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Students continue work to Restore Rwanda
A team of 17 Liberty University students and four faculty members, in coordination with the Center for Counseling and Family Studies, returned from Kigali, Rwanda, on Nov. 18. This was the fourth Liberty sponsored trip to minister to victims of the 1994 genocide that claimed 800,000 lives.
During the most recent trip, students distributed more than 1,000 pounds of clothes and shoes to widows and orphans. They also delivered 40 laptops, donated by the university to the Star School (kindergarten through high school) for its first-ever computer lab. Liberty hopes to eventually offer online college courses at the school.
For the first time, Liberty took a member of the nursing faculty, Kathryn Miller, to assess the medical needs in the village. In one case, a young girl had a fungal infection that, left untreated, could have resulted in permanent damage and future health concerns. Miller recognized the problem and immediately made a trip to a pharmacy. Within four days the infection was clearing up. Liberty plans to involve more nursing students on future trips.
Dr. Kevin Corsini, administrative dean for graduate programs, had been to Kigali twice before this trip.
He said he showed a photograph he had taken last year to a young boy who was in the photo.
"Then I noticed the boy was wearing the very same shirt that day as he did in the photo the year before — because it was the only one he had," he said.
The new clothes he was given brought a smile to the boy's face.
Area high school and elementary schools partnered with Liberty to collect the clothes and shoes.
The team brought back 500 bags made by Rwandans in a vocational school. The students from the school were either prostitutes or orphans that were taken off the streets and placed there to learn a trade and receive an income. The Liberty University Bookstore purchased the bags and is selling them, sending proceeds back to the vocational school.
Liberty will send a missions team from Light Ministries to Rwanda in March and will host an academic study tour through LU Abroad in November.
Liberty's involvement in Rwanda began in March 2011 when students from the counseling and psychology departments trained teachers and pastors to serve as lay counselors. Later that year, Liberty students returned, counseling both victims and perpetrators of the genocide. Mrs. Becki Falwell was moved by what the students were doing in Rwanda and became personally involved in helping launch the Restore Rwanda fundraising campaign. Liberty students contributed most of the $24,000 raised to build a preschool last summer, enabling many children in the area to attend school for the first time.
Exodus leads two-day prison outreach
Exodus, a Liberty University ministry team, spent the weekend of Sept. 29-30 ministering to prisoners at Rockview State Correctional Institution in Bellefonte, Pa.
On Saturday night and Sunday morning the eight-member band led prisoners in singing several modern worship songs, including "Like a Lion" and "How Great is our God." The group also led devotions centered on God's grace and forgiveness. This visit was especially meaningful to the inmates because many watch Liberty Convocation services every Sunday at 6 a.m. on JCTV.
"Watching these inmates sing … with big smiles on their faces … reminded me what an incredible gift God has given us in music, and how, even when everything else is stripped away, a song can bring such joy and sweet fellowship," said Craig Osterhus, Exodus' scheduling manager. "There was a fullness of joy like I have only rarely experienced."
Ullie Klemm, lead chaplain for the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections, has noted that Rockview is unique in the way that vibrant Christian ministry has taken root in the institution. Under the leadership of Tom Reitz, Rockview chaplain, dozens of inmates participate in Sunday School, discipleship, choir and praise teams, and service through leadership and teaching.
Reitz invited Exodus to close out Rockview's annual Missions Week, which included several outside speakers.
Exodus travels throughout the U.S. and Canada, ministering and leading worship in churches, high schools, and youth camps to spread Christ's message.
Liberty's Department of Ministry Teams has nine groups who travel across the country sharing their faith and talents with diverse audiences.
Liberty celebrates Military Emphasis Week
As a tribute to veterans and those actively serving in the U.S. military, Liberty University hosted its annual Military Emphasis Week Nov. 5-10.
Several events took place throughout the week, including a veteran's appreciation luncheon, a Post Traumatic Stress Disorder awareness seminar, a candlelight tribute in remembrance of fallen heroes, a military appreciation race, a collection of care package donations by Students Behind Our Soldiers, and a special halftime tribute to our nation's heroes during the Flames Football game.
The Rev. Tim Lee, a retired Marine and and member of Liberty's Board of Trustees, was the keynote speaker in a special patriotic Convocation service for more than 10,000 students held in the Vines Center.
Lee was also awarded Liberty's George Rogers Champion of Freedom Award for his service. He is the third recipient of the award, which was originally given to its namesake George Rogers, a former WWII prisoner of war and longtime Liberty employee.
The sacrifice and dedication of our nation's military remains a main focus at Liberty. Many students in Liberty's residential and online programs are actively serving in the armed forces, representing all five branches of the U.S. military; some are even pursuing their education while serving overseas.
The Office of Military Affairs provides resources to help military students and veterans with academic, financial, and spiritual support.
- Read the full story.
Husband, father, hero
Liberty University alumna Teresa Taylor ('11) spoke at a ceremony on Sept. 28, 2012, honoring her husband, alumnus Lt. Commander Dale T. Taylor ('10), and three fellow members of Coast Guard 6535 who were killed seven months earlier in a tragic helicopter crash during a night training mission over Mobile Bay, Ala. The ceremony was held at Coast Guard Air Station Elizabeth City, N.C., and included the unveiling of the crew's names on the U.S. Coast Guard Aviation Memorial.
Just months before the crash, Teresa Taylor completed her Master of Arts in Theological Studies with Liberty University Online, the same degree her husband earned one year earlier.
Taylor spoke of the couple's foundation in Christ, sharing a testimony and using Scripture to encourage family members who had also lost loved ones in the crash.
"By the end of his short life, Dale had come to know the secret of joy and contentment that most all seek but very few find," she said. "Dale operated out of the personal knowledge that no one can lay any other foundation than what has been laid down — and that foundation is Jesus Christ."
Taylor is now sharing her story at every opportunity. Recently, she told the Liberty Journal that studying with Liberty Online was an experience she was glad to have shared with her husband.
"We both encouraged each other to seek out God's best for our lives through the opportunities at Liberty and found our studies to be both challenging and edifying. We were proud to be LU alumni."
She said Dale earned his degree "in hopes that it would be a means to prepare him for the work God had planned for him."
