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When you see the photos above you now understand from whom Miss Jolene gets her disjointed philosophies. White women like this ought to be careful because they are only tolerated by the black witches they hang around for as long as they tow the line. Make no mistake about it, in the twinkling of an eye those same black women she is so eager to defend will turn against her and slam her face deep into the mud without a second thought if she sets a toe wrong yet alone a foot. I warned you in Negro Wars to beware of liberal white women who come out of the woodwork to bolster and support black females and their feminist agenda.
Since Miss Jolene wishes to jump to the defence of the dysfunctional modern day black female aka the angry and bitter black sisterhood, let us go through and deconstruct her points. Of course this won't be a difficult feat seeing as she has taken the majority of her talking points from black females.
1. In case Miss Jolene hasn't noticed(which I'm sure she has) most black women deliberately choose the men who don't have their stuff together to begin with. Again, note the assumption here that the black men contacting here don't have their lives together. Another question that needs to be asked at this point is why is her rejection of black men based upon what those same black men thinking about black women? Shouldn't Miss Jolene be more concerned with the man's personality and character as opposed to what he thinks about and how interacts with another group of women? Disingenuous buzzard Jolene herself knows full well that white women overall prove to be better companions than black females, this is why the single rate amongst white women is significantly lower than their black female counterparts.
2. Firstly, manicures are for women, not men. Men at most are supposed to cut their fingernails and maybe if required file them evenly and that is where the buck stops. Doesn't this white siren understand that black women devalue themselves through their own decadent actions? Black men calling out the shortfalls and the many transgressions of black women is NOT devaluing them. Perhaps Miss Jolene first ought to be advising black women to value themselves by wearing their natural hair, not tattooing themselves to the hilt and not opening their legs to unproductive, thug type black men. Tiphany is clearly reprimanding the wrong individuals.
3. To be honest I don't really believe that a black man declaring he doesn't like and cannot get on with black women is going to be part of any conversation unless the specific questions related are first brought forward and asked. Dysfunctional black females hasn't really come up as a topic of conversation in my relationship. Black men unlike most black women simply make moves and go for the women they desire without lingering in the past. Yes, as in the case of Slaying Evil thinking black men will talk amongst themselves about the many discrepancies black women have, however on the whole we don't tend to take these issues into our relationships.
4. But what I find funny here is the fact that Miss Jolene in talking about white women emulating black culture is using the very same talking points against black men that come straight out of the black witch's Kansas City shuffle handbook. Also, why isn't out beloved Tiffany checking these same black women for emulating her own culture pertaining to the wearing of weaves(blonde, black, red, green, blue) and blue/green/grey contact lenses? Shouldn't Tiffany Jolene be reprimanding the swirling sisterhood for changing about-face and acting like Becky as soon as they land themselves a white man, how about that?
5. No, actually black men are the second most desired men on the planet and her attempting to take up slack for the decadent black sisterhood in no wise changes this fact. You see how this chick is stupid yet tries to sound intelligent. If a group of women are proving themselves to be problematic towards us, it is only right that black men ought to seek love and companionship elsewhere, this is logical and is based upon common sense and intelligence. What does this harpy expect black men to do, stick to and go down with the sinking ship?
6. Again, we thinking black men do not have to hunt for certain kinds of white women, white women across the spectrum come to us. Do you see how this witch is overly keen to collect some brownie points from black women? Again, black women love the unproductive black male types who are full of garbage, this is why they jump over smart educated brothers to get at those guys, why isn't Tiffany asking black women why this is the case with them, huh?
7. Again, this point belabours the one above, just like your typical black woman she rolls with the "black men are nothing" narrative and assumes that the black men hitting up her inbox are not responsible individuals without first verifying this. Again, why isn't Miss Jolene holding black women accountable and responsible for the untold amount of reckless and destructive decisions they make?
8. Err no, maybe thinking black men have a problem with black women because black women through their dysfunctional antics have proven themselves to be problematic, did you ever think about that? Do you see much like your average black female how this white harridan is trying her hardest to give the sisterhood of failure a pass? This is why I referred to Jolene as a disingenuous buzzard, she knows exactly how dysfunctional black women are, however in her quest to receive her honourary black card Tiffany has no qualms in throwing black men under the bus, pathetic.
If she so wishes to talk about narcissism then she ought to first turn towards black women who are by far the most narcissistic individuals on the planet. For example black women in the US murder on average 1876 unborn children per day in abortion clinics, yet at the same time most black women profess to believe in the Most High, Christ and the bible. How sick, twisted and narcissistic is that?
The modern day black woman's so called "independence, strength, difficult and take no-nonsense attitude" is exactly the reason why she is the least desired woman on the planet as well as having a single rate between 70-80 percent(depending on what US state you reside in). Feminism has failed black women miserably, however most of them are simply too stubborn and prideful to admit that for the last 50 years they have been taken on a joyride. Notice how Jolene praises and encourages black women to hold onto the very things that write them off as potential mates and companions, yet she conveniently omits the fact that white women themselves for the majority part have abandoned the main tenets of feminism having recognised it as a failure, smh.
9. Lazy, really woman? Because we choose to avoid the drama, the strife and the chaos this makes us lazy black men??? Of course where would a black female dysfunction counter defence be without the mention of the word misogyny. Black women and their advocates use that word whenever they can, they believe that calling out black female skullduggery somehow equates to misogyny ie a hatred of black females. However this manoeuvre is simply a common Kansas City shuffle technique employed by black women and their supporters in their aims to derail the conversation and prevent the truth from being brought forward.
Don't step to me with that "a black woman gave birth to you" garbage either, what, so black mothers are automatically exempt from scrutiny and judgement? According to who and what law? I said it before and I will say it again, I don't like scum especially those of the black female variety. No society has ever prospered uplifting and excusing the scum of its people, if you can provide any examples contrary to my words then I would love to see them.
In conclusion Miss Tiffany Jolene is 100% correct, black men ought to avoid her backside but not due to the reasons she's listed. No, the reason why black men should give Miss Jolene an extremely wide berth is because she hangs around black women and as is clearly evident they have done a severe number on her brain and contaminated her mind state to where she has taken up the black sisterhood's feminist baton to defecate upon the heads of black men relating to issues that she shouldn't really be getting involved in. She even refers to herself as a "boss bitch" on her Facebook page, that is really all you need to know.
Of course black women are all up in the comment section of that particular post giving Tiffany high fives, the thumbs up and pretending to be her friends, however Miss Jolene is a fool if she believes that she has found allies amongst the angry and bitter black sisterhood. As I've stated before the same black women who are now claiming to be her buddies will just as quickly turn around and call her a cracker and a white bitch if she ever steps out of line and this harpy knows it. Black women are incredibly jealous and hateful of white women, Miss Jolene would do well to note this.
Those of you thinking black men who have white women as your number one preference are advised to avoid white women like this, the best white women to go for are those who act white, those who are feminine, those who DON'T hang around black women and those who know little to nothing about black issues. Dealing with white women like Jolene is no different to dealing with your average garden variety black female, avoid both like the plague.
The internet thot Tiffany Jolene is in no position to be reprimanding black men coming into her inbox when she posts pictures with dog filters and her cleavage showing. Posting pictures with her butt sticking out and duck lipping, such women should never be taken seriously.
The Deprogramming And Decontamination Process Continues
Steer Clear Of White Women Who Support Black Female Dysfunction
Most High Bless


