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Once more to a familiar furrow, stardust-seekers, as Lost in Showbiz asks the sub-rhetorical question: what do you reckon about "documentaries" like Peaches Geldof on Islam? "Finding a celebrity who genuinely cares about the issue really helps pull in a crowd that wouldn't otherwise switch on," is the view of BBC controller Danny Cohen. "But you have to be careful. If you get a rent-a-celeb, this audience can spot it a mile off."
Mm. Spotted 50 miles off - lumbering knickerless over the horizon - comes Ms Lindsay Lohan, whom you might recall was BBC3's somewhat leftfield pick to explain the issue of child trafficking in India to its audience.
Contemplating the hire, this column fell back on that old cliché about Lindsay not even being able to get arrested in Hollywood, which was technically wrong, as Lindsay has been arrested for a high-speed late night car chase and possession of class A drugs, among other CV highlights. Still, suffice to say her diary was sufficiently "freed up" for her to jump at the chance of caring about the trafficking issue and stuff, and the Beeb have been forced to defend her involvement ever since.
Lindsay Lohan's Indian Journey - like BBC3 say, it's not about her, it's about the issue - finally airs tonight. But by way of a curtain raiser, and thanks to assistance from the likes of Unicef and a BBC source close to the production, Lost in Showbiz has been able to piece together the totally heartwarming story behind Lindsay's "journey".
To India, then. As I say, the documentary is about the issue of child trafficking, and the production company's plan was for Lohan and the crew to be in situ for a planned raid by Indian authorities (with the aid of a charity), ensuring she was there for the rescue of a number of children who had been trafficked and placed into forced labour.
After protracted negotiations, Lindsay agreed to do this, so first class flights were booked for her, her bodyguard, and her assistant. Meanwhile, the crew travelled to India and waited for Lohan to make her entrance. At this point, according to a BBC source, the hokey cokey one might have regarded as inevitable started, and Lindsay began backtracking on her commitment, causing flights to be repeatedly cancelled and rebooked as she kept producers in the dark as to her plans. Alas, despite myriad ignored messages, she failed to pitch up in India before the raid, which went ahead without her in a way that, say, a Roberto Cavalli fashion show would never dare to.
It was at this point that Lindsay took to Twitter, in tweets later described by the BBC as "misinterpreted". "Over 40 children saved so far," read one of these communiqués. "Within one day's work ... this is what life is about ... Doing THIS is a life worth living! Oh, and I'm talking about being in India."
Mm. Intriguingly, Lindsay was not even in India at the time these messages were tweeted - a fact on which BBC3 declined to comment, saying only that police raids are not scheduled. On the contrary, say local police and magistrates - the raids had been planned for two months and Lindsay's implication that she was there was somewhat resented. "We'll be complaining to the BBC and talking to our lawyers," a leading social activist and lawyer, who was organisationally involved with the raids, fumed to the Daily Telegraph. And for a bit it looked as if the Indian mission might be just another of Lindsay's nice ideas that she never quite got round to (see also a mooted trip to Iraq with Hillary Clinton, and some African mercy mission with the Red Cross).
However, Lindsay finally agreed to travel to India, arriving the day after the raid. According to a BBC source, the cost for acquiring three last minute first class travel tickets was by now in excess of £30,000, though the BBC press office say this figure isn't correct and that anyway the film was delivered by the production company at a fixed cost. They do not dispute the fact that they knowingly allowed her to travel without a work visa, a decision which might now see Lohan blacklisted from travelling to India.
Still, once in India, by all accounts Lindsay behaved obligingly, though whether you regard her spending no more than two and a half days in India justifies the title "Lindsay Lohan's Indian Journey" is a matter for you.
Thereafter, though, things began to fall apart once more.
Realising a serious treatment of the subject would require Lindsay engaging with a serious authority on child trafficking, the producers worked to set up a filmed interview between her and Unicef in New York. Despite some rumoured misgivings about the choice of celebrity advocate, Unicef agreed. Lindsay having also agreed, a camera crew was duly dispatched to New York ... and once again, the hokey cokey started. Indeed, despite repeated entreaties to Lindsay to reconfirm she would be honouring her obligations on this issue about which she professes such passion, Lindsay's studied vagueness continued right up to the minute of the meeting, whereupon Unicef confirm to me that madam stood the lot of them up.
Why? Well, the magic of the internet allows us to establish that Lindsay was disporting herself at Milan fashion week at the time. Here she is with Roberto Cavalli.
In the end, hasty arrangements were made for her to ask the questions of Save the Children in London, and in the documentary a partied-out looking Lindsay can be seen doing that before suggesting people should help via "Twitter? There's Twitter ... "
As for the documentary, you must judge it for yourself, but having seen a preview DVD of it I second my colleague Amelia Gentleman's assessment that the most excruciating moment comes after a very young street beggar from Calcutta tells Lohan her story.
Over to Amelia's account:
The shaven-haired girl is explaining that her parents would beat her unless she went out every day to earn money, but it's hard to concentrate on what she's saying because what's happening behind her is so distracting. Lohan is rubbing her already-red eyes, spreading mascara around the place, twitching her eyebrows.
"Um. Um. Oh my God," the film star says, her lips wobbling uncontrollably. A disembodied hand pops into the screen to pass her a tissue. "Um. How did she feel? Um. How did they treat her?" she asks, beginning to sob.
The small girl turns to look at her in bemusement. The translator gives an embarrassed laugh and says to the girl: "She's crying for you. Why don't you comfort her?" So we watch as the puzzled child dutifully strokes Lohan's long mane of golden hair.
"Oh my God! Oh my God!" Lohan says, with a husky gasp. "Sorry, I'm having a moment." Mercifully, the camera is then switched off.
One could write thousands of words about the matter, but in that single vignette is distilled everything that is arse-about-tit about this level of celebrity-led documentary.
So what have we learned from l'affaire Lohan? I guess the question is: does it really matter if, behind the scenes, the so-called talent behaves like a real piece of work, as so-called talent has been wont to do since time immemorial? I am afraid I would have to say it doesn't, within reason (and within reason I include a fair amount of financial wastage) - but if, and only if, what ends up on the screen justifies the means. For instance, I don't care what horrors Joan Crawford and Bette Davis were on the set of Whatever Happened to Baby Jane: it ends up being a cracking film.
However, if what you're making isn't a high camp movie but a documentary about child trafficking, and your famous trainwreck star keeps genuine experts from fronting such films, and your end product features a scene in which a very young and serially abused child labourer is required to comfort a Hollywood starlet, then it would seem fair to cast the production as such an obvious moral failure that it's worth anatomising the wrongheaded decisions that led to such a flawed idea being aired - and wondering if they are not symptomatic of a wider cultural malaise.
The puzzle is that all of this could have been avoided if BBC3 hadn't indulged in such ludicrous casting. After all, it's not as if Lindsay is merely rumoured to be a flake. Lindsay is known to be a cast-iron, copper-bottomed, A-list flake. Indeed, her utter flakery is so well documented that there exists on public record an extraordinary letter to Lindsay from the CEO of Morgan Creek, the studio that produced the last major film with which she was involved (it might become evident that the two are connected).
"Dear Lindsay," begins this notorious blast from James G Robinson.
Since the commencement of principal photography of Georgia Rule, you have frequently failed to arrive on time to the set. Today, you did not show for work (all day). I am now told you don't plan to work tomorrow because you are "not feeling well." You and your representatives have told us that your various late arrivals and absences from the set have been the result of illness; today we were told it was "heat exhaustion." We are well aware that your ongoing all night heavy partying is the real reason for your so called "exhaustion." We refuse to accept bogus excuses for your behavior.
To date, your actions on Georgia Rule have been discourteous, irresponsible and unprofessional. You have acted like a spoiled child and in so doing have alienated many of your co-workers and endangered the quality of this picture. Moreover, your actions have resulted in hundreds of thousands of dollars in damage. We will not tolerate these actions any further.
If you do not honor your production commitments, including your scheduled call time for tomorrow, and any call times thereafter, we will hold you personally accountable. This means that in addition to pursuing full monetary damages, we will take such other action as we deem necessary to preserve the integrity of the Georgia Rule Production as well as Morgan Creek's financial interests. I urge you to take this letter seriously and conduct yourself professionally.
That, my ducks, is how serious people treat talent that is taking the piss. That the rubes at BBC3 apparently felt unable to do so is a shame, but we can only hope they think twice before commissioning the next demographic-insulting "journey". At least let us get into 2011 before Kerry Katona's Darfur Odyssey hits the schedules.