"He was a top-notch pilot who loved flying almost as much as he loved serving the Lord," she continued. "He often spoke of his desire to perhaps one day join in all that God is doing at Liberty." She said he dreamed of being involved with the Liberty University School of Aeronautics someday.
"America and the Liberty University family lost a husband, father, and hero."
The Taylors have two sons, ages 5 and 8.
Online student killed in Afghanistan
Liberty University was notified by the U.S. Army that Sgt. Robert J. Billings, 30, of Clarksville, Va., died Oct. 13, 2012, from wounds suffered during an explosion when enemy forces launched an attack on his unit in Spin Boldak, Afghanistan.
Billings was a student with Liberty University Online, where he was pursuing a B.S. in Criminal Justice. He began his studies with Liberty in 2010.
"We were saddened to hear of this tragedy. Sgt. Billings is one of our own," said Chancellor Jerry Falwell, Jr. "We are praying for his family and will be forever grateful for his courage, dedication, and sacrifice for our great country."
According to news reports, Billings was only one month away from returning home. He had served in Iraq in 2010 and was deployed a second time to Afghanistan in December 2011.
He is survived by his wife, Christy, of eight years and their four children: Isaiah (10), Kayle (8), Elijah (5), and Naomi (3).
Liberty recognized Sgt. Billings, along with other fallen military students, at a Candlelight Tribute Service for Fallen Heroes during its annual Military Emphasis Week in November.
Alumnus named to top post in FBI division
Liberty University alumnus Jeffrey Mazanec ('85) was recently named Special Agent in Charge (SAC) of the FBI's Richmond Division. As the chief executive officer of an FBI field office, he oversees a staff of 200 who protect America from the threat of fraud, terrorism, espionage, and other national crimes.
Mazanec has had an extensive career with the FBI, working as a field officer and in several leadership positions, including a detail with the CIA for the Counterterrorism Center after the 9/11 attacks.
During his time at Liberty, he pursued a broad degree in liberal arts and history, which he said provided a foundation on which to build a career in law and government. He was involved in many extracurricular activities at Liberty, including leadership in the Student Government Association, the debate team, and the pre-law society. After his sophomore year, Mazanec participated in an internship in Washington, D.C., which he said inspired him to public service.
After he graduated from Liberty, he earned his Juris Doctor from the College of William & Mary.
Mazanec said having a Christian education "helped forge a worldview that prioritized what (I) really value and hold sacred," and developed in him a "sincere appreciation for civilized society and the rule of law."
Mazanec encouraged Liberty students: "Pursue learning with passion and enthusiasm, learn to discover the interests, talents, and gifts you have. Learn hard work with integrity."
- Read the full story.
Center for Ministry Training reaches out in service
The fire of evangelism and ministry continues to burn brightly through the lives of Liberty University students. For over two
decades, the Center for Ministry Training has been committed to the task of living out and protecting Liberty's unique vision and theme of Training Champions for Christ.
During the Fall 2012 semester, the center coordinated more than 80 evangelistic block parties, community service campaigns, and personal evangelism events, utilizing more than 1,500 students. Over 300 salvation decisions were recorded.
The center also sponsored 18 outreach trips where students were exposed to anti-sex trafficking training, church planting, and servant evangelism, in addition to a number of local community outreaches.
They partnered with Brentwood Church in Lynchburg, Va., to participate in Urban Impact in Pittsburgh, Pa., using sports to minister to urban/underprivileged children. Four other evangelism teams were sent out over Fall Break and assisted in church ministry, outreach, and church planting.
The center also launched the Genesis Project to mobilize freshman and sophomore students to do more hands-on service projects through local churches. Through the center, students donated more than 3,000 units of food and more than $800 to Lighthouse Ministries in downtown Lynchburg.
The Center for Ministry Training is the practical arm of Liberty University and Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary. It serves as a hub for recruiting, training, and sending pastors, church planters, and missionaries out to impact the world for Jesus Christ.
Outstanding parents honored during Family Weekend
The Outstanding Parent of the Year Award was presented to Paul and Lori Thomas at a special banquet during Liberty University's 11th annual Fall Family Weekend, Oct. 19-21. Nearly 3,000 family members visited campus and experienced their children's "home away from home."
The Thomases' daughter, senior Lynn Thomas, submitted the winning essay, chosen from more than 100 entries in the fourth annual contest.
Lynn Thomas was born in Korea. At 2 years old, her birth mother abandoned her. She said she was "abused, overworked, starved, and rejected," and every day was a struggle to survive. When she was 6, Paul and Lori Thomas of Leesburg, Va., adopted her and lovingly welcomed her into their home.
"In my last three years at Liberty, I have grown to appreciate my story and the life my parents have provided for me," Lynn Thomas wrote in her winning essay. "They have loved me as their own and have nurtured, educated, and loved me in ways that I never even dreamed of as a little orphan girl. They introduced me to a loving God and have encouraged me to seek His plan for my life."
A Health Promotions major, she wrote that her parents rescued her from an orphanage "filled with abuse and welcomed me with open arms."
"I shudder at the thought of my life without them," she continued. "I believe that my parents deserve the Outstanding Parent Award because they brought a girl out of desperation and breathed light into her future."
As contest winners, the Thomases received two free nights at Liberty's Wingate hotel, tickets to Liberty's football game, items from the Campus Bookstore, and a restaurant gift certificate. Lynn Thomas received 200 meal points and a $25 gift certificate to the bookstore.
- Read the full story.
Study shows Liberty is making significant impact on the region's economy
A recent study commissioned by Liberty University shows that the school's rapid growth in enrollment and its major upgrades to facilities and services is having a positive ripple effect on the regional economy.
The contribution is wide-reaching, from creating jobs and generating local tax revenue to nurturing community involvement by opening its doors to the public for several events and through many community service opportunities.
Liberty students, faculty, and staff volunteer hundreds of thousands of hours at charitable organizations each year. In fiscal year 2011-2012, students provided 648,579 hours of volunteer service to groups such as the American Red Cross, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, local churches, humane societies, and the Salvation Army. At the current minimum wage, the value of volunteer labor provided by the Liberty family would be worth an estimated $5.5 million.
Liberty pumped $342 million into Lynchburg and its surrounding counties in 2011-2012. Since 2009, the university's annual local financial impact has increased by a staggering 66 percent.
