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Some of you probably know about my 19-year-old friend who recently escaped a human trafficking situation back in January. She's also an escapee from fundamentalism. She's now trying to start her life over with an almost one-year-old baby while going through the legal process of an ongoing law enforcement investigation. I helped her report everything … Continue reading Help a fundamentalism escapee, human trafficking survivor and single mom get a car + restart her life
Tag: escape
I don't normally write about my siblings because neither of them have public lives in the way that I do as a writer and journalist. That's why I don't say much about them on my blog. I want them to be able to figure out their own lives in peace. When I write about them … Continue reading I get to talk to my siblings now


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"The amounts needed to rescue people are less than what is needed to rescue banks."High Commissioner António Gutteres for the UN Refugee Agency said last summer. There are an estimated 16 million refugees in our world today. That's about 5 times the population of CT. That is 16 million people - families, children who have fled their country of origin to escape danger or persecution there. Why does that matter? Because on this day, we remember that Jesus was made a refugee by King Herod. We know the first part of the story…
Wise men from the East come looking for the child who was to be born. These Wise men, magi, are gentiles and they have come to pay homage to the newborn king. Can you imagine Herod's surprise? His fear and anger over one who could supplant his role as king? He wants to know about this child and he wants the wise men to report back to him when they know where he is, so he too can pay homage. But of course, we know that is the last thing he would do.
The wise men continue their search, they follow the star and are overwhelmed with joy when they find Mary & Joseph and Jesus. The wise men kneel down before the baby Jesus and offer their gifts: gold, frankincense and myrrh, and having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they go home by another road. We remember the Wise Men, they are in our crèche scenes, we sing about them, but we forget that their place in our Christmas Story is also a political one. For this story is also about Herod who will do anything to hold onto his power.
As one Anglican priest put it…
"Herod represents the dark side of the gospel. He reminds us that Jesus didn't enter a world of sparkly Christmas cards or a world of warm spiritual sentiment. Jesus enters a world of real pain, of serious dysfunction, a world of brokenness and political oppression. Jesus was born an outcast, a homeless person, a refugee." (Joy Carroll Wallis)Remember that in 6 BC, Rome was the occupying power in the land of Israel. Caesar Augustus was on the thrown, the first Roman emperor that unified the empire. Herod the Great ruled the land of Judea. He was King because Rome put him there. He was distrusted and disliked by the population because of his connections to Rome and his brutality. In the midst of this, God comes to us and Jesus is born. We remember that he was born not among family & friends, but in a stable with animals. The holy family are outcasts and would become refugees.
Our Christmas Story often ends with the Wise Men leaving by another road, but it doesn't end there at all. For Joseph is likewise warned in a dream to leave Bethlehem and flee to Egypt for Herod wants to destroy Jesus. And Joseph listens to the dream, he protects his family and they escape to Egypt just in time. For Matthew then tells us of the slaughter of the innocents, males 2 years old and younger in the region of Bethlehem ordered killed by Herod after Herod did not hear from the wise men. Thankfully his murderous reign comes to an end, and Mary & Joseph who are refugees in the land of Egypt return with Jesus and make their home in Nazareth in Galilee after Herod's death.
Herod is not a cuddly character we embrace and we often forget his role in that first Christmas, but He reminds us that the world that Jesus was born into, is the same world we live in now. War, death, murder, political infighting, take place now as they did then. And innocent people are often caught in the middle and end up as victims and refugees. But we also know that God intercedes on our behalf in the best and worst of times; even with the power of Rome & Herod in place, God comes to us in a helpless baby in their midst. He is not recognized except for some outsiders, he is forced to flee from Bethlehem because his life is threatened, he is a refugee in a country and will find no home until Herod is dead.
Where is the star that we follow? Where does our faith call us to use our gifts?
One such ministry is called Iris - Integrated Refugee & Immigrant Services. It is a program of our Episcopal Diocese of Connecticut and is the local affiliate of Episcopal Migration Ministries and the Immigration and Refugee Program of Church World Service. IRIS resettles approximately 100 refugees each year. Currently, over half of IRIS's refugee clients come from Iraq. Others come from Afghanistan, Congo, Cuba, Ethiopia, Iran, Somalia, Sudan, and other countries.
And as reminder of what this ministry is all about, the logo for Episcopal Migration Ministries has Mary riding a donkey carrying Jesus as Joseph follows behind them looking back, as they flee to Egypt. For we are reminded on this Sunday to use our gifts, to pray, to lift up and give our voice and our actions to help those fleeing persecution and danger, to see Christ in this world through the lives of the children and how they suffer, and to stand up against the Herod's of this world.
For Christmas is more than our coming to the manger to pay homage, it is also how we give our gifts to the world in the name of the one who was a refugee, who was terrorized and threatened, who died at the hands of politics and power. It is offering our gifts to the Christ Child in our midst today...
For when the song of the angels is stilledOur Christmas festivities are nearing the end, but our work of Christmas has just begun. Let us journey and find the Christ child knowing it may lead us not to palaces or to places of joy, but to refugee camps, war zones, ghettos, places of poverty and areas of destruction. Let us help shed the light of Christ to those who walk in darkness today. Because today we celebrate the Light that has come into the world for all people, and the darkness has not and will not overcome it.
when the star in the sky is gone
when the kings and princes are home
when the shepherds are back with their flocks
the work of Christmas begins:
to find the lost
to heal the broken
to feed the hungry
to release the prisoner
to rebuild the nations
to bring peace among the people
to make music in the heart.
(Howard Thurman)
Let us pray: O God, we ask your living protection of all refugees yearning for freedom and hope in a new land. May we ever remember that the Holy Family, too, were refugees as they fled persecution. Bless, guide and lead us in faith to open doors and to open our hearts through this ministry of hospitality. Give us strength, vision and compassion as we work together to welcome those in need. We ask this in the name of your son, Jesus Christ, our Lord. AMEN.

subset: commoncrawl


text: Jesus told his disciples not to worry or be anxious about tomorrow, life, or anything else. In fact, he wants to simplify our lives by letting love alone guide us in all that we do. While sin complicates and destroys lives, love simplifies them and builds them up. Simply love all others as Christ loves us and we are heaven bound!


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The Three Pillars that Support Cannon
For people, for society, and for the future. Leveraging our imaging technologies, Canon's business spans three general categories.
Imaging System: Digital imaging enriches and expands the ways and means of communication in daily life
Office: A variety of digital imaging solutions that deliver high image quality, high precision and high speed
Industry and Others: Imaging technologies trusted by professionals that contribute to many different industries


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Panic at the Pete: Wise, Johnson's transfers cause for alarm
By Steve Rotstein | Sports Editor
April 3, 2017
It started with a harmless announcement March 13. That's when sophomore guard Crisshawn Clark revealed his intention to transfer from the Pitt men's basketball team after missing the entire 2016-17 season with a torn MCL and meniscus. Clark could have provided some useful depth for the Panthers if health...
Leading returning scorer Cameron Johnson leaving Pitt
By Steve Rotstein | Sports Editor
April 1, 2017
After having three players transfer in the past three weeks, the Pitt men's basketball team is now losing its leading returning scorer. Redshirt sophomore guard Cameron Johnson is pursuing his transfer from the university. Johnson's father Gil confirmed the news to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette early Sat...
Damon Wilson transferring from Pitt men's basketball team
By Steve Rotstein | Sports Editor
March 23, 2017
Another day, another player transferring away from the Pitt men's basketball team. Sophomore Damon Wilson announced his intention to transfer from the team Wednesday, barely one week after true freshman Corey Manigault and sophomore Crisshawn Clark decided to leave the team. "I am grateful for my ...
Rozelle Nix: Big man on campus
By Kevin Bertha | Staff Writer
February 28, 2017
After years of rigorous work on various courts, Rozelle Nix finally saw his dedication pay off this season. Pitt trailed by five with seven minutes left in the game against the winningest coach of all-time, Mike Krzyzewski, and the No. 21 Duke Blue Devils. Sophomore guard Cameron Johnson missed a ...
Panthers open season — again — with 84-43 win over St. Joseph's (Indiana)
By Dan Sostek / Sports Editor
November 18, 2015
With a pristine, safe hardwood court under its feet, the Pitt men's basketball team officially opened its season, avoiding a slipup Tuesday evening. After officials cancelled Pitt's original season opener — a matchup in Okinawa, Japan, against No. 9 Gonzaga — at halftime last Friday due to sli...
Pitt cruises to 80-50 victory over Gannon in exhibition
By Jeremy Tepper / Senior Staff Writer
November 6, 2015
It might not have counted, but the Pitt men's basketball team surged on Friday night. With the season opener against Gonzaga approaching next week, the Panthers took the court for their first and only exhibition game, defeating the Gannon Golden Knights 80-50 at the Petersen Events Center. Though...
Rotation questions need resolutions prior to opening of season for mens, women's basketball
By Chris Puzia / Assistant Sports Editor
November 5, 2015
As leaves fall and the air chills, the attention of Pitt fans shifts from the resurgent Panther football team to the promising campaigns of the Pitt men's and women's basketball teams. Hitting the court Nov. 13, for their season openers, the men's team is prepping its suitcases for a trip to Japan,...
After trying offseason, Wilson ready for impact on court
By Jeremy Tepper / Senior Staff Writer
October 21, 2015
With the NCAA questioning his academic eligibility following graduation, Pitt basketball commit Damon Wilson was angry. Before the NCAA eventually deemed him eligible for collegiate play in September, it challenged the freshman guard and his teammates' high school course loads. "When we heard they w...
Dixon, Pitt basketball need to up recruiting game to compete in ACC
By Jeremy Tepper / Senior Staff Writer
September 30, 2015
There was a time when Pitt basketball could compile northeastern-focused recruiting classes. Unfortunately for Jamie Dixon and the Panthers, that time has passed. For the majority of Dixon's tenure as Pitt's head basketball coach, becoming a regular season force and faltering in the postseason w...
Damon Wilson cleared academically, eligible immediately
By Dan Sostek / Sports Editor
September 10, 2015
The NCAA has cleared Pitt freshman point guard Damon Wilson academically, Pitt confirmed on Thursday. "We had great confidence that Damon was going to be fine academically, and we got the word yesterday [that he was cleared]," Pitt head coach Jamie Dixon said at a press conference Thursday. "It's...