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Cutting Costs to Drive Growth: Trends Among the Fortune 1000
While businesses remain as committed to cost reduction as they were in the depths of the global recession, their strategic objectives have shifted, according to Deloitte's Third Biennial Cost Survey: Cost-improvement Practices and Trends in the Fortune 1000. The survey of 153 senior executives directly involved in cost management strategies at Fortune 1000 companies found that many of these companies are focused on cost-cutting as a way to drive growth, rather than as a way to survive or avoid insolvency.
"In the past, cost reduction was largely associated with companies that were struggling or in distress, but now, growing companies are just as interested in reducing costs as those with declining sales, if not more so," says Omar Aguilar, principal and enterprise cost management center of expertise global co-leader at Deloitte Consulting LLP. The "save to grow" trend represents a significant shift in business strategy and mindset. In the most recent survey, 63% of respondents report an increase in annual revenue during the preceding 24 months, compared with 32% in 2010. Yet, 76% of respondents still expect their companies to reduce costs over the next 24 months—roughly the same percentage as in previous years.
A significant implication of the "save to grow" trend is that most companies should be addressing cost reduction, not just those focusing on survival. To be effective, businesses, whatever their stage of maturity, should have efficient cost structures that are competitive, at the very least, with those of their peers. However, that's not to say that they should approach cost reduction in the same way.
"Different situations present different requirements and priorities," says Christine Ahn, a principal with Deloitte Consulting LLP, and leader of the Shared Services and Enterprise Cost Management service offering.
"A company in distress should focus on short-term survival, for example, while a company that is growing steadily should seek ways to strengthen its competitive advantage through smart investments and M&A," Ms. Ahn adds.
Other Survey Findings
Cost reduction remains a major focus. Despite the current growth trend, the number of respondents that expect to undertake cost management initiatives over the next 24 months has dropped only slightly (76% in 2012 compared to 80% in 2010).
Business conditions remain highly uncertain. Recessionary pressures and other macroeconomic issues continue to top the list of external business risks. However, they are less of a concern for respondents this year than in 2010, down to 59% from 73%. At the same time, political and regulatory concerns have risen sharply, up to 58% in the latest survey from 39% in 2010. This shift is especially apparent in financial services and health care, two sectors that face intense government scrutiny and pressure to reform. In addition, a significant number of surveyed executives cited political uncertainty in the eurozone as a major risk.
Revenue is on the rise. Despite ongoing challenges in the global economy, 63% of respondents said their companies enjoyed rising revenue over the preceding 24 months—nearly twice the number that reported rising revenue in the 2010 cost survey (32%).
The New Cost Reduction Paradox: "Save to Grow"
In the recent survey, 36% of executives cited sales growth as their top strategic priority, compared with only 22% in 2010. Meanwhile, the number of respondents focusing on other cost-reduction priorities, such as balance sheet management, fell sharply to 7% from 20%.
"This result suggests that the vast majority of companies are reasonably comfortable with the health of their balance sheets and are less worried about becoming insolvent," says Ms. Ahn. "Instead, they are shifting their attention to growth."
Today's cost reduction drivers emphasize growth. Also illustrating the shift from survival to growth are the business drivers behind cost-management efforts. According to the survey, businesses are increasingly driven by the need to gain competitive advantage relative to their peers and make required investments in growth areas, factors clearly consistent with an emphasis on growth. Businesses are also trying to avoid getting caught in unfavorable cost positions and to keep pace with regulatory changes such as health care and finance reform that require an efficient cost structure. At the same time, many companies seem to be feeling less pressure from cost drivers that tend to be associated with companies in distress, such as reduced consumer demand, decreased liquidity and tighter credit.
Cost reduction is becoming more difficult. Although most companies surveyed are carrying out broad cost-reduction initiatives, they are generally setting less aggressive cost-reduction targets than in years past. Just 11% of executives surveyed say they are pursuing cost-reduction targets in excess of 20%, compared with 19% who were looking for cuts that large in 2010. Despite these lower targets, nearly half the executives surveyed (48%) did not meet their cost-reduction objectives, up sharply from 37% in 2010 and 14% in 2008.
Barriers to effective cost reduction remain. According to survey participants, the biggest barrier to effective cost reduction is lack of understanding: many employees don't understand the need for cost reduction and how the proposed cost improvements can help the business. Erosion of savings is another high-impact barrier.
To overcome such challenges, companies are making efforts to learn from the past. More than half of the respondents (52%) cited change management as an important lesson learned, up from 44% in 2010. Meanwhile, communication was cited by 32% of participants, up from 27% in 2010. Finally, implementation strategy was also cited as a lesson learned, rising to 31% in 2012 from 12% in 2010, more than any other lesson over the past 24 months.
Many companies are actively working to develop and improve their cost-reduction capabilities. New policies and procedures continue to top the list of improved capabilities (67%), with improved IT infrastructure as a close second (52%).
Traditional approaches to cost reduction are losing steam. Improved capabilities and methods can increase the effectiveness of cost-reduction programs. However, in many cases, the fundamental roadblock is a company's overall cost reduction strategy and approach. "Many respondents say their companies tend to focus on the same cost-reduction areas year after year—especially administrative costs (75%) and operational costs (67%)—using the same old approaches," notes Mr. Aguilar. "So each year, capturing additional savings can get harder," he adds.
Respondents said the three cost actions their companies are most likely to undertake in the next 24 months are streamlining processes, reducing headcount and cutting external spend. Such cost initiatives are familiar, easy to understand and implement, and provide immediate results. "However, their overall potential for cost savings is strictly limited, particularly after multiple rounds of cost-cutting," notes Ms. Ahn.
"At the same time, strategic improvements such as changing the business configuration, increasing integration, and outsourcing or offshoring business processes are less popular and can be more challenging to implement," says Mr. Aguilar. "However, when done correctly, they have the potential to be much more effective than tactical improvements, and they can provide benefits that are both larger and more sustainable over time."
About the Survey
Deloitte Consulting LLP in conjunction with Ipsos, a global market research company, recently conducted its third biennial cost survey of major U.S. companies. The in-depth survey and analysis took place in the fourth quarter of 2012 and included 153 senior executives who were directly involved in cost management strategies at Fortune 1000 companies.
0.13% 37.9
0.24% 8.7
0.07% 4.65
Nikkei 225
0.40% 107.4
About Deloitte Insights
Deloitte's Insights for CFOs provides financial executives a customized resource to help them address the strategic, operational and regulatory issues they face in managing their finance organizations and careers, with top-line digests, research, perspectives and technical analyses.
For relevant content at your fingertips, download the CFO Lens™ app.

subset: commoncrawl


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Legacy Silver Oval Photo Living Locket with Swarovski Crystals
Add your photo and Charms!
Let her carry her memories close to her heart with this stunning Legacy Silver Oval Photo Living Locket®. Embellished with sparkling Swarovski® Crystals on one side, and a fine milgrain detail on the other, this keepsake Locket is double-sided and can be worn either way. Include a photo along with her favorite Charms to tell the story of what's most important in her world.
- Customize your Living Locket with your own Photo
- Holds Approximately 7-10 Charms (depending on size)
- Fits a 21x33mm oval photo
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- Locket Material: Stainless Steel
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- Metal Finish: Polished Silver
- Front: 55 Swarovski Clear Crystals
- Back: Milgrain Detail
- Includes free gift-ready packaging


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How can you be sure, maybe someones plotting to destroy you at this very moment... I'm not though... I would never think of doing such a thing... why are you looking at me like that?Redtech wrote:They're going to DIE?!?Sketchywallflowr wrote: And as for everyone else, be nice to the newbies. Today's N00b could be tomorrow's McDuffies! Or Yeahduff. Or Mercury Hat. Or Legostar! The possibilities are endless!
Anyway for all the newbs, take time to lurk, I find the comic pitching and technical tips and tricks forums are a great place to find useful info and gauge the attitudes of people.
Worked for me, I have no enemies!
And hi even newer people have a nice time here at Comic Genesis because if you don't the fiery pits of doom await you


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Companies rely on human resources experts to locate quality talent that will take their business to the next level. However, finding talent is not easy, especially in the current highly saturated job marketplace. TalScout is redefining the way companies find the best talents and hire employees. The website allows companies, expert interviewers, and candidates register on their platform. The company then chooses the interviewer and candidates they want, set up a schedule, and leave the rest for the system. Companies can then relax and enjoy watching the interviews to select the best candidates. They can also share the interview video to customers and other experts for a recommendation. Sign up today at www.talscout.com as a company, interviewer, or candidate.
"Our website solves a lot of HR problems that many businesses have been dealing with. Companies want the best candidates for their job placement, but they don't have the time or capacity to process and achieve this. We offer a simple and robust resource that allows anyone create a profile, set up and post a project, schedule interview, and get reasonable feedbacks. Your HR needs just got met, more that you can ever imagine," said Praveen Rane, Co-Founder.
TalScout website is a real game changer in the field of recruiting, human resources, and talent hunting. Companies can create a profile on the platform create a project with a team of recruiters, post a project for freelancers to apply, or ask for a panel on-demand. Companies can also schedule, review, and get feedbacks. Users can also share interview for the purpose of expert assessment by hiring manager or customers, and create their own database of curated assessed candidates, etc. TalScout offer a simple payment system for remunerating interviewers based on agreed rates.
TalScout is a one-stop solution for all talent screening needs and offers various solutions including TalScout interviewer where job seekers are interviewed by industry experts, TalScout Live, a digital video interview platform, TalScout automated that automates the candidate screening process, TalScout Campus for virtual campus hiring, and TalScout Bench that offer a seamless way to re-market talent pool.
About TalScout
TalScout is a one-stop shop for talent screening and a curated marketplace of interviewers across various skills, domain and technologies. It helps corporates and staffing companies screen candidates better through an audio/video interviewing platform. TalScout is a technology company and not an employment agency of any kind. The platform and the report act as an enabler towards candidate screening and shortlisting, through the interview process.
For more information, please visit www.talscout.com.
Media Contact
Company Name: TalScout LLP
Contact Person: Praveen Rane
Email: email@example.com
Phone: +91 9886396275
Country: India
Website: https://www.talscout.com/


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IFA Tactical is owned and operated by people who are passionate about the shooting sports, firearm history, gunsmithing, and our 2nd Amendment rights.
IFA stands for International Firearms & Accessories. We carry a wide variety of firearms & accessories ranging from tactical rifles, semi-automatic pistols, revolvers & bolt action rifles to scopes, red dots, holographic sights, flashlights, lasers mags & ammo amongst other products. We also offer an array of services such as gunsmithing, cerakote, laser engraving & financing.
Our mission is to educate, equip & prepare the men and women of this nation and to preserve our freedom. We use the equipment that we sell and have had the privilege of serving countless military personnel, police forces, & law-abiding citizens alike.
We have an unwavering commitment to customer service and above all we are here to help & serve.
Contact us at firstname.lastname@example.com
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Setting up an LDAP repository on Oracle ATG Web Commerce involves the following steps:
Create the LDAP schema on your LDAP directory server. The methods for creating and modifying the LDAP schemas differ from server to server. Consult the documentation for your LDAP directory server.
If your LDAP directory already exists, and you want to perform ID matching queries on the LDAP repository, make sure that LDAP entries include a property that corresponds to the ID property of the repository items. See LDAP Repository Queries.
Create the XML LDAP repository definition file for the LDAP repository to use. This XML template defines the item descriptors and repository item properties contained in your LDAP repository. It also describes the relationship of your LDAP directory entries to the item descriptors and repository items of the LDAP repository. See the LDAP Repository Architecture section, and especially the Item Descriptors and LDAP Object Classes subsection therein, for information about designing your LDAP repository components. See also the LDAP Repository Definition Tag Reference for full details of the XML tags used to create the LDAP repository definition file. Note that while the LDAP repository definition is similar in many ways to the SQL repository definition, the LDAP repository definition uses its own XML document type definition and syntax.
Configure the ATG LDAP repository components. See Configuring LDAP Repository Components.
Configure Oracle ATG Web Commerce so Oracle ATG Web Commerce's user profiling components point to the LDAP repository, rather than to an SQL profile repository. See the Setting Up an LDAP Profile Repository chapter in the ATG Personalization Programming Guide.