Just two years ago, a study by the same company, Mangum Economic Consulting LLC of Richmond, put Liberty's annual local expenditures for 2009 at $217 million, about $125 million less than the university spent in fiscal year 2011-2012.
Thirty-nine percent of the 2011-2012 expenditures came in the form of wages and salaries for workers employed directly by the university. The study credited Liberty with creating nearly 7,000 full-time jobs in the region, carrying salaries close to a quarter-of-a-billion dollars. It placed Liberty's overall economic impact in the region at about half-a-billion dollars.
The effects of Liberty's surging financial clout are also being felt statewide. The study credits Liberty with creating more than 8,000 jobs throughout the Commonwealth to support the growth of a skyrocketing student body.
"This study reveals one of the key reasons why the Lynchburg region is prospering while growth is stagnant in other cities across the nation," said Chancellor Jerry Falwell, Jr. "Liberty is proud to be the driving force behind so many new jobs and economic growth. As Christians, we are admonished to feed the hungry and help those in need. What better way to do that than to create jobs, growth, and prosperity?"
- Read the full story.
Online evangelism effort reaches 1.3 million worldwide
Liberty University's Center for Global Engagement reached more than 1.3 million people with the Gospel in a three-day Internet evangelism campaign in September. The online effort directed people from all over the world, through a keyword search, to websites with a Gospel presentation, prayer, and ways to get connected with an online missionary.
A friend of Liberty, who asked to remain anonymous, donated the money to partner with Global Media Outreach for the project. On an interactive website, Liberty students were able to watch who was being reached, how many decisions were made for Christ, and where they came from — all in real-time.
Johnnie Moore, vice president for executive projects, announced that out of the 1,310,650 people who viewed Gospel presentations online, 178,757 indicated decisions. People from countries all over the world made decisions, including India, China, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Saudi Arabia.
"This is the 21st century; you can sit at your computer screen and influence people all over the world. We can't easily get into (some countries), but the Internet has connected the entire world," Moore said.
This initiative was part of Liberty's biannual Global Focus Week, when students have the chance to meet representatives from mission agencies and attend special missions focused Convocations and seminars.
- Read the full story.
New program offers more service opportunities
A new program is allowing Liberty University students, faculty, and staff to meet the immediate needs of their neighbors.
The Community Care Initiative was launched at the beginning of the Fall 2012 semester, and already more than 35 projects have been completed throughout the Lynchburg area. These include housekeeping and yard work for the elderly and disabled, painting at the Blue Ridge Pregnancy Center, a building blitz with Habitat for Humanity, a mosaic wall for the children's museum, cleaning up local parks, and visiting nursing homes. More than 1,200 "hours of care" have been recorded since September.
The initiative's motto is based on James 2:18: "Demonstrating Our Faith by Doing Our Neighbor Good."
"Our focus is to fund tangible and lasting ways to demonstrate the love of Christ by serving people through short-term projects," said Will Honeycutt, CCI faculty coordinator. "It has always been part of Liberty's mission to be salt and light in our world, and with such a large base of service-minded people, Liberty is positioned to meet the needs of our community."
CCI was designed as an extra opportunity for students, faculty, and staff to respond to various needs as they arise, simply because they desire to do more to demonstrate their love to their local neighbors.
The program is an optional supplement to the 20 hours per semester that is required of all Liberty students in their sophomore, junior, and senior years through the Christian/Community Service Office.
- Read the full story.
Christmas comes early to Liberty as staff, athletes help fulfill child's wish
Christmas 2012 came early on the campus of Liberty University. In late October, a Christmas tree was lit on Liberty Mountain above the monogram, fulfilling the wish of 5-year-old Nathan Norman, a boy who is fighting brain and spinal cord cancer.
Nathan's parents, both Liberty alumni, Dawn ('08) and Robert ('07), asked him after he came home from the hospital in September what would help make the treatments a little easier. His request was simple — he wanted to celebrate Christmas.
Immediately, the Norman family decked the halls of their home, setting up the Christmas tree, hanging lights, and even spreading the cheer to their neighbors, who decorated too. Their story has been featured on the local news and on ABC World News. Nathan has received Christmas cards from all 50 states and more than 15 countries.
Nathan was given the special honor of starting Christmas at Liberty by flipping a special switch and lighting up the tree that was visible to much of the Lynchburg area.
After the tree lighting, Dale Layer, Flames basketball head coach, prayed and athletes and coaches presented Nathan gifts from Liberty athletics teams and Liberty's Barnes & Noble Bookstore.
- Read the full story.
In December, Liberty accommodated a processional of more than 100 police vehicles that traveled from several northern states to personally hand Nathan Christmas cards and gifts.
- Read the full story.


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Signs of Life :: Small Stories About Big Change
|Photo courtesy World Development Forum.
A U.K. Climate Camp participant wears a Gordon Brown mask and gestures to show that the Prime Minister is ignoring climate change. The Camp protested Kingsnorth coal power station, which appears on the horizon.
Climate Camps: More stories and photos from the 2008 UK Climate Camp.
Community Banks Provide Safe Haven in Economic Storm
|"Community Banks may not be "too big to fail," but they are too important to be ignored!"
As the financial crisis continues, many people are turning away from the large corporate banks that have been targeted for government capital injection and bailout—and placing their money in community banks. In an informal survey released September 22, 36 percent of Independent Community Bankers of America (ICBA) members reported an increase in deposits.
Of the roughly 8,500 bank charters in the United States, 8,000 are held by community banks, which tend to be locally managed, cover relatively small geographical areas, and have under $1 billion in capital.
"The overwhelming message is that community banks didn't have anything to do with the mess on Wall Street," said Steve Verdier, senior vice president and director of congressional affairs at ICBA. "We made commonsense loans that people could pay back. The last thing that community bankers want to do is make a loan that is bad for the bank, the people, and the community."
Community banks were attracting a growing number of customers even before the crash. ICBA reports that over the last three quarters, outstanding mortgage loans at community banks grew at an average of over 2 percent per quarter, compared to negligible growth for the industry overall. In the second quarter of 2008, the growth of commercial and industrial loans at community banks was nearly three times that of the overall industry, at around 3 percent.