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On Sunday, Germans will celebrate the 25th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall. That event not only led to the reunification of East and West Germany, it also led to the demise of Soviet communism. It was a day that in a profound way changed the direction of world history.
Since we now live in a world that often seems to be crashing all around us — when so many global challenges seem intractable — let us spend at least a moment or two this weekend enjoying that celebration with them. Apart from being therapeutic, it is instructive to remember that not too long ago people believed, however briefly, that anything was possible.
From construction to destruction, the Berlin Wall stood for 28 years as a scar across the historic heart of Germany. It split Europe's most powerful country, it symbolized the bankruptcy of communism and it was an ugly inspiration to dictators everywhere.
When the wall "fell" on Nov. 9, 1989, with incredulous East Germans flooding through the frontier crossings, it triggered a revolutionary wave that ultimately redrew the map of Europe. Down came the fabled Iron Curtain, setting millions of people free. Within two years, down came the Soviet Union and its empire.
Sunday's celebration in Berlin will be focused on the city's iconic Brandenburg Gate, as well as other locations that served as notorious "checkpoints" when the wall was standing. Angela Merkel, Germany's chancellor, was a young East German scientist before the country was reunited. She was among the crowds of East Germans who walked into the west that historic night 25 years ago.
In remarks last week about the anniversary, Merkel spoke of the "indescribable feeling" when they heard that the wall had fallen. She praised the bravery of those within East Germany who opposed the communist regime: "They gave courage to others."
Merkel also pointed to the progress made in rehabilitating the eastern part of the country since 1989, which is an issue of enduring controversy. Many Germans feel that the country is still divided, given the economic disparities that continue. But unemployment in the east is the lowest since 1991 and, according to Merkel, the exodus from the former East Germany has ended.
Beyond the German borders, Europe 25 years after the fall of the wall is still unsettled and unpredictable. An obvious benefit is that there is no question now that electoral democracy, however flawed, is the rule throughout most of Europe. But that can be a doubled-edged sword.
Racist and far-right political parties are gaining traction. Although this was evident in several countries, the most dramatic far-right victories in last May's European elections were in France and Britain. Both France's National Front and Britain's UKIP not only gained significant public support, but they also pushed their country's mainstream parties to the right.
In global terms, the world is vastly different than it was in 1989, or the early 1990s as the Soviet empire collapsed, but not in ways that were predicted then. Although most Americans were euphoric as their historic Soviet foe disappeared, hopes that a post-Cold War world would lead to a system of flourishing, liberal and capitalist democracies never materialized.
Instead, we have a world where new and powerful forces are influencing events, and major powers are often on the sidelines. The United States is still powerful, but far less than in the past, and key players such as China and Russia are creating a complex global strategic picture that is riddled with uncertainty. In contrast, the days of the Cold War, where the respective "sides" were more visible, seemed somewhat easier to follow.
The existence of the Berlin Wall for so many years stood as a reminder that evil forces in the world are always among us. But the destruction of that wall 25 years ago teaches a more hopeful lesson, which is useful to remember in this threatening 21st century. Once confronted, these forces can be defeated.
Tony Burman, former head of CBC News and Al-Jazeera English, teaches journalism at Ryerson University. Reach him @TonyBurman firstname.lastname@example.com


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In honor of National Salesperson Day, we'd like to introduce you to Andy, a Sales Engineer on our team. We recently did a Q&A session with Andy to learn more about his favorites and to hear his best sales advice:
Q: What's playing in your car right now?
A: Jack Johnson – Because it's the only way to start your day!
Q: What did you want to be when you grew up?
A: MacGyver
Q: What do you do for fun?
A: Work on my 68' Camaro, keep bees, organic gardening, beer & winemaking
Q: Where are you originally from?
A: Covington, IN
Q: Which TV shows do you never miss?
A: Scandal and Bates Motel
Q: Describe yourself in three words.
A: Honest, Transparent, Curious
Q: Do you have any pets?
A: 2 Labs and 3 Boys – We're considering opening a 3 ring circus!
Q: Best sales advice you'd give someone?
A: Be upfront. Be honest. Be considerate.


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Defective item 613965 returning for full refund back to Visa Card please
Hi HSN Customer Service
RE: (Defective Aroma Air Fryer returned for full Visa Card refund due to numerous dangerous defects as reported by gift recipient).
Friend said item was defective and dangerous to continue to use and many times burned her food even though she followed the Aroma booklet recipe directions to the letter.
Also item was really very big, bulky, and heavy, and the magnetic electrical cord even when inserted correctly would not turn the item on when she put the timer and desired temperature on without having to continually jiggle the magnetic cord for the Aroma multicooker air fryer item to turn on and properly safely operate, and that displays a defect in electrical product manufacturing, which is also very highly dangerous.
She also stated that the hinged lid cover was very heavy and bulky to open and close. Her adult granddaughter also tried the Aroma product and she also felt the same way, so this is being returned for these dangerous numerous defective product reasons.
Kindly refund my Visa Card when UPS carrier returns item to HSN Piney Flats using the prepaid HSN UPS Ground return label, and many thanks!
Please HSN Customer Service acknowledge reply when this post is read, and many thanks!
Hi @redman1, I've made a note on your order regarding the item and experience the recipient had. Please allow up to 8 days for the return to be processed once it's received.
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Quick Links
About Us
We started our company in 1984 and had achieved American Dream by 1987 & have never looked back. We cater to major theme parks, drug stores (Walgreens & CVS), Museums Smithsonian, wholesalers, distributors, travel centers, retailers and jobbers. We are manufacturers, importers & wholesalers of Pure Copper Magnetic, Stainless Steel, & Exclusive high fashion jewelry from all around the world. We carry a vast selection of copper magnetic cuffs and link bracelets. On public demand, we are reaching out to the mass by our online store "Simply Pure Copper" but at wholesale prices, exclusively designed by well learned & experienced designer Ms. Pooja Tiwari from Webpulse Team.
Visit our ware house, see our setup and have lunch with us while you wait for your order to be filled


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The passion of any grower for the colors shown by our The Red Family strains usually turns out to be like a spell. Their purple, reddish or bluish tones leave us with a wide range of possible strains to grow. Here you have it as simple as possible in this The Red Family Top 5.
1. The purple jewel of the crown: Dark Devil Auto® (SWS38)
One of the most beautiful purple flowers in our catalog is displayed by our Dark Devil Auto®. Many growers tend to fall in love with this plant in its flowering stage.
This preciousness is the result of the hybridization between our Big Devil XL Auto® (SWS28) and an extraordinary purple-flowered autoflowering genetic. A jewel that, in addition, inherits that interesting purple character from its ancestors from the Chitral area in the Hindu Pakistani Kush.
Fast, aromatic and vigorous: these are the most suitable adjectives to characterize this beauty of our red family. Its potent hybrid vigor with an indica-sativa appearance is unleashed just a few days after germination with a very fast development of a strong main stem and many side branches. A perfect ornament in any house!
In just 8 and a half weeks it is ready to harvest, both indoors and outdoors. When the time comes to enjoy its incredible resin production you will hallucinate!
2. Sweet and "naughty": the way of our Red Poison Auto® (SWS39)
Our Red Poison Auto® is the resulting hybrid from the cross between one of the most awarded strains from the Sweet Seeds® genetic collection, Green Poison® (SWS14), and a purple-flowered autoflowering strain from Pakistani Kush ancestors.
This strain shows all its potential from the first days of growth, giving way to the formation of a strong and robust stem and long side branches. Another interesting feature of our second candidate is the overwhelming spectacle of buds offered to the grower.
A sweet and intense touch stands out against a subtle Skunk background to compose the inimitable aroma of our Dark Devil Auto®.
Like our Dark Devil Auto®, it will only need 8 weeks from germination to reach the outstanding height of between 60 and 120 cm at its ideal point of maturity.
3. The intense and flirty Bloody Skunk Auto® (SWS44)
Another favorite "daughter" of the red family is our Bloody Skunk Auto®. This strain is an explosion of colors that decline from pink to purple. Such show of colors comes from the cross between a selected strain of Red Poison Auto®, which gives that reddish hue to the flowers, and our Sweet Skunk Auto (SWS34) that guarantees a deep and delicious Skunk aroma.
The highlight of its charm is undoubtedly its fir structure composed of impressive branches and resinous buds. All this without neglecting its friendly and relaxing effect that you can enjoy at any time of the day.
Such a beauty deserves to be in your growing area!
4. A seed with a lot of "height": Devil Cream Auto® (SWS45)
In fourth place we present our Devil Cream Auto®, a genetic born from the cross between two powerful strains: Black Cream Auto® x Dark Devil Auto®®. Their purple tones, so characteristic of our The Red Family, are obviously inherited from their parents.
It is an exuberant polyhybrid, with an imposing main cola adorned with profuse side branches. Its flowers will give you a powerful brain experience while immediately relaxing your body.
It is a tall plant in our red family: some plants reach over a meter of height in just two months after germination. It usually ends up with an height of between 70 and 120 cm.
Its unique aroma with a touch of sweet lemon and a hint of incense, invites you to repeat the growing experience again and again.
Like its red family sisters, our Devil Cream Auto® will be ready for harvest in 8 weeks from germination.
5. The red temptation: Black Cream Auto®
Last but not least, we have our Black Cream Auto®, a super hybrid that is born from the cross between our sweet Cream Caramel® (SWS04) and a beautiful strain of purple flowers and Pakistani Kush ancestors.
Featuring an indica structure, with buds of great visual impact and copious amounts of lush resin adorning its abundant side branches.
Some earthy tones complete the sweet aroma of our Black Cream Auto®. An outstanding and unique fragrance that will invade and conquer your palate!
Five strains, five purple jewels. Which will be the chosen one for your next crop?
Read more: Back to the future cannabis cultivation|Genéticas F1 Fast Version®: descubrimiento, crianza y ventajas|Top 10 Sweet Seeds®
Sweet Seeds S.L is not responsible for the misuse of the information contained in this article. Cultivation of cannabis may constitute a criminal offence or administrative misdemeanour; please refer to the legislation on cannabis in your place of residence. Sweet Seeds S.L. does not intend in any case to incite non-legal practices.