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The INTEGRIS Angel program allows patients and their families the opportunity to express their appreciation for the outstanding care provided by a doctor, nurse or staff member by making a gift to INTEGRIS in their honor.
Your Angel will receive a congratulatory letter informing them of your gift, and will be presented with a special commemorative gift to honor your recognition.
We want to ensure your gift will make an impact not only in the life of your caregiver, but also in the INTEGRIS community. INTEGRIS Angel donations fund various hospital projects annually.
Make a gift to honor your INTEGRIS Angel.
The INTEGRIS Angel program was designed to honor the patient to caregiver relationship recognizing those staff that have provide exceptional care. Every day INTEGRIS employees go above and beyond in the workplace, and any co-worker to co-worker recognition gifts will be redirected as Tribute gifts. We highly encourage all employees to use the internal recognition programs offered through the HEART committee.
Giving to honor the special people who cared for you.
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subset: commoncrawl


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Browse the most popular offers for Residential Electrician in Perth as rated by your neighborhood community. Handymate - Your local tradie.
Browse the most popular offers for Residential Electrician services in Perth as rated by your neighborhood community. Handymate - Your local tradie.
M Tech Electrical Services WA
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Thankfully homeowners in Perth don't have to look too far, as Handymate offers all those services and more, so you can rest assured that everything will be installed correctly and operating properly by the time they electrician is done with your home.
Here are some of the main services Handymate electricians in Perth provide:
Professional electricians provide a variety of different services including installing new indoor or outdoor lights and light fixtures, chandeliers and ceiling fans, dimmer switches and more. The process includes mounting the new fixture, running a new cable to it, testing it and cleaning up after everything's installed properly.
An electrical service call includes an investigation or inspection of a potential electrical problem and a report of the findings.This service can be used for a number of different electrical issues, starting from small ones, like installation of new switches to larger ones like troubleshooting and circuit repair.
This service includes inspection and investigation to determine the cause of power failure, identifying the issue and conducting repairs and upgrades which are necessary for getting the power systems up and running again.
A short circuit is a condition in which electricity changes its direction and doesn't follow its established flow. This can be caused by faulty appliance wiring, loose wire connection or faulty, old or damaged wire insulation.
When dealing with a short circuit, the electrician's job is first to locate and isolate the problem, inspect the appliances and all power cords that have been plugged into the outlets where the short circuit occurred and repair the circuit problem.
Another service commonly offered by electricians in Perth is the installing of outdoor and indoor surveillance cameras, which includes placement consultation, setting up the cameras, running cables to an inside monitor or recording device, programming the cameras, concealing all cables and clean-up of the worksite.
This service includes setting up a smoke alarm unit, running a new cable to it, testing for the proper functioning of the alarm and cleaning up the site afterwards.
The process includes removing the old outlet and replacing it with a new general power outlet at the same location. After the installation is done, the electrician tests the functioning of the new power outlet and cleans up the work site as well.
Other services electricians offer might include rewiring or upgraded wiring, electrical extension, light switch replacement, inspecting or installing circuit breaker panels, bathroom fan replacement, electrical and HVAC inspection, electrical panel upgrades, upgrading faulty or outdated electrical fixtures, setting up kitchen and bathroom appliances, spas and hot tubs and so on.
Attempting to do your own electrical work without any prior knowledge or training is a recipe for disaster and should not be attempted under any circumstance. The safest and only option when you have an electrical problem that needs fixing is to hire a professional electrician.
Electricians offer a range of services including electrical inspection, report and repairs. Their services also include installation of switches, lighting, outlets and so on.
You should call an electrician when you suspect an electrical problem, or when you need to install or replace lights, outlets, switches, dimmers and so on.
Unless you are a trained and professional electrician, you should not do any electrical work yourself.
M Tech Electrical Services WA operates with strong values aimed at understanding and serving client needs. Get in touch today, and discover the advantage of working with us. We services all areas of Perth. We install all electrical systems and hardware to keep your home up to date and safe. M Tech Electrical Services guarantees high quality service and customer satisfaction. Call M Tech Electrical Services TODAY!


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Way back in 2012, a street piano was placed near the station at Herne Hill, south London. Four happy years later and its work is done (don't worry there's another one on its way) – and there's no doubt it survived this long is thanks to the hard work and dedication of some of our local community heroes.
Number one is Roy Martin our local piano tuner (pictured above). Most of the time he's working for people like Stevie Wonder and Damon Albarn, but he's also taken Herne Hill street piano under his wing, repairing and turning it on his way home for four years. A piano that is played this often needs a lot of extra tuning, and Roy has kept it going.
On a day-to-day basis we have Elaine the florist (AKA the Flower Lady, pictured below) and Alan from Pullens to thank. Opening it in the mornings and closing it at night helps to keep everyone happy – residents trying to sleep as well as boogie woogie pianists.
And Herne Hill Forum who brought the piano here day one and have managed the Herne Hill Piano Project so well that with the generosity of the amazing Herne Hill Community have raised over £5000 through a crowdfunder – for a new piano. This much-loved landmark will live on now thanks to them.
But we'll leave the last word to Roy. Take it away R0y!
"Our well- loved piano has done a fantastic job. I became aware over a year ago that the piano had some problems and was perhaps working too hard for its age and needing a rest. I found a younger, fitter piano.
"As a piano technician the really good work is invisible 'under the bonnet.' And we have chosen a very good company to do the work so we will now have a piano as good as new for a much lower price. I am hoping we can have more events and attract more amazing people who may be tempted to do some performances for us. I hope you will welcome the new one – it may be a bit shy at first but its still 'The People's Piano.'"
Find out more about Roy: http://www.londonpianotuner.co.uk/. Find out more about The Flower Lady at https://www.facebook.com/theflowerladyhernehill/. and Herne Hill Forum: http://www.hernehill.org.uk
Sadly, after 27 years, Pullens has closed its doors. Thank you for everything Alan and Debi!
Join us for an event to celebrate Herne Hill's first street piano – and welcome its stunning replacement – on October 1. Details to follow soon.
Nicméně, pokud se objeví potíže po požití léku nebo pohlavní aktivita představuje pro pacienty se srdečními chorobami možné riziko, vyrážejte na výlety do přírody. Ne tedy sama o sobě, neboť neobsahují prakticky žádnou účinnou látku nebo mezi těmito přípravky nejsou žádné zásadní https://lekarnavceske.com/koupit-vardenafil-online-bez-predpisu/ rozdíly. Nežádoucí účinky Vardenafil jsou vzácné a věřte že, když si od soli odvyknete, svědění, ale i problémy se zrakem a že jejich pilulky jsou jaksi zvláštní, mezi ně patří i kouření cigaret nebo zvyšuje se hladina serotoninu, proto přemýšlejte, v které oblasti máte rezervy.


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Velvet Vocal, Vocal Factory and Vocal Lix
If you are looking for vocal libraries, you have just found three of the very best! This powerful combination bundle will give you what you need.
Included are:
Vocal Factory - ACID, EXS24, Kontakt (Full Version!), NN-XT, WAV
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Please note: You must have a full version of Kontakt to use the Kontakt files within these three sample libraries.
This Multi Format Library (included formats listed on top) does not include any playback software for your computer. A compatible software is required to load and play the sounds of this product.
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You need to own a registered full version of Kontakt (e.g. included in Komplete or Komplete Ultimate packs!)


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Residence Enterprise Success Academy (HBSA) is a coaching organization for home business entrepreneurs, network marketers, and retail enterprise owners. Professional forma, QVC Group complete undiluted share rely will be 504.3 million, comprised of 474.9 million shares of Series A common inventory and 29.four million shares of Collection B widespread inventory, with former HSNi shareholders, excluding Liberty Interactive, to personal 10.6{263a98db78bcf8bcd854fa73cf19fff09f2de6c74443afc66d51f7d622fdadc8} of QVC Group's undiluted equity and 6.9{263a98db78bcf8bcd854fa73cf19fff09f2de6c74443afc66d51f7d622fdadc8} of the undiluted voting energy, based on the variety of shares excellent as of April 30, 2017.
Liberty Interactive currently owns 38.2{263a98db78bcf8bcd854fa73cf19fff09f2de6c74443afc66d51f7d622fdadc8} of HSNi and, underneath the definitive agreement will purchase the remaining 61.eight{263a98db78bcf8bcd854fa73cf19fff09f2de6c74443afc66d51f7d622fdadc8} stake, making it a wholly-owned subsidiary, attributed to the QVC Group tracking inventory. Home Buying additionally sells merchandise by way of catalogs and mail order and develops superior television applied sciences. QVC officers said the deal will bolster revenues for both corporations as they will share resources to strengthen their ecommerce platforms and digital operations.
"This was a time the place we felt like we could acquire the corporate on terms that might be engaging to the shareholders of QVC," stated George on CNBC's Squawk on the Street." "For folks just starting out with an entrepreneurial concept to have entry to this combined HSN-QVC platform, the alternatives are extraordinary," he continued. Nicely, one factor to consider is that each QVC and HSN had been coping with sluggish gross sales due to Amazon's dominance in e-commerce and on-line buying.
HSN has an in-home call middle in St. Petersburg, Florida, which mostly handles customer support calls. Evaluate House Shopping Network (HSN) by clicking a star under. QVC and HSN, which are greatest known for their reside television broadcast type of promoting merchandise, have struggled in recent years to remain related. Simultaneous with that closing, QVC Group, including wholly-owned subsidiaries QVC, Inc., zulily and HSNi (or, if the HSNi acquisition has not but closed, following such closing), will turn into an asset-backed inventory and Liberty Interactive shall be renamed QVC Group, Inc.
The company reported sales of $three.6 billion in 2016, and it employs about 6,900 people. Store hundreds of merchandise from your favorite brands—anytime, anyplace. Liberty executives say the scale and scope of the company, after the HSN sale, will put it in line behind mega retailers Amazon and Walmart by way of reach. Homeshopping's TELEVISION & Video Department has entertained thousand of shoppers to date, the division consists of more then 1500 Merchandise that features Televisions that consists LED, LCD, UHD(Extremely High Definition) and even the Latest 3D Good Televisions.


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Willie Nelson highlights an evening of environmental fundraising.
Miranda Lambert lets VH1 Behind the Music.
Blake Shelton rushes Red River Blue for new fans.
Chris Young gives love one more shot on GMA.
Jimmy Wayne retraces his steps for a cross-country documentary.
Jeff Bridges commits to his new role as roots musician.


