBS/PVG check to the appropriate level.
Volunteer Benefits Include:
- The chance to work with a variety of different people from different walks of life and make a real difference to their lives.
- The opportunity to work with a range of external agencies.
- Comprehensive training so you can represent the Red Cross with confidence.
- Appropriate safety/protective work wear as required for your role.
- A great opportunity to develop your existing skills and to gain new ones.
- The company of a warm and friendly team of like-minded people.
- Reimbursement of out-of-pocket expenses when on duty.
- Being a volunteer for the British Red Cross means that you can proudly say you are part of the world's largest humanitarian organisation.
Tasks Included in this Role:
- Offering practical and emotional support to those affected by significant events or disaster. This may include; providing basic provisions and facilities, shelter, signposting to other organisations or assisting with seeking temporary accommodation.
- You may be providing emotional support to people who have been evacuated to a rest centre due to a flood in their home.
- Working alongside other voluntary organisations and local authority/statutory service partners.
- Administration and maintenance of appropriate records.
- Carrying out tasks as agreed with the team leader and as per skills and training.
- Attending briefings and debriefings given by the team leader or responding agency.
Young People and this role
We value the skills, energy and enthusiasm that young people bring to the Red Cross. To volunteer for this role you must be aged 18+. However (subject to a risk assessment, safeguarding requirements and parental consent) those aged 15-17 can be involved in a variety of activities such as promoting the service, supporting service volunteers and undertaking training.
Additional Information
If you have a full UK driving licence, you may be asked to drive a BRC vehicle.
You may be required to wear personal protective equipment in accordance with local arrangements.
Here's a little bit more about us...
The British Red Cross help anyone, anywhere in the UK; get the support they need if crisis strikes.
From hiring a wheelchair or dealing with loneliness, to adjusting to life in a new country - we're there when you need us. Our goal is to connect human kindness with human crisis.
We're part of the global Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, and we believe in the power of kindness.
Our organisation was born out of a desire to bring help without discrimination. Impartiality and neutrality have been central values for the Red Cross since we started.
Connecting human crisis with human kindness
Our Promise
We value the skills and experience that people bring to the organisation. We will work with you to look at your knowledge and skills and help make an assessment about which elements of the learning for your role you will need to complete with us and recognise where you may already know all that you need to confidently and safely carry out your duties. We want to try and make sure that you get all the training you need, no more and no less.
Connecting human kindness with human crisis
The British Red Cross is one of the most recognised brands across the globe. We help millions of people in the UK and around the world to prepa... Read more


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How can we help you?
We matched that to:
Can I view my credit card statement on EasyWeb?
How to View Your TD Credit Card statements online
It's easy to view your statements in EasyWeb
- Log in to EasyWeb
- Go to Statements & Documents in the left-hand navigation.
- Select your credit card account to view the available online statements for that account
If you're not already registered for EasyWeb Internet banking, you can register online for internet banking that's secure, convenient and easy. You'll be able to access Online Statements and many other useful services, like web bill payment.
Thank you.
Please note that the answers to the questions are for information purposes only for the products discussed. Individual circumstances may vary. In case of discrepancy, the documentation prevails.


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Christmas break was busy with several visits from friends, hosting both sides of the family for Christmas (that's a first for us! Welcome back to Michigan!), etc. The grown ups in the house are completely disenchanted with winter and wanting our warm, southern winters back, while The May Queen keeps praying for more snow ("think we'll get 3 feet tonight?"). After I remained healthy all fall despite colds all around me, I finally caught one (or it caught me, more likely. I TRIED to run...) The biggest and best news is that we have a closing date for our house here in Michigan, so at the end of this month we can finally start moving out of temporary housing and making a HOME in our new community. Of course, we still own a house in Louisiana, so that's a bummer. Still, visions of paint chips and new bedding are dancing in my head.
I've been posting pictures over on my project365 blog. I'm starting two part time jobs at my church.
Oh. And we used It's Not the Stork, at Magpie's suggestion, to start a birds and bees conversation with The May Queen. That went well (totally "eeewwww..." free).
So see, I'm still here. Plugging away. Just not posting.
Monday, January 10, 2011
A quick rundown
Posted by painted maypole at 11:21 AM
5 comments:
Congratulations on finding a house. I had seen a comment of yours elsewhere about this - Great news!
I enjoyed scrolling through your photos. I would have loved to have seen the eclipse, but I don't enjoy getting up in the middle of the night.
- January 10, 2011 at 11:53 AM
- Magpie said...
You've a lot going on! Glad to hear you found a house in the North - hope the other one sells soon.
- January 10, 2011 at 1:14 PM
- Kyla said...
Good to catch up with you! You guys sound busy as always. Good luck with the move!
- January 11, 2011 at 9:24 AM
- JCK said...
Huge congrats on the house! That is exciting. So glad you are back and it seems very busy...
Sorry you got sick. I've been avoiding it thus far, but have come close...
I'll have to check out that birds and bees conversation. :)
- January 11, 2011 at 1:59 PM
- kayerj said...
congratulations on the home and I hope you're feeling better soon.
- January 11, 2011 at 3:08 PM
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Whataburger's ketchup, mustard spread to H-E-B
Heinz may dominate the U.S. ketchup market, but H-E-B is betting Texas consumers will opt for a home-state favorite.
The grocery chain announced Tuesday that it would begin selling ketchup and mustard branded Whataburger, which like H-E-B is headquartered in San Antonio.
Starting this summer, the fancy and spicy ketchup varieties will be on H-E-B shelves in 20-ounce bottles and the original mustard in 16-ounce bottles.
H-E-B Group Vice President of Grocery Procurement Reade Ahrens called the joint effort "a natural fit."
"Both H-E-B and Whataburger are Texas institutions that have been serving customers for decades," Ahrens said in a statement.
The news did seem to cheer Jessica Mason.
"It's delicious - I'll buy it at H-E-B," the information technologist said as she munched on a cheeseburger and french fries at the Whataburger in the downtown tunnels.
"That's why I'm down here," she added. "I saw on Facebook that H-E-B would be selling it, and it made me think of Whataburger."
Bottled condiments will not be available for purchase at Whataburger restaurants at this time.
But Preston Atkinson, CEO of the burger chain, also announced that Whataburger's Spicy Ketchup will become a permanent condiment at all of its more than 740 restaurants in 10 states.
The company introduced the red jalapeño-infused condiment in January 2012.
"H-E-B aisles are about to include more Texas favorites," Atkinson said in a statement. "Our condiments have become nearly as popular as our famous burgers, and with so much customer demand to get their hands on our special ketchup and mustard in larger quantities, it was only logical to bottle them up and make them available first through such a well-respected retailer like H-E-B."
The grocery giant also plans to add another Whataburger-inspired product: a potato chip version of the Whataburger french fry, cut from potatoes and available in a 7.4-ounce bag.
At the downtown restaurant, lunch customer A.Z. Lewis, a petroleum engineer, professed her love for Whataburger ketchup.
"And I shop at H-E-B," she added, "so I will love it" in bottles.
Less enthusiastic was financial analyst Chris Johnson. For her, price will trump Texas pride.
"I think ketchups are pretty much the same," she said. "It would have to be a lower price than Heinz or Hunt's."


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John Wick: Chapter 3 - Parabellum R
play trailer
Play Trailer
DetailsAction/Adventure , Suspense/Thriller
Play Trailer
In this third installment of the adrenaline-fueled action franchise, super-assassin John Wick (Reeves) returns with a $14 million price tag on his head and an army of bounty-hunting killers on his trail. After killing a member of the shadowy international assassin's guild, the High Table, John Wick is excommunicado, but the world's most ruthless hit men and women await his every turn.
DetailsAction/Adventure , Suspense/Thriller
2 hr. 10 min.
Opened May 17th, 2019
Rated R for pervasive strong violence, and some languageCastKeanu Reeves, Halle Berry, Anjelica Huston, Laurence Fishburne, Ian McShaneDirectorChad StahelskiWriterDerek Kolstad


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Traffic sucks, so why not start your morning off with some music? You provide the toast and we'll provide the jams.
I remember me in 1998 when this song came out saying to myself 'rap is just a letter away from crap' before going back to listen to my AC/DC. Well, Juvenile doesn't sound like much else, so it might not be the most accessible, but it grows on you.
And the video, too. The still, portrait shots, the scenes, the whole style. Amazing.