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Nanotechnology is not a new concept. This technology has been in use for many years in various scientific applications. Skin care is just a new dimension of the technology. With nanotechnology, active ingredients are converted into very tiny microscopic particles, so tiny that they can penetrate deep into the skin, giving astonishing results.
Ordinarily, skin care actives only lay on the surface of the skin. This is good enough for sunscreen products. Sun protection should happen at the outermost layer of the skin. But for anti-aging or lightening products, they must work inside the skin to have any effect at all.
Nanotechnology enhances the benefits of many skin care products. Nano-sized natural whitening actives like licorice extract and ellagic acid are used in the DERMAX NanoWhite line, which is available exclusively at SkinStation. These nano sized lightening actives can better penetrate the dermal and epidermal junction where melanin formation can be effectively minimized. Many anti-aging actives are now also being used in nano form. Examples are the antioxidants from green tea and grapes and the anti-irritant ursulic acid. DERMAX HYAL-C serum has nano-sized hyaluronic acid to provide lifting and dermal-filler like effects. Topical lip plumper using nanotechnology is now possible. Although effect can be transient, it could provide a way to avoid expensive lip augmentation procedure.
Nanotechnology products are also used for treating dark circles under the eyes. Dark eye circles occur due to problem with microcirculation of blood. They look ugly and are difficult to eliminate. A blend of nano-ingredients can much more readily penetrate to improve blood circulation. Also, nanotechnology is being explored to treat spider veins and to prevent stretch marks. Many more exciting breakthrough developments are forthcoming.
Encapsulating nano particles is a very recent development. This has tremendously boosted effectiveness and stability of new skin care products. Encapsulation protects the degradation of nano-actives, keeping them as fresh and as effective as when they were first added into the blend. Nano encapsulated active ingredients are used extensively in SkinStation's DERMAX line of professional skin care products.
Definitely, the future of skin care lies in tapping advanced technologies. That future is now available in SkinStation.
Definitely, the future of skin care lies in tapping advanced technologies. That future is now available in SkinStation.
(In July 2012, the author spoke before the members of Philippine Society for Cosmetic Science (PSCS) on the same topic, with the title, "Nano+Encapsulation Technology in Personal Care Products". The updated and modified version of that presentation before the PSCS can be accessed here: https://app.box.com/s/7igjxmfyh5olyz6ktlv7.)
This column was published in the Manila Bulletin Lifestyle Section on April 3, 2012. The author is the CEO of SkinStation. He received the 2011 Outstanding Chemist Award from Professional Regulations Commission for his achievements in the field of cosmetic chemistry. He can be reached at email@example.com.


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Wis. Sen. Johnson begins re-election bid
- Wisconsin Senate Republican tells close associates he will seek second term
- Sen. Johnson starts fundraising with little money in campaign account
- Former plastics company executive has been budget and deficit hawk in Senate
WASHINGTON — Sen. Ron Johnson, who had never run for office before upsetting incumbent Democrat Russ Feingold in 2010, plans to keep his Senate seat.
The Oshkosh Republican and former plastics manufacturing company president recently met with a "kitchen cabinet" of GOP strategists in Washington and told the group he intends to run for re-election in 2016, according to a story Sunday in The Hill.
Johnson spokeswoman Mary Vought confirmed the senator is preparing to seek a second six-year term.
"We can confirm that Sen. Johnson has initiated fundraising for a re-election campaign," Vought said.
Campaign-finance data show the conservative senator is starting from scratch, with $1,529 in his campaign committee bank account. He raised $16.1 million for his 2010 race, more than $8.8 million of which came from his own pocket.
Johnson's personal net worth ranges from $8.7 million to $38.7 million, making him the 11th-richest U.S. senator, according to an analysis of personal finance statements by the Center for Responsive Politics.
Johnson, who often cites his background as an accountant, has embraced Tea Party principles if not the movement itself. Since taking his seat in the Senate, Johnson has become a budget and deficit hawk and one of President Obama's harshest critics on fiscal matters.
Johnson was among a dozen Republican senators who dined with Obama last week and discussed the nation's financial woes. He serves on the Senate's budget, commerce, foreign relations, homeland security and small business committees.
Johnson, 57, is the senior senator from Wisconsin after Herb Kohl's retirement. Kohl was replaced by Democrat Tammy Baldwin of Madison, who defeated former governor Tommy Thompson last November.
Asked to comment on Johnson's decision, Baldwin said the 2016 race is two election cycles away. She said her focus is on making the transition from the House, where she served seven two-year terms, to the Senate.
Baldwin said her agenda is Wisconsin-centric, and in that sense, she wants to work with Johnson "when we can to advance the issues that Wisconsinites care about."
Baldwin pointed out Johnson's re-election campaign would come in a presidential election year instead of a midterm election year as was 2010.
"It's a very different type of election — in terms of voter turnout, in terms of where the focal point will be," Baldwin said. "It'll be a very different environment for him to run in."
No Wisconsin Democrat has stepped forward publicly with intentions to challenge Johnson. That didn't stop the Wisconsin Democratic Party from taking a jab at the senator's 2016 plans.
"It's no surprise that Ron Johnson is counting on Washington money to support his desire to stay in office. So much for 'citizen legislator,' " Democratic Party of Wisconsin Chair Mike Tate said Monday, reacting to The Hill's report. "Johnson's supporters live in Washington, breathe Washington and have no connection to the Wisconsin people he's supposed to represent. This is a man who has clearly embraced the politics of big money."
A spokesman for the National Republican Senatorial Committee said Johnson was wise to begin raising money for a 2016 race.
"At a time when liberal Washington super PACs (political action committees) and President Obama's OFA (Organizing for Action) plan to spend tens of millions of dollars to defeat Republicans, it's certainly understandable and prudent for Sen. Johnson to start some fundraising activities," NRSC spokesman Brad Dayspring said. "Folks in Wisconsin don't want liberals sitting in Washington, D.C., determining who their senator is."