As corporate banks continue to look shaky, community banks are an increasingly appealing option. In addition to providing FDIC deposit insurance, offered by all U.S. banks, community banks foster economic security for their entire communities because deposits are kept local.
"We know who we are lending to. We know the local economy. We know the house we're lending on. If someone gets into trouble, we work with them," says Jim Brown, president of Bank of Bennington in Vermont. With $250 million in capital and deposits up 20 percent over 2007, The Bank of Bennington is coming off the best year in its 91-year history, Brown reports.
—Anne Moore Odell is a freelance writer based in Brattleboro, VT.
Call for Corporate Minimum Tax
A new report by the Government Accountability Office finds that nearly two-thirds of U.S. companies paid no corporate income taxes for at least one year between 1998 and 2005.
In October, both the Institute for Policy Studies and an editorial in The Boston Globe cited the GAO study, calling on Congress to enact a corporate minimum tax. They projected $60 billion in revenue from the tax, which they said could be used to stimulate the real economy.
Climate Direct Action Wins Support
As warnings about the potentially disastrous effects of climate change become even more severe, direct action tactics and civil disobedience have received acknowledgment and legitimacy from some unusual sources. On September 10, a British court ruled that it was warranted for six Greenpeace activists to deface property in order to prevent the much greater damage that will result from global warming.
Police arrested the activists after they began painting a chimney at the Kingsnorth coal power plant in Kent with a message urging Prime Minister Gordon Brown to phase out the aging plant, and not replace it with a new one.
NASA climate scientist James Hansen testified on behalf of the activists. "The court was told that some of the property in immediate need of protection [from climate change] included parts of Kent at risk from rising sea levels," Hansen said.
Nobel laureate and former Vice President Al Gore has also recently voiced support for more radical means to oppose climate change. Gore told the Clinton Global Initiative in September that "we have reached the stage where it is time for civil disobedience to prevent the construction of new coal plants that do not have carbon capture and sequestration."
A small but growing movement has also begun organizing "climate camps," which teach direct action and organizing tactics in the U.S., U.K., Australia, Germany, New Zealand, and Canada. The weeklong events culminate in a direct action targeting a source of carbon emissions. The U.K. climate camp in August, attended by 1,500 people, also made an attempt to shut down the Kingsnorth power station.
—Noah Grant
Climate Camps: More stories and photos from the 2008 UK Climate Camp.
IPCC Warns Carbon Emissions Worsen
Scientists from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change say world carbon emissions are worse than previously thought, greater than the worst-case scenario the group predicted in 2007.
World carbon dioxide output rose 3 percent from 2006 to 2007. Although several developed countries reduced their emissions, U.S. carbon output rose, while China was responsible for more than half of the worldwide increase.
If current trends continue through 2100, "you'd have to be luckier than hell for [the outcome] just to be bad, as opposed to catastrophic," says Stanford University climate scientist Stephen Schneider.
"We will not stop mobilizing … until the Millennium Development Goals are achieved for the poorest people in the world."
Salil Shetty, director of the U.N. Millennium Campaign, on a global day of action against poverty that drew 116 million people in more than 100 countries. The Millennium Development goals aim to halve poverty by 2015.
States Hold First Carbon Auction
Policymakers and environmental groups across the country are keenly watching the progress of the nation's first mandatory carbon cap-and-trade program, the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI), which held its first carbon auction in September. Ten Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic states are participating in RGGI, considered a possible test case for federal legislation to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
The auction is step one in a market-based strategy that will ratchet down carbon emissions by 10 percent over 10 years. All power plants in participating states must buy permits to emit carbon. Those who reduce their emissions will be able to save by purchasing fewer permits. Gradually, states will lower the total amount of allowable emissions sold in each auction.
The initiative also allows other groups to purchase permits: The Adirondack Council, an environmental organization, bought 1,000 credits for about $3,000. The $38.5 million raised in this auction will be spent on investments in renewable energy and energy efficiency and assistance to consumers struggling to afford electricity costs.
Meanwhile, seven Western states, along with British Columbia, Manitoba, Ontario, and Quebec, have drafted the nation's farthest-reaching cap-and-trade plan to date. If approved by the state and provincial governments, the plan would reduce carbon from all major sources—including electricity, industry, transportation, and fuel use—by 15 percent by 2020.
California, arguably the nation's leading state on climate change, has already granted its Air Resources Board the authority to begin instituting the program, and has also recently passed a landmark bill that will fight climate change by providing financial incentives to local governments to reduce urban sprawl, cut back car travel and encourage public transit use.
To avert disastrous climate change, states across the U.S. will need deeper reductions than provided by such initiatives, but many environmentalists and policymakers believe these programs are important first steps
— Madeline Ostrander
The Green Long March
This summer, more than 5,000 youth and students participated in relay teams on China's Green Long March—a 2,008-kilometer trek through 26 provinces. The event's name is intended to stir up patriotism and evokes the 1934 Long March by the Red Army, which led up to the Chinese Revolution.
The youth march highlighted issues like carbon footprints, conservation, and green business. The march received some corporate sponsorship and was organized with the permission of the Chinese government.
Green Long March: Video of Chinese youth on the march.
"We should withdraw from almost all of the [occupied Palestinian] territories, including in East Jerusalem and in the Golan Heights."
Ehud Olmert, outgoing Israeli prime minister, in an interview with Israel's largest newspaper.
Iraqis Organize for Peaceful Elections
A LaOnf activist holds a poster for the week of nonviolence in Iraq.
Iraqi Week of Nonviolence: See photos from this year's events.
More than 100 citizen groups in all 18 Iraqi provinces participated in a mid-October week of activities aimed at reducing violence in the January 2009 provincial elections. A coalition called La'Onf ("No to Violence" in Arabic) led the Week of Nonviolence.
Among many highlights, Iraqis in Sadr City and Al-Anbar province held conferences to encourage women to vote. Youth in Salahuddin played soccer in uniforms that bore the slogan, "Nonviolence is Our Choice." In Babil, children performed an operetta about how Iraqis can face violence and find unity. The al-Iraqiyah media outlet and members of the Islamic Union of Iraqi Students and Youth gathered with other civic groups at a peace festival. La'Onf participants also appeared on Arabic radio, television, and satellite broadcasts.