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Deus Siddis wrote:I'd merge User Help, Compiling Problems [paste config.log] and Contributor Help & Internal How-Tos with each other.
Deus Siddis wrote:Merge graveyard(readonly) and General Announcements.
Deus Siddis wrote:Under Engine Development, merge Scripting with either Coding or Data.
Deus Siddis wrote:Delete Vega Strike MMORPG. An MMO isn't a realistic development goal, that's why the original devs finally broke off to work on Sirikata.
klauss wrote:I'd leave contributor help separate. I tend to give "user help" posts lower priority (when I'm short in time), because there are lots of others that can answer equally well there, and because I have a vested interest in helping contributors.
What? No... graveyard is graveyard. Announcements aren't dead.
The distinction makes sense, or would, if we had enough traffic. But since it's veeery low traffic now... I dunno.
Return to Website Support & Discussion
Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 1 guest


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By clicking Submit I am confirming that I read, understood, and agree to abide by all the policies, procedures and rules outlined in the Resident Handbook.
I also understand that this certification will be kept on file and is required prior to my moving into the apartment.
We're here to help. If you have a leasing question, would like to schedule a tour, or just want to say hello, we're waiting to hear from you.


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Posted 02 October 2012 - 12:11 PM
Posted 02 October 2012 - 02:24 PM
- uday likes this
Posted 20 February 2014 - 03:06 AM
I also face the same problem. I did dissolved in 0.5M HCL, it dissolved in the beginning. However when I aliquoted and froze them in -20C, it precipitates.
Posted 20 February 2014 - 05:46 AM
according to the merck index (9th edition), adenine is soluble to 1 gm in 2000 ml water, 40 ml boiling water; the hydrochloride hemihydrate is soluble to 1 gm in 42 ml water.
when you reduce the temperature it will become less soluble. it should redissolve when you warm it back to room temperature or above (it may require some vigorous mixing).
talent does what it can
genius does what it must
i used to do what i got paid to do


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How to Have a Recycled Gift Exchange Your Kids Will Love
Looking for some light-hearted fun at your family festivities for the kids and the grownups?
Trying to keep holiday spending in check, despite a long list of loved ones?
Wondering what to do with that misguided gift or regrettable impulse purchase?
Dig it out of the closet and get ready to regift! Don't let the kids have ALL the fun at your holiday gathering. Liven things up for everyone with a good, old-fashioned recycled gift exchange.
In this article I'll show you how to wrap a great party, open laughter from people of all ages, get rid of the old and leave with something "new."
Why Have a Recycled Gift Exchange?
Got STUFF? A recycled gift exchange will help you get rid of some unwanted things and have a blast in the process. True, you'll exchange your items for other stuff, but you may end up with something you like better.
Call it what you want: White Elephant, Yankee Swap—or as it's been called in the south around Christmastime, "Dirty Santa" (which just sounds wrong!).
By any name, a recycled gift exchange is a fun and memorable event for everyone at your holiday gathering—young and old—and is a great way to exchange gifts without spending any money.


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The 2014 Leadership Dodge class recently traveled to Atlanta to catch a glimpse of the state legislative process and also to gain an understanding of the economic development process for the State of Georgia.
The group visited the Centergy Center, which is home to the State Economic Development Department and houses the economic development leaders of Georgia Power and Georgia EMC.
The class was introduced to economic development strategies that can be useful in Dodge County.
The 2014 Leadership Dodge class is pictured with Representative Jimmy Pruett and Governor Nathan Deal while at the Capitol for the State Government Day. Pictured (l-r) are Pruett, Robert Watkins, Chase Dahlstrom, Jesse Law, Jason Cobb, Governor Deal, Jeff Fordham, Judy Madden, Travis Reed, Ed Weathersbee, Steve Miletto and Araina Reaves.
Leadership Dodge class goes to Atlanta
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text: NEWS Beastie Boys v. Monster: Ad-Rock Testifies, Band's Stance Against Product Endorsements 5/28/2014 by Associated Press FACEBOOK TWITTER EMAIL ME Ricky Powell Beastie Boys Ad-Rock, MCA and Mike D in San Diego during the Lollapalooza tour in the summer of 1994. Beastie Boys rapper Adam "Ad-Rock" Horovitz had an easy answer Wednesday for a lawyer asking why the hip-hop group refuses to endorse products but licensed its music for a watch company's snowboarding video. "We like sports," Horovitz told the lawyer for beverage-maker Monster Energy Co. He said snowboarding, skateboarding and surfing are all hits with the band he started with two others in the 1980s when he was a teenager. The testimony came at a trial stemming from a lawsuit the band brought against the Corona, California-based Monster. Beastie Boys v. Monster: Ad-Rock Takes Stand, IDs Mike D In a Sailor Suit The company admits it violated the Beastie Boys' copyrights by including its songs in a video that was online for five weeks. But it insists it should owe no more than $125,000, partly because it was viewed fewer than 14,000 times. The band wants over $2 million. On Tuesday, Horovitz testified immediately after opening statements, saying flatly: "We don't license our songs for products." Cross-examined by attorney Dana Michelle Susman on Wednesday, Horovitz agreed that the band had licensed songs for use in a video made by a watch maker. But he said it was because his fellow band mate was friends with the company's owner and because the proceeds were destined for charity. He said it was also natural that the band would support outdoor sports. The music included at least three Beastie Boys songs and accompanied video of snowboarders doing stunts and speaking on camera. Beastie Boy, GoldieBlox Settle Lawsuit Over 'Girls' Ad "We come from a community of snowboarders, skateboarders, extreme sports world, so we're enthusiasts of that," he testified. At one point, he tried to steer the conversation back to Monster. "We're here because Monster Energy used our music without a license," Horovitz said. After testifying, Horovitz returned to the first row of the courtroom's spectator section, where he sat with his wife and watched John Silva, his Los Angeles music manager, testify about contracts. FACEBOOK TWITTER EMAIL ME


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Standing Conference on Academic Practice4-5 July 2019
Registration for the 22nd Standing Conference on Academic Practice (SCAP) is currently open.
This year's conference 'Academic Practice and the Stewardship of Academic Values' takes place on the 4 & 5 July 2019 at Radcliffe Conference Centre, University of Warwick. Please follow this link for further information on the programme and to register (including on-line payment).
Please see the registration form and booking terms and conditions for further information.
Any questions about the conference or registration, please email firstname.lastname@example.com


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Item #7802
Broccoli sprouts have made news in recent years because of their many health-promoting benefits. They contain higher levels of the cancer-fighting phytochemical sulforaphane glucosinolate than mature heads of broccoli, while also contributing vitamins A, C, and E, calcium, and fiber to the diet. Extremely versatile in the kitchen, tangy broccoli sprouts will perk up almost any dish-fresh or cooked.
Sprouting is as easy as 1-2-3! Simply soak your seeds in water overnight (about 8 to 12 hours), place them in your sprouting container, then rinse at least twice daily until sprouts have reached the length you desire. See inside the packet for more information about growing sprouts.
Sprouts can be grown in a variety of containers. The easiest method is to use the Botanical Interests Seed Sprouter™. It provides optimal air circulation and drainage, and has removable tray dividers that allow you to grow up to four different batches of sprouts at once.
Sprout Seed Safety: To ensure you are purchasing the safest possible sprouting seeds, a sample from each seed lot we receive is sent to an independent laboratory where it must test negative for foodborne pathogens including E. coli, Salmonella, Listeria, and Staph. For maximum safety, it is recommended that you disinfect the outside of your seeds and your sprouting container prior to sprouting.
Sprouting Seeds at Home: Disinfecting, Growing, and Harvesting Tips
Artist: Susan DiMarchi
"They grow fast, taste great. I was very happy with the quality of these seeds. There were almost no seeds that failed to sprout." - S. Murray
Item #7802
20.00 grams
Microgreens and sprouts are trending everywhere from cooking shows and magazines to fancy restaurants and food trucks. But here's our secret-you can…More…
Whether it's -12°F or 100+°F outside, you can always count on sprouts to give you a bounty of healthful, fresh food all year long right from your…More…
Q) Is it necessary to disinfect the seed?
A) Although disinfecting seed is not necessary for sprouting, we recommend disinfecting your seeds…More…