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Let us guide you in Real Estate.
Local Leadership – Global Connections
Let us guide you in Real Estate.
Crete's history spans more than six thousand years of civilization, while its natural beauty extends from virgin beaches through deep canyons and up its snowy mountains, with caves and forests and all sorts of rare wildlife that would require a lifetime to fully explore. Man has added a rich agricultural tradition of olive trees, vines, fruit and vegetables that are grown on fertile valleys and steep mountain sides and create a landscape strewn with undulating colours.
Santorini is a world-renowned destination due to its amazing volcanic topography, the romantic setting, the traditional villages and some of the best Greek beaches. The famous Oia sunset, considered by many as one of the most beautiful in the world, keeps everyone waiting for the moment when the sun slips down on the calm sea of the caldera.
The most cosmopolitan of the Greek islands, Mykonos offers beautiful sandy beaches, wonderful views, good food and a legendary party scene. Further to enjoying the town's restaurants and nightclubs at night, visit the archaeological site on the adjacent island of Delos, sail away to secluded beaches nearby, or relax by the pool watching the sun set.


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Time flies when you're executing elaborate combos in two-dimensional fighting games - it's been fifteen whole years since Street Fighter first emerged. It was actually the brilliant sequel that really got the phenomenon going, but Capcom hasn't let a small thing like that stop it from producing a fine celebration disc in the form of Hyper Street Fighter II.
This version of the classic game brings together every single version of every single character ever to appear in a Street Fighter II title - making it as great an introduction to the legend for newcomers as it is an amazing nostalgia trip for those of us more familiar with its greatness.
Featuring the distinctive manga-influenced sprites found in Super Street Fighter II Turbo, you can select the fighting style of each character from different versions of the game. Choose the original Street Fighter II Ken, for example, and you'll find that his signature Dragon Punch lacks the flamboyant reach he'd developed by SFII Turbo. Finally, it's time to find out who's the hardest character across the entire SFII universe.
Hyper Street Fighter II is available at a bargain price and even includes a copy of the 1994 anime film based on the series. It's time to get obsessive all over again.
1-2 Players
See it in action