"Within the polarized and dangerous political environment of Iraq … if you speak about resistance you are accused of supporting terrorists … but if you speak about nonviolence you are accused of supporting the occupation," says Ismaeel Dawood, a La'Onf founder. La'Onf is working to create a third way in which "nonviolence is a tool to resist occupation, terrorism, and corruption."
— Kristin Carlsen.
Peace Activists Support Gaza
Nearly 50 peace activists from more than a dozen countries sailed two wooden boats carrying basic medical supplies from Cyprus to the Gaza Strip in an effort to break the Israeli blockade on Gaza and express solidarity with Palestinians living there.
"We are out to show that the people of Gaza have human rights … Israel completely blocks them from travel. And right now, [Israel is] trying to starve and humiliate an entire people," said Huwaida Arraf, cofounder of the International Solidarity Movement, who sailed on the boat Liberty.
|Photo courtesy Freegaza.org
Activists celebrate on a wooden boat sailing from Cyprus to the Gaza strip to protest the Israeli blockade of Gaza and show support for Palestinians living there.
Bolivia Constitution Reform Likely
Bolivian President Evo Morales leads tens of thousands of his supporters on October 20 into El Alto on their way to La Paz demanding lawmakers approve a referendum on a new constitution.
Photo courtesy La Frontera Dos
Bolivia is poised to pass a new constitution aimed at providing indigenous autonomy, land reform, and popular control of natural resources. The proposed constitution comes out of decades of campaigning by social movements among Bolivia's impoverished and indigenous people. It has garnered fierce opposition from the nation's wealthier elites and become one of the most divisive issues in Morales' presidency.
In August, after winning support from 67 percent of voters in a recall referendum, Morales sought to jump-start a long-stalled national vote on the new constitution, which was drafted by his backers more than a year ago. That move provoked a violent reaction by Morales' opponents in two of the nation's eastern states, including the September massacre in Pando of more than 30 peasant supporters of the president, and the torching and sacking of public buildings by Morales adversaries in Santa Cruz.
Amid charges of U.S. interference, the September conflicts led Bolivia to expel Washington's ambassador. The Bush administration retaliated by expelling Bolivia's ambassador and moving to eliminate Bolivian participation in an Andean trade pact, which could cost the country 20,000 jobs.
In mid-October, Morales backers returned to the streets, and 100,000 marched to the national capital in La Paz to surround the congress. Under pressure both from protesters and other South American governments, Morales and the opposition reached a compromise allowing a revised constitution to be put to a national vote next January.
After Morales' August victory, it seems likely the proposed constitution will win the simple majority required for enactment. Once passed, it will set up a new round of presidential elections at the end of 2009, a vote Morales is favored to win.
— Jim Shultz is executive director of the Democracy Center in Cochabamba, Bolivia, and coauthor of Dignity and Defiance: Stories from Bolivia's Challenge to Globalization.
Indigenous Succeed in Protecting Land
After more than 10 days of protests throughout the Peruvian Amazon, indigenous groups scored a major win: Peru's Congress repealed two presidential decrees that had lowered government requirements on land sales, making it easier for large energy companies to seize indigenous land. An estimated 14,000 indigenous people participated in the protests by blockading a river, intercepting boats belonging to a gas company, and shutting down an oil pipeline.

subset: commoncrawl


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AES' application to repower its Redondo Beach plant lacks critical data, according to a letter the city sent this week to the California Energy Commission.
The letter finds fault in 18 major areas, saying the application lacks identification of alternative locations and contains an inadequate analysis of issues related to air quality, noise, wastewater and hazardous materials.
"The good news is we were successful in getting this letter to the CEC staff before they made their recommendation (to the commission)," wrote David Waite, an outside attorney for Redondo Beach, in a letter to the City Council.
Waite said the state panel was set to discuss AES' application on Jan. 9. If it finds the application to be "data inadequate," it would notify the company of the information needed for the CEC to make a decision.
AES is applying to build a plant in place of its Harbor Drive facility, which uses an ocean-water cooling system that must be phased out by 2020. The proposed plant is the target of Measure A, an initiative on the March 5 ballot that seeks to ban power generation on the site and rezone it for open space and mixed use.
Waite said two major flaws in AES' application included the absence of a discussion on alternative locations, as required by the Public Resources Code, and not addressing the impact of Measure A if it were to pass.
The letter also faults AES' application for seeking an exemption from air quality rules that require increases in air pollution to be offset elsewhere in the area.


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The grapevine reports that Sean Disney and Vaughan De La Harpe reached the top of Everest this morning and have already descended to camp 4.
Congrats! I trust everything went well and that the decent is without mishap.
SA on top of Everest
Latest South Africa climbing news! Good news - Hard sends, first ascents, onsights, wicked redpoints, competitions, etc. Bad news - accidents, muggings, rockfalls, etc. You can also send it on over to email@example.com.
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- Site Admin
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- Real Name: Climb ZA
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Click on the link for the latest news update and the teams official website...
Another summit
Also note that Selebelo Selamelola, a Capetonian, summited from the North side last week (18 May). He was part of the Everest Peace Project team.
- Justin
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Check out: http://climb.co.za/news_detail.asp?newsid=414 for more info on the Everest Peace Project team
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Laser Printer + Old Photos+ Contact Paper = Memory Candles
Inspired Ideas, indeed! The blog of the same name shared this creative technique for transferring old scanned photos/digital photos to use as decorative transfer images for embellishing votive candle holders. A crafty+tech project which seems perfectly suited for decorating during the holidays (or a wedding)...
The first thing you want to do is find images that you want to use. Old black and white photos work best because of the high contrast. When you photocopy the image, play around with the contrast and resolution controls on the copier to get the results you desire. Again, high contrast works best. Oh, and it won't work with inkjet printers. Either photocopy the images or print using a laser printer.
I recommend using the small votive cylinder candleholders found commonly at craft stores. If you use this size, size your photographs to fit on a 2" high x 6.5" long strip.
You'll want to pull out the scanner, reload the old laser printer, pick up some transparent contact paper, and then check out step-by-step directions over at Inspired Ideas - Making Memory Candles.
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Ontario is making college and university more accessible and affordable for low- and middle-income students and their families through the single-largest modernization ever of the Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP).