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Latest Chemotherapeutic Treatments, Clinical Trials,
and Support
Allen E. Lord Terzian, MD
Director, Division of Hematology and Medical Oncology
Clinical Expertise...
Aria's medical oncologists have extensive experience in innovative diagnostic and treatment modalities for a wide variety of cancers. Our medical oncologists are board-certified in internal medicine, medical oncology, and hematology. This team of physicians is committed to providing compassionate, individualized cancer care.
At Aria, our oncologists work closely with surgical oncologists, radiation oncologists, diagnostic radiologists and pathologists in a multidisciplinary fashion to bring leading edge and seamlessly coordinated care to our patients.
This multidisciplinary approach to cancers of the breast, lung, colorectal, upper GI malignancies and lymphomas distinguishes Aria as one of the leaders in oncology care in the Delaware Valley.
Our outpatient chemotherapy suite at Aria's Torresdale Campus administers over 10,000 treatments per year, making it one of the largest in Philadelphia. A team of experienced oncology certified nurses and a computerized drug dosing system enable us to care for our patients n a comfortable setting close to home.
Appointments are also available at our offices conveniently located near the Bucks County and Frankford campuses of Aria Health.
The Cancer Center at Aria Health also participates in national clinical cancer research studies through membership in the Radiation Therapy Oncology Group (RTOG), Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG), the National Surgical Adjuvant Breast and Bowel Project (NSABP), and the Jefferson Oncology Group (JOG).
Our medical oncologists have a continuing commitment to gaining knowledge in the rapidly changing world of cancer research through our involvement with these latest clinical trials and protocols. That commitment is strengthened through Aria's membership in the Jefferson Cancer Network.
► Learn about investigational care available at Aria's Cancer Center.
Comprehensive Support Services...
Learn about screenings, support, wellness,
& add'l services in Aria's cancer program.
For more information on Aria's Medical Oncology Services, or to receive a physician referral or appointment, please call 215-612-5250 or 1-877-808-ARIA.


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American Physical Society Sites|APS|Journals|PhysicsCentral|Physics Magazine
- American Physical Society Sites
- Publications
- Meetings & Events
- Programs
- Membership
- Policy & Advocacy
- Careers In Physics
- Newsroom
- About APS
- Become a Member
Nonequilibrium problems are ubiquitous in nature, but there are no known general principles to guide us in understanding them. In recent years, however, developments in nonlinear and chaotic dynamics on the one hand, and insights of scaling and universality on the other, have unified many related areas of physics and have suggested important connections between seemingly disparate scientific topics. These topics are often highly interdisciplinary and are continuously evolving in scope so that a simple all encompassing description is difficult. The resulting discipline is called Statistical and Nonlinear Physics. The various overlapping topics that come under this heading have their roots in classical statistical physics and critical phenomena but emphasize the dynamical aspects of the problems. In recognition of this development, and of the fact that the American Physical Society (APS) did not have an unit supporting it, a Topical Group on Statistical and Nonlinear Physics was formed in 1998.
Since its inception, GSNP has looked to include a wide spectrum of nonlinear, nonequilibrium systems within its domain, including areas of nonlinear dynamical systems and chaos, pattern formation, spatio-temporal chaos, turbulence, nonequilibrium statistical mechanics, and quantum chaos. Recently, there is the recognition that the emerging area of soft condensed matter physics, which includes many exciting topics such as granular media, friction, foams, colloids, biomolecules, polymers, liquid crystals, vesicles and membranes, has considerable overlap with topics in the GSNP. One of the exciting aspects of this field is its rapid evolution and continuously changing focus. We hope that in the coming years we can keep a vital mix of venerable, established topics with new emerging ones.
The Topical Group on Statistical and Nonlinear Physics holds its annual meeting in conjunction with the APS March Meeting. The GSNP organizes Invited Symposia on recent exciting research in the area of statistical and nonlinear physics. In addition, Focus Sessions are put together in particularly active research areas where a grouping of talks including one or two invited talks combined with multiple contributed talks highlights that scientific effort. The March Meeting is an important venue for the GSNP and we encourage you to participate and suggest Symposia and Focus Session content.


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Twin speakers on either side of the phone produce better quality sound than most un-plugged mobiles. The volume can be cranked up with little grating tinniness - although low-end bass is missing in action, as usual.
The music player really does deliver. Stick in some decent headphones and you'll appreciate how good. It supports a wide variety of regular digital file formats, along with cover art, and tracks are arranged in familiar MP3 player catagories, including podcasts. You can create playlists and shuffle tracks. Songs can be sync'd with Windows Media Player 11 on a PC or Nokia PC Suite - or you can drag and drop tracks.
Average earphones - very good music player
The N81's support for the Nokia Music Store download service hasn't gone down well with some mobile network operators, as it offers an alternative to their own offerings. It's not the slickest of ways to buy music using a phone – there are too many pages to pass through before downloading - but it's early days. Users should be aware of additional data costs they might incur from their mobile networks if they're not on a flat-rate data plan. But you can choose to download via Wi-Fi if you have a hotspot of your own.
Don't fancy downloading? The N81 also has an FM radio built in. It also supports A2DP Bluetooth stereo, and it has a UPnP media streaming facility for transmitting tracks to a compatible hi-fi.


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WOW! I read 8 books this month and I am almost done with the 9th. It will be in my December list! I branched out just a little bit this month and read in some different genres. I hope you will enjoy some of these books. As always these books are available in my Amazon store. For those of you who use Paperbackswap.com there are several of these books available in my PBS store.
***1/2 Empire Falls – Richard Russo
Miles Roby has been slinging burgers at the Empire Grill for 20 years, a job that cost him his college education and much of his self-respect. What keeps him there? It could be his bright, sensitive daughter Tick, who needs all his help surviving the local high school. Or maybe it's Janine, Miles' soon-to-be ex-wife, who's taken up with a noxiously vain health-club proprietor. Or perhaps it's the imperious Francine Whiting, who owns everything in town–and seems to believe that "everything" includes Miles himself. In Empire Falls Richard Russo delves deep into the blue-collar heart of America in a work that overflows with hilarity, heartache, and grace.
While the story line was good I felt the book to be really slow moving until it got to the last few chapters and then tons of stuff was happening all at once. The story finally got really interesting and then it was over.
***** The Diary of Mattie Spenser – Sandra Dallas
The sole survivor on a doomed ship spends twenty-four years on an uninhabited tropical island.
I was prompted to read this book after watching the new show Crusoe that aired on NBC this fall on Friday nights. I really enjoyed the show and was curious to how closely the show followed the book. The show has definitely taken some artistic liberties but the book was a good read. I finished it in about 2 hours. This would be a great book for middle-school aged boys.
** Pilgrim at Tinker Creek – Annie Dillard
Pilgrim at Tinker Creek is the story of a dramatic year in Virginia's Blue Ridge valley. Annie Dillard sets out to see what she can see. What she sees are astonishing incidents of "mystery, death, beauty, violence."
The imagery in this book was amazingly descriptive. From a writers perspective this book definitely paints a picture in your minds eye. However, apart from the descriptiveness of the book I found the story lacking and had a hard time really getting into this book.
***** The Christmas Box – Richard Paul Evans
When Richard Paul Evans wrote The Christmas Box, he intended it as a private expression of love for his two young daughters, Jenna and Allyson. Though he often told them that he loved them, he didn't feel that they could ever really understand the depth of his feelings until they had experienced the joy of rearing their own children, and by that time their relationship would have changed forever. In writing The Christmas Box, he hoped that at some time in the future they would read the book and know of their father's love.
As Evans began to write, he was amazed at the inspiration that flowed into his mind and heart. He completed the moving story of a widow and the young family who comes to live with her in less than six weeks, and bound twenty copies to give as Christmas presents to family and friends. In the following weeks, those twenty copies were shared and passed along from family to family, from friend to friend, and what began as a tale for two little girls became a message of miracles, hope, and healing for people throughout the world.
***** Timepiece – Richard Paul Evans
"Of all, clockmakers and morticians should bear the keenest sense of priority-their lives daily spent in observance of the unflagging procession of time… and the end thereof."
So begins Timepiece, the unforgettable story of hope and the source of the wisdom MaryAnne Parkinshared with Richard in The Christmas Box. With the help of David Parkin's diary, Richard discovers the mystery of the timepiece and the significance of MaryAnne's request.
***** The Letter – Richard Paul Evans
The Letter, the final book of the Christmas Boxcollection is, most simply stated, the love story of David and MaryAnne Parkin. But it is also everyone's love story, for it is about the storms that all relationships must face when the blissful state of romance vanishes into one of real-life challenges and difficulties. We often forget that it is in the hard times that we truly see what is best in love as well as in life. Though love may be temporarily darkened, true love never gives in, or up, but holds tight to noble ideas, which transcend this earth and all time.
The Letter is also about our pasts and our individual quests to discover who we are. In The Letter,David Parkinsets out on a journey to find his mother, a woman who abandoned him when he was a child. In truth, however, David is searching for himself as he seeks to free himself from the pain of her rejection and his fear that he was somehow unworthy of her love. In a sense, David's search is the same journey we are all pursuing. We are all seeking love.
I REALLY enjoyed all three of these books by Richard Paul Evans. I can not wait to read more of his stories!
**** Messenger – Lois Lowry
For the past six years, Matty has lived in Village and flourished under the guidance of Seer, a blind man, known for his special sight. Village was a place that welcomed newcomers, but something sinister has seeped into Village and the people have voted to close it to outsiders. Matty has been invaluable as a messenger. Now he must make one last journey through the treacherous forest with his only weapon, a power he unexpectedly discovers within himself.
If you enjoyed The Giver and Gathering Blue then you will also enjoy this book.