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Ok so if everyone does this, how will business be affected. If no restaurants have any patrons for a week, how many will go out of business and therefore have to lay off employees?
Oprah Asks A Great Question; What Can You Live Without?
My wife brought this to my attention. I'm not an avid Oprah viewer, but usually when I tune in I hear good advice. And with the help of financial guru Suze Orman, she's asking families all across America one simple question; what can you live without?
At first, it seems like a daunting task.
Don't go out to eat.
Don't use your credit cards.
Don't do any shopping for a week.
Surely things will come around that require cash, like you run out of milk or your car needs gas?
Well, this is all part of the experiment. Planning and budgeting is everything, and is something few families do well. I'm guilty of it myself. I'll pop to the store for milk and come home with a bag of groceries. And yet, when I was a young kid I remember the pantry slowly getting empty as grocery day approached. My folks bought a week's worth of shopping and lived off it. No need to do a midweek shop. We had what we needed and nothing more. Maybe this is something we should bring back?
Credit Cards, or the lack of them, also play a role in the Oprah plan. Basically, if you have to put anything on a credit card, you can't afford it. Sure, I know some people spend on an Amex to collect miles and then pay it off every month, but we're talking about the average, American credit-card user.
When it comes down to it, if you're putting the new stove or sofa on a credit card (or even worse, a store credit card) then you really shouldn't be buying that item at all. Remember, back in the day people used to do this crazy thing called "saving." Today, we're all about instant gratification. Buy now, pay later. And by the time we're finished paying something off, it's time to get a new one. The cycle never ends.
Another aspect of Oprah's experiment is to simplify your life. In a recent episode, a woman was asked to put everything from her closet into storage that she hadn't used in two months. It was amazing to see just how much she boxed up. This is another valuable lesson. We're a bunch of pack rats. We hoard and store and are afraid to let go of anything. We'd rather have a garage or basement full of clutter and junk than part with something we bought 10 years ago and haven't used in the last nine years. Simplify, and life can become so much easier.
The same woman also went through her fridge and threw away pounds and pounds of old, out-of-date food. Her family does the big shop every week, but they eat out, or eat fast food, almost every night. So that food which they buy with good intentions is basically cash in the trash. From expensive bagged salads to meats and vegetables, it was so sad to see so much food go straight into the garbage can.
Again, this is all about planning and budgeting. If you MUST eat out once a week, don't go buying food that won't get eaten. And keep your fridge in order. It's so easy to push the good food to the back of the fridge with some leftovers from another meal. You forget about it until that ominous smell appears, giving everything the aroma of rotting nastiness.
Check out more at Oprah.com and perhaps tonight you can sit down with your own family and make a pledge to live without the things you don't really need. Maybe you'll discover that living without actually brings you a lot more in return.
How is business affected now?! They are hurting because people are not only paying their restaurant bill but the 15-29% credit card interest in that bill. And so dining out less.
The best thing for business is for customers to be solvent and a robust healthy economy without exorbitant fees to credit cards.
Oh, and I'm a restaurateur :)
I never have more than $10 or so in cash on me at any one time, and everything that I buy over a dollar or so goes on a credit card (I get cash back from the card, which is why I use it). At the end of the month the card gets paid off in full - every month, no exceptions (and I have been doing this for over 4 years now). If I can't afford something it doesn't go on the card. There is nothing wrong with using a credit card as part of your budgeting, you just have to be responsible and pay it off. I got almost $400 back last year from my credit card company - that's free money, and I would have had $0 back if I paid cash for everything. Using a credit card also gives me protection when I buy something, and allows me the option of a chargeback if a company screws me (like the time I paid for a 3-month pool membership and the facility closed without warning 2 weeks later....if I had paid cash I wouldn't have seen a penny back). Credit cards aren't the problem - irresponsible people are the problem.
I don't think this is claiming that credit cards are bad in themselves, but rather that the use of a credit card is frequently associated with unnecessary purchases and that one should think twice about buying these sorts of things.
So instead than calling some people "irresponsible", try to suggest rules of thumb (such as this one) that will help them intuitively make more responsible choices.
I agree with Tyg that credit cards can be useful and offer you some protection. If the question was what can yo u live without for a week, then if things like entertainment or other items were included in a budget then going to a restaurant or meeting a friend for coffee once a week or wouldn't break someone's budget.
Oprah's challenge was to get people to simplify their lives and live more simply. Attainable goals. Over spending is a not a sustainable way of life for anyone.
I've worked to cut back on shopping so much. We cleaned out our garage and closets to get rid of stuff we don't use or need. It made me realize how much I shopped for entertainment. I would go shopping just to get out of the house or for something fun to do. And I would bring stuff home that would just get packed into closets and forgotten.
Now when I'm bored I resist the urge to go shopping. I've started cooking and baking more instead. And that change has helped our budget tremendously.
Using a credit card for every purchase ultimately adds to the cost of the item because the store owner has to cover the added on percentage that our using the card costs them. I try to pay cash at the mom and pop stores so they get to keep more, and can stay in business.
Oh, and the other way to pose the question, is what do we really need? Probably a lot less than we feel we can't live without.
Oh come on... what if Oprah, lived on $150,000 a year and gave everything else away? THAT would not only make a massive difference but also set an example.
And Suze Orman... spends like $500,000 a year chartering private jets... what if she gave up private flying for a year and didn't buy any new clothing... to set an example. That would be remarkable and credible.
Guys... this is just an example of the elite trying to focus us "living with less" while they live with more. Don't you find the timing odd? The stock market is tanking while Obama is spending. Our savings are going down the drain while O's friend Oprah is preaching "doing with less." He wants to create socialism which requires taking from some to give to others. Don't you see the connection?
Man, we let ourselves get duped so easy. Wakeup America. The elite are the elite, republican or democrat. They have their self interests in mind, not yours. W was the oil man, Obama wants power ("change") and to create history... for himself, for his ego. He isn't in it for the regular guy. His wife made $250k/year as a hosptial administrator... so, why is healthcare so expensive? Think for yourself America.
I love WiseBread, but please... let's be honest and intelligent not accepting of those who make tons of money feeding off our insecurities... giving us "hope" that never materializes into real self-actualization, instead, just leads us to the need for more hope.
I'm sure some of this notion of cutting back is good, but I look at where it comes from and feel insulted. Hope you do too.
Glad someone said it... i actually trolled the comments to make sure a response like this was there. I Salute you!
It is shockingly hypocritical for Oprah Winfrey to suggest "cutting back" on consumables. Its nice to preach it when you don't have to participate. Real leaders lead by example.
I found it very useful to use two basic categories in my budget: need / want. I need housing. Cable tv is optional. I need to pay the gas and electric. Books are a want. (And I love books--but the library is free.) Makes it pretty obvious how much you could live without if you had to do so and helps you create a realistic budget for an emergency fund (assuming that if you were tapping in to an emergency fund you wouldn't be spending money on your wants).
Interesting experiment/challenge I've been doing the last few weeks - trying to use whatever's in the pantry/fridge to make meals vs. stopping in the grocery every time the impulse to make something that I don't have ingredients for crops up. It's surprising how many meals can be made using what's already in the kitchen - and not grotesque stuff either. One bonus - the vegetables and fruit are actually getting eaten instead of making their usual trip to the compost bin after the obligatory 6-week detention in the fridge.
Still been to the market a few times, but probably only purchased a quarter of what I normally would have. Not that saving money is what's driving this, more like the challenge of coming up with something tasty with a limited set of ingredients. Or maybe it was that chicken I found in my freezer marked 'Best if used by 10/21/2005" that prompted this... :)
From a general personal-finance perspective, it's been really interesting to note how frequently the "I need to go to the store" or "I want this, therefore I should have it today" thoughts/impulses pop up. And people would not describe me as an instant-gratification kind of person, in fact, pretty much the exact opposite.
I am so sick of Oprah telling me how to live my life by cutting back, living with less, blah blah blah!
It is sure easy to say stuff like that when you make that much money and have not a care in the world. But for some who work 40 plus hours per week (I work 60), is it really so awful to get some joy in my life by buying myself something I want, not need.
I would challenge Oprah to live like the average American for even one month. I guaratee that she would be running back to her palace in no time!
I understand where you are coming from Katrina. FYI Oprah grew up dirt poor and it is a result of many choices she made that landed her where she is today. I agree that a billionaire is not the best spokesperson to tell us how regular folks like us should live, but we all make choices that affect our financial position every day. I work in retail, (I don't make a lot of money) and a woman came in and wanted to buy a roll of Tums. She dug around in her brand new Coach purse for about 2 minutes and said she must have forgot her wallet at home. She left to go scrounge around in her car for some change and still came up short of the $1.18 for the roll of Tums. It is all about choices we make. And the hardest part for a lot of people to grasp is that you don't need a million dollars to live a financially secure and perfectly happy life.
I agree that credit cards, themselves, are neither good or bad. It's all about how they are used. I also use my credit cards for just about every purchase. I find it more convenient than cash and I earn airline miles which saves me money on the flights that I regularly take to see my family. I also pay them off each month.
Additionally, credit cards give me some security. My whole family lives in different states and my parents are getting older. If something happens, I know that I can drive to the airport, get on a plane, get to where they are, rent a car and live for a week or two without having to worry about having enough cash to cover all of those expenses. Yeah, it would be crazy expensive to do that with no prior planning and I might not be able to pay off the whole trip at the end of the month (although I probably would). But just knowing that, if I'm needed, I can be with my family in less than 24 hours is a great comfort.
All that said, this is not an excuse to not continue to live frugally, be smart about what you buy, budget wisely and all of that sort of thing. But there's no one right way for everyone to handle money and live wisely. You have to find what works for you and your family. If that ways is Dave Ramsey's way, that's great. If it's the latest thing that Oprah's pushing, wonderful. But, for most people, it's going to be a bit from Dave Ramsey, something from Oprah, a tip from Great Grandmom, that budgetting spreadsheet that you put together in college, etc. And, yeah, you're gonna make mistakes. The key is not to give up. Financial responsibility is a lifelong pursuit just like a lot of things. If you take the long view while keeping an eye on your day to day actions, you're probably going to come out ahead.
Although I agree it's easy to write off Oprah/Suze's advice as elitist because they don't need to follow it themselves, I think we should acknowledge these women are using their media reach in a generally beneficial way for the general public and not so beneficial to their big-business corporate advertisers. There HAS to be some backlash from their corporate sponsors.
Having been on both sides of the credit card issue, I can attest that not using your credit cards, not eating out, and not shopping for a month while you're weaning yourself off addictive consumeristic behavior is good advice. It's kind of like the "induction" phase of the Atkins of South Beach diet ... the point is to stabilize blood sugar (budget) and reduce sugar (shopping) cravings so you can be successful in your (budgetary) diet. Once you get your blood sugar (shopping impulses) under control, you gradually add items back in until you learn how much you can eat (shop) without gaining weight (debt).
Once you can look at a chocolate cream pie (30% off sale) without wanting it unless you are really hungry (need it), you can start carefully indulging from time to time, within your dietary (budget) restrictions. Credit cards become useful (as previous posters commented) when you use them to collect cash-back rewards and you pay off your debt in full every month. Restaurant meals become a meaningful way to eat good food and spend quality time with family and friends instead of a meaningless junk-food drive-through at a fast food restaurant. You find yourself shopping carefully for a few quality (hopefully American made) items which last a long time and you really enjoy instead of filling your closets with junk.
Oprah and Suze may be wealthy beyond most people's comprehension, but a lot of people trust them and I think overall it's a good thing the media queens are preaching responsibility (even if they're so wealthy they don't have to live it themselves).
is a good idea no matter where it comes from. And if Oprah can encourage people to take stock of their lives and their habits and help inspire them to change, then I don't see what's wrong with it. If you don't like her then don't watch the show. Don't slam her for trying to help ordinary Americans get their acts together.
Thanks.......best comment yet!!!!
Oprah has opened our eyes to so many things we would have otherwise been blind
too plus she is entertaining and Happy!!!! Gotta Love it.
of saying that Oprah and Suze Orman need to spend just a fraction of their income and give the rest away. Both of them deserve their success and it's probably worth noting that they are both exceptionally good with their money.
They may have a lot more than you or I, but I guarantee they spend it better. Which is why they're in the position they're in. Remember, both of these ladies rose from nothing to be successful, and when successful people speak, I listen. Take their advice and focus on your own situation. It's a lot easier to say "huh, give me some of their money" but without the skills to use it wisely, you'd waste it anyway.
Look how many lottery winners go broke after a few years. It's about money management, not how much money you have. Some people have a $500k a year salary and are in deep debt because they outspend their income. Others are on $80k a year and have no debt and savings. It's all relative folks. This is no conspiracy theory, it's just simple, good advice from two smart ladies.
I don't think that the point is that Suze Orman and Oprah don't have to follow their own advice. What keeps the elite the elite is the fact that the rest of us are all in debt and paying massive amounts of interest.
How does Oprah benefit from me not being in debt? The answer to the question is: she doesn't. She doesn't make more money when I stop spending money. She doesn't sell magazines. Her corporate sponsors make less money and can't continue to pay high ad rates. So, ultimately, this advice is the opposite of self-serving.
What is self-serving is the constant barrage of banks sending indebted consumers pre-approved credit apps so that we will continue spending money that we don't have on crap we don't need so that we can pay them back with interest. That's self-serving.
I have no beef with Oprah, but Suze Orman is nothing but a big con artist. Why anyone would listen to her is beyond me.
"And although one of Suze's mantras is how much she loves stocks—"[S]tocks, in my opinion, are the best investment vehicle for the growth of your money over time"—less than 3 percent of Suze's net worth happens to be invested in them. Instead, she's tucked away the vast majority of those royalties ($32 million-plus, after taxes) into insured, government-backed bonds."
"more disturbing is her ridiculing of people who don't think that financial companies are on their side as "paranoid." These days, if that isn't reason enough to dump her as your financial adviser—or as your friend—how about this whopper: The long bull market, sayeth Suze, was a result of the economy's "remarkable state of balance." All this while income inequality, the federal deficit, the imbalance of trade, foreclosures, defaults, and personal bankruptcies were skyrocketing. At least we know why she didn't see the meltdown coming.
The entire attitudes towards credit cards is something I've never understood. Maybe its a cultural thing. I am in my 30s now and have never ever ever thought of credit cards as something to use as a form of actual credit. To me, my family, and most people I know they are simply an alternative to cash. I charge most things I buy and always pay off the balance in full each month, it would never even occur to me to not pay off the full balance each month. It's just not the way I was brought up. People say you'll spend more money if you charge things than if you use cash - but that isn't true. It may be true for someone who is weak and stupid but if you have even half a brain you know a dollar is a dollar whether its on your card or you pay in cash. I save over half my income even after taxes and max 401k contributions. I make a pretty average income for people like me - e.g. white-collar professionals, college degree, etc. Nothing crazy high but comfortable even after saving over half of it. I just don't understand how people in my demographic can't have savings, how they find the need to buy things on credit, etc. But that is the case, so many people I know would be categorized as upper-middle class and they have such little in savings. Asian-Americans I know are the only group where it seems virtually all are very smart with their money.
Stop watching that garbage!
Throw out the TV! REALY!!!
Most of your common sense will return. Your discussion/participation puts you exactly where they (they=any media=bad) want you.
The realm of controversy via the media is nothing but sour.
@ "Or maybe it was that chicken I found in my freezer marked 'Best if used by 10/21/2005" that prompted this... :)"
Personally I don't think think Oprah and Suze should economize, they should spend a lot more, at least that would mean the less well-off would gain more from their fortunes.
Keep in mind that, at their level of wealth, unless they totally go bonkers, it's impossible to deplete their bank balances.
I live on 22,000 per year, plus health insurance. Which is plenty to live on.
Without investigating and doing the math, just the return on their bank accounts and other investments probably comes to 100-1000 (Suze vs Oprah) times that per year. And that's not counting income from their businesses.
I live without cable TV so I don't have to hear from Oprah or Suze. I used to be a Suze fan but she lost me when she started shilling brand-new cars on TV, her line of debit cards, and her self-improvement pushed on her specials on PBS stations.