The changes to OSAP will make average tuition free for more than 210,000 eligible low- and middle-income students, and will reduce the cost for many more by:
In addition to providing free tuition to hundreds of thousands of students each year, the new OSAP will also provide more generous grants. By next year, it is estimated that some 230,000 students receiving OSAP will have less debt as a result of these changes.
All students are encouraged to visit ontario.ca/OSAP to start their applications today.
The amount of money you can get depends on your:
If you receive social assistance, you need to speak with your caseworker about your educational plans and OSAP funding.
Use our calculator to find out how much you could get.
Learn more about the maximum amounts of aid you could get – for full-time or part-time study.
This website is provided for your convenience. If you'd prefer to call or email, my staff and I would be happy to hear from you.


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The Illustrated London News (12 November 1842): 420. Image scan and text by Philip V. Allingham..
On June 19th, after just two broadsides, according to the London journal's correspondent, the Chinese abandoned any attempt to defend Shang-Hai; on the day following, the British expeditionary force, ably supported by the armed paddlewheeler Nemesis (not "H. M. S." since it was owned by the East India Company and merely "loaned" to the military), captured a battery 50 miles upriver, at a point navigated by two iron steamers. Some 253 heavy guns of the type depicted in the ILN, each eleven feet long, were captured and neutralized. "The whole were mounted on pivot carriages of new and efficient construction, and it was likewise observed that they were fitted with bamboo sights." The reader is left to conclude that the Chinese defeat was the result of a lack of determination and courage on the part of the Asian force rather than the inferiority of their weapons.
The Illustrated London News I, No. 27 (12 November 1842): 420.
Last modified 16 September 2006


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Full Sail University, located in Winter Park, Florida, first opened its doors to the public in 1979 with one objective: to help students turn their passions for the arts into successful careers they loved. What first started as a university for music and sound, quickly expanded into a comprehensive school for film, design, animation, web design and more. Since then, the university strives to provide challenging programs that prepare their students for competitive industries.
Programs: the university's programs are designed to give students real world experiences to help them execute their ambitious career goals. The university boasts top-notch instructors and innovative teaching styles that challenge students to break new ground. Students can choose from 28 degree programs ranging from record engineering to animation and game design. Though, the main campus is in Winter Park, FL (near Orlando) there are sister schools in the Los Angeles Film School and the Los Angeles Recording school as well as outside Denver, at The Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design.
Facilities: thanks to Full Sail's state-of-the-art facilities, you'll never cease to find inspiration from the world around you. Students can take advantage of the university's 110+ production environments that are among the best in the world. The university's noteworthy resources have also garnered the attention of major companies interested in producing their projects on campus, allowing students to see how the professionals get the job done. At Full Sail University, you'll be exposed to the entertainment industry since it's fully integrated into daily campus life.
Famous Alumni: many of Full Sail's alumni are recruited and currently work for major studios like Pixar, Nickelodeon, and ESPN. Famous alumni from the recent past include:
- Sebastian Krys: earned a total of 11 awards from NARAS - four GRAMMY® Awards and seven Latin GRAMMY® Awards, including 2007's prestigious Latin GRAMMY® Producer of the Year.
- Steve Cainas: graduated from Full Sail's film program and has held ABC's production coordinator for the past decade. He's worked on the Emmy award winning show Lost and films like 21 Grams, Go, and Sweet Home Alabama.
- Kim Alpert: graduated in 2003 and is currently the Creative Director for Sparkfactor. Her credits include Motorola, Blue Man Group and 8ball Films. Her background in fine art, world music and carpentry also landed her successful gigs on BET, WGN and Lifetime.
Interested in finding out more about Full Sail University and their programs? Visit their homepage at: www.fullsail.edu.


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Like every other member of the Colorado Rapids squad, goalkeeper Matt Pickens will be disappointed to have conceded yet another goal from a set piece on Saturday against New England. Of the five goals allowed by the Rapids this year, none have come from open play this MLS season.
The Revolution's Marko Perovic momentarily tied up the game at 1-1 on a ball curled over the wall and past Pickens. It was what head coach Gary Smith called an "exquisite free kick."
Pickens has been ever present in the team this season and was solid for the most part against New England, much as he has been during all his time with the Rapids. He is now firmly entrenched as the number one goalkeeper in Colorado after spending a lot of last season alternating with his counterpart on Saturday, Preston Burpo.
With consistent playing time comes more consistent scrutiny and Pickens acknowledges not all has been plain sailing for him in the opening few games of the season. In the 1-0 loss to Kansas City earlier this month, a fatal hesitation saw the ball loop over him and into the goal from a free kick. Against Chivas in the opening game of the season, the Missouri-born goalkeeper was wont to punch away most of the balls coming into the penalty box.
What most people may not realize was how wet the field was in that opening game against Chivas.
"The thing is, they watered it like crazy," Pickens said. "It was really wet that game. One of the first shots that came up me, it bounced up. It was like [juggling] meatballs."
And, like every other number one in the MLS, Pickens said he is still adjusting to the new ball.
"I don't want to take any chances with the new ball," he said. "I want to eventually learn more about these balls where I can feel comfortable catching. It is a very different ball from last year and previous years."
Wet field and a new style ball, hence the punching in that opening game. Pickens looks as if he is getting closer to figuring out the new ball as he has punched noticeably less since the Chivas game.
As for errors, everyone makes them and he is big enough to admit it.
"You are never going to have a perfect season," he said. "The best goalkeepers in the world have their bad days, too. Of course I am going to make mistakes. I'm going to make more, I know I will. I just want to limit those, of course. You just have to keep going in a long season to try and put yourself in the best position possible."
Pickens is delighted with the Rapids' start to the season. There is still a long way to go, however.
"It's early but I think we are in a decent spot," he said. "I think it could be better, it can always be better. We have a good attitude in the group right now, we are always out here working. There's nobody bigger than anybody else."
The Rapids are on the road in San Jose this coming Saturday, May 1.