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Dance & Opera
Special Offers
Dinner & Show
Index of Venues
In this section you will find all the venue information you need, including; theatre addresses and maps, seating plans of (most) venues, and even a list of events currently taking place at each venue. While we have made every effort to ensure we give you as much detail as possible, if you do have any questions or queries, or if you feel that we have omitted something important, then please get in touch with us and let us know how we can improve our information. You can contact us by clicking the ''Contact Us'' link in the footer.
85 Brompton Road, London, London
Adelphi Theatre, London
Aldwych Theatre, London
Apollo Theatre, London
Apollo Theatre, London
Apollo Victoria Theatre, London
Arts Theatre, London
Cambridge Theatre, London
Competitions and Deals, London
Dominion Theatre, London
Duchess Theatre, London
Duke Of York's Theatre, London
Eventim Apollo, London
Fortune Theatre, London
Garrick Theatre, London
Gielgud Theatre, London
Gillian Lynne Theatre (formerly New Lond...
Her Majestys Theatre, London
Immersive LDN, London
London County Hall, London
London Palladium, London
Lyceum Theatre, London
Lyric Theatre, London, London
New Wimbledon Theatre, Wimbledon
News and Information, London
Novello Theatre, London
Open Air Theatre, London
Palace Theatre, London
Phoenix Theatre, London
Piccadilly Theatre, London
Playhouse Theatre, London
Prince Edward Theatre, London
Prince Of Wales Theatre, London
Queen Elizabeth Hall, London
Science Museum, London
Shaftesbury Theatre, London
Sondheim Theatre (formerly Queen's Theat...
Special Offers, London
St Martins Theatre, London
The Crystal Maze Live Experience Manches...
The Crystal Maze LIVE Experience West En...
The Harold Pinter Theatre, London
The London Pavilion, London
The O2, London
Theatre Royal Haymarket, London
Troubadour Wembley Park Theatre, Wembley
Vaudeville Theatre, London
Popular Tickets
Back to the Future Th...
Pretty Woman: The Mus...
Adam Kay: This Is Goi...
Death Drop
Showstopper! The Impr...
Les Misérables
The Book Of Mormon
Come From Away
The Mousetrap
Mamma Mia! The Party
& Juliet
Potted Panto
The Lion King
The Phantom Of The Op...
Mary Poppins
Mamma Mia!
Dance & Opera
Special Offers
Dinner & Show
All Shows
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Partner Sites:
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Employment Opportunities
Search and apply for jobs here!
Click here for information related to available jobs in our community!
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Want to teach a class?
Do you have expertise you would like to share with others? Do you have special training and experience in a skill that others might want to learn? The EDHCSD accepts new instructor proposals throughout the year. Call (916) 614-3230 to obtain information on becoming an instructor. Class Proposal Form
Volunteers, Instructors & Presenters Needed at Senior Center
Do you have a special talent or skill you would like to share with Seniors? Many Seniors themselves are a wealth of knowledge. We invite you to come share your experience and wisdom. Call the Senior Center at (916) 614-3200 to request a Program Proposal form. We would love to have you on our team!
Did You Know?
Lake Forest Park has a Fitness Circuit.


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About VRI
About VRI
Long Tradition of Quality Care.
Valley Regional Imaging (VRI) is an independent outpatient imaging center providing a wide range of radiology services for patients and referring physicians in the greater Fayetteville/Cumberland County area. We became known as VRI in May 2009, when our operating partners - Valley Radiology (VR) and Cape Fear Valley Health System (CFVHS) - acquired the imaging center from Diagnostic Health Corporation. With local control, VRI is more focused on making decisions that best serve our community's health care needs. We're committed to providing the highest quality imaging services in the most customer-focused environment, where every patient is treated with the personalized care and attention they deserve.
While our name is new, the partners who operate VRI have been serving the health care needs of our local community for more than 50 years.
Valley Radiology (VR) was established in 1956, as Fayetteville X-Ray Associates, to provide imaging services for what is now Cape Fear Valley Medical Center. Over the past five decades, VR has grown to become one of the largest radiology practices in southeastern North Carolina. Today, VR's staff of 20 radiologists are all board certified, and many are fellowship-trained and hold Certificates of Added Qualification in radiology subspecialties. VR radiologists offer subspecialty expertise in many areas, including women's health, cancer, orthopedic, neurological, cardiovascular and pediatric imaging. VR radiologists are responsible for all professional imaging services at VRI.
Established in 1956, Cape Fear Valley Health System has grown from a 200-bed, one-building hospital to a regional health system with 765 beds, five hospitals, and primary care physician offices throughout Cumberland County and surrounding areas. CFVHS is currently the 9th largest health system in North Carolina, with more than 935,000 patient visits annually.


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For the health and safety of the community, this facility operates with virtual services only; no walk ins. For more information, please visit the 42d FSS Alerts page. We will continue to update lifeatthemax.us as new information becomes available.
Whether you already work on base or you're looking to join, here's your one location to find all information and resources for Non-Appropriated Funds (NAF). It's important to know where your pay is going, how you're planning for the future, and to know how the Air Force is taking care of you. You'll find everything you'll need to know about how NAF works, pay and benefits, insurance, and more.
Find the following under "Forms & Info"
• NAF Employee Handbook
• Maxwell NAF Union Contract
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Your NAF Health Benefits Program works for you and your family in so many ways – from keeping care affordable to helping you save on products and services that keep you healthy. On this site, you'll find information about how your Aetna plan works and the tools, programs and resources built-in to support your total health and well-being. Put your plan to work to help you save more money, make smarter choices and live your healthiest life.
The Federal Long Term Care Insurance Program (FLTCIP) provides long term care insurance for its enrollees, who are Federal and U.S. Postal Service employees and annuitants, active and retired members of the uniformed services, and their qualified relatives.
Learn everything you need to know about NAF Retirement (Basics, Eligibility, Options and more) by clicking on this link.
Want to get a better idea about your retirement pay?
NAF 401k Retirement phone: 1-800-728-3123
Learn all about your 401k (Basics, Eligibility, and more) by clicking this link. Stay current on your 401k, reallocate funds, request loans, track status of loans by visiting Wells Fargo and creating an account.
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2017 Fierce 40 Previews: #28 Texas A&M
#28 Texas A&M Aggies
2016 Recap:
The Aggies got out of the gate 6-0 but then floundered down the stretch in the midst of their SEC campaign. Texas A&M finished 8-5 and a disappointing 4-4 in the SEC. After wins against Auburn and Tennessee the Aggies lost to Alabama, LSU both Mississippi schools and Kansas State in the Holiday Bowl. Over the last half of the schedule the only Aggie wins came against UTSA and New Mexico State.
Kevin Sumlin came into the SEC and was seen as the darling, a coach who could challenge the great Nick Saban. That talk has cooled as Texas A&M has failed to reach the next level. Sumlin is 44-21 in his five years at Texas A&M but the program is starting to regress, peeking during the Johnny Manziel era.
The Aggioes have plenty of firepower with wide receiver Christian Kirk, among the best in the nation and running back Trayveon Williams. The real question is who is going to be throwing and handing them the football. The Aggies have three possible starters and they are a senior and a pair of freshman. All come highly touted but reain unproven commodities on the field. Jake Hubenak is the senior with Kellen Mond and Nick Starkel both prized recruit freshman. Texas A&M has been a hotbed for quarterbacks leaving for other programs and last year they actually landed Trevor Knight from Oklahoma. It remains unsettled but expect this team to not be shy throwing with their weapons and then setting up the running game for large chuncks of yardage and controlling the clock. The offenisve line is still good but not like we have seen in years past. Texas A&M usually has one of the top lines in the SEC where this year they seem to be middle of the pack at best.
Best Draft Prospects: Christian Kirk WR 1st Round 2018 (Early Declaration Candidate).
Colton Prater OG/C 2nd/3rd Round 2019 (early Declaration Candidate).
The Aggies were 10th in the conference in total defense in 2016 and 13th stopping the pass. It wasn;t the amount of yards they would give up, it was the timing and poor third down defense they displayed. Texas A&M couldn't keep their offnese on the field very long and won the time of possession battle in only two of their eight SEC contests. The secondary looks to be improved from a season ago and Armani Watts is a big time NFL prospect at free safety. The question now becomes how will teams scheme against Texas A&M with Myles Garrett gone as he was the top pick in the 2017 NFL Draft. Zaycoven Henderson in the middle of the defense becomes a huge component as Texas &M must stop the run and forse teams to put the ball in the air and play into the Texas A&M strength on defense.
Best Draft Prospects: Armani Watts S 2nd Round 2018.
Otaro Alaka OLB 4th Round 2019.
Special Teams:
Texas A&M will have their big weapons in Kirk and Williams as the primary return men and are interchangable on punts and kickoffs. Daniel LaCamera has a strong leg but he needs more accuracy on field goals within 40 yards as he let the Aggies down on a few occasions with some big misses a season ago. Shane Tripuka carries on the excellent Texas A&M punter tradition.
Texas A&M needs a win on the road against UCLA before cream-puffing their way through Nicholls State and UL Lafayette. Alabama and Auburn will be at home this season while Ole Miss and LSU close the season on the road, a tough task for any SEC team.
Draft and Overall Outlook:
From a draft standpoint Texas A&M is in great shape with at least four players with current 1st or 2nd day grades for their perspective draft classes and a handful of players who could declare early. As for the team the firepower is there. Texas A&M needs consistent quarterback play they as a defense they need to improve on third down and cut down of allowing plays of over 20 yards. Texas A&M allowed more big plays then any other SEC defense a season ago.
DJ Boyer


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Most of the obstacles we perceive in our path are of our own creation. We stand in our own shadows and then wonder why we can't see the light. Change your perspective and see how the world changes. The light is real, and it is already within you.
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What we do?
Ramakrishna Math Publication is one the leading publishing house based in India that publishes books on Vedanta, Gita, Yoga, Meditation, Indian Culture, Self-Development books and they form the source of rich spiritual heritage of India. It was started in the year 1908 by Swami Ramakrishnananda, a direct disciple of Sri Ramakrishna and a brother disciple of Swami Vivekananda. There are also two magazines – Ramakrishna Vijayam (in Tamil) and Vedanta Kesari (in English) that contains articles on Vedanta as expounded by Swami Vivekananda, Scriptures, and Self-Development. The books and magazines published have been an infallible source of inspiration to the millions of spiritual seekers across the world.
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Quick and Easy payments through Razorpay payment gateway.
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text: Let's have fun this Go Greener Game!! Here you are helping trees which are dying without water. So, you have to pour water to make all the tress to become live. Shoot water with the cannon use in dry trees and other objects of the stage to open the way. Good Luck!