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by: Tony Bennett
Like most entries in Sony/Legacy's Essential series, 2002's The Essential Tony Bennett is an excellent, exhaustive retrospective of a lengthy, hit-filled career at Columbia. Although Bennett spent time at other labels -- particularly in the '70s -- he made his best-known and greatest recordings for Columbia, from the late '50s through the '90s, which is what provides the bulk of the material here. Though this skips through the '70s material, it does provide what amounts to Bennett at his best, whether it's on "Rags to Riches" and "I Left My Heart in San Francisco" in the '60s, or on latter-day classics like "Steppin' out with My Baby." Bennett surely recorded more great material than can fit on a two-disc, 40-track collection, but this contains the cream of the crop and it's hard to imagine a collection like this being executed better than this. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine


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For those who have been watching Renée Zellweger's acting career with impatience, wondering when she would finally lend her particular sensibilities, whatever those may be, to directing, today is the day that you are cathartically released from your self-made prison. Variety reports that Zellweger will soon make her directorial debut on 4 1/2 Minutes, a film loosely based on the life of comedian Dov Davidoff, in which Johnny Knoxville plays a struggling, "commitment-phobic" stand-up comic who gets his literal and metaphorical act together by babysitting the "genius son" of a single mother, played by Renée Zellweger. Will Johnny Knoxville finally learn to laugh and love? Will Zellweger basically just reprise her role from Jerry Maguire? Will Panavision make Zellweger a special camera with a narrower, squintier viewfinder? So many questions, all of them mean.
More from The A.V. Club


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Showing posts from February, 2016
Beware of Craigslist Text Scams
- Get link
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Craigslist scammers are using texts these days to scam you. If you put in your cell phone number to allow calls or texts for potential buyers, be aware that Craigslist does not send a text link for questions from this so-called buyer. This is the second time I have received a text from someone with the message: New Craigslist Buyer Message Read using this: http://question3300.do.am/account_log_in.html I had a new one yesterday, which is posted below. Smart scammer made it personal, used a name and I checked the phone number - it was indeed from Florida. But I smelled a scam and went along with it until my zinger at the end. I haven't heard from him since, LOL. BEWARE of these scams via text!


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UNM hires ex-Notre Dame coach Bob Davie to be Lobo football's new boss.
APD fires belly-bumping officers who kicked a suspect in the head on video.
The toast sandwich is two pieces of bread around a slice of toast. It's the 150-year-old brainchild of Victorian food writer Mrs. Beeton.
Occupy Wall Street embarks on a nonviolent solidarity action, and has trouble with police in New York.
Art? Or stalking 14-year-old girls?
Avoid penile cancer by abstaining from bestiality.
Sexuality as a force for good.
The New Mexico Independent is done done. Almost exactly a year ago, the company got rid of its news team and hired part-time bloggers.
Mom of Sandusky's adopted son has concerns.
Clothing company folds under Vatican pressure and removes an ad showing the pope kissing an imam.
The people don't like Congress much these days. Know what that means? It's third-party time.
Google's getting into the music store biz. But there's no Prince. And no Zeppelin.
Katy Perry's Milli Vanilli flute fail.
Norwegians raise a viking ship using viking tools.
Is ScarJo a beard?
Some places in the world remain untouched by Facebook.


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- 20 different backgrounds
- full layered Photoshop files
- full layered Illustrator files
- .psd+.ai+.gif+.jpg+.png formats
- Very easy add/change colors and shapes
20 abstract backgrounds with many formats, anyone can very easy change the color by changing the color on the (bg) layer. the image resulotion is very high and is 2560×1600 pixels. you can use this for anyhting like have this for your website background, company logo background or anything else. easy layred for you so you can understand, and any shapes/objects can be resized/moved or deleted easy.


text: CUB SCOUT PACK 260 Cub Scout Pack 260 meets at Davis and Richmond Schools in St Charles. The Pack is chartered by Bethlehem Lutheran Church. Open to grades K through 5. 1 What is Cub Scouting? Cub Scouting is a volunteer-run, year-round family program that promotes character development, physical fitness, friendship, and most importantly, FUN! The program emphasizes adventure, learning and discovery. The Scouts learn new skills each year, which get more challenging as they get older. Their hard work is recognized at a monthly award ceremony. Cub Master


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Share Price
no news found for the company
Asset Quality Challenges in India: Diagnosis and Prognosis
article | 6:28 IST, May 02
Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) and OIL India ratings may come under pressure, if oil prices falls fall more sharply than Moody's expects and the companies continue with their growth and expansion plans aggressively
Non-subsidised LPG, ATF prices hiked
article | 20:40 IST, May 01
Last year in November 2015, RBI had eased the ECB norms to help Indian companies raising funds through dollar loans. However, a sharp slump in global economy since the beginning of 2016 took a massive toll on ECB with Indian rupees free fall against the US dollar.
Green Finance – Early Initiatives
article | 6:32 IST, May 02
The list recognises companies that that put their people first and are committed to providing strong, caring and innovative cultures. More than 1000 companies participated in national list studies in 9 Asia-region countries where Great Place to Work is represented. Of these, the 60 Best Workplaces in Asia were determined.
HDFC, TBZ results in focus
article | 6:53 IST, May 02
Singh said that the present stock of wheat with the Food Corporation of India is higher than the stocking norms
Tata Power plans to buy Welspun's wind, solar assets
article | 6:23 IST, May 02
RBI said that the foreign currency assets stood at $329.99 bn on March 11.


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[NEWS] Stirling Blueprints out for grabs
Learn how to give the big power companies the finger, and laugh all the way to the bank!
More than 180 years ago... Robert Stirling, a scottish Clergyman took the world by surprise. He invented something that shook the coal and energy industry to the ground!
Stirling found a way to make an engine work literally on thin air... with no fumes or toxic gasses!
Click here for live footage...
Unfortunately, his device became the first-ever suppressed 'free energy' generator. And only a few people witnessed it's amazing power!
Now, for the first time, the 'misplaced' blueprints of the Stirling Engine have been discovered and translated into 'plain english' for the average Joe...
See how the device works here...
The implications are huge. With a big enough Stirling Engine (that costs less than your monthly power bill), you can power up all sorts of electric devices... even an entire home.
And that means you could say "goodbye" to your electric company, and to paying hundreds of dollars a month on expensive electricity!
me a long speech, which I could not well understand, but took to be one of grateful welcome to myself and my tidings of peace and good will. He then desired me to tarry with them, and to be present at some entertainment or other, the nature of which I could not make out. I tarried; and toward evening they conducted me with much ceremony to an open space in the midst of the village. There I found planted in the ground a thick stake, and around it a ring of flaming brushwood. To the stake was fastened an Indian warrior, captured, so my inter- preter informed me, from some hostile tribe above the falls. His arms and ankles were secured to the stake by means of thongs passed through incisions in the flesh; his body was stuck over with countless pine splinters, each burning like a miniature torch; and on his shaven crown was tied a thin plate of copper heaped with red-hot coals. A little to one side ap- peared another stake and another circle of brushwood: the one with nothing tied to it as yet, and the other still unlit. My friend, I did not tarry to see it lit. I tore a branch from an oak, and I became as Samson with the jaw bone of the ass. I fell upon and smote those Philistines. Their wretched victim was beyond all human help, but I dearly avenged him upon his en-