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Catharine Whittaker is Professor of Special Education at SUNY New Paltz, where she teaches courses in curriculum, disability areas, secondary education, and cultural and linguistic diversity.Taylor, Lorraine S. is the author of 'Bridging Multiple Worlds Case Studies of Diverse Educational Communities', published 2003 under ISBN 9780321086693 and ISBN 0321086694.[read more]
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While we don't know what changes libraries will incur in the next 100 years, we do know that they will continue to serve our communities in vital ways. Endowments are one way to ensure a stable streaming fund into the future.
Interested in starting your own endowment? The Foundation will work with you and your advisors on the best way to allow you to accomplish the goals you have for your family, while honoring your dedication to the libraries.
Sno-Isle Libraries Foundation has a number of active endowments.
The Nysether Family Collection was established by brothers Mark and Brad Nysether and their families in honor of their parents, Eldon and Shirley Nysether.
The Nysether Family Collection, expands and enhances the basic collections of Sno-Isle Libraries. Every year, the Nysethers select a topic that allows us to bring in new and exciting materials for all to enjoy.
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This just in: get ready to welcome Team 'Road Bros" to Lewiston. We will update dates as soon as they are available.
Hold on to your hats, ladies and gentlemen because Rand McNally, USA Today and CBS for the Travel Channel are coming to Lewiston NY!
Prepare to roll out the red carpet because in the next few weeks judges from http://www.bestoftheroad.com/ will be in Lewiston, NY as they tour six small towns across America competing for the title "Best Small Town for Food" in the USA!
The road rally begins tomorrow in Washington, DC as five sets of judges are announced. Each set of judges will visit 6 small towns over the next month and descend upon Seattle on July 13th where the winners in each category will be announced July 16th.
Lewiston is unique and special for so many reasons. First, of the 177 small towns vying for the six finalist spots Lewiston garnered the most votes. And, of the six finalists, Lewiston is the smallest, by far.
Best of all, there was no "Chamber of Commerce" media blast, no carefully coordinated ad campaign or expensive consulting firm waving the banner.
No, it was a grass roots campaign made up of volunteers who just love the little square mile of Food Under Niagara – F.U.N! Lewiston takes pride in knowing that in over 30 places to eat there is only one chain.
Here is how it works: the judges will let us know when they will arrive. We can engage them immediately and plan a rally at the Silo (details to follow when available). The next day they go on a tour of the towns restaurants and attractions with one host. I am honored and proud to say that I have been selected to act as guide. I travel on my stomach and I am very excited to show these folks how to that very thing in Lewiston.
How can you be a part of the F.U.N.?
1. Check out JudeTheFoodie.com everyday as I announce more details as they become available. We should have a better idea of the judges schedule tomorrow (June 15, 2012)
2. Prepare to bring all your friends and family to the rally at the Silo on Water Street with posters, placards and anything you can think of to make a big splash welcome for the judges. Date TBA
3. Follow @BestOfTheRoad on Twitter as they Tweet information about the road rally.
4. Download the Best Of The Road app on your smartphone and follow the fun.
5. Follow me @JudeTheFoodie as I Tweet #LewistonBest throughout the competition.
6. Follow Historical Association of Lewiston and Museum on Facebook
7. "Like" JudeTheFoodie on Facebook for more information
There is more to come!
Have a yummy week!
Facebook: JudeTheFoodie
Twitter: @JudeTheFoodie


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Group is dedicated to PSP tagging and snagging. Challenges, Contests, TUTS, Games for tags, Make friends, etc. Join Group for fun!
taggerz, paradise, tagging, #snagging, challenges, contests, tuts, games, tags, make, friends
A Group of friends dedicated to PSP tagging and snagging! Contests, challenges, friends! No blank registrations please!
taggerz, haven, tagging, #snagging, contests, challenges, friends


text: Palm Beach - Tiger Woods carded his third even-par round of 70 at the Honda Classic on Saturday as he undid a promising front round with a double bogey on the 17th. Woods was nine strokes adrift of the overnight leader Luke Guthrie and was left frustrated at a missed opportunity to close the gap. "I thought realistically, five or six under-par would be a good score and I thought if I posted that I would be within six or seven shots of the lead on Sunday. I didn't do it and consequently I am nine back," he told reporters. The 14-times major winner got off to a quick start, with birdies at the first and third holes and then the par-four eighth. But a bogey on the 10th, where he found the greenside bunker, disrupted his momentum before he got in trouble on the penultimate hole. On the par-three 17th, part of the 'Bear Trap' series of holes, Woods found the watery banking and his ball was declared lost, forcing him to re-tee and he then two-putted for a double. The former world No 1 got in difficulty on the par-five final hole too. His second shot crashed into the stands and after taking a drop he found a back green bunker. Smart work out of the sand enabled Woods to make par but he was nonetheless disappointed not to have made more progress. "I was playing really solidly all day. I caught a bad mudball on 10 and hit a slice hook made bogey. On 18 hit another bad one, hook-slice. "On 17, just stuck it in the ground a little bit, caught the wind and rode it over there and ended up making double," he said. Woods said his current form wasn't vastly inferior to that he showed in winning the Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines in late January. "It's not that far off. I feel I am just probably not quite driving it as well - I am driving it long but not quite as well," he said. "My iron game is pretty good and my short game is way better than it was at Torrey. I feel very comfortable with my putting and I just need to obviously play a little more and attack from there, everything else is pretty good," he said.


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One of the most important steps in gardening of any type is soil preparation. Good soil is what we build our yards and gardens out of. A little more time and effort in this stage, will help to assure gardening efforts are successful.
There are three basic types of soil - Sandy , Clay, and Silt
Along with organic matter or humus there are three primary minerals that make up soil: sand, clay, silt. The right balance of both humus and minerals will achieve garden loam, the best soil for growing plants. The good news is that poor soil can easily be improved and transformed into loam.
Here's a quick informal test to see what type of soil is present at a site. Check the soil's texture by picking up a handful and squeeze gently: If it feels sticky and stays in a tight mass, the soil is likely too high in clay. If it feels harsh or gritty and won't hold any shape or crumbles it is likely too high in sand. If it feels smooth or floury and won't hold any shape, it's likely too high in silt. If it molds into your hand yet crumbles apart when squeezed, it has the perfect texture. It is probably loam.