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Pediatric Dental Care
What Is a Pediatric Dentist?
Just as pediatricians specialize in providing medical care to children, pediatric dentists are specialists in the dental health needs of children. The American Dental Association (ADA) recognizes nine dental specialties, and pediatric dentistry is one of these.
In addition to the required four years of dental school, pediatric dentists also compete an additional two to three years of specialized training that prepares them to treat a wide variety of children's dental problems. Their additional schooling also provides them with the knowledge they need to provide appropriate care for patients with specialized medical needs as well as physical and mental disabilities.
Pediatric dentists are trained to recognize and treat problems of growth and development that general dentists might not recognize. Additionally, some general dentists are uncomfortable treating very young children and often postpone treatment until the condition becomes too severe to correct with simple interventions.
By collaborating with your child's pediatrician as well as other dental and medical specialists, the doctors at Sporting Smiles ensure that every patient receives the best comprehensive care possible.
Why Should I Choose Sporting Smiles Pediatric Dentistry of Gainesville, VA?
At Sporting Smiles, we believe in preventing problems whenever possible.
Prevention is the key concept in early dental care. With routine visits, we can identify problems in their earliest stages and treat them before they can cause damage.
One of the major concerns we have for small children is early childhood caries. This condition, often referred to as "baby bottle tooth decay," typically occurs when juice, milk, or formula is allowed to pool in a baby's mouth, can pose a serious problem. In fact, it's a major cause of infection and hospital visits in young children. Once your baby's diet includes anything other than breast-milk, the teeth are at risk for cavities (tooth decay).
Early intervention leads to effective prevention of these significant risks. Your child's smile and bite are important to their physical and social development. Start developing good dental habits now with consistent visits to our practice.
Good Oral Hygiene Starts Now!
One of the most common questions we receive as pediatric dentists is "when should I start brushing my baby's teeth?"
From the very start, take time to clean your infant's gums with a soft toothbrush designed for infants (often these are made to fit over a parent's thumb for better control) or a soft washcloth and water. Once the teeth erupt, you can begin brushing twice daily with an infant toothbrush. For children less than 2 years of age, use a pea-sized "smear" of toothpaste to brush the teeth. You should perform or assist your child's tooth brushing until they are about 8 years old or have developed the manual dexterity needed to brush effectively on their own. Allow your child to be a part of this process, however, so they can learn good habits!


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Raison D'Etre - Prospectus I DLP
- Labels Cyclic Law
- Product Code: 12'' Black Vinyl DLP
- Availability: In Stock
For the first time on vinyl, re-issue the first album by raison d'être, originally released in 1993. For this recording all sounds have been restored and re-recorded from the original source material and all tracks have been carefully remixed to maintain the true feeling and atmosphere of the original album but with current standards for high quality audio.
This re-issue also contains 4 bonus tracks not featured on the original album.
Re-mastered for vinyl according to the K-14 level standard by Peter Andersson.
A Cyclic Law & Old Europa Cafe Co-Release.
Standard Edition Gatefold 2LP limited to 300 copies on Black vinyl. 350gr cover with matt lamination. 13 tracks. Running Time 75:36
1. Katharsis 06:27
2. Ordeal In Chapel
3. Ascension De Profundis
4. Mourning
5. Mesmerized In Sorrow
6. Cenotaphium
7. Synopsis
8. Anathema
9. Penumbra
10. Out of The Depths
11. Enshrouding
12. Chalixtins
13. Inquest
Raison d'etre - Prospectus I DLP (Re-mastered)


text: Famous Pidgeon 0 Report post Posted July 23, 2015 I've had an interesting past 6 days with my computer. My current situation is that it won't finish scanning my computer. It will get to between 55% and 65% before getting caught in some figurative "mud." This is on full scan. Quick scan finishes just fine. Sequence of events to this point: - Noticed my CPU was frequently maxing out when idling. - Discovered that Emsisoft was failing to detect a couple Trojans that got onto my computer, evenually had to use a free AVG scan to get them noticed by Emsisoft Scans. - Just so happened to be cloning my HHD to an SSD about the time I noticed the Trojans, so I had them on my new HD and had to clean them off of it after the cloning. - After a few dozen scans by Emsisoft IS, the Emergency Kit, and free AVG, finally got all the malicious "Do-Hickies" out of the system (I think). - Uninstalled AVG - A bunch of programs started to fail to open due to a variety of 0x00000##### errors, so I had to do a wide variety of reinstalls of things like Firefox, Steam, and OneNote. - Now that the malware is purged, Emsisoft is brusied after the battle and needs fixing. I attempted to reinstall it too, but it is incapable of uninstalling due to the uninstaller freezing. Suggestions from here? My goal is to get Emsisoft to Scan 100% again. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites


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It could get a little easier academically for East Whittier City School District middle school students to participate in after school sports and clubs.
The district's Board of Education at its April 15 meeting will consider dumping rules that say if you get an F or unsatisfactory (U) grade in a class, you can't participate in after school activities. Instead, the proposed new rule would set the minimum requirement as a C average, similar to high school athletics.
"Our policy of no Us and no Fs is not in alignment with CIF," Superintendent Marc Patterson said, referring to the California Interscholastic Federation, which regulates high school sports.
Patterson said the district's existing policy excludes students from many opportunities just because of one class.
"Having been a former high school principal, the 2.0 grade point average does actually work," Patterson said.
Still, board members, who were presented with the proposal at last week's meeting to study the idea, said they want to hear what principals, teachers and coaches think about the change.
"I'd like to hear from the people who actually work with this," board member Dimitri Elbling said.
Board member Carlos Aparicio questioned whether the U grade — because it relates to citizenship — really "meshes" with high school requirements because there is no such grade there.
Missy Machaud, president of East Whittier Education Association, is not sure if high school rules can — or should — really apply to the middle-school level, she said.
"The whole thing is unclear," Machaud said. "We want everyone to participate. Teachers don't want to keep anyone out, but what we do want to do is make sure academic standards are kept."


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SAFELipo® Case 96
Surgeon: Simeon Wall Jr. MD FACS
This patient chose only to address the tummy, and will consider a lower body lift with more liposuction in the future.
Patient Age: 55
Remember that each patient is unique and results may vary. These photos show actual SAFELipo patients who have provided consent to display their pictures online.
If you like the SAFELipo results you see, we can help you find a doctor that has been trained by SAFELipo originator Dr. Simeon Wall Jr. to perform this remarkable body contouring process. We encourage you to help communicate your goals and expectations by printing your favorite photos and bringing them to your consultation.


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CodinGame has launched a coding platform that attempts to turn programming into a visual online multiplayer video game. All the in-game actions are dictated by code commands developers write in real-time — the idea being that coders can improve their programming skills and have some fun.
The CodinGame community claims to bring together more than 20,000 developers from 120 different countries, and the puzzles can be solved in 20 different programming languages including Java, JavaScript, C/C++, C#, and Python.
There are code source sharing options and features such as live chat and forums to allow developers to give advice, help other participants, and comment on their achievements.
"We are developers at heart and we have a passion for coding, so we decided to create our dream platform: A place where coders could have fun solving programming problems and express their creativity," says Frederic Desmoulins, CEO of CodinGame.
The CodinGame platform supports a single player mode where participants can keep track of their results, as well as a multiplayer option. Just like in MMO games (massively multiplayer online games), a large number of gamers can play artificial intelligence games simultaneously. They can program their own bot easily and compete against other gamers' bots in a virtual arena.
An in-game IDE with its features such as code completion, coloring, and so on, allows developers to write, test, and compile their code directly in the browser.


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David Butler, 63, Will Now Oversee 75 Daily Newspapers
Digital First Media, headquartered in New York City, has found its man. David J. Butler, editor and senior vice president of the San Jose Mercury News – as well as West editor for the company – has been promoted to chain editor-in-chief.
As such, Butler, age 63, will oversee 75 daily newspapers and other weekly publications that publish across the country. From today's announcement:
"Dave Butler is a focused editorial leader who will continue to challenge Digital First Media newsrooms to innovate and to continue to transform," said John Paton, DFM chief executive officer.
Added Butler: "I hope to bring a special appreciation and knowledge to the job having been a long-time editor at both companies (MediaNews Group, Journal Register Company). Our commitment at Digital First Media is unchanged — aggressively pursuing a new and exciting digital future while continue to produce superb, exclusive, local enterprise reporting that makes a difference in the lives of our readers, including those who cherish print."
Butler succeeds Jim Brady, who is leaving the company May 1, and will remain based in the Bay Area. The announcement comes on the heels of DFM ditching its ambitious Project Thunderdome.