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We should not deal here with the baptism with the Holy Ghost (John 1:33), nor with the blood shed on the cross (Luke 12:50), or with the baptism of Moses (1 Cor. 10:1-2). We will deal only with the water baptism. The general idea about the water baptism is that it is a symbol and does not have any regenerating power. And this concept is based on the baptism of John. We agree, for this baptism was not for the purpose of regenerating anyone, but of forgiving. Peter said to the Jews: "Repent, and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins" (Acts 2:38). Peter declares that in the baptism the Christian receives forgiveness of sins. John also said: "I write to you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for his name's sake" (1 John 2:12). Of course, for he is baptized in the name of Jesus, who has died for our sins (Gal. 1:4). Peter says: "Who his own self bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live to righteousness; by whose stripes you were healed" (1 Pet. 2:24). Paul, after falling off the horse of the Old Testament (Acts 9:4), was taken to a man called Ananias, who told him: "Now why do you wait? Arise, be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord" (Acts 22:16). Now, if whoever is baptized is forgiven and washed of his sins, this one is regenerated in the eyes of God, even though, in the eyes of theology, he may not be. The truth is that, in baptism, Jesus said to John: "For this is the fitting way for us to fulfill all righteousness" (Matt. 3:15-16). The righteousness of faith is fulfilled in the baptism in the name of Jesus Christ (2 Cor. 5:21).
And what about the baptism of John? The baptism of John is the baptism of repentance, and the baptism of Jesus is the baptism of burial (Acts 19:4; Rom. 6:3-4). They are, therefore, two different baptisms. The baptism of John was already practiced before Jesus was manifested; therefore it was done under the law. The baptism of Christ, in the Church, is not under the law (Rom. 6:14; 7:6). As John the Baptist was the last prophet of the Old Testament (Luke 16:16), he baptized Jesus in the name of Jehovah, the only god that the Jews knew. Therefore, the baptism of John was the baptism of Jehovah.
In the New Testament baptism was in the name of Jesus (Acts 2:38; 8:14-16). Let us proceed to biblically prove that the baptism of Jehovah, which John the Baptism ministered, did not have any value in the eyes of Jesus: Apollo was an eloquent and powerful preacher of the Scriptures, but he knew only the baptism of John, which was the baptism of repentance, for they blamed Jehovah for their misfortunes. There was a blasphemous proverb passing from father to son, which said: "The fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the children's teeth are set on edge" (Jer. 31:28-29; Ezek. 18:1-3). This mockery was because Jehovah blamed the sins of the fathers on their children. It said: "Prepare for slaughter of his children because of the iniquity of their fathers" (Is. 14:21). The second commandment of the law of Jehovah already spoke of that: "Visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children, on the third and on the fourth generation of those who hate me" (Ex. 20:5). And the same Jehovah contradicted itself, saying: "The fathers shall not be put to death for the children, neither shall the children be put to death for the fathers" (Deut. 24:16). But he killed David's newborn baby. It is too much confusion for one who calls himself god. He forgave David when he sinned, but did not forgive an innocent and pure child (2 Sam. 12:13-14). In the face of such cruel and unjust acts, the people created proverbs of contempt. They could, then, repent from these blasphemies and offenses to Jehovah to be reconciled. This was the baptism of John, in other words, the baptism of repentance.
In this baptism men ceased to be the judge, and Jehovah ceased to be the accused. The gospel of Luke clarifies the issue, saying: "When all the people and the tax collectors heard this, but the Pharisees and the lawyers rejected the counsel of God, not being baptized by him themselves, having been baptized with John's baptism" (Luke 7:29-30). To justify god is to declare him innocent from his injustices, by confessing oneself to be wrong and unjust.
In John's baptism, the one who was baptized was reconciled through repentance; therefore the merit was of men. This is so true that, if anyone was not baptized, this one was condemned for not repenting, and so he continued to be cursed of Jehovah for the sin of blasphemy.
In the baptism in the name of Jesus, ?? takes on the sins of the people and goes on to be the cursed one. Paul says: "Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us" (Gal. 3:13). Thus it is fulfilled what the angel said to Joseph: "She shall bring forth a son. You shall call his name Jesus, for it is he who shall save his people from their sins" (Matt. 1:21). "Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us" (Acts 13:23). "And so all Israel will be saved. Even as it is written, 'There will come out of Zion the Deliverer, and he will turn away ungodliness from Jacob'" (Rom. 11:26). Let us look at what happened to Jesus:
Because they did not know Jesus, for they were blind (Is. 6:10; 29:10-12), the people and their princes condemned him and killed him (Acts 13:27-29). But God resurrected him from the dead. And Paul declares that the resurrected Christ was not the Christ born in flesh: "Therefore we know no one after the flesh from now on. Even though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now we know him so no more" (2 Cor. 5:16). In another place: "Therefore, my brothers, you also were made dead to the law through the body of Christ, that you would be joined to another, to him who was raised from the dead" (Rom. 7:4). Why does Paul affirm that the resurrected Christ is someone else? That is because he did not come to this world to rule in flesh over Israel, but to buy those who believe, so that they may enter in the kingdom of heaven (John 14:1-3; 2 Cor. 5:1; 2 Tim. 4:18; 1 Pet. 1:3-4). This is why Jesus declared: "My Kingdom is not of this world" (John 18:36). He also declared to the Israelites: "You are from beneath. I am from above. You are of this world. I am not of this world" (John 8:23).
The baptism in the name of Jesus is the baptism that reveals Jesus as Lord absolute. The baptism of John was in the Old Testament; therefore it was the baptism of Jehovah. Let us compare the two baptisms by reading the text of Apollos' disciples: "It happened that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul, having passed through the upper country, came to Ephesus, and found certain disciples. He said to them, 'Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?' They said to him, 'No, we haven't even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.' He said, 'Into what then were you baptized?' They said, 'Into John's baptism.' Paul said, 'John indeed baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying to the people that they should believe in the one who would come after him, that is, in Jesus.' When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. When Paul had laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they spoke with other languages and prophesied" (Acts 19:1-6). John the Baptist is the author of the rite of baptism. Jehovah sent him (John 1:33). Now, John was sent by Jehovah to realize the baptism of repentance. Those who were baptized by John and Apollos were not accepted by Paul, and for this reason he baptized them again. Let us go to the differences between these two baptisms:
- Those who were baptized by John were reconciled with Jehovah and heirs of the earthly Canaan. Those baptized in the name of Jesus have their sins forgiven, are saved from this world, and go on to be heirs of the kingdom of heaven (Acts 2:38; Matt. 25:34; Heb. 11:8-11).
- In the baptism of John, man, by repentance, justifies Jehovah and is reconciled (Luke 7:29). In the baptism in the name of Jesus, the death of Christ justifies man before God. In the baptism of John, man's repentance is valuable in the sight of Jehovah, but it does not have value before God the Father, for, in order to be saved, he has to accept the sacrifice of Christ. So John said: "He who believes in him is not judged. He who doesn't believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the one and only Son of God" (John 3:18).
- In the baptism of John they believed in a Jesus Christ who would come (Acts 19:4). The Jews have crucified Christ as an impostor and are waiting for Mashiah Ben Yosef (messiah, son of Joseph) up until today. In the baptism of Christ, those who are baptized are convinced that the Christ has already come, has all the power in heaven and on earth, forgives sins, heals the sick, raises the dead, and is going to take us away from this rotten world of corruption, hatred, war, plagues, pestilences, demons, injustices, and treason into a kingdom where there dwells love and righteousness (2 Pet. 3:23-24). Amen.
By Olavo Silveira Pereira


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Vocabulary List: unit 2 / week 4
unit 2 / Week 4 vocabulary list
infested - spread in great numbers throughout an area and causing harm
The mattress was infested with bedbugs.
resistance - strength or determination against opposing force or condition
The football players are using resistance against the blocking sled.
quicksand - a very deep, soft, wet and that will not hold up a person's weight
The hiker got stuck in quicksand.
ambition - something for which you have a strong desire
The mountain climber needed a lot of ambition in order to reach the top.


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Product Description
Happy Spirit by Chopard has a fruity fragrance. This perfume for women comes in a 75ml bottle and will stay with you throughout the day. Chopard celebrates the delicate nature of women with the Happy Spirit Eau de Parfum. Bottled in a 75ml glass container, this fragrance for women contains fruity nuances of nature and imparts a mellow and sweet aroma.


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Pastors and Politics
Recently, Republican presidential candidate John McCain rejected Pastor John Hagee's endorsement of him. Hagee, who pastors San Antonio megachurch Cornerstone Church, said the endorsement was as an individual and not as a pastor. Apparently, McCain took issue to some of Hagee's comments regarding the Catholic church and the Holocaust. Hard to say. Bottom line is, McCain's people determined that Hagee's comments were simply bad for business.
Hagee, meanwhile, has announced his withdrawal of his endorsement for the Arizona senator.
The un-endorsement is fitting, since Hagee should not have given it in the first place.
I'm not saying it because I'm an independent conservative who has problems with McCain, but rather for these reasons: a pastor's job is three-fold: to evangelize (i.e., preach the Gospel), to edify or encourage other believers through discipleship and to teach the Bible. If anything gets in the way of these, they need to be halted.
Feeling frustrated in your walk? You might be onto something
It's easy to get discouraged in the Christian walk. I know that happens to me periodically. If you get the chance, check out Bruce Carroll's song "Something Good is Bound to Happen." Basically, the song talks about how the devil doesn't bother the inactive Christians. If you find a lot of things seeming to go wrong, it's possible the devil sees just how much you can do for God and is doing everything he can to hinder you. It's something to ponder and get encouragement from.
Horrible dream about hell
A few nights ago I had one of those dreams that made me so glad I'm a Christian who will never have to experience eternal punishment. In the dream (which, thankfully, I knew was a dream), I died and went to hell. I came face-to-face with this man who apparently was Satan. I remember soemthing about a red face, yellow eyes and horns. I turned away from him and in every direction I turned I came face-to-face with an absolutely hideous creature. The ugliness I saw terrified me, in a way that told me there was zero hope.
It makes me wonder what it's like for people who die and go to hell. I can imagine they find themselves praying someone will revive them while others will quickly pray the sinner's prayer in a vain hope that it's not too late.
As far as hell/lake of fire, here's what I know: It's an eternal assault on your five senses; you'll spend all of eternity reliving all the countless opportunities you had to escape; you grapple with unbelievable, unrelenting agony from extreme heat, thirst, pressure and suffocation.
In other words, hell is as terrible as heaven is wonderful. Do whatever you can to avoid eternal punishment.


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The Mechanics of Deadlifting (updated July 2019)
What is a Deadlift? The Exercise Overview A deadlift is a compound power exercise, most commonly used by powerlifters. It engages more muscles during one movement than any other compound lift. This makes it ideal for not only strengthening those muscles, but also is more efficient for those who lift with a time constraint. Deadlifts are … Read more The Mechanics of Deadlifting (updated July 2019)


text: A Journey to Mt. Imaginario Date: February 2, 2018 Category Experiment Topic Wearables In April I traveled to Castellon, Spain to attend the Imaginaria Photo Festival Art Residency. I had originally planned to crique tourism, and question the cultural issues around it. Due to the new context I was operating in and the time available it was not possible to complete my investigation. Instead, I explored notions of the real and unreal and produced an imaginary mountain and corresponding journey using a combination of photo-collage and a corresponding augmented reality application. This project did not engage directly with my theme of activism, but it worked nicely with my parallel investigation of the line between the real and the imaginary.


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Woolen is the name of the yarn and cloth it's usually made from wool. Woolen is very soft light and strong fabric in the spinning world woolen yarn refers to a particular way of preparing the fiber and a specific spinning technique that can be used on a variety of fibers.
This fabric is very warm and we also provide the woolen check, tweed, polar fleece, fur, etc in woolen fabric.this all product is tested and developed the specifically to the customer you can use to this fabric to make warm garments also.