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McCarter Theatre Premieres PHAEDRA BACKWARDS, 10/18
McCarter Theatre will present the world premiere of Marina Carr's Phaedra Backwards, directed by Artistic Director Emily Mann, October 18 through November 6. This richly poetic and visually complex adaptation of the Phaedra myth is the product of a McCarter commission. Using a non-linear structure and a variety of non-dialogue techniques (both film and live action), Ms. Carr's Phaedra Backwards is brave in its experimentation with form. To learn more about this production, visit www.mccarter.org/PhaedraBackwards/.
According to McCarter Artistic Director and the director of the production, Emily Mann, "Marina Carr has written an aural and visual poem, telling an ancient story in modern terms - poetic, fractured, and deconstructed. As a director, I lie awake at night dreaming about this play and the visual world it evokes. I am thrilled by the immense power of the piece and excited to introduce our audiences to such innovative work."
The complete cast for Phaedra Backwards will feature Susan Blommaert, Christopher Coucill, Angel Desai, Sean Haberle, Stephanie Roth Haberle, Julienne Hanzelka Kim, Mariann Mayberry, Julio Monge, Randall Newsome, and Jake Silbermann. Members of the Young Ensemble are Alexandra Erickson, Noah Hinsdale, Elsa Rodriguez, and Hope Springer.
The design team includes Rachel Hauck (set design), Anita Yavich (costume design), Jeff Croiter (lighting design), Mark Bennett (original music and sound design), Peter Nigrini (projection design), and Peter Pucci (movement director). The production stage manager is Cheryl Mintz.
McCarter Theatre has been privileged to be the American artist home of Marina Carr, one of Ireland's premiere contemporary playwrights. Born in 1964, Marina was brought up in County Offaly and graduated from Dublin's University College in 1987. Plays for The Abbey Theatre, Dublin include: 16 Possible Glimpses, Marble, Ullaloo, The Mai, Portia Coughlan, By the Bog of Cats, Ariel, and Meat and Salt. Other plays include On Raftery's Hill (Druid/Royal Court), Low in the Dark (Project Arts Centre), Woman and Scarecrow (Royal Court), The Cordelia Dream (Royal Shakespeare Company), and The Giant Blue Hand (The Ark). Awards: The Macaulay Fellowship and the E.M. Forster Prize from the American Academy of Arts and Letters. She was the 1932 fellow at Princeton for 2008. She currently teaches playwriting at Trinity College where she is an honorary professor and lives in Kerry with her husband and four children.
Susan Blommaert (Nanny) has appeared on Broadway in Grease and off-Broadway at The Public Theater, Vineyard Theatre, Circle Rep, The Production Co., Actors Playhouse, and Ubu Rep. Her television credits include The Big C, Boardwalk Empire, The Good Wife, Flight of the Conchords, The Sopranos, Law & Order, The X-Files, and ER.
Christopher Coucill (Inventor) has appeared on Broadway in The Graduate, Annie Get Your Gun, and Kiss Me Kate, and off-Broadway in The Rothschilds, Portraits, Words Divine, and The Fantasticks, among others. He has worked at McCarter Theatre, Passage Theatre, Arena Stage, Dallas Theater Center, The Huntington, Hartford Stage, and the Boston Shakespeare Company, among many others. Chris lives in Princeton with his wife Liz Fillo.
Angel Desai (Pasiphae) was seen on Broadway in the revival of Company, directed by John Doyle. Off-Broadway: The Tempest, The Winter's Tale at Classic Stage Company; Manic Flight Reaction, The Bubbly Black Girl... at Playwrights Horizons. The Architecture of Loss at New York Theatre Works; The Antigone Project, Gum for the Women's Project; This End Up: A User's Manual for Lovers of Asians for Ma-Yi; Stop Kiss, and Henry VIII at The Public/NYSF. Her television credits include The Event, Washington Field, The Good Wife, Kings, The Eleventh Hour, Dollhouse, and has had roles on all three Law & Order.
Sean Haberle (Minos) appeared in the Ridge Theater's production of Persephone, which was presented as part of BAM's 2010 Next Wave Festival; Jane Eyre and Hedda Gabler at The Guthrie Theater; Macbeth at Baltimore Center Stage; As You Like It at Long Wharf; Therese Raquin at Classic Stage Company; and many more.
Stephanie Roth Haberle (Phaedra) was seen on Broadway in Artist Descending a Staircase (Drama Desk nomination), Les Liaisons Dangereuses with the Royal Shakespeare Company, Brighton Beach Memoirs/Broadway Bound. Off-Broadway in Orange, Hat and Grace at Soho Rep; An Oresteia at Classic Stage Company; Cymbeline for New York Shakespeare Festival; Two Gentlemen of Verona for Shakespeare's Globe-London and Victory Theatre; The Cherry Orchard at BAM, directed by Peter Brook; Uncommon Women and Others, Crumbs from the Table of Joy at Second Stage Company; and, A Body of Water at Circle Rep. TV and Film: Crimes & Misdemeanors, Deconstructing Harry, Melinda & Melinda, Hollywood Ending, Philadelphia, The Cradle Will Rock, Songcatcher, Joshua, Deception, Flannel Pajamas, Fred, Law & Order, Homicide, and NY Undercover.
Julienne Hanzelka Kim (Aricia) appeared on Broadway: Metamorphoses, Golden Child; Off-Broadway in Yellow Face at The Public Theater, The Intelligent Design of Jenny Chow at Atlantic Theater, The Notebooks of Leonardo Da Vinci at Second Stage, Blood Orange at Cherry Lane Theatre and the Blue Heron Arts Center, and The House of Bernarda Alba at National Asian American Theatre Company.
Mariann Mayberry (Ariadne) last appeared at McCarter in Mary Zimmerman's The Odyssey. Broadway: August: Osage County, Metamorphoses, One Flew over the Cuckoo's Nest. Off-Broadway: Go Back to Where You Are at Playwrights Horizon; and The Notebooks of Leonardo Da Vinci at Second Stage. TV: Mercy, Law & Order, The Pennsylvania Miner's Story, Dave Chappelle Show, and Delocated. Film: War of the Worlds, Handsome Harry, The Company, and Since You've Been Gone. Ms. Mayberry has been a Steppenwolf Theatre ensemble member since 1993 where she has appeared in over 25 productions including The Libertine, The Pain and the Itch, and Slavs.
Julio Monge (Minotaur) Broadway credit include Twelfth Night (Lincoln Center, directed by Nicholas Hytner, Jerome Robbins' Broadway, Man of La Mancha, Paul Simon's The Capeman, Fosse, and Chronicle of a Death Foretold, directed by Graciela Daniele. He has appeared in Anthony and Cleopatra, directed by and starring Vanessa Redgrave; Pericles at The Public Theater; Henry VIII, Much Ado About Nothing, and Hamlet for Shakespeare in the Park/Public Theater. International tours Aurélia's Oratorio, created and directed by Victoria Thierree Chaplin.
Randall Newsome (Theseus) was last seen at McCarter in The Birthday Party and on Broadway in Inherit the Wind and A Touch of the Poet. TV and film: I Love You Phillip Morris, Oliver Stone's W, Sangre de Mi Sangre (2007 Sundance Grand-Jury Prize Winner), Love Happens, Highlander II, Big Fat Liar, Benji: Off the Leash, Tremors, Boardwalk Empire, The Good Wife, Royal Pains, Person of Interest, Law & Order, Guiding Light, Ed.
Jake Silbermann (Hippolytus) is best known for playing the controversial role of Noah Mayer on TV's As the World Turns. His other television credits include Guiding Light, Gossip Girl, and ABC's upcoming Georgetown.
Tickets for Phaedra Backwards start as low as $20 and can be purchased online at www.mccarter.org, by phone at (609) 258-2787, or in person at 91 University Place, Princeton, NJ 08540.