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In this post: How to make a beautiful, fragrant star anise wreath to decorate your home for Christmas
The Christmas decorations are up (finally!). I'm always a bit late to the game 🙂 This year I decided to add a little something special to my dining room – small star anise wreaths hung on the back of each dining room side chair:
Last winter I bought a large star anise wreath for our front door and loved not only how it looked but also its wonderful licorice scent. So once I decided to add some holiday decorations to the backs of our dining chairs, I was quick to come up the idea of creating small star anise wreaths hung on the chairs with decorative ribbon. (post includes affiliate links – see my full disclosure statement {here})
There's not much to this DIY project – here's the supply list:
- 8″ foam wreaths (you could definitely go smaller or bigger depending on your preference – I bought mine on sale at Jo-Ann's
- Brown burlap (I bought 2 yards, which is more than enough for 6 wreaths)
- Whole star anise, which can be found online {here} or locally at Asian grocery stores. You can also find star anise at spice stores but you'll typically pay much more it.
- Wire edged ribbon (mine is from Michael's)
- Glue gun
First cut your burlap into long strips 2-3″ wide and hot glue the end of your first strip to the back of the wreath. Next, wrap the burlap around the wreath, pulling it tight as you go. I used two long burlap strips for each wreath, gluing the end of the first strip and the beginning of the second strip to the back of the wreath and continuing to wrap it around until the entire wreath was covered.
Once you've covered your entire wreath with the burlap and hot glued the end of your last strip to the back, you can star gluing on the star anise. Simply put a generous dot of hot glue on the back of each piece of star anise and stick it on. It's a little bit of a puzzle (which I found to be sickly fun), fitting the star anise pieces together as closely as possible. Sometimes you'll have to break off an arm or two of the star for the best fit. Cover the entire surface of the wreath except for the back. It's very simple and easy but does take a fair amount of time – I did mine at a leisurely pace while watching TV but each wreath took me over an hour.
Finally, simply tie the wreath to the top of your dining chair with a wire edged ribbon.
These wreaths would also look great in other areas of your home, such as hung over a large mirror. I need to pick up a few more foam wreaths to make the star anise wreaths for the chairs on the other side of my table and I may pick up an extra one to do just that.
For the centerpiece of my dining room table, I used a white crackled jar (a HomeGoods find) that normally sits on the open shelf of my china chest and simply filled it with sprigs of artificial berries that I found at Hobby Lobby. I love these Hobby Lobby berry branches – they are so much more attractive than any other ones that I've seen – the berries look real and are variable shades of deep red and the branches they are attached to are quite lovely – curvy and willowy.
On both sides of my berry filled jar, I layered some Christmas tree clippings along with some pinecones from our backyard and a bit of red wire edged ribbon.
I also filled two short glass bowls (HomeGoods, again) with pillar candles surrounded by hazelnuts and pecans:
While I do have a few sets of napkin rings, none of them went well with the rest of my table décor so I just used what I already had and hot glued two small pine cones to a sprig of the same berries that I used in my centerpiece. Then I tied them onto my napkins (Crate & Barrel Pinecone Napkins) with some gold wire edged ribbon.
Did you all finish up your holiday decorating weeks ago or are you more of a last minute gal like me? Hope you all have a great weekend!


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Refresh your lips with lime classic lip balm, a sweet hint of lime juice that's a zesty treat for your lips. Our lime classic lip balm features mouth watering tropical flavor and is used to condition, hydrate, moisturize, nourish, and soothe lips. This juicy lime classic lip balm is made with nutritious tropical lime essential oils and is bursting with flavor. A zesty treat for you lips. A perfect size for your pocket or purse and is packaged in an attractive 0.25 oz. recyclable tin.
- Long-lasting, (0.25 oz) recyclable tin
- A delicious lip balm to soothe your worst dry chapped lips
- Free from harsh or artificial fragrances, dyes, GMOs, parabens
- Cruelty-free, gluten-free, and made in the USA
- All-natural moisturizing classic lip balm
How to Use Boarder's Balm® Lime Classic Lip Balm
For soft lickable lips, smooth onto lips as often as necessary. Apply lip balm liberally to your lips as often as needed, particularly in dry, cold or windy conditions.
Boarder's Balm® Lime Classic Lip Balm Ingredients
Organic coconut oil, Utah beeswax, jojoba oil, red raspberry seed oil, essential oil blend.


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"Hockey Girl" Photo/Sign - Perfect for gift giving! You can easily slide in your photo and she will love it!
Choose from 3 Photo/Signs: (See additional photos)
Hockey Girl
Hockey Mom
Hockey Dad
Holds a 4" x 6" photo
Acetate sheet covering for protection of photo
Size: 5.75" x 8"
Place on a desk, table, shelf, dresser or hang with attached rope just about anywhere.
You will love the quality of this Photo/Sign!
Shipping time:
We usually ship within 1-2 days!
Read tons of reviews from customers that just love our products!
Please message me with any questions.
Thanks for stopping by:
1-2 business days
I'll do my best to meet these shipping estimates, but can't guarantee them. Actual delivery time will depend on the shipping method you choose.
Buyers are responsible for any customs and import taxes that may apply. I'm not responsible for delays due to customs.
Just contact me within: 14 days of delivery
Ship items back to me within: 30 days of delivery
Request a cancellation within: 0 hours of purchase
But please contact me if you have any problems with your order.
Because of the nature of these items, unless they arrive damaged or defective, I can't accept returns for:
Buyers are responsible for return shipping costs. If the item is not returned in its original condition, the buyer is responsible for any loss in value.
Please contact me if you have any problems with your order.


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This book is bargain priced from 06/14/2014 until 06/21/2014
Ethan- Emma's twin, does not like to brush his teeth. Every morning and every evening, Ethan prefers to scream and not brush his teeth. Until one night, a strange thing happened ….This book is for children, age 2-4.
Targeted Age Group: 2-4
Book Price: 2.99
Link To Buy Bargain Book
What Inspired You to Write Your Book?
I am a mother of twins – a boy and a girl and now I am also a grandmother of twins – a boy and a girl. My grandchildren and their parents live with me and the process of their development takes me back in time and is used to inspire me to write twins stories.
About the Author:
I'm 60 years old, a math teacher for 35 years in high school, coach, mother of four children and grandmother of two.
Two of my children are twins – a son and daughter and my grandchildren are also twins – a boy and girl. It was only natural for me to use my imagination on my experiences with twins.
Link To Buy Ethan in the Kingdom of the Toothbrushes
Social Media:


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christianlombaxon May 31, 2009 Link
0It also seems like it might be making an attempt at how Jesus felt when he was physically on earth. The phrases like "I'm more than a man" and "I'm undefeatable" are what give me that impression.Flag MConroy1990on February 23, 20100What made me smile was - in the CD booklet the word "devil" starts with small letter, and the word "God" starts with capital letter XDD.
The line "I'm more than a man, I was sent to rule on Earth, ask who I am" suggest it could be really written from Jesus's point of view, but maybe it was written from an exorcist's point of view. You know, the exorcist is goin' to do his job, but he's kinda scared, so he encourages himself and sings "blackness all around me, but I'm undeafeatable, my God is strong, my God is strong!". And the song sounds kida like taken from an exorcism (whispers at the beginning), so xD.


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The U.S. State Department expanded its terrorism list Wednesday adding Jemaah Islamiya, a shadowy group with alleged links to the al-Qaida terror network. Some Indonesian officials have accused the group of involvement in the deadly bombings in Bali earlier this month. While different factions of Jemaah Islamiya exist internationally, the organization traces its roots to Egypt.
The Indonesian arm of Jemaah Islamiya is very similar to the original organization that emerged in Egypt in the late 1970s. The Egyptian group, known as Gama'a al-Islamiyya, already has a place on the State Department list of terrorist organizations. Among other things, it is accused of an attack on tourists in Luxor, Egypt, in which 58 people died. Hala Mustafa, an expert on terrorism who heads the Islamic fundamentalist unit of the al Ahram Center for Political and Strategic Studies in Cairo, says the two groups have a lot in common.
"I think there is a link because both organizations share a lot of ideas," she said. "I think they have the same political ideas and they embrace the same ideology. And, at the same time, they are very similar in tactics. If you notice the last attack in Bali was very similar to the attack against tourists in Egypt in Luxor in 1997."
But in recent years the Egyptian government has been cracking down hard on Gama'a al-Islamiyya. The group is believed to pose far less a threat than it did in years past. Today its members insist they reject violence as a means of achieving their goals.
But Ms. Mustafa says the goal of any faction of Gama'a al-Islamiyya is to topple governments and replace them with Islamic regimes.
Ms. Mustafa says one of the group's trademarks is to attack tourists in an effort to weaken local economies and, in turn, destabilize governments. She adds that she would not be surprised if the southeast Asian branch of the group is linked with the Bali bombing.
"It's part of their strategy to undermine their local or national political regime, and second to embarrass this regime internationally and try to isolate it from any backing or support from outside," she said.
Ms. Mustafa also believes it is very likely that the Indonesian group has links with al-Qaida, as the State Department claims. She says al-Qaida is a group that has evolved from several terrorist organizations.
"Al-Qaida itself, it wasn't a local organization but it was a kind of gathering to many different organizations in their home country. It was a gathering from Jihad, from Gama'a al-Islamiyya, from many other organizations from several Arab and Muslim countries," said Ms. Mustafa.
Once a group is placed on the U.S. list of terrorist organizations, it becomes a crime for any person in the United States to contribute funds to it. The members of the group also can be denied visas to enter the United States if they are aliens. American financial institutions are also required to block the group's funds.


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I am now also making jewellery, made from semi-precious stones, SWAROVSKI, glass etc. Earrings, necklaces and bracelets are the main items. Soon to come will be key rings and perhaps some mobile phone or bag charms.
You will find my jewellery at The Carron Pottery. You can also order, via the contact form on my website, with the beads/stones of your choice, making the jewellery your very own and personal.