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Career stuck in a rut? Climb out!
The comedy that captured the frustrations of cubicle-farm workers everywhere has more to offer than laughs — it also has some serious life lessons.
Despite the changing times, people still rely on "tried and trusted" job search techniques...even when they're not in their best interest. Here are 10 to avoid.
It's easy to stick our heads in the sand and say that the answer to "Life, The Universe, and Everything" is 42. But we all very well know that the world we live in is
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Definition from Nolo's Plain-English Law Dictionary
A fundamental principle of fairness in all legal matters, both civil and criminal, especially in the courts. All legal procedures set by statute and court practice, including notice of rights, must be followed for each individual so that no prejudicial or unequal treatment will result. While somewhat indefinite, the term can be gauge by its aim to safeguard both private and public rights against unfairness.


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In this post about the difference between the recursive and effective topos, Andrej Bauer said:
If you are looking for a deeper explanation, then perhaps it is fair to say that the Recursive Topos models computability a la Banach-Mazur (a map is computable if it takes computable sequences to computable sequences) and the Effective topos models computability a la Kleene (a map is computable if it is realized by a Turing machine). In many respects Kleene's notion of computability is better, but you'll have to ask another question to find out why :-)
So I'm asking:
1) What is "computability a la Banach-Mazur"? I would guess it has something to do with Baire spaces and computable analysis, but I don't really know.
2) Why is Kleene's notion of computability better?


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KYIV, May 21, 2012 (UKRINFORM). Heads of State and Government participating in the meeting of the North Atlantic Council in Chicago said they are concerned by the selective application of justice in Ukraine and 'what appear to be politically motivated prosecutions', according to the Chicago Summit Declaration, issued on Sunday, May 20, the Washington-based UKRINFORM correspondent reported.
"Noting the principles and commitments enshrined in the NATO-Ukraine Charter and the ANP, we are concerned by the selective application of justice and what appear to be politically motivated prosecutions, including of leading members of the opposition, and the conditions of their detention," says the instrument.
With this in mid, the leaders of NATO member states encouraged Ukraine to address the existing shortcomings of its judicial system to ensure full compliance with the rule of law and the international agreements to which it is a party.
"We also encourage Ukraine to ensure free, fair and inclusive Parliamentary elections this autumn," reads the Chicago Summit Declaration.


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The Wiimote is a great controller, but for a system designed to appeal to so many people it certainly doesn't fit into every hand. I may have dismissed the Pro Pack Mini when it was first shipped to us for testing, but then I opened it up, my wife and kids tried it, and now I'm convinced this is a product that Nintendo should have released itself.
There's nothing fancy going on here; this is merely a Wiimote and nunchuk set that's a better fit for smaller hands, and feels great when used. Oh, and it lights up. Points!
It's third-party, how do those buttons feel?
Not only is the Mini shorter than the standard controller, it's also thinner. The controller is advertised as being 35 percent smaller than the stock controller, and that feels about right. It wasn't comfortable when I held it—too small—but my wife thinks it's a much better fit than the original. My kids? It's finally easier for them to hold the controller and hit the buttons. It's not that they couldn't use the original controllers, it's simply that this set is much better for their size.
The directional pad feels a little more solid than the standard controller, and has a much more pronounced "click" to it when in use. The "A" button on the top of the controller has actually been made larger so you can find it more easily, and is looser than the "1" and "2" buttons on the bottom of the controller, which have also been increased in size slightly. There doesn't seem to be any real difference in feel between the original and the Mini when it comes to the "B" button on the bottom.
The only thing that may take some time to get used to is the power button, as it's now on the upper right-hand side of the controller instead of the left. The + and - buttons, as well as the home button, have been moved closer to the bottom, underneath the speaker. Don't worry, it all makes sense in your hand. Another change is the batteries; you'll now be using two AAA batteries instead of AA. The Motion+ accessory works just fine.
The nunchuk
There aren't quite as many changes here. The buttons feel fine, the analog stick isn't quite as nice as the first-party controller, and if you have larger hands you may get annoyed by the cable coming out of the bottom of the controller. In fact, if I grip tightly, my hand forces the cable up, and it almost looks like the top half of the controller could lift off if I force it. If you have smaller hands though—and this is of course who the product was designed for—you won't notice it at all.
Just like the face buttons on the Wiimote, the analog stick lights up a nice blue color. It's not a big deal, but it adds to the spiffy factor. If you don't like lights though, there is no way to turn them off. Boo!
In conclusion
These controllers are great if you or your kids are Wii fans with smaller hands and a tolerance for LEDs... and that's pretty much the story. They have a great feel, the buttons have been given all the right adjustments, and the price is right: $50 gets you a set that comes with the Wiimote and the nunchuk bundled together. That's $10 less than the first-party accessories, and there is a lot to like here.
There's not much being offered if you are happy with the size and shape of your existing controllers, but this is a fine addition to your collection if you have kids or friends with smaller hands.


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- To be Delivered by Chow Tai Fook within 2 - 5 Days
- Sold by Chow Tai Fook
- This product is non-returnable
About Chow Tai Fook
Chow Tai Fook Jewellery Group Limited (the "Group"; SEHK stock code: 1929) listed on the Main Board of The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong in December 2011. The Group's vision is to become the most trusted jewellery group in the world.
Founded in 1929, the Group's iconic brand "CHOW TAI FOOK" is widely recognised for its trustworthiness and authenticity, and is renowned for its product design, quality and value. A long-standing commitment to innovation and craftsmanship has contributed to the Group's success, along with that of its iconic retail brand, and has been embodied in its rich 90 year heritage. Underpinning this success are our long held core values of
"Sincerity • Eternity".
The Group's multi-brand strategy comprises the CHOW TAI FOOK core brand with its offerings of different retail experiences including ARTRIUM, JEWELRIA, Experience Shop and CTF WATCH, in addition to other brands including HEARTS ON FIRE, T MARK, SOINLOVE and MONOLOGUE.
The Group's commitment to sustainable growth is anchored in its "Smart+" strategy, which is in place to promote long term innovation in the business, in people and in culture. Another asset underpinning sustainable growth is a sophisticated and agile business model. This supports the Group by fostering excellence and extending opportunities along the entire value chain to communities and industry partners across the world.
With an extensive retail network in Greater China, Japan, Korea, Southeast Asia and the United States, and a fast-growing e-commerce business, the Group is implementing effective online-to-offline ("O2O") strategies to succeed in today's omni-channel retail environment.
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We will provide such repair and maintenance services to you at our then current prices for such services. Within one year after the date of purchase, you may on one occasion for each Good you have purchased, enjoy our polishing service free-of-charge (Does not apply to karat gold, silver and other specific items). You may also enjoy free resizing service for any ring item for one time within one year after the date of purchase of the Goods. (Cost of material not included)
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Finishing: Engraving


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Just a shot in the dark but, I figured that maybe people might want to know about upcoming music specials. This can also be a weekly thread for other listeners of their favorite channels to post any specials that might be upcoming and interesting to someone who may not listen to your favorite channels. Should we create another weekly thread for talk?
I don't necessarily think the following are interesting I am just grabbing a few from the Sirius website. Feel free to pile on...
Artist Confidential: James Taylor
Mon 12/15 9:00 pm ET
ch. 30 | The Coffee House
ABBA Radio
Starting Fri 12/12 6:00 pm ET until 12/21
ch. 3 | ABBA Radio
The Best Of Jason Ellis
Saturdays 3pm ET
ch. 28 | Faction


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Brooke Hogan is officially off the market!
Over the weekend the blonde beauty got engaged to her beau Dallas Cowboys player Phil Costa. On Saturday, Phil popped the question to Brooke while the pair were vacationing in Las Vegas.
The 25-year-old posted the photos to her Instagram, which show Phil down on one knee and Brooke with her hand over her mouth from shock.
"Happiest moment of my LIFE," the reality star posted along with the sweet pic. "I am marrying my best friend. I wouldn't choose anyone else. I am so lucky and so grateful," she added.
Hogan definitely seemed caught off guard by the proposal, in another photo you can clearly tell that she did not see it coming!
"I look scary but this is the face of total SHOCK," she posted with the pic. Mr. Hulk Hogan himself has yet to comment on the big news, but Brooke's brother, Nick Hogan, couldn't be more excited for his sister.
"MY SISTER IS GETTING MARRIED!!!!! CONGRATULATIONS BROOKEY!!!!!," Nick tweeted on Saturday.
We couldn't be happier for Brooke -- click "Launch Gallery" above to see more celebrity wedding and engagement bling!


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This GivingTuesday, drive innovation forward.
Dr Annette McWilliams
Annette McWilliams is hoping her Canadian Cancer Society grant will help prove that an electronic nose can sniff out lung cancer in its early stages.
As a respirologist, Dr McWilliams sees far too many patients with advanced lung cancer. "Lung cancer kills more people than any other cancer. And the reason is that 80% of cases are diagnosed at an advanced stage. It's not very often that you can offer curative treatment to your patients. I find that disheartening."
The complexity of the lungs makes early detection difficult. A small tumour can easily hide in the intricate web of bronchial tubes and alveoli. But perhaps cancer cells can be detected in another way: through our breath.
That's where the electronic nose comes in. This small hand-held device – "it looks like the old cell phones we used back in the early 90s" – collects breath samples and looks for compounds called volatile organic compounds. These are emitted by cancer cells and the surrounding tissues and then released through the breath. "We don't know the exact pathways," says Dr McWilliams. "It's a novel approach, and there's a lot of interest in it worldwide."
With colleagues at the BC Cancer Agency in Vancouver, Dr McWilliams has already studied more sophisticated technologies – including autofluorescence bronchoscopy and chest CT scans – as potential early detection tools for lung cancer. "By combining the two techniques, we can find lung cancers at a very small size. In high-risk people 80% of the cancers we diagnose are early-stage and potentially curable."
But the high-tech tools are expensive and time-consuming. A bronchoscopy requires sedation while a CT scan involves a dose of radiation. It simply isn't feasible or affordable to screen all smokers and former smokers using these techniques.
We need to develop less invasive and cheaper tests to help us target those people truly at risk. Then we could use our more expensive, invasive investigations on that group.
In her new study, Dr McWilliams will ask 800 smokers and former smokers to breathe into the electronic nose. "It's very easy and non-invasive – it takes 5 minutes". Half the group will have an early lung cancer and half will not, based on screening using autofluorescence bronchoscopy and CT scans.
The question is: can the nose detect a difference in the 2 groups? If so, it could become part of a battery of tests routinely given to people at risk for lung cancer.
"Our ultimate goal is to develop a cost-effective screening program that will change this disease in the world. Because if lung cancer can be detected early, it can be cured."