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(CNN) -- Democratic Sen. Barack Obama and Republican Sen. John McCain in August will be on the same stage for the first time in the 2008 presidential campaign.
The Rev. Rick Warren says he makes no endorsements because he shepherds "both sides of the flock."
The Rev. Rick Warren has invited them to appear at a leadership and compassion forum in his Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, California, on August 16. Warren, the author of the best-selling book "The Purpose Driven Life" spoke with CNN's Wolf Blitzer by phone Tuesday from Sao Paulo, Brazil.
BLITZER: Pastor Warren, how did you do it? How did you convince both of them to show up?
PASTOR RICK WARREN, SADDLEBACK CHURCH: Well, Wolf, they've both been friends for a long time. I knew both John and Barack before either of them decided to run for office, had talked with them. Both of them have helped me in the past with our peace plan and with -- they've sent messages to Saddleback at some of our conferences.
And so I just thought let's -- you know, I might be the guy to get them together. So, I called them up and said, let's do it. And they said, well, we'll do it if you be the only questioner, if you don't have a forum, don't have a panel. And if you'll ask all the questions, then we'll do it.
BLITZER: But they're not going to be together. They're going to be separate. These are going to be Pastor Warren and Barack Obama, followed by Pastor Warren and John McCain. But there's not going to be any interchange between the two of them, is that right?
WARREN: Yes. I'm going to -- my plan is to bring them out on stage together at the beginning or at the end. But what I want to do is I want to let each of them talk without interrupting each other. And it's not a debate format.
There will be plenty of time for debates. What I want to do is get people to know the real person like I know them without a time barrier and a buzzer and a time for rebuttal. Let them just speak what they need to say.
BLITZER: The last time we spoke was right after you invited Barack Obama when he was still running for the Democratic presidential nomination. You got some criticism from a few fellow evangelicals out there. You called him in the interview with me an amazing, an amazing man, Barack Obama. Could you see yourself supporting him for president?
WARREN: Well, I don't support anybody for president publicly. I never endorse. I never campaign.
You know, as a pastor, I don't really think that's my role. I have to shepherd both sides of the flock. And I have a church full of Democrats and a church full of Republicans and a church full of independents.
So, I think they're both amazing men. I've known them for a long time. They're both very, very different.
They have both different theories of government, different theories of leadership, different approaches to life. And I -- what I do is I think, because I know them, I think I can set up an environment that people can actually say, oh, so that's what that guy's really like. And I think I can do that for both John and for Barack.
All About Barack Obama • John McCain • Rick Warren


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Deal with the threats-- now
After reading the comments by those out of the know, namely Waldo Jaquith [February 9: "Explosive: Details sketchy in school plot"], one wonders why 9/11 is referred to when 4/20/99 is the real start of terror in the schools?
As the shock of 4/20 has shown us, it's better to err on the side of caution than to regret our inaction latter.
Plastic explosives or Molotov cocktails do destroy both buildings and lives. Authorities have no obligation to satisfy our curiosity while a case is still being investigated as Jaquith would like. That's what the judicial system is for.
Rather than minimizing what could have been childish pranks– as some would prefer– I would view the facts of a person who loves guns, loves to use them, and may have a grudge with a school system he has been up against before as enough reason to be very active in dealing with this potential threat to our students and community.
To hear one of the parents say what a great kid his son is makes me wonder how well he really knows his son and if he knows how he uses the Internet.
We are not dealing with innocent elementary students here, people!
Lisa Miller


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When the time comes to choose a running mate, Dick Cheney wrote in his book, "It's harder to find a good vice presidential candidate than you might think." And he ought to know. As the head of the VP search committee, Cheney famously had such a hard time finding just the right man to be George W. Bush's No. 2 that he ended up in the job himself.
Beth Myers, the woman running Mitt Romney's veep vet, is likely finding that Cheney was right about the tough task of selecting a person who not only can help the ticket in November but, more important, can perform and succeed as vice president long after the inaugural balls are over.
Barrels of ink have been spilled over which candidate on Romney's rumored short list could help him take Ohio, woo Latinos, or win over soccer moms. But who could succeed in the difficult job itself, a position without portfolio that Vice President John Nance Garner, FDR's VP, once derided as "not worth a bucket of warm piss"?
Scholars, former vice presidential staffers, and current Washington insiders say the best potential veep will have a combination of the right temperament, a deep skill set, value-added experience, and a fat Rolodex to excel in the job. Specifically, they say Romney should be looking for:
Chemistry. It may sound like an eHarmony ad, but those in the know say it is essential that Romney and his vice president like each other for their relationship to work. "The most important job of the modern vice president is to have a sense of trust with the president, where you can help them be better at their job," says David Thomas, a former aide to Vice President Al Gore. "It will be someone whose counsel the president can rely on, who the president can delegate responsibilities to, and who the president can talk off the record with, because there are very few people who they can confide in."
Joel Goldstein, a vice presidential scholar and professor at St. Louis University School of Law, says the potential veep also must be willing to act as a reality check in a sea of yes men. "You need somebody who will be loyal, but also strong enough to be able to walk into the Oval Office and say, 'I think you're wrong,'" Goldstein says. "If they're not doing that, they're not doing their job."
Ability. Romney has said it himself—he wants his second in command to be able to step into the job as president on Day 1. That means he or she not only will need to be capable of performing as the nation's chief executive but also must come with enough foreign policy expertise to take over as commander in chief in a worst-case scenario. In light of Romney's lack of overseas experience, insiders say his second in command will likely need to have foreign policy chops to spare.
People person*. The vice president often stands in for the president at political functions, but the veep also will need to be able to handle the unparalleled office politics inside the West Wing and the Beltway. Between Romney loyalists, GOP party leaders, and diplomatic demands, the vice president will have to help Romney navigate Washington's legendary turf wars, ideally with relationships they've developed over their own careers. *But aides warn of an overly ambitious pick who may have his or her own post-Romney agenda. "Gore had his own ambitions, but he also relished the role of being a trusted No. 2," says Thomas.
Wise to Washington. As Romney is not a creature of Washington, insiders say he'll need a fixer for the Capitol Hill crowd. Coincidentally, the only constitutional role of a vice president is as the president of the Senate, so a successful Romney veep choice will be able to act as an emissary to Capitol Hill, wrangling votes, keeping tabs on rebellions, and generally attending to the care and feeding of members of Congress, a needy bunch if ever there was one.
A Leader and a Follower. Perhaps the most important but least discussed requirement for a vice president is the dual ability to lead a nation and to be willing to act as subordinate for eight years, if necessary. "You've got to find somebody who is presidential, but who is also vice presidential," Goldstein says. "If somebody isn't able to play a supporting role, they may have trouble as vice president." Goldstein pointed to LBJ as a No. 2 who struggled in the role and to Walter Mondale and George H.W. Bush as those who found a way to lead and follow at the same time. Goldstein adds, "For somebody operating at that level, it's not a normal function."
With these criteria as a guide, let's see how the names on the short list stack up.
Rob Portman, senator from Ohio: Likely performance: A
Putting aside Portman's no-sizzle factor for a moment, those who know Portman say his boring-white-guy persona belies an affable, trustworthy, and wildly competent potential vice president for Romney. As a senator and former House member, Portman knows both sides of Capitol Hill and also worked in the White House under both Bushes. Portman burnished his foreign policy credentials as the U.S. trade representative for George W. Bush and now sits on the Senate Armed Services Committee overseeing the U.S. military. If Romney were to win, he would need a veep trained in the ways of Washington, and Portman could be the best in the bunch for those purposes.
Bobby Jindal, governor of Louisiana: Likely performance: A-
Jindal may have bombed his response to President Obama's first State of the Union address, but the conservative base isn't holding it against the two-term governor of Louisiana. The well-liked Jindal is also well-respected inside the Beltway, where he served in the George W. Bush administration and was also a two-term member of the House, all before the age of 35. The former Rhodes scholar is also a whiz in health policy thanks to his stint as Louisiana's youngest ever director of the Department of Health and Hospitals. With entitlement reform on the agenda of any president, Jindal would be a value-add on Day 1. Jindal's key deficits are his lack of foreign policy experience and Doogie Howser demeanor, the latter of which could make closing deals with committee chairmen even tougher than usual.
Tim Pawlenty, former Minnesota governor: Likely performance: B+
The man known as "T-Paw" has enjoyed front-runner status in the D.C. veep-stakes buzz lately, thanks in large part to the considerable chemistry he and Romney have shown together at campaign events around the country. The usually gee-whiz Midwesterner also caught political watchers' attention last month in North Carolina, when he traded in his mom jeans for boxing gloves and delivered a barn burner of a speech that lit into Barack Obama in a way few thought possible of the original "Sam's Club Republican." In addition to Pawlenty's potential as a trusted and effective sidekick, Pawlenty would give Romney a guaranteed "in" with the GOP base, which continues to give the former Massachusetts governor the hairy eyeball but has always liked the friendly and unquestionably conservative—and competent—Pawlenty.
The biggest strike against Pawlenty as a potential Romney VP may be that he is too much like the potential boss. Both are former governors of not-so-red states, and Pawlenty lacks significant foreign policy experience and long-standing relationships inside Washington, deficiencies that would do little to help Romney in the areas he needs it most.
Paul Ryan, congressman from Wisconsin: Likely performance: B
In addition to being on Romney's rumored VP short list, Rep. Ryan was also on Time magazine's short list for "Person of the Year" after passing a budget through the House that went where mortals dared not tread—entitlement reform. In addition to winning over magazine editors, Ryan won over conservatives nationally who have grown to view him as a modern-day, budget-busting folk hero.
The seven-term congressman would give Romney both a fresh, young presence on the political scene and a creature of Washington—someone who could work seamlessly with the House and Senate GOP leadership on Romney's behalf to get his agenda through the Hill's considerable hoops.
But the budget-obsessed Wisconsinite may be too one-note to fill out the demands of the vice presidency, with no military or foreign policy bona fides to bring to the table while Romney learns on the job.
Kelly Ayotte, senator from New Hampshire: Likely performance: C+
Dick Cheney said he didn't have a long list and a short list, but a private list, for people who were being considered, and a public list, for people he wanted to the world to believe he was considering.
Ayotte, along with former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, seems to be a public-list, female-friendly candidate, rather than a real possibility for the Romney team.
Although she is seen as a fast-rising star by Republicans in Washington, her biggest challenge is time—the 43-year-old Ayotte has been in the Senate for just 18 months, making her a dangerous choice for any Republican looking to erase memories of Sarah Palin's disastrous tryout.
Republicans say with a few more years, Ayotte will be a quadruple threat for a VP pick, as a trusted conservative, member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, eventual Washington veteran, and mother with young children. Earlier, Sen. John McCain predicted to The Daily Beast that the "incredibly quick study" will end up in the Republican leadership "very soon," adding, "I would imagine that over time she may go even further than the Senate."
Marco Rubio, senator from Florida: Likely performance: C
Count Rubio as another rising star who could help the 2012 GOP ticket as a vice presidential candidate but who would make a lousy vice president in 2013. Beloved by the Republican base and admired by Latinos for his personal story, the junior senator from Florida clearly has a major future ahead of him. But Senate staffers also say the charming Rubio needs seasoning before he could step in as a president's top adviser, let alone step up as president if necessary. And with just 18 months of experience in the Senate and a youthful demeanor to boot, it's hard to imagine Rubio calling the shots in the event of a worst-case scenario.
Evidence of Rubio's inexperience came out recently when he gave what was billed as a "major foreign policy speech" at the Brookings Institution. After delivering the lengthy speech from notes, Rubio paused toward the end, looking for something. "I left the last page of my speech. Does anyone have my last page?" he asked.
Supplied with the final bit of his address, Rubio read on but left an impression with those in the audience. "Not ready for prime time," observed a veteran Republican.