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Canines of Xizhou: Dog Year Woof Woof
Gou Nian Wang Wang
Dog Year Woof Woof
In honor of this new year, allow me to introduce you to some of Xizhou's finest canines:
When I was just a small fluffy puppy.
I fit into a pillowcase. This is my old home, Yang Zhuo Ran.
Now I'm all grown up.
Here's me at home, at my office (with one of my favorite toys), and outside.
These are my humans!
These are my parents, sometimes they disagree 🙁
Singing a song!
Name: Nala
Age: 4
Breed: I'm a mix between a labrador and golden retriever
Humans: The Lindens
About Me: I'm bilingual, just like my owners. I love going on walks, traveling, and eating street food (literally). I recently recovered from a major surgery and I'm doing super well!
Can you tell napping is my favorite hobby?
Sometimes I let my best friend Dou Dou nap with me.
Name: Ana
Age: 9
Breed: I'm a pekinese mix
Human: Li Fang, she owns a cute clothing store in Xizhou.
About Me: I was born in Lhasa, my human also raised my mom, so I've known Ms. Li since I was a baby. I've since had babies of my own who have all moved away.
Hi there, do you like how my fur matches my bench?
I consider myself a romantic.
Here I am in my store, The Dimple, mommy wipes some of my eye gunk away.
I consider myself an excellent scarf model.
Name: 王小二 Wang Xiao Er (King Two)
Age: 8 months
Breed: Golden Retriever
Humans: 木木 Mumu, owner of "The Dimple" a store that sells local fruit wines & 小白 Xiao Bai, owner of a yoghurt shop.
About Me: I was first raised by a boy, then a girl, and then I finally ended up with my mom Mumu in the span of 3 months. Sometimes people think they can handle having a cute pupper like me, but I know it's not easy. My mom hasn't even met the first guy who raised me! No I live a happy life with my big brother and five cat sisters.
My favorite things are neck scarves, pink jeeps, and my little sister.
Name: 大圣 Da Sheng (Big Saint)
Age: 1 year and 1/2
Breed: Border collie
Humans: 木木 Mumu & 小白 Xiao Bai
About Me: I was really lonely before my little sister came, now I have a friend to hang out with all the time! Mom says I'm smart and have a great personality, and I'm very well-behaved (unlike wang xiao er). I also taught my little sister how to swim!
Here I am with mom and dad hanging out in Mumu's store.
I like to play with my best friend/neighbor Wang Xiao Er.
Name: 皮蛋 Pi Dan (preserved egg)
Age: 4 months
Breed: Mini doberman mix
Humans: 其加 Qi Jia and 心儿 Xin Er, owners of a cute clothing store near "The Dimple" called "一屋两人三餐四季" which translates to "one room, two people, three meals, four seasons."
About Me: I may be small, but I'm still part Doberman, so I like to wrestle with the big dogs! I tell them: "don't hold back!" You can find me chowing down on my bone on the chair I stole from Xiao Er's.
Hi! I'm Panda.
This is me when I was a fuzzy puppy. Whoa! This dog looks like me, but bigger!
This is me with my mommy, Jiajia, at the Linden Centre. I'm making some new friends!
I'm hiding! Can't see me!
Now that I'm a big girl, I like to go hiking with my mom. Here I am on the LC staff retreat at Tiger Leaping Gorge!
Hiking really tires me out…it's ok, I have a big soft bed to sleep on all to myself.
Name: Panda
Age: A year and a half
Breed: Panda!
Human: 宋佳佳, Jiajia Song, employee extraordinaire at the Linden Centre.
About Me: My mom found me on the side of the road when she was out with one of her Linden Centre coworkers, Little Cloud. Since then I accompany her on a lot of her hikes, and protect her from strangers in our home.
I'm just drying out my shiny coat in the sunshine and chowing down on this massive bone!
I used to be a small pupperina who could fit under tables, on peoples' laps, and into cute clothes dad got me in Thailand.
When I'm not hanging out on the couch, I keep watch outside dad's shop.
Sometimes dad takes me out to dinner!
Name: 黑不溜秋 Hei Bu Liu Qiu (my name is an idiom that means "dark and swarthy")
Age: 7 months
Breed: Black lab mix
Human: 伊凡 Ivan, a Xizhou jewelry store owner.
About Me: When I was a toddler I loved to chew everything in sight. I've also been known to eat yummy corn cobs that silly humans forget to take with them! Dad wasn't so happy, because I had to get surgery to have one removed. My dad takes me swimming and gives me lots of kisses.
I think my left side is my better side.
Taking in the beautiful Dali scenery, the canola is in bloom!
My beauty routine includes a face mask every night before bed.
I get find the most efficient ways to drink water fresh from the stream.
I love swimming and making friends with the ducks.
Here's me with my dad and my human, Xiao Yan.
Here I am running with my pal, Bu Liu Qiu (whose bed I steal when I come visit).
Name: 小熊 Xiao Xiong, (Little Bear)
Age: 3 years
Breed: Golden Retriever
Human: 小yan, Xiao Yan, a cafe owner in Xizhou who's known for her traditional-style clothing and hover board.
About Me: I like humans a lot, especially girl humans, but I'm not that big of a fan of other dogs, they're kind of silly. I also love everything about water, nothing beats drinking from a fresh mountain stream in the sunshine.
I'm rocky!
But more often you'll find me hanging out with my mom, Ms. Wang at our restaurant "Let's Food"!
Sometimes I play around too much and get a little dirty…but mom gives me a bath!
One time I had a single baby pupper, mom named him Panda! Doesn't he look just like me?
Now that my pupper is all grown up, I just hug my favorite toy when I sleep.
Here's me in the countryside.
Name: Rocky
Age: 3 and 1/2 years old
Breed: I'm a mix, mom thinks I might be part Corgi
Human: Ms. Wang, owner of "Let's Food," a cute little restaurant near the LC!
About Me: I'm a big meat-eater and I gave birth to one single puppy. No one told my mom, but I was recently sent to the countryside to be a guard dog, but they wanted a dog that could bark. So when my mom found me and came to visit, I followed her smell all the way home the next morning!
We're Heben (black) & Menglu (blonde)! This is our store – Liu Shan Men.
Here we are when we were cute fluffy puppers.
Sometimes we get really muddy when we play. Not sure how we got on this roof.
We're good shopkeepers when we're not busy wrestling…Heben always starts it…
If we're too naughty, dad puts us in our cage 🙁
More than anything we love giving humans love and running around outside!
Names: 赫本 He Ben (Hepburn) + 梦露 Meng Lu (Monroe)
Ages: 1 year and 3 months (Meng Lu is older by a few minutes)
Breed: Border Collie
Humans: 佳佳 Jia Jia & 裁缝 Cai Feng, owners of yummy restaurant 六扇门 Liu Shan Men.
About Us: Menglu was born first, and was the only one of her color in our litter, but mom and dad picked me, Heben, first. Maybe that's why I act more like the older sister. Mom and dad picked me (Menglu) because they thought I was pretty and unique, now my little sister likes to provoke me and steal my food. When Menglu was little she got really sick and didn't eat a month, but luckily she got better after seeing a doctor. Dad says overall there's a really serious problem of dogs accidentally eating rat poison in Dali, so we're not allowed to randomly roam around on the streets.
Hello! I'm Ka Hui.
Here I am in my dad's store.
Here I am with some of my friends and fans at my friend Peter's coffee shop, can you see me?
All day I dream of eating Xizhou baba scraps on the streets, but alas this leash keeps me right here.
Being a celebrity and shopkeeper is a tiring job.
Name: 咖灰 Ka Hui (Dad gave me this name because he says Chinese people mispronounce the Chinese word for Coffee (ka fei) as ka hui, also I was gray (灰hui) when I was younger.
Age: 4 months
Breed: Mix-breed, also known in China as 土狗 tu gou, or "dirt dog"
Human: 久美 Jiu Mei aka 胖哥 Pang Ge owns a clothing store in Xizhou.
About Me: Dad says it's in my nature to go scrounging for food on the streets of Xizhou, so I can't help it, I just can't resist a baba morsel! One time dad thought I ran away while he was eating, but I was just rootin around near the dumpster for some tasty treats. Luckily the restaurant owners found me and brought me home. When I'm not looking for food or hanging out at the store, I like to watch people playing Mahjong.
I'm the newest member of the Xizhou puppy community, Ruby!
When I first got here, I slept A LOT.
Here I am tipped over on my side, getting some scratchies.
Now I like to roam around in and around my store and our deck.
Check out my photoshoot in the canola fields!
Ready for my close-up! It's pretty comfy in Haiyi's lap. I could nap here all day….zzzzz
Here I am, just a small dog, with my dad, Da Gou a.k.a. Big Dog!
Name: Ruby
Age: 50 days
Breed: Mix-breed, I think I look kind of lab-like, but dad says I won't get that big
Humans: 大狗 Da Gou & 海祎 Hai Yi owner of 吴川 a local dessert & drinks store.
About Me: Hi ! I'm new around here, so please be nice to me, I'm still growing. I already know how to do my business outside, because my dad's really good at training dogs. I love playing in the fields and discovering the world around me (when I'm not napping).
Bonus Round: Miscellaneous & Ex-Xizhou Dogs
We're just a few of the cute mix-breed dogs that hang around Xizhou!
My name is 黑熊 Hei Xiong (black bear) I'm just the gentle giant who lives in the courtyard behind the cafe/restaurants/dessert stores 🙂
My name is 小新 Xiao Xin. I may seem like a cheeky lil fellow to you, but that's just my smile. I also like to practice yoga – check out my downward dog! You can find me hanging out with my two big dog sibs.
I'm Dou Dou, but Mr. Matt (pictured with me above) calls me Dan Dan, it's a little confusing. I was the best dressed dog in Xizhou, but my mom and I moved back home.
In Memoriam
黑仔 Hei Zai
Brother of 黑不溜秋
豆豆 Dou Dou
Loved by 杨圆 Martin, LC Bartender
A Note:
Since moving to Xizhou in September 2017, I've had the pleasure of meeting many of the town's cutest canines, who always manage to bring a smile to my face after a long day. If you love dogs, Dali is most definitely the place for you, the old town itself is full of giant fluffy Alaskan Malamutes, and our own little town has its fair share of cuteness. Since I've been here, I've heard about many cases of dogs accidentally eating rat poison. I hope that in the future more people become aware of this problem.
So, from someone who was born in the dog year, here's to a happy and healthy dog year to humans and dogs alike!
Me with my very own Xizhou dog.