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America Needs a True Renewable Energy Policy
Finding ways to reduce fossil fuel use and greenhouse gas emissions while producing enough energy to support economic development worldwide is this century's preeminent challenge. We must meet this challenge while simultaneously reducing environmental degradation, poverty and hunger. The United States must make a sustained commitment to invest in and develop renewable energy sources that contribute to meeting these challenges.
Support for the Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS) and other biofuel subsidies has been based on the premise that biofuels will: decrease greenhouse gas emissions and thus the devastating effects of global warming; decrease our reliance on foreign oil; decrease the price of gasoline; and bolster US agriculture. US biofuels policy is not achieving these goals, nor is it rationally designed to so do. Instead, we are spending billions of dollars in tax credits and infrastructure development for biofuels that: increase greenhouse gas emissions and exacerbate other serious environmental and public health challenges; contribute to the global food crisis; insignificantly impact oil consumption and do little or nothing to lower transportation costs; and favor some parts of the farm sector at the direct expense of others.
New scientific evidence indicates that biofuel production and use results in a net increase of greenhouse gas emissions when compared to petroleum-based fuels. When full life-cycle effects are taken into account, such as the nitrous oxide emissions from fertilizer used to grow corn and the massive amounts of carbon released as forest and grassland are directly or indirectly converted for biofuel feedstock production, biofuels (including corn ethanol, cellulosic ethanol from switchgrass, and soy biodiesel) have been found to exacerbate global warming.
In addition, global stocks of food grains and edible oils are at historic lows, threatening the world's most vulnerable people, including the poor and hungry in the United States. Conventional biofuel production also exacerbates soil degradation, water and air pollution, and loss of biodiversity. Also, conventional biofuels have a miniscule effect on fossil fuel use and practically no effect on the cost of driving. Meanwhile, US taxpayers pay billions of dollars annually in tax credits for biofuels, and our imports of foreign crude oil have remained nearly level at approximately 3.7 billion barrels annually. ¹ Although existing law requires biofuels comprise a rising percentage of the nation's gasoline supply, there is little research demonstrating that some of these fuel mixes will not cause an unacceptable increase in operational problems, safety hazards and air pollution emissions from many on-road and non-road engines in use today.
Biofuel proponents claim that the next generation of "advanced biofuels" will eliminate the problems associated with conventional biofuels and create an economically feasible and environmentally sound solution to reducing dependence on fossil fuels for transportation. Realizing these aspirations will require solving intractable technical and infrastructure challenges, as these "advanced biofuels" can cause the same adverse environmental impacts as conventional ones while also presenting new dangers, such as those associated with synthetic biology. Mandating the use and production of these fuels without fully understanding their effect on the environment and food systems -- as current US biofuel policy does -- is irresponsible and dangerous.
In order to develop truly renewable fuels that accomplish our goals and do not have unintended adverse impacts, concrete steps must be taken.
- Ensure that all policy incentives for renewable fuels, including mandates and subsidies, require attainment of minimum environmental performance standards for production and use, to ensure that publicly supported "renewable fuels" do not degrade our natural resources. Such standards would: certify net life-cycle greenhouse gas emission reductions through 2050, taking into account direct and indirect land use change; and do not cause or contribute to increased damage to soil quality, air quality, water quality, habitat protection, and biodiversity loss. Compliance with these standards must be verified regularly.
- Restrict the RFS to fuel options that do not cause environmental harm, adverse human health impacts or economic disruption.
- Cap the RFS at current levels and gradually phase out the mandate for biofuels, unless it is clearly demonstrated that such fuels can meet minimum environment, health, and consumer protection standards.
- Establish feedstock- and technology-neutral fuel and environmental performance standards for all biofuels and let the market devise ways of reaching them.
- Periodically reevaluate the sustainability and performance of renewable fuels.
- Provide a mechanism and requirement to mitigate unintended adverse effects, including authority to adjust any mandate downward.
- Tie the biofuels tax credits to the performance standards
- Phase out the biofuels tax credit to blenders while phasing in tax credits or subsidies for renewable fuels that are scaled in accordance to the fuels' relative environmental, health, and consumer protection merits.
- Phase out the biofuels tax credit to blenders while phasing in tax credits or subsidies for renewable fuels that are scaled in accordance to the fuels' relative environmental, health, and consumer protection merits.
- Rebalance the U.S. renewable energy and energy conservation portfolio to reflect the relative contribution these options can make to reducing fossil fuel use, enhancing the environment, spurring economic development, and increasing energy security.
- Subsidies to renewable energy and conservation should be distributed more evenly between alternative energy sources, and should be allocated in a manner that is fuel - and feedstock -neutral; biofuels, particularly corn ethanol, must no longer receive the lion's share of federal renewable energy subsidies.
- New policy must:
- Emphasize energy conservation; we cannot drill or grow our way out of the energy crisis.
- Create a level playing field among renewable energy options; set fuel-, feedstock- and technology-neutral standards, so as to reduce fossil fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions, improve environmental quality and biodiversity, and reduce pressure on agricultural markets
- Support research to improve the analysis of net climate impacts, net non-climate environmental impacts, commodity price impacts, and other social factors that are substantially affected by policies that promote biofuels. All of the previous policy asks must be based on better research on the impacts from biofuels; understanding these impacts are crucial to developing sound policies.
¹ 3,6 billion barrels in 2004 and 3,6 billion barrels in 2007. http://tonto.eia.doe.gov/dnav/pet/pet_move_impcus_a2_nus_epc0_im0_mbbl_a.htm, 9/30/2008.


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Foursquare in Five Years
What's the future look like for Foursquare? Founder Dennis Crowley isn't quite sure, though he's confident the company will grow far beyond where it is today.
"We're not raising money, though people have approached us," Crowley said at our D: Dive Into Mobile conference. "We have enough money to go through till the end of next year. The point is not to become profitable now, but to grow."
Where will Foursquare be five years from now? Is there an IPO or acquisition in its future? Said Crowley, "I have a solid idea of what the product will look like after two years. No idea if we'll be sold or independent in five years. The most frustrating experience for me was having a lot of things we wanted to build with Dodgeball and not being able to do them. Now we're actually getting them done."


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When Mariessa was born, we taught Afiq how to pronounce her name. Apinaaaaa maaaa kiii chaaa!
From then on, the 'kicha' part never really went away, even after Afiq could say it better. Now it's Afinaaa Maaaghiisha! Close! I like calling her kicha kicha! :).
She can say a few words now, like.. Maaa.. Aiyah, kakak (my maid), nak nak nak when she wants something. Oh, and Aida! Aida is actually a girl who lives across the street. For some reason, she likes calling out to this Aida. Pegi kat pintu depan je, she'll call out, "Aidaaaaa! Aidaaaa!"
She loves, loves, loves climbing the stairs. We've put a safety gate at the bottom of the stairs. That one, pantang terbukak aje. Senyap2.. dah sampai halfway. Nasib baikkkk her anklet ada loceng2. So boleh tau dia kat mana. :)
Now dah boleh give her simple instructions to follow. Like : Chaaa.. take your bottle to kakak. (after feeding) - she'll go hand her botol susu to my maid. Or, "cha... go buang sampah" - she'll go buang sampah into the dustbin kat dapur. Best ada anak dara boleh suruh2.. Muahahaaaa... Can't wait til the day i can say.. "chaaa... can you please cook dinner tonight? Mama's tired" Kuang kuang kuang.