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Hey guys! I am back today with a post about how to get back into the gym grind. I know how insanely hard it is to get back into it after you stop working out for a while. I'm currently in the middle of trying to get back into the swing of things as well. I will try my hardest to motivate you and give you the best advice possible!
Write out your goals. I don't know about you, but when I can see what I want to do, it makes it so much easier for me to be able to work towards something. Personally, I am always trying to lose weight and tone up so those are my two main overall goals. After I form my ultimate goal, I make smaller ones such as being able to run 2.5 miles without stopping or being able to attend 3 spin classes a week consistently. Being able to have these goals visible makes it 100% more motivating for me.
Make a realistic schedule for yourself. Being able to schedule when you go to the gym will make your life so much easier, especially when you are insanely busy. I am the type of person who needs organization in their life or else I will not be productive. Being able to say "I'm going to workout tomorrow morning before work" is so much easier than saying "I have work at 11 AM tomorrow, when should I workout?". Starting back up at the gym after a few weeks/months off, you need to get your body familiar with working out again. I have found myself in a position where I would start off working out for 4-5 days in a row and I would be so sore and my body would take so long to recover. You need to slowly work back into it or else you body won't be able to recover efficiently.
Take it easy. When getting back into the swing of things, you can't go insane. You need to take it easy. This is your starting point. Start slow and gradually work your way up. Rome wasn't built in a day, be easy on your body. Being able to fall back in love with the gym truly is such a great thing, but when you force it it becomes a chore.
Document it. Take pictures and videos of yourself. Being able to have footage of your progress is not only motivating but it shows that this journey isn't a waste of time. When I would take pictures of myself at the gym, I would be so ready to go back the next day to better myself. Having a before and after photo is so rewarding. Being able to show yourself that you are capable of that success is so amazing. When I say success, it isn't just based on your looks, it is based off of your mental state as well. Seeing yourself go from a negative to a positive is so inspiring and it can inspire many others as well.
Stick with it. Even when you want to give up, don't. Hold yourself accountable. It will be worth it in the end. Being able to see the gym as a hobby and as an escape is so much better than seeing it as a chore. When I would go to the gym consistently, I would be able to turn my music on and just forget about the real world for a little bit. Being able to have that stress relief is so beneficial.
If you guys want to share your fitness journeys, please do! I would love to read them. If you want me to post more gym-related content please let me know, I would really appreciate it:). I will be posting my fitness journey soon, stay tuned for that.
I am going to try my hardest to post 3-4 times a week on my page! If you have any suggestions as to what I should write next please let me know on here or on my instagram page:) I hope you guys are having a fantastic day, thank you for reading!


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Any bathroom can be converted skillfully with the touch of right marble. This is one material which is highly versatile which changes the overall look of the space. Starting from a black and white marble to various styles of colorful marbles. However, there is a number of marble bathroom design ideas available to use in your bathroom and make it look stylish.
Black and white marble design bathroom
The black and white marble is highly versatile and it comes in different shapes as defined by the choices. Black and white color goes with every design and color theme of the bathroom. You can coordinate both the color marble or also place it opposite to make a contrasting look. Spacious black and white marble come in many shapes. However black and white marble bathroom design needs some wooden details to give that perfect look. It gives a warmer and more inviting look. Adding some shelves and cupboard in these style bathrooms will give a clean design and the view in order with the mixed choice of décor. Always remember functionality is the key and you should make it look comfortable yet stylish.
Budget marble
Thinking of designing a bathroom with marble but stuck with a small budget? Marble subway tiles are the good option to consider. Consider using these tiles in a smaller spot such as a backsplash, installed above the sink or near the countertops. Try using the tiles in the focal points where it gets more attention. It is all done in a limited budget and will give you the look of a proper use of marbles. You can use the bathroom laminate countertops and the backsplash with real marble. Using some fashionable faucets in the bathroom would highlight the look on its own. This way you can put a marble in your bathroom without putting a burden on your pocket.
Classic Corner Shower with Marble Tile
One of the best ways to design ideas using marble for the bathroom is to refresh the dull or you can say classic corner shower. Use marble tiles on the wall starting with the floor. Update your old bathroom by changing the floor, the wall, and the countertops. You can give it an all new green look by using green tiles on the walls and the floor. It makes your bathroom green and lively and gives that fresh feel. One of the newest designs to include in your bathroom accessories is using round marble bathtub against a light colored marble wall and black colored wall around it. It looks gorgeous and you can make it the best place to have a glass of Champaign to spend the quality time.
Dark Marble Contemporary Bathroom
Are your tastes a little different… do you want to give your bathroom an all-new darker look? Then this marble is for you. The dark- veined marble is just the perfect for you. It is a contemporary minimalistic design that features the beautiful details of this darker type of marble. Keep the tiles to the wall to contrast rather than match.
The dark colored marble can make the place cozy and warm and can also uplift your mood. But do not get mistaken by the darker theme. The dark color doesn't only mean that you only have to go for black; there are other darker options also which you can use in your bathroom without making it look dull and dark. You can go for chocolate marble tiles combines with wooden furniture which provides a natural earthy background. Some natural woody furniture can enhance the décor. Other than this shade, blue, brown, bronze and maroon color marble can give a nice texture to your bathroom.
Glam Marble Bathroom
Explore something new and glamorous in your bathroom. Why not use a more quirky design for a glam and retro look. Try something new and exciting effect from a boring natural looking and solid colored marbles. This type of marble comes in diverse color, texture, and pattern. Why stick only with one color, use numbers of different colors to use in your bathroom. Some shiny looking marbles with unusual patterns and structure can create a magic at your space. If you are confused, take the help of the interior designer to give a nice mix and match effect to your bathroom. Just keep in mind to install some nice fixtures and lighting to maintain the bright effect and to give a warmer look.
Right accessories to incorporate with marble
Choosing the right accessories for your bathroom is very important. You have to keep in mind what goes well with your marble and what is the essentials you should have in your bathroom to make it look more glamorous.
First of all, choosing the right mirror is very important, it's not only is essential but also add a beauty effect in your bathroom. There is a world of inspiring design to choose from. Choose the design and color as per the size of the bathroom and color combination.
The other elements are selecting the right equipment to secure your bathroom design, some nice faucets, a shower; a nice stylish bathtub will do the work. If you want, you can make it more stylish with a nice chandelier, a chic stool, and a sketch for a personal yet classic space. The all-over rectangular marble tile doesn't seem boring or overdone.
And lastly, add some nice scent in the bathroom. A soothing, relaxing and fresh aroma can enhance anyone's mood. Some essential oil can be used in the bathroom that can relax your body, mind, and senses and gives you fresh, new, and energetic start every morning.


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Saturday, January 7, 2012
7 comments:
Awesome dude!ReplyDelete
Ya, I think you need some weathering on the multi melta, just a wee bit to match with the tank body.
thanks limp.ReplyDelete
already re-washed and re-weather the MM sponsons..looks much better now..
Add road-kill to the tracks? ;)ReplyDelete
All kidding aside, this is one intimidating tank.
Love the front view picture. I am a sucker for Gatling-gun-like weapons.
Nicely done indeed. Any fully painted Minotaur Space Marines done yet?ReplyDelete
thanks guys.ReplyDelete
@deathkorps: I have, but it kinda turned out not as I hoped. Will post it up in my future blog update.
Love the tank, been waiting for the forgeworld releases on the Minotaurs Chapter and its my new years project, so will be keeping an eye on your progress.ReplyDelete
@vitor: Thanks for the complements, and the FW kits are definitely a blessing.ReplyDelete


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Discover 101 ways to lose weight, feel better and become healthier without taking any "magical pills".
Inside this ebook, you will discover about what you should always do before you sit down to eat.
Find out which food are good to eat and what foods you shoulc stay away from at all cost.
We have included all the tips and tricks when it comes to shedding pounds like crazy. Don't forget to leave a review and share your weight lost journey with us. Do share it with your family and friends.
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There are many benefits to teaching gratitude to our chidren, and this simple Gratitude Jar craft is a great way to start.
Contains affliate links
The concept of a gratitude jar isn't a new one. The theory is each day you write down something that you are grateful for that day and pop it in the jar. Then periodically, or perhaps if your feeling a little down you can look at the contents of your jar to see all the wonderful things that you have in your life.
It can be anything from something you have, a feeling you felt, something that happened, something that made you smile, a person in your life, anything that you felt grateful for that day.
There's no denying that gratitude is good, and studies have shown that practicing gratitude has a number of positive effects. These include improving physical and mental wellbeing, decreasing stress and negative thinking and increasing happiness, forgiveness and compasion. Now isn't that something we all want for our children!
When designing our gratitude jars, I wanted the kids to really start thinking about what they were grateful for. With no prompting from me they drew their pictures, everything from freinds and family, food and water, toys and TV in Oliver's case! It was great starting point and helped them understand the purpose of the jars.
So if you would like to make your own Gratitude Jar similar to ours, then read on or pin it for later!
Pin How To Make A Kids Gratitude Jar For Later!
How You Make The Gratitude Jar
First you need to find yourself a jar. I used two old coffee jars that I have been saving for such a craft, but equally an old cookie jar or large jam jar would also be suitable. You obviously need to wash them and remove the labels before you start.
To help with the writing I printed the words onto paper and used a little blue tack inside the jar to act as a template. I used a gold outliner relief paste which is fairly easy to use, but you do need a steady hand. You have to let it dry for 24 hours and then bake at 160C for 40 minutes. This makes the lettering more durable.
Once dry it was time to stick on the pictures. I actually took a colour photocopy of the kids original drawings and sealed it with a layer of spray varnish. I'm not sure if this was a necessary step but I was concerned that the ink might bleed when applying them to the jars.
When dry I cut out the kids pictures and words and applied them to the jars with Mod Podge, and then finished off with a couple of layers of Mod Podge over the top allowing each coat to dry inbetween.
Wait to dry, and that's it! Kids gratitude jars all made.
I have positioned ours in a prominent place in the playroom to remind us to do it. I also have next to them a pot with some cut up pieces of coloured card and a pen.
We have only been using them for a few days, but already I'm thinking I need to make a gratitude jar for myself. After all we could all do with being a little bit more grateful couldn't we?
Kerry x
Contains affliate links


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All the students are expected to complete a certain number of courses related to their department, as specified by the curriculum, which they can choose form a specified list of courses. These are the department electives.
The Mechanical department's list of electives consists of course form departments of Mechanical Engineering (MExxx), Industrial Engineering and Operations Research (IExxx) and Energy Science and Engineering (ENxxx).
For detailed information regarding these courses such as the course content, relevant books, other helpful material and course reviews please follow the corresponding links below.
Energy Science and Engineering
EN618 : Energy Systems Modelling and Analysis
Industrial Engineering and Operations Research
IE 603: Discrete Event System Simulation
IE 611: Introduction to Stochastic processes
IE705: Quantitative Methods in Project Management
Mechanical Engineering
ME 340: Analytical Methods in Engineering Applications
ME350: Refrigeration and Air-Conditioning
ME415: Computational Fluid Dynamics & Heat Transfer
ME617: Rapid Product Development
ME 645: MEMS – Design, fabrication and characterization
ME 667: Laser Materials Processing
ME 670: Non Linear System Analysis & Control
ME 677: Laser Materials Processing
ME 679: Micromechanics of Composites
ME 684: Air Conditioning System Design
ME 704: Computational Methods in TFE
ME 710: Vibrations Engineering
ME 712: Computer Numerical Control & Programming
ME730: Ultra Precision Machining
ME 735: Computer Graphics & Product Modelling
ME 748: Computer Aided Simulation of Machines
ME 754: Textile Machines and Design
ME 757: Galerkin Methods for Fluid Dynamics