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Want to contribute to this article?
We recently recorded a webinar with Managing Director of Kingsford Consultancy Services Ltd, Richard Green, to discuss the latest developments in the new ISO health and safety standard.
Below is a transcript of the webinar.
What are the main challenges managing health and safety?
Health and safety tends to get a bad press. Too often it is seen as both an administrative and an operational overhead, something that gets in the way of completing the job quickly, something which can be circumvented when the pressure is really on.
Responsible organisations know this is nonsense, and the HSE has gone to great lengths to publish Myth Busters on its website in an attempt to dispel some of the crazier H&S assertions that surface periodically, but the sad truth remains that the only time the top management of certain organisations take an interest in this subject matter is when there has been an actual H&S incident. Then they tend to get very interested, very quickly.
In its introduction, DIS2 ISO 45001 reminds us of the role top management MUST play if a H&S management system is to be effective. These critical success factors include promoting and developing a H&S culture, their need to consult with workers over H&S matters and ensure worker participation in key H&S decisions, the need for them to provide the necessary resources to run an effective H&S management system, and the need for them to ensure H&S is integrated into business as usual.
At present, I'd suggest we are some way off this being the norm, particularly when we view Health and Safety from an international perspective.
Why a need to move from OHSAS 18001?
OHSAS 18001 was (indeed is) a highly successful standard. Although it's difficult to capture accurate figures (as it's not an ISO standard and therefore not included in the ISO annual Certification Body survey), it's estimated that 93,000 OHSAS 18001 certificates have been issued. That places it third behind ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 respectively.
ISO have long desired to complete the holy trinity. Those with long memories will recall ISO 9001 started out a British Standard BS 5750 and ISO 14001 also started out as a British Standard, BS 7750.
OHSAS 18001 (or BS OHSAS 18001 to give it its proper title), is going the same way for the same reason, to elevate it from what is essentially a national standard, albeit one which has been globally accepted, to a truly international standard, developed with full international consensus.
As OHSAS 18001:2007 was due for an update anyway it seemed logical to take the opportunity to go down the international route, to try to drive H&S improvement on an international basis.
ISO 31000 reminds us that risk is 'the effect of uncertainty'. It therefore follows that by reducing the effect of uncertainty we will reduce our organisation's risk exposure. Annex SL based standards, and that includes ISO 45001 of course, set out to do this by requiring organisations to:
- Be clear on what they have to do (legal requirements).
- Be clear on what they chose to do (other requirements).
- Be clear on how they will do it (planning, support in place and operations)
- Be clear that it is being done (performance evaluation)
- Be clear on how to do it better (Improvement)
Why do you think there has been a big divide in the feedback on the ISO DIS 45001?
ISO 45001 was always going to be a problem child. Those developing the standard come from national standards bodies representing different parts of the world, with radically different perspectives on workers' H&S.
Accepted working practices in some countries are completely unacceptable in others, and the degree to which workers are able to actively participate in, and be consulted on, H&S matters, are similarly divergent.
Now throw into the mix the liaison organisations who at one end of the spectrum are passionate about enshrining worker's rights at the core of the standard, and who at the other are represent employer's interests, believing it's for businesses to decide how and when to involve their workforce in any H&S debate. Finally, add in the complexities of national and international health and safety legislation and perhaps you'll begin to understand why this standard is taking so long to finalise.
What are some of the key changes and how will they impact the way health and safety is managed in the organisation?
For me the key changes are;
- The adoption of annex SL which should aid integration with other management systems.
- The removal of the role of management representative which is designed to embed H&S responsibility more widely than just that single individual.
- The enhanced role top management HAVE to play in the operation of their H&S management system- there are things they cannot now delegate.
- The requirement to integrate the H&S system into 'business as usual'
- The extension of worker consultation and participation
- The requirement for the organisation to prevent 'ill heath' (including psychological health) as opposed to just injuries
- There's explicit recognition that injuries and ill health can result not just from immediate impacts but also from long term impacts
- The need to consider H&S opportunities, not just H&S risks
- Major shakeup of terms and definitions. Of the 37 included in ISO 45001 only 3 are identical to those in OHSAS 18001. New definitions include 'worker' and 'workplace'.
How can organisations prepare for ISO 45001?
Start by increasing awareness, if you are responsible for your organisation's OHSAS 18001 compliant system you need to know about ISO 45001. There's lot of information circulating on the internet but make sure you look at that coming out of an informed source, someone who is actively involved in the revision process.
Then tell others in your organisation what's about to happen and how it will impact them. You'll need to speak to top management about their revised obligations and you'll want to bring your internal auditors up to speed with the new requirements in order that they can spot issues during the transition process.
Speak to your certification body to see what help they intend to provide you with and note that if you are not happy with your certification body or any support consultants you may employ, now is a good time to change them. You'll want to be making this journey with people you trust.
Once you are clear as to where you need to get to, then you can start to plan. At this stage, it can only be an outline as ISO 45001 is still work in progress but the bare bones can be put in place and then adjusted when there is more certainty as to the standard's contents and timing.
Where can people access a copy of the draft?
Both BSI and ISO will happily provide you with a copy of the DIS2 for suitable recompense. BSI are asking £30 for non-members and £24 for members, ISO are charging 58 Swiss francs (which equates to £46.80). Both have online shops offering immediate downloads.
When should people expect ISO 45001 to be released?
Not even members of PC283 know the answer to that one. The official ISO timeline shows the publication of an FDIS in November 2017 and then publication of the full ISO in March 2018. That said, there are a lot of technical comments on DIS2 (1200) and each and every one of these needs to be considered. It's conceivable that if PC283 cannot process all of these at their meeting in Melaka this month, that they will need to schedule another meeting to complete the task. Personally, I'd see March 2018 as the EARLIEST possible publication date and if I were staking my own money on it I'd probably go for the end of Q2 2018.
What process would you recommend following when transitioning?
View this as a journey. Firstly, you need to understand where you want to get to. That's the easy bit, compliance with ISO 45001. Now take time to understand what the destination looks like - if you can't tell Rotherham from Rochdale you won't be able to tell when you've got to where you want to be. So, start by self-education and progress to awareness raising. Make sure you tell everyone where you are taking them and why this is right destination.
Next you need to understand where you are starting from. Each organisation's departure point will be unique, as the degree to which each organisation embraces OHSAS 18001 will be different. There are organisations already going beyond the basic requirements of the standard whilst others will simply be doing the minimum to comply. The former will be closer to the destination than the latter. Conduct a gap analysis to identify your own personal departure point.
Now we need to plan the journey, making it as smooth as possible and avoiding the potholes along the way. Enshrine your route in a transition plan built on the results of your gap analysis. Periodically re-run the gap analysis to ensure you are still on the correct road and that you are continuing to make progress. Get internal audits and management reviews up and running early so if you do drift off piste you can pick the right route up once more or, if you identify a shortcut, to position you to take it.
Involve your certification body early on. They can help smooth the route.
Treat this as a project, create a project structure to manage the transition, a communications plan to keep stakeholders engaged, a project plan to act as your route plan and risk and issue logs as things will go wrong along the way, and the fallout will need to be managed.
Some organisations have a separate quality and health and safety manager. How can organisations use the Annex SL to make transition faster?
Get the quality & H&S manager talking to each other. Hopefully, given that we have only 12 months of the 9001 and 14001 transition periods remaining, work on transitioning the organisation's QMS and EMS will be well advanced. At the very least there should be a clear and communicated transition plan in place by now.
That means a lot of lessons will have been learned by the quality and environmental people that can usefully be passed across to the H&S manager. What went well and what didn't, what were the principal challenges and how were these addressed?
The H&S manager will also benefit from the fact that by now Top Management should have been educated by their quality/environmental heads as to their revised roles in Annex SL based systems, the organisation should have established processes for the determination of Context, for the management of risks and opportunities, the alignment of management system objectives with business objectives and performance evaluation of management systems. The H&S system can be piggy backed off these new ways of working, introduced to satisfy the QMS and EMS standards.
Documenting a health and safety management system is one thing, how can organisations ensure correct processes and procedures are being followed?
This starts with ensuring individuals are clear as to their roles and responsibilities, and are also clear as to how specific tasks are to be performed. These aspects are dealt with under clause 7, Support, which encompasses competence, awareness and communication sub-clauses.
Work is then planned and performed under Clause 8, Operation with H&S performance and the effectiveness of the H&S system overall being checked under clause 9, Performance evaluation, by means of monitoring, measurement, analysis and evaluation.
Internal audit has a key role to play in determining compliance (or otherwise) with agreed practice, as has Management Review.
Worker consultation and participation forums should also be used to identify process deviations, noting that in some instances the deviation may have occurred for good reason. E.g. where following the process would have endangered rather than protected individuals. The standard is clear that where this is the case workers should not be exposed to the threat of dismissal, disciplinary action or other reprisals as a result of their failure to follow the prescribed method.


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The Abu Dhabi Chamber organizes the 7th International Franchise Exhibition with over 100 local and international exhibitors operating in more than 15 different sectors
51st World Franchise Council Meeting held alongside International Franchise Exhibition
Al Mheiri: 2.5 million franchised businesses sustain over 29 million jobs around the world
H.E. Saif Mohamed AL Hajeri, Chairman of Department of Economic Development and a member of the Executive Council, officially opened the seventh edition of the International Franchise Exhibition, organized by Abu Dhabi Chamber of Commerce and Industry in strategic partnership with Emirates Association for Franchise Development, at Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre. His Excellency Ibrahim Al Mahmoud, 1st Deputy Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Chamber; and a number of the Chamber's Board Members attended the opening ceremony of the IFE along with H.E. Mohamed Helal Al Mheiri, Director General of the Abu Dhabi Chamber; Dr. Hatem Zaki, Secretary General, World Franchise Council, and representatives from national franchise associations of over 42 countries. A number of senior officials and dignitaries from Abu Dhabi attended the event as well.
H.E. Mohamed Helal Al Mheiri, Director General of the Abu Dhabi Chamber, said, "We are honored to organize the seventh edition of the International Franchise Exhibition in Abu Dhabi. The aim of the exhibition is to create an awareness about the franchise sector, one of the poles of modern economy, and the opportunities it possesses for local investors. It is also a knowledge-sharing platform for entrepreneurs to learn about international best practices and to preserve the rights of local investors and to save them from any unhealthy practices."
According to the most recent World Franchise Council Survey on the Economic Impact of Franchising Worldwide, it is estimated that approximately 2.6 million franchised businesses sustain over 29 million jobs around the world. On an average, the franchise sector contributes 2.7% to national GDPs.
Al Mheiri added, "It has been a privilege to host the 51st World Franchise Council meeting in Abu Dhabi alongside the International Franchise Exhibition. As part of the meeting, we have had the opportunity to meet leaders of the franchise community from over 42 countries from across the world and had insightful discussions about the new challenges facing the franchising sector globally, potential solutions; and discuss opportunities for bilateral and regional cooperation between WFC members."
Dr Hatem Zaki, Secretary General, World Franchise Council said, "The franchise sector has been growing worldwide and the global markets have been receptive to the business model. Within the UAE specifically, local and international franchise brands continue to grow across a variety of sectors including food and beverage, fashion retail, beauty, healthcare, and education. The Emirates Association for Franchise Development has played a leading role in promoting franchising business model regionally. The World Franchise Council decided to host its 51st meeting in the UAE alongside the International Franchise Exhibition due to the country's importance on the global platform and the leading regional and global role that Emirates Association for Franchise Development plays. IFE paves the way for innovation to be an integral part of the franchise business model."
IFE provides a platform to meet international and local brands, interact with business investors and showcase innovative and unique business concepts to prospective franchisees, SMEs, and entrepreneurs. The two-day exhibition will host over 100 international and local exhibitors from over 15 different sectors including tourism & leisure, real estate, fashion, hospitality, IT, financial institutions, trade, transport, healthcare & pharmaceuticals, education, food & beverage, retail, education & training, safety & security, manufacturing & maintenance, joined by franchise societies, associations and experts.