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Follow the Cube
A Baseball Team at the Randall's Island Sports Fields Ribbon Cutting
Location: Randall's Island Park, Manhattan
Date: May 19, 2010
Photographer: Malcolm Pinckney
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Kids trying to figure out old technology (to be fair I didn't know some of the things). And the fact that they're French just makes it cuter for some reason.
Pon & Zi
The Official Vuvuzela-song music video (10 points for recognising the location)
And of course, some random guy in Brazil playing it on his keyboard…


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Stumbling into Infinity
Posted by Manish Panchmatia on Sunday, February 24, 2013 Labels: Art of Living, Bangalore, Book, Event Report, Spiritual Science
Stumbling into Infinity. An ordinary man in the sphere of enlightenment. This is a spiritual auto-biography of Michael Fischman. This article is not a book review,as one can find many review comments, that confirmed this book is excellent, and must read. As per Amazon.com :
Michael Fischman's fascinating and personal memoir takes us into the compassionate and mysterious world of an enlightened seer. It is a compelling narrative that blends remarkable experiences with an inner struggle and search for meaning.
He visited Bangalore, to promote the book. I am fortunate enough to attend one such book promo event, at Phoenix Market City, Whitefield on 19th Feb 2013. So, specially for the readers of this blog 'Express YourSelf !' I have captured the essence of our interaction with Michael Fischman. Enjoy MAADI !!
The event started with formalities. Shushil Kumar Ahuja of Phoenix mall offered a flower bouquet to Michael and Shyamalaji, and expressed his readiness to offer the venue for more such events. Shyamalaji introduced the author and Art of Living. She is with Art of Living for more than a decade now. Michael is her teacher, mentor and very dear friend. She was happy and was got honored by sharing the same stage with her teacher. On behalf of Whitefield Art of Living volunteers and teachers, Venki (a senior Art of Living teacher) presented memento to Michael. Venki is one of the few early Indians who read his book 'Stubmling into Infinity', from US.
The event started with formalities. Shushil Kumar Ahuja of Phoenix mall offered a flower bouquet to Michael and Shyamalaji, and expressed his readiness to offer the venue for more such events. Shyamalaji introduced the author and Art of Living. She is with Art of Living for more than a decade now. Michael is her teacher, mentor and very dear friend. She was happy and was got honored by sharing the same stage with her teacher. On behalf of Whitefield Art of Living volunteers and teachers, Venki (a senior Art of Living teacher) presented memento to Michael. Venki is one of the few early Indians who read his book 'Stubmling into Infinity', from US.
Many of us already know Michael or 'My-Key'. Quite few of us have read the book. Almost all of us had experienced Sudarshan Kriya by attending Art of Living basic course. So Michael freely used those knowledge points, while talking with us. He started with informal "Hi".
He did course in 1988, when there was only one Art of Living teacher, Guruji Sri Sri Ravishankar himself. He repeated the course, he attended silence retreat, then 3 days Teachers Training course. When Guruji conducted course, Michael recorded everything, to memorize later. Once he got invitation from Mangalore Management Association (MMA), to deliver two hours talk. He asked for Guruji's guidance to choose a talk, that he can memorize and deliver at MMA. Guruji lovingly guided him, "just talk for 10 minutes to build context and then question answer session." So let people listen to as per their choice of topics. It worked. It was a wonderful session and Michael could answer all the questions.
Since that time, he has not changed his style. So his 10 minutes speech is over and floor is open for question answers. Venki broke the ice by asking the first question.
1. The process to dive into Infinity: "Surrender. Surrender also means, accepting of every moment. Generally we try to change the moment. We judge, we compare the moment with desires in our mind. We separate the moment from the reality and get into conflict with the moment. If we just accept it, such a expansion happens. Sri Sri Ravishankar is great devotee, so He is great master too. "
2. Being western, accepting eastern philosophy: "There is no difference at all. All over the world, people are pretty much the same. Their desires are same: prosperity, health, happiness, family's success and happiness. Here, you desired Dhosa-Sambhar, there people desire good sandwiches to eat. There are only minor differences.
A teacher should not take position, that I am teaching something to somebody. A teacher should just share his experience. An Art of Living teacher guides, share and uplift lives of people. If a teacher talks / tells you something then your ego, dogma, concepts, 'I know better than you' etc will be obstacles. Teaching is so dry, but sharing is celebration. My mentor Guruji never talks down to people. He is only sharing. He is same at every location."
3. Outer world v/s Inner world: Michael just draw our attention to 50 % off sale in Phoenix mall. When he visited Bangalore, in 1991 there was no concept of sale, even malls were not there. "The world has evolved and changed a lot. Life is getting faster. As we evolve as human species, we got more and more stimuli from external sources.
- Now everything has more visual impact like colorful advertising sign boards, new colors on SARIs, HD 3D movies, laptop screens.
- On Audio front technology has advanced from gramophone records to audio cassettes to digital CDs and MP3s.
- Now, we have food from all over the world.
- Same for fragrances.
There is something more charming, more stimulating, more exciting and more vibrant than world. I found it. Many of you found it. Guruji is so charming. He brings you back to center, to yourself, so you do not lost yourself in outer world."
4. East and West: "India, is extremely spiritual country. The spirituality is very much embedded into Indians. Yes, there is a paradigm shift and Indians are attracted towards western culture, however it is not obstetrical for spiritual progress. Weather east or west, everyone is searching for meaning, love and peace. Yoga and singing Bhajans are very popular in US, nowadays."
5. Ordinary day in life: "It is same like yours normal day. I also wake, brush my teeth, wash my face, do Sadhana, have breakfast like any ordinary person."
6. Purpose of life: "All of us have two different purposes in our life. Inner one and outer one.
- In the outer world, we always try to express our individuality. We contribute for betterment of this planet, we love people, we serve people, we put our 100% for any given task. However we all are same at core. It is like snowflake, they look alike but if we see under microscope, then each one is very different. We run around and confused, till our mind is calm down and settled. With calm mind, you can fulfill your purpose. the divine and force-of-nature will move you in certain way that you will be expression of divinity itself.
- All of us have same inner purpose: wake up and find out, who we are. To experience of divinity not just at intellectual level, but experience it very deeply. I think, we all are moving towards that with our own way. So if we compare ourselves with others either spiritually or materialistically, then that creates a such big mess."
7. Social Services : Someone from the audience raised concern about irreversible changes and the damaged already happen, even we have evolved technology and positive initiative like 'Volunteers for better India'. Michael responded : "The world is moving towards positive direction, closer towards lights, wisdom. Learning from mistake makes us stronger. This is not a terrible time, rather this is an exciting time. The consciousness is waking up. Many people want to do service and they are joining hands together. Sri Sri Ravishankar is catalysis for change and transformation by many service projects across the globe."