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There might be thousands of Whatsapp Programming c++ Group Link for competitive programmers on WhatsApp
Now There is a thing come to mind that how to become a part/member of these WhatsApp groups.
- Now if you want to be a part of such a group, create one yourself a Whatsapp Programming c++ Group Link.
- Explore and find programmers and add them to WhatsApp groups.
- you can ask any of the good programmers you know to add you to their group if there are one WhatsApp groups.
Programming Whatsapp Programming c++ Group Rules
- Only join if you want to help or learn from the group
- Help others and get help from others
- This WhatsApp group is not for chit chat
- No spamming with off topic
- Strictly no sharing of adult content in these groups
- Not allowed any type of links sharing.
- you are not allowed to change the group name.
Join Our Whatsapp Programming c++ Group Link .
Other Groups:


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In 2012, nearly 1,600 children died in the United States—many as a result of physical abuse, neglectful starvation and malnourishment or careless parenting. This number is shocking in itself; however, what is even more concerning is the fact that a majority of these cases had previous Child Protective Services involvement. CPS knew these children were in danger, yet they were still in guardianship of those who would ultimately be responsible for their untimely death.
All will agree this statistic is quite disturbing, but the tendency is to chalk it up to children slipping through the cracks of the child welfare system. With 1,600 children though, are these cracks in the system or Grand Canyon-size holes? In 2012, there were approximately 19,700 Investigative and Alternative Response workers responsible for completing nearly 1.37 million reports. However, only 39 states were able to report that information. And, more research reveals almost all figures are underrepresented. States are not able to provide accurate numbers due to either shoddy reporting or ineffective regulations warranting appropriate record-keeping.
It's also important to differentiate these deaths from the deaths of children succumbing indirectly from abuse and neglect—numbers not included in this figure. A child is hospitalized for broken ribs, but then catches an infection. An infant is not being properly cared for and ultimately phenomena takes over. Therefore, these already shockingly high statistics are even higher, and though the excuse of CPS agents being overworked may be somewhat true, there is a foundational issue which needs to be addressed. How are children dying right under our noses, and why aren't we doing something about it?
How can you explain the death of 10-week-old Ethan Henderson? The baby boy had previously been treated for a broken arm and later died from a brain injury—the result of his father hurling him into a recliner in a fit of rage. In his short little life, protective services received 13 calls warning of the abuse Ethan and his siblings were enduring.
Two weeks after Mattisyn Blaz was born, her father, Matthew, physically assaulted her mother while she was in her arms. CPS made a visit the next day, and eventually Matthew was ordered to take anger management classes. Mattisyn's mother allowed him back in the house soon after, but this was nothing but a death sentence for the little girl. Matthew "spiked" his two-month-old daughter "like a football." Mattisyn's family received a CPS visit six weeks after the first—on the day of the baby's funeral.
Most likely, the visits to both Ethan and Mattisyn's families, as well as to most other families with CPS involvement, were made by a slew of workers. Child welfare work is tough, and with high levels of burnout leading to high turnover. We could also point the finger at the cost of providing DHS services. There simply isn't enough money to go around for an adequate number of workers.
So, yes, in many cases CPS workers are overworked and undertrained, and budgets are tight, but when will we accept that children are not just slipping through the cracks of the child welfare system? These cracks are gaping holes, and we are providing a great disservice to the children who fall into them, but who's to blame?
Taking a child from their biological family is undoubtedly emotionally traumatic, but isn't it better than allowing a child to stay in a life-threatening home? Are we placing too much importance on family preservation and parental rights even when the situation directly violates the right of the child?