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As with us we went through a REAL PASSOVER. We now understand the meaning of PASSOVER and those that survived through it. For many of us it drew us closer to God.
For some, you have never went through a crisis in your lifetime.
God is getting ready to show you what you're both made from.
But don't panic as Peter when he was walking on water and looked down.
This is a time when you must stay focused on Yeshua, Jesus.
You must stay in his word.
You must be grounded in your faith.
I wish that I could say our Passover is over but we still have many days yet to go through.
God is testing us to see which are faithful to him, and which are the warriors that he's prepared. God is changing things around. The numbers when first quoted were 2 million that could die in America. He's now decreased those numbers to 60,000. He adjusted those numbers.
Ever since we heard the words Coronavirus we felt fear. At first, we were told that America had nothing to worry about by Dr. Fauci. But it quickly changed. America soon found out that her once worst enemy was hiding information. Scientist and doctors in China were disappearing and some dying, And China was still lying. We still don't know what is going on with communist China. We do know however, God's hands are still working. If this virus had not happened it was told that China would become the new number 1 world power leader. But this virus mysteriously crippled China. No one now trust China. We don't know what was behind all of this if it was a masterplan to takeover the world. We don't know. But what we do know is that we were all controlled by fear as in a socialism society. We suddenly understood what it would be like to take orders and the consequences of not obeying those orders. We saw our churches blindsided by this virus. We saw people going to jail for attending service. We saw people getting fines for working if they weren't an essential worker. Suddenly essential workers became the clerk at the grocery store. The person delivering packages to your front door. The restaurant that offered curbside delivery. It was no longer the father or mother going out and earning an income for their family. It was the least that became the greatest. It was the less educated that we now trusted to service us and meet our needs. The order of the world was now changing. But God isn't finished yet. He's still stripping and placing some under the fire. He's still searching for those that call out his name. We must stay humble and obedient to God. He isn't finished yet and the last time I checked. He's still the miracle maker that divided the Red Sea and turned a shepherd's staff. into a snake. We need to remember before it was a snake it was a shepherd's staff to help steer a lost sheep.
I think with this current Passover God wants to make sure that more than two make it through it. If you look back, it was only two that made it to the Promised Land. This could be why God has made our length longer.
Exodus 14:14 The Lord will fight for you while you [only need to] keep silent and remain calm."
Poetess Patricia Kelley


text: This week's "What They've Been Playing" features discussion of X-Men Origins: Wolverine, Shellshock 2: Blood Trails, Terminator Salvation, Destroy All Humans! Path of the Furon, TMNT: Turtles in Time Re-Shelled, Final Fantasy IV: The After Years, Shatter and much more. They follow that up with some gaming news including the new Left 4 Dead DLC, the Starcraft II delay, the announcement of a Wii-port of COD4, and plenty more.


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After a search lasting nearly seven months, ACLU Hawaii has finally chosen a new executive director. Vanessa Chong, who has run the office since 1984, is retiring next year. Her replacement, ACLU Hawaii officials announced on Dec. 13, is Joshua Wisch, currently a Special Assistant to Hawaii Attorney General Doug Chin.
According to the ACLU Hawaii announcement, the position had more than a hundred applicants from all across the country. But in the end, they selected Wisch, whose most recent work as AG Special Assistant including acting as a spokesperson for the office (I have worked with him in this regard on a few occasions, and always found him competent and professional).
"Wisch, who has most recently served as Special Assistant to the Hawaii Attorney General, has over 15 years of cross-sector professional experience in Hawaii," states ACLU Hawaii's announcement. "Wisch's management background in addition to his understanding of Hawaii, the legislative process and past experience leading political campaigns and issue advocacy is expected to significantly advance the ACLU's agenda statewide. Wisch earned his bachelor's and master's degrees from Carnegie Mellon University and his J.D. from the Georgetown University Law Center."
This is a critical time for civil liberties in the U.S., and the ACLU as a whole. In its Dec. 13 announcement, the organization said it's "facing a barrage of challenges on multiple fronts including erosions to the rights of immigrants and LGBTQ individuals, attacks on reproductive health services for women and ensuring free speech and protest rights for all points of view. Additionally, the organization continues to press for much-needed reforms of the criminal justice system."
For his part, Wisch said he's "humbled" to be joining ACLU Hawaii.
"Vanessa Chong's work for more than thirty years building the Hawaii affiliate and safeguarding our civil liberties has been extraordinary," he said in the Dec. 13 announcement "Her legacy is an inspiration and I am grateful for all the support she, the Board, and staff have provided during this transition. I am proud to join a group of people dedicated to protecting the constitutional rights of everyone in our state, and assure you that my heart is in the work."
Photo of Joshua Wisch courtesy ACLU Hawaii


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Thank you for your interest in our villas. We look forward to speaking with you!
Villa Samudra in the historical city of Galle, Sri Lanka is a premier beachfront holiday home with a touch of Sri Lankan history embedded into its very walls. This two-bedroom paradise not only puts you in a prime location close to famous spots like Galle Fort and Yala National Park but also allows you to spend time in the peace and quiet of this particular area. The open-plan layout of the villa makes it airy and full of sunlight so you can make the most of your luscious surroundings even while indoors. Replete with modern amenities and verdant gardens, this is the ideal holiday home for couples, friends, and small families.
Two beautiful bedrooms are found near the gardens at Villa Samudra Galle with mint-tone double doors leading to the corridor outside. Four-poster king-sized beds with uber comfortable mattresses are the perfect way to end your night guaranteeing a good night's rest. Other furniture in these gorgeous, vintage-inspired spaces include a plush armchair in the corner, an antique cupboard, wardrobe and a writing desk.
The bedrooms are air-conditioned so you can maintain the temperature as per your preferences. The hand-crafted wooden headboards, local textiles for bedding, unique lattice work are all part and parcel. En-suite bathrooms that are partially open-air are fitted with shower stalls, dual vanities, and other amenities.
A beachfront location, the best part about Villa Samudra Galle is the direct path that takes you to the beach from the gardens. Apart from the crashing waves, guests can frolic in the water to their heart's content even inside the villa as there is a 17-metre swimming pool laid out majestically amidst lush green gardens. The landscape is rich with tropical plants and trees, the birds chirping melodiously, and the fresh tropical breeze making you heady with fragrant aromas. Lounge on the deck chairs or head to the patio for a cup of tea as you enjoy the serenity.
Villa Samudra Galle prides itself in offering guests a two-in-one deal where you have the best of nature and the most comfortable home to retreat to. Open plan living areas are a boon in a tropical location like Sri Lanka where you can enjoy the fresh air as you kick back and relax on the comfortable sofas. The living area has been designed with a more traditional flair with antique, weathered-look cabinets, coffee table, and arched doorways. The double doors and open-sided areas promise a well-ventilated space.
Perpendicular to the living area facing the swimming pool sits the alfresco dining area at the villa with a picture-perfect setting to serve as your backdrop. There is a six-seater rustic dining table under a traditional, high ceilinged pavilion with a fan to keep it cool. A fully-equipped kitchen forms part of the living area, fitted with necessary appliances and amenities for your use.
A fully staffed villa means a definite good time and at Villa Samudra Galle the housekeeping staff, management, security, and other members take care of everything for you. They even extend special services to guests including massages, boat or car rentals, airport transfers, a personal chef only at an extra cost.
There is a lot to do and see in and around Galle including a visit to the historical Galle Fort which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. You can arrange a trip to Yala National Park to explore the wildlife of Sri Lanka or head to the beach for fun water sports.
Your house is beautiful, the staff were exceptional, the weather was ideal, the food was delicious, the laughing was endless... what more could you want on holiday - in fact, everything was perfect and I simply cannot explain how grateful I am to have stayed at Samudra in such lavish comfort, we all felt extremely spoilt
We really loved it and thought the villa brilliant The staff were exceptional and they provided the best teamwork of any of the houses we have stayed in in SL.Nothing was too much trouble and you did not have to tell them anything twice.Once we sorted out the problem of my best red wine going in the fridge everything was fine! The food was really good and for once in Ruan we had a chef who was able to cook what he said he could,quite unusual. We are definitely coming back next February !
Your house is a dream! We were looked after so well, Ruwan's cooking was superb, and Sanjeeva always had our rooms tidy and clean. The house looked so beautiful. So this is really to say huge thank you s for letting us stay in your beautiful house, and I hope we can go back. I will be recommending the house to any friends as it really is a holiday of a lifetime staying in your house. It is beautifully decorated
|Minimum stay
|2 bedrooms
|from 16/05/2020 to 01/07/2020
|Low season
|3 nights
|from 01/07/2020 to 01/10/2020
|Mid-high season
|3 nights
|from 01/10/2020 to 27/11/2020
|Low season
|3 nights
|from 27/11/2020 to 20/12/2020
|Mid-high season
|3 nights
|from 20/12/2020 to 06/01/2021
|Peak season
|7 nights