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Adult Education
Lectures on a wide variety of topics are offered throughout the year.
Past topics and speakers have included:
Death and Destruction in Darfur: Militarization of the Humanitarian Crisis
Suliman Baldo, Director, Africa Program, International Crisis Group
Fr. Michael Perry, OFM, Coordinator, Africa Desk, Franciscans International
How to Build an Oasis in Ethiopia: The Vision and Practice of Creating a Sustainable Environment
Woldetensaé Ghebreghiorghis, O.F.M. Cap., Bishop of Harar, Ethiopia and Mr. Zemede Abebe, Program Director of the Hararghe Catholic Secretariat.
Sponsored by Faith in Africa at Church of St.Ignatius Loyola.
Art & Faith Celebrate the Paschal Mystery
Rev. Leo J. O'Donovan, S.J., President Emeritus of Georgetown University
Art and Love in Renaissance Italy
Andrea Bayer, Curator of the Exhibition at the Metropolitan Museum of Art
At Prayer: Private Prayer and Community Worship
Rev. Leo J. O'Donovan, S.J., President Emeritus of Georgetown University
Damien: A One Man Play
Written by Aldyth Morris and starring Casey Groves. The true story of Father Damien of Moloka'i.
Faith and Film Series
Antonio Monda, faculty member at the Kanbar Institute of Film and Television, Tisch School of the Arts at New York University.
Longing for the Prince of Peace, While Facing the Horrors of War
Rev. Leo J. O'Donovan, S.J., President Emeritus of Georgetown University.
The Role of John the Baptist as the Forerunner of Jesus & Model for Us Today
Rev. Leo J. O'Donovan, S.J., President Emeritus of Georgetown University.
Tapestry in the Baroque: Threads of Splendor
Thomas P. Campbell, Curator of the Exhibition at the Metropolitan Museum of Art
The Wounded Body of Christ and the Modern Social Conscience
Rev. Terrence Dempsey, S.J., Director of the Museum of Contemporary Religious Art at St. Louis University.
With Refugees on the Way of the Cross
Rev. Leo J. O'Donovan, S.J., President Emeritus of Georgetown University
The Abbey: A Story of Discovery
Rev. James Martin, S.J., assisting priest at Church of St. Ignatius Loyola, author, and Editor-at-Large of America, the national Catholic magazine.
Become a Saint (in twenty minutes)
Rev. James Martin, S.J., assisting priest at Church of St. Ignatius Loyola, author, and editor-at-large of America, the national Catholic magazine.
How to Raise a Drug-Free Kid
Author Joseph A. Califano, Founder and Chairman of the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University and former U.S. Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare.
Julian's Gospel: Illuminating the Life & Revelations of Julian of Norwich
Author Veronica Mary Rolf, independent scholar and leader of the lecture series, "Mornings with Julian."
Left to Tell: Discovering God Amidst the Rwandan Holocaust
Author Immaculée Ilibagiza
Your Life Calling: Reimagining the Rest of Your Life
Jane Pauley, broadcast journalist and author
What Happened at Vatican II? What difference does it make 50 years later?
Rev. John O'Malley, S.J., author of The First Jesuits and member of the Georgetown University faculty.
The Church
Becoming a Community of Disciples
Avery Cardinal Dulles, S.J.
Identity & Inclusiveness: A Tug of War in Today's Church
Peter Steinfels, Co-director of the Center on Religion and Culture, Fordham University
The Laments of the People of God in the American Catholic Church Today: What Do We Lament and How Can We Respond?
Bradford Hinze, PhD., Fordham University Professor of Theology.
Law in the Roman Catholic Church: From Principles to Practice Lecture Series
Fr. Michael P. Hilbert, S.J., Associate Pastor
Pope Francis & His Message for Our Time
Robert Ellsberg, Publisher and editor-in-chief, Orbis Books
Christ in Evolution: Teilhard's Vision
Sr. Ilia Delio, OSF, Ph.D., Director of Catholic Studies, Georgetown University
Vatican II, Women, and the Church TodayFeatured speaker
Margaret Steinfels, Co-Director of the Fordham University Center on Religion and Culture.Panelists
Rev. James Dugan, S.J., Sr. Vivienne Joyce, SC, Adjunct Professor, Fordham University Spiritual Direction Program, and Karen Smith, Editorial Director of America, the national Catholic magazine.
Where is the Church Going? A Discussion on Pope Francis and the Year of Mercy
Fr. Matt Malone, S.J., Editor-in-Chief, America Magazine & Fr. James Martin, S.J., Editor-at-Large, America Magazine
New Strategies for Getting Your Wealth on Track
A financial forum for all those who are 50+. Guest speaker: CNBCs Larry Kudlow. Sponsored by Boomers & Beyond.
The Faith Club: A Unique Inter-Faith Dialogue
Ranya Idilby, Suzanne Oliver, and Priscilla Warner, co-authors of The Faith Club: A Muslim, a Christian, a Jew – Three Women Search for Understanding.
Muslims and Christians: Where Do We Stand?
A Woodstock Forum featuring three Jesuits (Rev. Daniel Madigan, S.J., Rev. Patrick Ryan, S.J., and Rev. Aloysius Mowe, S.J.) who have lived and worked with Muslims over many years in various parts of the world.
Apples and Eve: Creation and Original Sin
A five-session series sponsored by the Ignatian Young Adults.
Does God Lie? (And other questions the Bible raises)
An interactive discussion moderated by Rev. Anthony SooHoo, S.J., Associate Pastor at Church of St. Ignatius Loyola. Sponsored by the Ignatian Young Adults
An Exploration of the Gospel of John the Baptist
A six-session class led by Brian Pinter, Education Associate and Bible scholar-in-residence at Christ Church United Methodist
The Faces of Advent: Isaiah, John the Baptist, Joseph, and Mary
An Advent Series sponsored by the Ignatian Young Adults.
How to Interpret The Bible: From Augustine to Bergoglio
Fr. Peter Dubovsky, S.J., Dean of the Pontifical Biblical Institute, Rome
Scripture Reflections: Rev. Robert O'Brien, S.J.
Fr. O'Brien is Professor Emeritus of Philosophy at LeMoyne College in Syracuse and member of the St. Ignatius Jesuit Community. Fr. O'Brien conducts a weekly Scripture Reflections Group during the year, in addition to offering Scripture reflections throughout Advent and Lent.
St. Paul: The Story of a Passionate Apostle
A six-session class led by Brian Pinter, Education Associate and Bible scholar-in-residence at Christ Church United Methodist
Global Poverty: What Everyone Needs to Know
Thomas Nazario, Founder of The Forgotten International and author of Living On a Day a Day
Homeboy Industries: Jobs, Not Jails
Rev. Greg Boyle, S.J., founder of HomeBoy Industries, a jobs program recognized as the largest gang intervention program in the United States.
The Hope and the Heartbreak: The Challenges of Modern Christians
Dr. Bishara Ebeid, Pontifical Oriental Institute
Human Trafficking/Modern Slavery
Moderated by Sr. Kati Hamm, S.C., Education Coordinator, LifeWay Network


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Second Halo Legends episode, The Duel, premieres today
The second episode of Halo Legends, The Duel, premieres today on Halo Waypoint.
It will be free for 24-hours for both Silver and Gold members will have access to the anime.
Silver members should note that this is their last week to explore Waypoint for free along with the weekly episodes of Halo Legends.
The full worldwide schedule us up over on the official site.
Thanks, Joystiq.


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Note…this post may contain affiliate links.
I decided to try my hand at natural dyed Easter eggs this year. I pulled food and spices out of the cabinet and fridge and got busy trying different things to see what works and what doesn't.
I remember my mom and grandma making natural dyed Easter eggs with red onion skins when I was child, but I don't remember how they dyed the eggs using them. A little research and I had an idea of how to go about dyeing the eggs using natural ingredients.
I used the following items to dye eggs:
Red Onion
Red Cabbage
Yellow Onion
Blueberry + Cranberry Juice
Chili Powder
Cayenne Pepper
Alan is quite the trooper. He came home and saw my little experiment going on in the kitchen and just took it in stride. These bowls took up about 75% of my counter space so nothing else would be happening in the kitchen (ie: cooking dinner) until the experiment was over. The items that you see at the far left of the image are some of the ingredients for my super tonic that I'll be sharing with you soon.
I left the eggs in the solution for 2.5 hours, 5 hours, and 9 hours just to see what kind of colors occurred over long periods.
At 2.5 hours some of the eggs could have been considered done, but I wanted to see the results from leaving them in longer.
At five hours the red cabbage eggs are turning a beautiful color blue.
Nine hours was too long. I could have been done at 2.5, perhaps sooner, for most of the eggs and 5 hours for the turmeric and red cabbage.
Some of the eggs could have come out of the solution right away and some others needed at least the full 5 hours. I'm sharing the "how to" for each egg below.
Here are the eggs after 9 hours in the liquid and air drying. The only exception is the two different blueberry eggs in the chart. The one in the upper right corner is blueberry and cranberry juice after nine hours and the eggs in the lower left is eggs just rolled in blueberry juice and removed immediately. The yellow onion was also only left in for a couple hours. I completed two sets of eggs the next day so didn't include them in the 9 hour experiment.
I displayed the eggs in these awesome martini glasses and LOVED how they looked. I just added a bit of spanish moss to nestle them on.
I used two different methods to make these eggs; a cold method and a hot method.
For the majority of these eggs I used the cold method. Just mix the ingredients in a non-staining bowl (ie: glass is great) and add hard boiled eggs. Let them sit until the desired color is achieved.
For the hot method I added the ingredients and raw eggs to a non-aluminum pan, brought the mixture to a boil, reduced the heat and let simmer for 15 minutes. Remove from heat and let sit until eggs achieve the desired color.
The method used is noted in the directions below.
NOTE: The eggs may take on the flavor of the coloring agent.
YELLOW ONION SKINS: 1 cup of water, room temp + dry peel from one medium yellow onion + 1/8 cup of white vinegar (cold method). This combination will color one egg. Instead of throwing dry onion skins away during the year you can save them to color Easter eggs in the Spring. (The little dash of blue you see on the left side of the egg is from a rogue blueberry that ended up in the pan.
TEA: 3 tea bags+1 cup steaming hot water+1/8 cup of white vinegar (cold method). Steep the tea bags to make very strong tea. Add eggs and let sit in water until desired color is achieved.
BLUEBERRIES: 1/2 cup frozen blueberries (thawed & smashed) + 2 Tablespoons white vinegar (cold method). Roll eggs until color is achieved and then remove. These took just a couple minutes to make.
RED ONION SKINS: 1 Cup water + dry peel from 1 large red onion + 1/8 cup white vinegar (hot method). This combination colored 2 eggs. As with the yellow onion skins, red onion skins can be saved throughout the year as well.
TURMERIC: 2 cups warm water+ 3 tablespoons turmeric + 1/8 cup white vinegar (cold method). This ended up being one of my favorite colors. The turmeric creates a beautiful yellow color that reminds me of spring. The darker areas are where the egg sat on undissolved turmeric.
CAYENNE PEPPER: 2 cups warm water + 3 tablespoons cayenne pepper + 1/8 cup white vinegar (cold method). The speckles are created from the undissolved cayenne pepper.
RED CABBAGE: 1/2 of red cabbage head, chopped up + 1/8 cup white vinegar + 4 eggs + enough water to cover eggs (hot method). I love, love, love this color. The egg with white speckles/lines was created by wrapping an egg in a cabbage leaf and securing with a rubber band and then adding to pan with the other ingredients.
BLUEBERRY/CRANBERRY JUICE: 1 cup frozen blueberries, thawed and smashed, 1/2 cup 100% cranberry juice + 1/8 cup white vinegar (cold method). I'm not sure how much impact the cranberry juice had on the color but I needed some liquid for the eggs to sit in and I didn't want to dilute it with water so I used some cranberry juice. 9 hours was too long, in my opinion, for these eggs. I thought they were perfect around 2.5 hours for a light spring color.
CHILI POWDER: 2 cups warm water + 3 tablespoons chili powder + 1/8 cup white vinegar (cold method). Eh, wouldn't make these again. The color reminded me a lot of brown eggs.
COFFEE: 1 cup of very strong brewed coffee + 1/8 cup white vinegar (cold method). This egg was a little darker, but I wiped the egg off after taking it out of the liquid and ended up with this light tan color.
Thanks to reader Charity Woods for bringing up the safety issue of consuming eggs that have sat out. I neglected to mention this in my post so please be advised of the following: "Do not eat hard boiled eggs that have been left out for more than 2 hours. Refrigerate hard boiled eggs within 2 hours 45degrees or less, eat within 1 week! Raw eggs can only be left out for 2 hours or less also. We don't want people out there getting sick."
Have you tried dyeing eggs using natural ingredients? What have you used?
Be sure to check out this fun post for Silk Tie Dyed Easter Eggs:
Studies have shown that if you loved this post you'll enjoy these posts as well.