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Heinrich Secures Major Wins For New Mexico In Annual Defense Spending Bill
National Defense Authorization Act heads to President's desk for signature
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, announced provisions he secured in the fiscal year 2019 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) that support New Mexico's men and women in uniform, military installations, national laboratories, the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP), and job-creating initiatives throughout the state. The bill includes an amendment sponsored by Senator Heinrich to establish the nation's first U.S. policy on cyber warfare.
The bill passed the full Senate yesterday, clearing its last hurdle before going to the President to be signed into law.
"New Mexicans make tremendous contributions to our national security and work at the forefront of cutting-edge research and development in the defense industry," said Senator Heinrich. "This bipartisan bill makes major investments to ensure our Armed Forces are equipped with the most modern technology so we can stay ahead of our adversaries."
The NDAA sets the Department of Defense spending levels and policies for the upcoming fiscal year and authorizes funding for the Department of Energy's nuclear weapons programs at Sandia and Los Alamos National Laboratories, as well as the Department of Energy's environmental cleanup programs including the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP).
"I am proud to have authorized funding for military constructions projects that will modernize infrastructure at White Sands Missile Range, Holloman Air Force Base, and Kirtland Air Force Base. New Mexico is the Center of Excellence for small satellites and for directed energy weapons, and this bill increases funding and streamlines authorities to bolster those missions," said Senator Heinrich. "This bill also increases investment in Los Alamos' plutonium mission and provides funds to build a new NNSA Complex in Albuquerque that will house up to 1,200 employees. These provisions, among many others, will benefit our economy and further New Mexico's strong position as a leader in national security for years to come."
Senator Heinrich led a bipartisan group in securing an amendment to establish the nation's first U.S. policy on cyber warfare, which was amended and included in the final bill.
"Much like our nuclear deterrent, a strong cyber doctrine by the United States government serves as a deterrent, which is not only necessary, but critical to our nation's survival in the digital age," said Senator Heinrich. "This Administration is not taking the cyber threat seriously enough. The lack of decisive and clearly articulated consequences to cyber-attacks against our country has served as an open invitation to foreign adversaries and malicious cyber actors to continue attacking the United States. I'm proud to have helped lead a bipartisan effort to establish the nation's first U.S. policy on cyber warfare. Our adversaries need to understand the boundaries of what is acceptable in the cyber domain, as well as the circumstances under which we would utilize offensive capabilities to retaliate against cyber-attacks."
A list of many of the programs and provisions Senator Heinrich secured in the FY19 NDAA is below:
New Mexico Military Construction Projects
Holloman Air Force Base
Senator Heinrich secured $85 million to construct a new MQ-9 Formal Training Unit (FTU) Operations Facility to house three MQ-9 Attack Squadrons at Holloman Air Force Base. The squadrons are the training units for new pilots and sensor operators for the MQ-9 Reaper remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA). The RPA mission is one of the fastest growing missions in the military, and this new facility represents a significant investment by the Air Force that will enable Holloman Air Force Base to meet the growing demand for pilots and sensor operators.
White Sands Missile Range
Senator Heinrich secured $40 million to construct a new Information Systems Facility at White Sands Missile Range. This is the first major military construction project in direct support of testing and evaluation at White Sands in nearly 20 years. This badly needed facility will replace a facility that was built in 1962 and allow White Sand to better use their current information technology by consolidating existing systems, currently located in ten separate buildings, into a single state of the art, purpose-built facility. Consolidating information systems will significantly improve their ability to develop and test next generation weapon systems while also providing the infrastructure necessary for future modernization and expansion.
Kirtland Air Force Base
Senator Heinrich secured $7 million for critical upgrades to Wyoming Gate at Kirtland Air Force Base. These upgrades are necessary to bring the gate into compliance with current anti-terrorism and force protection standards for military facilities.
Funding for New Mexico's National Laboratories and Waste Isolation Pilot Plant
Los Alamos National Laboratory Plutonium Mission
Senator Heinrich supported full funding to maintain Los Alamos National Laboratory's (LANL) role as the nation's Center of Excellence for Plutonium Research. The bill authorizes $361 million-an increase of $140 million over fiscal year 2018-for LANL's plutonium research and pit production. The increased funding supports personnel, equipment and other activities in PF-4 to meet pit production requirements by 2026. The bill authorizes an additional $235 million for construction related to replacing the outdated Chemistry and Metallurgy Research (CMR) building at LANL.
Specifically, the bill reaffirms the requirement for production of 30 plutonium pits per year at LANL by 2026, and requires DOE to submit a plan for implementation within 180 days. The also bill requires a short-term independent review of NNSA's recent Engineering Analysis of options to meet the Pentagon's requirements for production of up to 80 plutonium pits per year by 2030. The Engineering Analysis was the primary basis for NNSA's recommendation to split the production of plutonium pits between LANL and South Carolina.
Senator Heinrich continues to raise concern that halting the long-planned modular expansion of LANL's facilities for plutonium pit production will set back our military's life extension programs and stretch the lab's existing facilities and workforce to its limits. The results of the independent review are expected to be submitted to Congress by April 15, 2019. The bill further requires DOE to submit an alternative plan for meeting DoD's requirements if the proposal to shift production to South Carolina will not be completed by 2030. Finally, the bill requires the Chairwoman of the Nuclear Weapons Council to certify each year that the NNSA's strategy is on track to meet the military's requirements by 2030.
NNSA Albuquerque Complex Project
Senator Heinrich authorized $48 million to continue construction of a new Albuquerque NNSA Complex on Eubank Blvd to replace the existing outdated and inadequate 50-year old facility. The project is estimated to cost around $174 million and take about four years to complete. The new building will house up to 1,200 federal employees. Only July 2, Senator Heinrich joined with NNSA Administrator Gordon-Hagerty at the official groundbreaking ceremony for this important project.
Life Extension Programs
Senator Heinrich supported full funding of $1.9 billion to continue the Life Extension Programs as executed by Sandia and Los Alamos National Laboratories. The increase of $180 million over FY18 will maintain the existing weapons stockpile and assure safety and security.
Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) Environmental Cleanup
The bill authorizes the full $191.6 million request for soil and water remediation and removal of radioactive waste. Funding is included again this year to address the hexavalent chromium plume in groundwater in Los Alamos. Senator Heinrich is working with Senator Udall to increase the funding in the DOE appropriations bill to $220 million for LANL cleanup, $29 million above the request.
Radiation Hardened Microelectronics
Senator Heinrich included a provision that assures Sandia Labs continues to be the nation's center for the specialized microelectronic systems used in every nuclear weapon. The facility is over 30-years old and key infrastructure systems must be repaired or replaced. The provision directs the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) to develop a strategy within 6 months to upgrade Sandia's unique MESA Complex for both research and production of strategic radiation-hardened microelectronics. To support future life-extension efforts, the required upgrades must be completed by 2025.
Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP)
The bill authorizes $403 million, an increase of $80 million over last year, to operate the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP), including $84 million to continue construction of additional ventilation for the mine and $47 million to address the backlog in critical infrastructure improvements and repair.
New Mexico's Defense R&D Labs, Test Ranges, and Industry
As Ranking Member of the Emerging Threats and Capabilities Subcommittee, Heinrich increased R&D spending by over $600 million in funding for science and technology programs.
Joint Directed Energy Test Center
Senator Heinrich's amendment to support modernizing directed energy test infrastructure at White Sands Missile Range was included in the final conference report. The High Energy Laser System Test Facility (HELSTF) at White Sands was built in 1975, but the technology has seen significant advancements over the course of four decades. As directed energy weapon systems mature, the need to validate their performance becomes increasingly important. Heinrich included language noting that the workload and number of directed energy demonstrations and exercises have increased significantly since 1975 and that the projected workload for fiscal years 2018-2022 for HELSTF is large and growing, and has expanded to include high-powered-microwave testing. Heinrich secured an increase of $15 million to upgrade the DE infrastructure at HELSTF.
High Powered Microwave Research
Senator Heinrich's amendment to authorize the Joint Directed Energy Transition Office (JDETO) to engage in basic and applied research of high powered microwave (HPM) capabilities was included in the final conference report. Currently the JDETO only engages in High Energy Laser research. This new authorization will allow the office to support the development of an effects database, common models, and predictive capabilities for High Powered Microwave technology capabilities.
Radiation Detection Technology
Senator Heinrich included an amendment in the Senate Report that urges the Army to conduct a rigorous, fair and open competition for its radiation detection system to ensure the very best dosimeter is developed and selected for deployment to soldiers worldwide in order to increase unit and individual survivability. Senator Heinrich also approved language that requires a report on chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear equipment shortfalls at the United States Forces Korea. The amendment seeks to ensure the Army modernizes its radiation detection equipment and follows Heinrich's recent announcement for Aquila to manufacture dosimeters for the National Guard.
Expedited Access to Technical Talent
Senator Heinrich's amendment to require the Secretary of Defense to establish multi-institution consortia, cooperative agreements, and task order contracts with universities to facilitate expedited access to university technical expertise in the areas of space, infrastructure resilience, photonics, and autonomy was included in the final conference report. University task orders will allow the Defense Department to enable easier and faster collaboration with universities rather than using traditional contracts. In doing so, the provision will enable experts at New Mexico's universities to collaborate with DoD research labs, like the Air Force Research Lab at Kirtland Air Force Base. The provision also extends the sunset until 2022 to provide sufficient time to analyze the effectiveness of the university task orders.
Improve Direct Hire Authority at Department of Defense Labs and Test Ranges
Senator Heinrich supported bill language that extends and enhances existing direct hire pilot programs at Department of Defense laboratories and test ranges in order to make them more competitive employers.
New Mexico Military Personnel
Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) Community Challenges
Senator Heinrich included an amendment in the Senate Report directing the Comptroller General of the United States to complete a report on the Air Force's plan to improve services at RPA bases, as well as the service's plans to implement a sustainable combat-to-dwell policy. New Mexico's Holloman Air Force Base and Cannon Air Force Base both have significant RPA missions. The Senate Armed Services Committee continues to be concerned that a lack of support services, increased stressors, and unsustainable combat-to-dwell ratio have a negative effect on the Air Force's ability to meet retention goals for RPA pilots and sensor operators.
National Guard Counter-Drug Program
Senator Heinrich authorized $137.2 million for the National Guard Counter-Drug Program as a valuable component of the broader Department of Defense Counter-Drug program. These funds will better enable our National Guard forces to combat drug trafficking contributing to the growing drug epidemic. Specifically, $20 million is authorized to combat opioid trafficking and abuse.
Department of Defense Support to Local Education
Senator Heinrich supported a $50 million increase for the continuation of a Department of Defense (DoD) assistance program for local schools attended by children of military and DoD civilian families. Senator Heinrich authorized $10 million in impact aid for local schools that provide support to DoD children with severe disabilities.
New Mexico Space Missions
Space Rapid Capabilities Office (Sp-RCO) at Kirtland Air Force Base
Senator Heinrich successfully saved and helped resurrect the Operationally Responsive Space office at Kirtland Air Force Base, which has now grown to a $371 million program and serves as the linchpin of our nation's responsive space architecture. Heinrich fought in 2014 to save the Operationally Responsive Space mission, which was recently re-designated as the Space Rapid Capabilities Office (Sp-RCO), and has consistently worked to increase funding for this critical small satellite mission.
This year, the final conference report authorizes $371 million in funding for the program, a significant increase from last year's $87.57 million, in order to continue responsive space efforts. The bill also includes reforms to the office to replicate the culture and processes of the current Air Force Rapid Capabilities Office, which is considered the gold-standard for enabling rapid requirements validation, funding, and execution. These changes will bolster New Mexico's role as the small satellite center of excellence for the military.
Space Test Program at Kirtland Air Force Base
Senator Heinrich authorized $25.62 million for the Space Test Program at Kirtland Air Force Base. Since 1965, the Space Test Program (STP) has conducted space test missions for the purpose of accelerating Department of Defense space technology transformation while lowering developmental risk. STP serves as the primary access to space for the Department of Defense space science and technology community.
Small Satellite Modular Arrays
Senator Heinrich included an amendment in the Senate Report that encourages the Air Force to explore modular arrays that combine separate power subsystems into a more efficient and cost effective integrated system in order to accelerate the deployment of small satellites. SolAero Technologies in Albuquerque is currently an industry leader in manufacturing solar panels for space power applications.
Laser Communications
Senator Heinrich included an amendment in the Senate Report that supports the Air Force's efforts to develop laser communications systems that enable the demonstration of secure, covert, anti-jam, very high data rate transmissions and urges the Air Force to budget for laser communications in future planning. Applied Technology Associates in New Mexico is an industry leader in laser communications.
Spaceport America New Mexico
Senator Heinrich led a coalition of bipartisan senators to include an amendment in the Senate Report that encourages the Air Force to utilize spaceports for future missions. The provisions states that spaceports, including Spaceport America in New Mexico, are "available to help meet the requirements for the national security space program for the DoD, Air Force Space Command, the Space Rapid Capabilities Office, and Missile Defense Agency. The committee also notes that such spaceports improve the resiliency of U.S. launch infrastructure and help ensure consistent access to space to support national security space priorities." The provision further expresses that "The committee believes it is also important for the Department to diversify its launch options and capabilities to include inland sites. Significant investments have been made at inland spaceports, which already have the infrastructure in place to accommodate smaller space launches for the Department." Lastly, the Heinrich amendment directs the Air Force to conduct an assessment of emerging commercial small launch providers to determine what payloads are appropriate for launch, and a plan for utilizing emerging commercial small launch providers in future launches at inland launch sites.
New Mexico Military Energy Resilience
Energy Resilience and Efficiency for the Military
Senator Heinrich has long been concerned regarding the vulnerabilities of cyber-attacks, physical attacks and severe weather, which threaten the military's ability to recover from multi-day utility disruptions that impact mission assurance, including infrastructure beyond just task-critical assets, on its installations.
Senator Heinrich led efforts to address these concerns by authorizing an increase of $2 million for the Environmental Security Technology Certification Program (ESTCP), for a total of $42 million, to identify and demonstrate existing energy storage technology to improve installation energy resilience. Heinrich also authorized an increase of $10 million to the Strategic Environmental Research and Development Program (SERDP), for a total of $86.5 million, to develop improved energy storage and control technology.
Senator Heinrich authorized an increase of $5 million, for a total of $45.6 million to address urgent concerns regarding energy resilience on military installations. Specifically, Heinrich increased the Operational Energy Capability Improvement Fund (OECIF) and directed the Department to use the funding to address energy production, tactical microgrids, and alternative energy storage solutions.
Senator Heinrich led efforts to increase funding for the Energy Resilience and Conservation Investment Program (ERCIP) by authorizing an increase of $48.4 million to expand energy conservation construction programs to include energy resiliency, security, and conservation projects.
Additional Heinrich Provisions
Cyber Doctrine
Senator Heinrich's amendment to establish a policy for the United States Government as it relates to Cyber Deterrence was included in the final conference report. Senator Heinrich led a bipartisan group in March 2018 urging the President to expedite completion of a national cyber deterrence strategy. To date, a national policy and strategy has not been released. In the March 2018 letter, Senator Heinrich and 13 bipartisan members of the Senate Armed Services Committee declared: "The lack of decisive and clearly articulated consequences to cyber-attacks against our country has served as an open invitation to foreign adversaries and malicious cyber actors to continue attacking the United States." The bipartisan provision included in the conference report will establish the nation's first U.S. policy on cyber warfare.
Light Attack Aircraft
Senator Heinrich supported an increase in funding for the United States Air Force to begin procurement of light attack aircraft and associated long-lead material. Developing a fleet of low-cost light attack aircraft will allow the military better conduct air operations in permissive environments and free our more capable fighters to deter our near-peer adversaries.
Ballistic Missile Boost Phase Intercept
Senator Heinrich authorized an increase in funding for the Missile Defense Agency's technology maturation initiatives in order to achieve a demonstration of a 500 kilowatt laser and a best of breed one megawatt laser capability by 2024. Developing these advanced laser systems will enable the development of an effective boost phase intercept capability for ballistic missile defense.
AC-130J High Energy Laser
Senator Heinrich authorized $34 million for continued development of the AC-130J High Energy Laser (HEL) program, but raised concerns about the shortfall in funding for this program in budget plans for future years. Senator Heinrich included language in the Senate Report that requires the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering to submit a plan for fully funding the AC-130J HEL program in fiscal years 2020 to 2022 along with the Department's budget request for fiscal year 2020.
Global Engagement Center
Senator Heinrich supported a provision to extend the authority for the Department of Defense to transfer up to $60 million to the Department of State's Global Engagement Center (GEC) through fiscal year 2019. The GEC is intended to rapidly and decisively respond to adversary messaging and communication.
Crash Cleanup at White Sands National Monument
Senator Heinrich's amendment was included in the final conference report to provide explicit authority for an agency or department to incur expenses or reimburse the direct costs for any service relevant to the cleanup of an air, ground, or sea vehicle crash or other accident when that event occurs on the property of another federal agency. This amendment is in response to Holloman Air Force Base's crash of a QF-4 on a heavily travelled part of White Sands National Monument on February 7, 2014.
Rapid Innovation Fund
Senator Heinrich supported language making the successful Rapid Innovation Fund a permanent authority in the United States Code and clarifying that the program can be used to continuously solicit ideas for technologies that need funding to cross the "Valley of Death," rather than only looking for ideas on a scheduled, periodic basis. Through this fund, eligible technologies can receive up to $3 million in funding over two years. This issue was a theme of the Emerging Threats and Capabilities Subcommittee hearing, at the request of Senator Heinrich, with Dr. Michael Griffin on technology transfer challenges.