8. Special incidents in Ashram: Michael narrated an incident of 1992. If you get chance sometime, you should directly listen from him only.
9. Meditation and regular Sadhana: It was surprising to know that many of us have learnt Sahaj Samadhi Meditation, yet few of us are practicing regularly twice in a day. Michael emphasized a lot about regular Sadhana on this path of knowledge. "The Art of Living is about 4 S. Sadhana, Seva (Service), Satsang and Smile. Sadhana brings deep experience within, that is essential for transformation. Without regular Sadhana then The Art of Living is just a social club, where we together all just laugh, smile, enjoy and celebrate. The Art of Living is much more than just a platform for social gathering. He shared his experiences to encourage us for dedicated regular Sadhana." He was regular in Sadhana, twice a day, at busy life of NewYork, California and Los Angeles.
10. Convince friend for Art of Living course: He discourage people to do men hunting for Art of Living course. "One should not irritate others like sales men. One should leave friends and people alone. Give them space. Just relax. Everyone has its own time, so no need to become aggressive. This is not like JIHAD." He advised the person to become example for his friend and inspire him to do the course by being more calm, alert, loving, caring, more patience, and living in present moment.
11. Law of Karma: He expressed his personal opinion that, "if one has personal identification and mental association with someone/something then he needs to experience Karma. Sometimes, Karmas are at very very subtle level, that we are unaware." Michael observed Guruji under microscope for last 25 years and concluded that He never identified Himself with anything. "He is running so many service projects. Sometimes we as volunteers are so excited by our role, planning and contribution towards a service project. However for Guruji, all projects are just same." I added to that, Guruji's response to a question. "Guruji what do you do in your free time?" Guruji replied with smile, "I do everything in free time only" How much detach He is ! Micheal added about Guruji "It is amazing, how he managed so people, so many meetings about service projects, kitchen, housing, blessings, IT and He just offer something to everybody. How do you feel, if all the time, people are just staring at you. Like you are some animal in zoo. He does not need space for himself. He is space, that is why he can do that "
Michael continued about Karma theory. "We used to associate ourselves with job, children, spouse, nationality, gender, profession, likes, dislikes etc. We just project out our inner self to the world. More we do Sadhana, more we go deep in meditation and more we experience the expansion, then shift in mind happens. I am just the pure consciousness. I am much greater than this outer world, that knowledge comes by listening to Guruji. Guruji has spoken everything in video recordings on Ashtavakra Gita, Narad Bhakti Sutra, Patanjali Yoga sutra and many knowledge talks. You need to integrate that knowledge in our deep level of experience, otherwise you are just fooling yourself and you create another identity of knowledge for yourself.
Few sentences in Hindi:
- "Ab Kyaa Ho Raha Hai? अब क्या हो रहा है? " What is happening now?
- "Aur Kyaa? और क्या ?" What else?
- "Koi Baat Nahi. कोई बात नहीं ।" Doesn't matter or fair enough. If you live this expression in your life on daily basis, you will be always joyful.
12. Adapting Art of Living as being a person from US and a Jewish: "It is not a big transition, so I have not done any adjustment. We do only those things, that we like to do. I have not done any big sacrifice. I like to teach Art of Living courses, so I am doing it. This summer I will celebrate my 25th Guru-Purnima festival with Guruji. These 25 years went just a like a day passes. I have not done any cultural adjustment. Yes I am Jewish. I have great respect for my traditions, value, religion and culture. Yes, I see myself as American, but I feel very much at home, here in India. Because of Guruji, I have feeling of belongingness wherever I go. Every country and every culture has something unique to offer. "
Then we had short guided meditation. Before that we had thumb yoga. :) Use our thumb to switched off / silent our mobile phone. Michael commented in his unique humorous style. "In ancient time, when sages perform Ygana or any religious rituals, that time devils used to come to disturb them. In present time, the two biggest sources of devils are Samsung and Apple :) ". He introduced mediation as art of doing nothing. He claimed himself as expert of doing nothing. In school days, college days teachers / professors used to tell him, "Michael you have done nothing !" In corporate world, his boss used to tell him the same. :) We all enjoyed meditation.
13. More time with Guruji: He wished the person, for getting more time to spend with Guruji. He suggested to take more responsibility and to be involved in big SEVA service projects, that needs Guruji's attention. Off course, if one does SEVA with selfish motive then it does not remain as SEVA, however it is good only if anyone involve to SEVA service project with aim of spending more time with Guruji.
14: Any unaccomplished goal or desire: "No. All desires are fulfilled. Yes, I wanted to visit Maha Kumbh Mela, that too, I visited recently.
Is it so important to fulfill your desire? Once, your one desire is fulfilled, new desire will arise and it will get hold of your mind. Then it is same, weather your current desire gets fulfilled or not. Desire creates lot of stress in your mind. All the time, your mind says, I will be happy, only when I get this thing. The present moment is so perfect in itself. You just observe pattern of your mind, as witness. You can realize with retrospection, that
- I am getting frustrated over the same thing all the time.
- I am doing same mistake, again and again.
- I feel insecure about same type of changes when they happened.
- My mind is keep on chattering.
- It oscillates between past tense and future tense.
Ultimately, you only have to go through patterns of your mind to overcome them, with knowledge and technique. A Guru can only help you. However, there cannot be instant fix that, yes now onward there will be no pattern. You should be honest to yourself, to understand your patterns and obstacles. You are only responsible for your feelings and your experiences. You should observe that, 'what is blocking me, to experience the divine?' We all are playing a role of a seeker on the path of knowledge.
Once you know your mind, you understand the human condition, you get inner strength, empathy so, you can empower others also to overcome their mind's patterns. Once you realize, then a true surrender will happen. It does not matter at all, to whom you surrender. There is only one divine element."
15. Writing a book Michael summarize by sharing his experience about writing this book. He was not good at writing since schooling. So writing this book took long time for him. Once, he finishes it, he realize that yes, he can do anything in life. Any idea is put in your mind by divine only. The book 'Stumbling into Infinity' is all about his experiences with Guruji. He was told to write this book. He had various experiences over this path, that he shared with Guruji. Guruji instructed him, 'Write them down. Those experiences are not for you. They are give to you so you inspire other people.'
At the end, we had book releasing formality with Venki. He informally suggested audience, before going back to stage: "After my speech, you all are supposed to clap" :)
I am also ending this blog post here by suggesting you all readers. "After reading my blog, you all are supposed to share and comment on it." :)
Declaimer: Please note, this article is not verbatim of Michael Fischman's speech. I have put my best effort to put his thought in my own words, to share essence with you all. I may have done unintended mistake while understanding his speech, so this article may not completely represent his thoughts. Please let me know, if any mistake by me, due to my incomplete or incorrect interpretation.
1 comments:
- Manish Panchmatia said...
Some URLs
- March 17, 2013 at 7:02 PM