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QR codes don't have an especially illustrious history of implementation. Which is to say, a lot of it is very freaking dumb. But this QR code on a subway advertisement might be the dumbest.
Strike One: Most of the time, there will be a human head in the way of this code. So right off the bat either you're asking a viewer to move another human's cranium out of the way to catch the QR code, or they simply won't see it because it's obstructed.
Strike Two: This particular code was found on a subway line that is never above ground to pick up a signal. Amazing.
Strike Three: Honestly just what the balls.
Now, some trains get moved from line to line, but even then, a QR code on a subway of any kind is insane and bad and what and no. Please, badvertisers, stop this.


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Since 1994, employees of Effingham Health System have nominated peers whom they believe go the extra mile to provide outstanding care and service. To this end, members of the Effingham Hospital Authority invite community members to join them Aug. 25 at 11 a.m. as they reveal the name of the 2012 recipient of the annual C. Edward Helmey Humanitarian Award.
The ceremony and reception with refreshments will be held in the Effingham Hospital Community Room.
The recipient of this year's award will embody the spirit of philanthropy and humanitarianism started by Helmey, one of the first members of the Effingham Health System board of trustees.
"Mr. Helmey personified the true essence of what our hospital strives for, and that is to treat our community members with respect and dignity while meeting all of their healthcare needs," said Norma Jean Morgan, CEO of Effingham Health System. "Mr. Helmey was an inspiration to the entire organization, and the recipient of this year's award in his name will carry the torch of his legacy."
For more information, visit www.Effinghamhealth.org.


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Cutting up with classmates almost snipped Quintonio Barnett�s chances of being a barber.
Barnett started spending more time goofing off with friends and than paying attention in class when he started out as a junior at Ashbrook High last fall.
His grades suffered, he fell behind on earning credits and he decided to drop out in September.
Barnett, 18, thought he could pick up his studies at Gaston College. But as he went through the enrollment process, Barnett realized that he didn�t really want to earn a high school diploma with people twice his age.
His mom wouldn�t be able to drive him to class since she would be working at the times he�d need to get to the college.
Teens who drop out aren�t eligible to get drivers� licenses, so Barnett couldn�t drive himself.
Declining dropouts
Attending community college has been one reason students like Barnett cite when they opt to drop out. Students think they can pick back up at Gaston College but don�t consider the challenges to getting there, school officials say.
The number of students who�ve dropped out of Gaston County Schools has risen and fallen in the past, but the school system�s high school dropout numbers have been steadily declining for the past five years.
Gaston County School reached a 14-year record low of 335 high school dropouts for the 2012-13 school year.
Focused approach
School officials say the system has placed more emphasis in recent years on preventing students from quitting school.
Graduate Gaston was one result of a 2010 dropout prevention grant.
The team has been ramping up efforts this school year. During the first 20 days, members focused on students who might be at risk of quitting or those who were in school the year before but hadn�t been showing up for class.
As of mid-January, 86 students dropped out of Gaston County Schools. Last year at the same time, the school system recorded 205 students who quit.
The Graduate Gaston team keeps track of dropouts and reviews the numbers monthly.
School teams meet with students and parents and visit homes to find out more about a student�s situation. Graduate Gaston�s central office team meets with students and parents before signing a form allowing students to enroll in Gaston College.
Dropout details
Dropping out of school isn�t a black problem. It isn�t a Hispanic problem or a white problem. It�s a student problem where no single gender or race makes up the majority.
About 1 percent of high school guys, girls, whites, blacks, Hispanics, Asians and multi-racial students dropped out in Gaston County last year, according to an analysis of school records.
People assume more black students or minorities drop out, but that�s not true, said Melissa Balknight, assistant superintendent of student support services.
A student�s family situation often has more to do with the problem than skin color. Parents with resources can help students stay in school by paying for extra academic help, such as tutors or credit recovery classes.
That�s not an option for struggling students with parents who don�t have the money for those extras.
Why drop out?
The reason Balknight hears most often from a student who wants to drop out is that that student isn�t going to graduate with friends.
Other common motivations for quitting school include having outside family obligations, becoming pregnant or getting someone pregnant.
The differentiated diploma program can help some who don�t want to stay in school if they can�t receive their diploma at the same time as their friends.
Today, high school students who face hardship can graduate with 22 credits, the minimum required by the state, instead of the 28 credits required by the local school board.
Ashbrook High School Principal Joey Clinton sees two reasons why students quit school: poor attendance and poor grades.
A support staff team works with students who are at risk of dropping out, especially during those first 20 days of school.
�We actually want them to feel welcome. We want them to feel like school is a place they need to be,� Clinton said. �That first semester gets them off on the right foot. When you�re 14, 15 years old and you think about four years, that�s a long time.�
Making the grade
Barnett is one of the school system�s dropout success stories. He�s attending Warlick Academy, the county�s alternative school, and now has enough credits to be considered a senior.
That means he will graduate at the same time as his friends.
Administrators placed him in Warlick because of the school�s smaller setting and ability to provide more individualized instruction.
Barnett�s mother didn�t want him to drop out.
All parents want their children to be successful, Balknight said, and the downturn of the economy has placed more emphasis on education as even college graduates struggle to find jobs.
Barnett was inspired to become a barber because that�s also his grandfather�s career.
�He used to help me cut his hair,� Barnett said. �That�s how I started.�
Barnett plans to attend college and embrace the family trade.
He wishes he had sought help from a teacher or guidance counselor before he quit. Barnett said he didn�t give them a chance to convince him to stay. He just faded away.
Barnett is happy to be working toward his diploma. But he doesn�t want others to make the same mistake he did.
�I just don�t see how you can be successful without completing school,� Barnett said. �I should have stuck it out.�
You can reach reporter Amanda Memrick at 704-869-1839 or follow @AmandaMemrick on Twitter.


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Ep 98 The #1 Trick to Improve Your PowerPoint Presentations Public Speaking April 7, 16
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The first zipline roller coaster in the United States debuted at Florida EcoSafaris in St. Cloud, Florida and turns ziplining into a curvy course of thrill seeking fun. Instead of ordinary straight line ziplining, which is plenty scary already, the zipline roller coaster throws sharp turns and big drops. Fun!
Called the Rattlesnake, the zipline roller coaster takes individual riders off a 65-foot tower through 1,000 feet of railing. The whole ride takes about a minute and looks like it can get pretty scary since your body isn't tucked in with a traditional seat belt like normal roller coasters. What looks incredibly fun is that it looks like you're flying. Oh and those sudden dips too. [Orlando Sentinel]


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Interactive and close
Modern computer technology has never offered so many opportunities to communicate regardless of time and place. Social isolation – which used to be an issue in distance-learning – simply no longer arises. In addition to our classical analogue teaching materials we offer you an online portal-based learning platform (online campus).
Making contacts
In the online campus you can go deeper into your studies, discuss with tutors or interlocutors and make important contacts. Via moderated, studies-related chats or through communication in online forums, you have a short-cut to our know-how and to the whole learning community. This means that you study as if you were in one room together, but without the burden of having to be present physically.
Strengthen your media competence
All of our tools can be learned intuitively, and they advance your learning process. So through your distance-learning programme you will strengthen not only your thematic and social competences, but also your ability to use modern communications technology.