text:
I think that everyone who is not endowed with a photographic memory knows about how hard it can be to learn something new. We might think: I only need to sit down and read and memorize it and then I learn it soon enough. Or when we are at school or university and the teacher asks us what we have learned today. It appears simple. We sit, listen, maybe try it out a bit and everything makes sense, when we hear it. But did we learn something? The answer is no. During the next days, I want to share with you how we learn, based on an approach I learned from my professor Klaus W. Döring.
In the paragraph above, I already mentioned some elements that lead to learning. There are basically two parts to it. He called them inhalation and exhalation. Each of those have sub-parts. In this entry, I will start with inhalation. For that have a look at the image below:
You can see that there are 4 steps that follow each other which put together constitute the process of inhalation. The most important thing to realize is that even if you go through all those four steps, you won't have learned something. What you gained is understanding. You can also see that there are a lot of chances for disruptions in the learning process.
The first step is motivation. If we are not motivated to learn something, if we don't have an interest in the topic, it might be very difficult to learn something, as we have to fight ourselves and drain a lot of energy in the process. The second step is intake. Are you physically and mentally able to take in new information? If you are tired or didn't eat/drink enough or if you are consumed by other thoughts, it might be difficult to take in new things. The third step is processing. How do you work with the new information? Do you take notes? Do you structure those notes? It is the same with all data. If they are not properly processed, they are useless. The fourth step is anchoring and is the closest what might resemble learning. Here, you draw connections to previously acquired knowledge and you embed this new information in the context of what you learn.
I want to say it again. You didn't learn anything so far, going through those four steps. You merely understood. And also, be aware that along the way, there are plenty of chances for disruptions. This can show itself as a learning disorder. But maybe, you can adjust your own learning process to achieve a better outcome.
Typical things you do during the process of inhalation are reading, listening, attending a lecture, and also most of the power point presentation you engage with. Watching YouTube videos can be fun, entertaining, and even educational, but as long as I don't do anything with those information, I didn't learn anything.
Tomorrow, I will continue with the exhalation part, followed by a fantastic system, how to learn at school or university.
Love and hugs, Stephan


text:
Naturists Campaigning for Naturism
Naturist Interaction Survey
A final year student at Bournemouth University is writing his (her) dissertation for their undergraduate honours degree course in Events and Leisure Marketing.
The dissertation is looking at participation and interaction at naturist events. It will take between 5 and 10 minutes to complete and is fully compliant with the university's procedures for research involving human subjects.
Like all such surveys, participation in the Naturist Interaction survey is voluntary and by doing so, you are confirming you are at least 18. Other than passing on the link, NAG has no involvement with this piece of academic work.


text:
Why investors need to be alert to China's moves on Taiwan
It is becoming clear that China has every intention of militarily reoccupying Taiwan within the next five years – this reality appears imminent and its conviction real.
For financial markets and global investors, this would have immediate and capacious consequences that remain poorly measured, woefully misunderstood and arrogantly discounted as a scenario that if it did happen, would be comparative only to Russia invading Crimea.
For those who hold such views, this would be a grand financial blunder.
These reoccupation intentions are by no means clandestine. In his conquest for absolute political dominance in China, President Xi Jinping said in October 2017: "Achieving full reunification of the motherland is necessary for realising the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation", which mimicked identically the words of Mao Zedong.
Analysts firmly believe Xi is seeking a place in history as the leader who brings Taiwan back to China, something Mao failed to accomplish.
Analysts believe Xi could launch a military attack as early as 2020, sitting centrally within Beijing's parochial foreign policy objectives and cementing its centrality within the Asia Pacific.
Ever since the Xinhai revolution of 1911 and the Chinese civil wars of the late 1940s, the division of China has remained a deeply visceral source of trauma for Han, Cantonese and Formosan Chinese and the reunification of "the motherland" remains the first, last and only priority of Xi and the Chinese people.
Few to the rescue
But the reason such a military conflict would sizeably punish international financial markets and global investors is because it is also becoming accepted that neither the United States nor the international community would come to Taiwan's military defence. Under President Donald Trump, the White House has not been playing its traditional stabilising role.
As a consequence, the real reprisal, conflict and volatility will be borne out across financial markets that are coaligned with China and its predominance throughout global trade.
With Beijing becoming more aggressive, Taipei more defiant and Washington more erratic, the US Senate's Economic and Security Review Commission recently concluded: "By 2035, if not before, China will likely be able to contest US operations throughout the entire Indo-Pacific region."
Further, think tank RAND Corporation argues that the continued militarisation of the South China Sea is compelling members of "the Quad" – Australia, India, Japan and the United States – to intensify defence cooperation with one another, in preparation for confrontation more hostile than that seen during the 1996 Taiwan Straits crisis.
Innes Willox, CEO of Australian Industry Group, adds: "Conflict between China and Taiwan, even limited, is the nightmare scenario for Australia because it stands at the intersection of our security and economic interests. It is not a choice our policy makers want to make, nor is it a choice our exporting business want to countenance. It is hard to think the outcome could be anything but devastating for Australia's national interest."
While the financial markets repercussions for Russia's annexure of Crimea were arguably limited, China's reoccupation of Taiwan would have immense and immediate market consequences.
First, the bedrock of the existing global economy is the preeminence of US Government 10-year Treasuries anchoring what is referred to in economics as the "capital stack". As America's largest foreign creditor of US Treasuries - somewhere in the vicinity of $US1.1 trillion ($1.5 trillion) - China would be forced to "fire sale" these contracts not only in the United States but also in Europe.
This is because much of China's tally of US Treasuries is held in accounts in Belgium, given it is home to publicly-declared Chinese custodial accounts.
Catastrophic consequences
Fang Xinghai, vice chairman of the China Securities Regulatory Commission, said last week at a World Economic Forum panel in Davos, Switzerland, that he doesn't think his country "will in any way significantly reduce its investment into US government bonds".
This raised concern that if it did execute this unilateral bond sale with additional renminbi internationalisation contingencies that would help "de-dollarise" intra-Asian trade, "de-dollarise" oil and offer a substitute for the dollar, the "weaponisation" of the renminbi would have catastrophic consequences for Australian policy makers and investors alike.
Above and beyond the obvious anxiety caused by a military conflict, the destabilisation of the US Treasury capital stack this late in the global business cycle would force the Reserve Bank of Australia to deploy emergency interest rate measures, during a window of time in which the Australian dollar would be punished by European and American foreign exchange trading desks given that our currency is seen as a proxy for Chinese trade, mercantilism and renminbi internationalisation.
Any unilateral attempt by China to de-dollarise oil would immediately affect Australia's leading sharemarket, the S&P/ASX 200, given that Australia's oil and gas majors rely on Tapis crude benchmarking, a pricing benchmark domiciled in Singapore.
This benchmark depends on the stability of the Singaporean dollar, which since 1985 has adopted a market-oriented exchange regime, classified as a monitoring band, in which the Singapore dollar is allowed to float closely monitored by the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS).
It is little secret that the MAS directly shadows the US FOMC's monetary guidance. This combination of a de-dolarised Asia-Pacific oil price, the weaponisation of the renminbi and the consequences this would immediately present intra-Asian and Australian trade should concern all Australians.
As a rising superpower coveting global influence, China has more to lose from being ostracised than a fading empire like Russia. But its blatant and deeply felt determination to achieve full reunification should never be underestimated, with Xi willingly paying the significant punitive financial price that it would take to attain his most desired asset, a reunified Taiwan.
Stirling Larkin is chief investment officer of Australian Standfirst (www.australianstandfirst.com).
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