Available organic matter can be used to enhance the quality of topsoil. There are several sources of organic matter. The one to use depends upon local availability and cost. Commonly recommended soil additives include:
After adding topsoil and/or soil additives, bring entire yard to a rough grade, be sure to distribute the improved topsoil evenly over the entire yard. Generously apply lime. Use three times the amount recommended for an established lawn.
Roto-till the soil to a depth of 4 to 6 inches (10.2 cm to 15.3 cm). Finish grading:
Rake and grade to remove debris such as old sod, plants and rocks. Stones less than one inch in diameter can be left when laying turf.
Prepare the ground with these goals in mind:
Slope the ground away from buildings and grade to one inch below driveway or sidewalk level.
When possible use mulch or gravel borders to avoid turf areas that are difficult to irrigate efficiently.
Grasscycling is the natural practice of leaving clippings on the lawn when mowing. This can save time, money and other resources like landfill space. The clippings quickly decompose, returning nutrients to the soil. Proper turf management, in conjunction with the practice of grasscycling, can reduce water and fertilizer requirements, mowing time, and disposal costs.
When mowing, the grass clippings do not need to be removed from the lawn unless they are excessively heavy. Clippings have a high nutrient value, breakdown rapidly and do not contribute significantly to thatch. If clippings are removed on a regular basis, then fertilizer, particularly nitrogen, have to be increased by 20 to 35 % to compensate for their removal. It may be desirable to remove clippings in some instances, such as around pool areas, but in most cases, clippings can be returned without causing any problems.
Mulching is a great way to landscape areas of your yard that are not covered by lawn or plants. By creating mulch strips around the lawn irrigation runoff can be reduced while watering efficiency improved. There are many different types of mulch, so pick the one that best fits. Some people use stones or lava rocks in the place of mulch edging. Keep in mind that rocks will not hold moisture in the ground as effectively as mulch – if this is a concern.


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Hagel: US Forces Ready to Strike Syria If Ordered
U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel says U.S. forces are now ready to act on any order by President Barack Obama to strike Syria.
The U.S. Navy has four destroyers in the eastern Mediterranean Sea within range of targets inside Syria. The U.S. also has warplanes in the region.
In an interview Tuesday with BBC television during a visit to the southeast Asian nation of Brunei, Hagel also predicted that U.S. intelligence agencies would soon conclude that last week's deadly attack on civilians in a Damascus suburb was a chemical attack by the government.
He called it "pretty good intelligence."
[Associated Press]


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NMT Welcomes Fulbright Scholar, Sept. 15, 2005
by Shawna Carter
SOCORRO, N.M., Sept. 15, 2005 — New Mexico Tech recently welcomed Eric Plum, a Fulbright Scholar from Bad Muenstereifel, Germany, to the state-supported research university in Socorro.
Plum's home town of Bad Muenstreifel is a small community located in western Germany, near the German-Belgian border. Although his hometown is thousands of miles away, Plum is no stranger to the American Southwest.
As a high school exchange student, Plum spent one year on American soil in Midland, Texas. As an American high school student, Plum excelled in the fields of computer science and astrophysics, receiving several awards in computer science programming and astronomy contests in the state of Texas.
After spending the 11th grade as an American student, Plum returned to Germany to finish his schooling at St. Michael Gymnasium, a preparatory school for college-bound students. In June of 2002, he graduated with an "A+" grade point average (GPA).
Plum continued his education at RWTH Aachen in Germany. He spent two years there and received his Vordiplom, or pre-diploma, in physics with an "A" GPA.
After his stay at RWTH Aachen, he moved to England to attend the University of Southampton. He was a visiting undergraduate student in physics there for one year before being accepted into the Fulbright Scholar Program and moving to Socorro to attend New Mexico Tech.
Plum is an accomplished researcher in many fields. In 2001, he participated in Jugend Forscht, a research contest for young German researchers. His project was a brake energy-fed lighting system for bicycles. This system included brake lights and turning signals. Plum placed first in technology for his region, third in technology for his state, and was awarded a patent for his new machine.
In 2003, he participated in Jugend Forscht again. His project included the analysis and comparison of pulsar stars at different frequencies in the radio band and the development of a software database for pulsar measurements for the Max-Planck-Institute for Radio Astronomy in Germany. His project received first place in Earth and space sciences at the regional level, first place for the best interdisciplinary project at the state level, and the Prize of the Germany Aerospace Center on the national level.
Plum's research capabilities have followed him into the workplace as well. In the summer of 2002, he worked at the Max-Planck-Institute for Radio Astronomy in Germany, focusing on pulsar research and database programming. Currently, Plum works in Socorro for the National Radio Astronomy Observatory with New Mexico Tech astrophysics professor Tim Hankins.
To become a Fulbright Scholar, Plum had to endure a rigorous application process, which included submitting application forms, letters of recommendation, and multiple interviews, in addition to the stringent academic requirements. Furthermore, Fulbright Scholars must be proficient in the politics, language(s), history, and culture of the area where they wish to travel.
When asked why he decided to attend New Mexico Tech, Plum answered, "I asked my supervisor, Axel Jessner, at the Max-Planck-Institute for Radio Astronomy what American university would be a good place to study astrophysics and, preferentially, research on pulsars. He spontaneously named New Mexico Tech, and recommended I contact Tim Hankins and Jean Eilek in the physics department."
Every year, approximately 800 scholars from the United States travel to 140 different countries, and 800 foreign scholars travel to the United States as part of the Fulbright Scholar Program. The federally funded scholars exchange program allows students and professionals to conduct research and teach overseas and in the United States as Fulbright Visiting Scholars. The Fulbright Program is sponsored by the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs.
The Fulbright Scholar Program is one of several international exchange programs in which New Mexico Tech participates. For more information about New Mexico Tech's various international exchange programs, contact Brandon Samter at email@example.com, or call 835.5022.


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Homemade Horchata
One of my favorite things to do in the spring and summer is go to the farmers market, walk around and take it all in, and drink freshly made horchata.
At the farmers market, I load up on a ridiculous amount of seasonal fruits and vegetables.
My eyes are always bigger than my stomach and my refrigerator storage drawer.
The treat of the day is usually homemade horchata.
The local vendors offer more free samples than Costco.
They make everything from hibiscus punch to watermelon juice to mango salad…
…along with their fabulous homemade fresh horchata.
When I was in Mexico City last summer, I also had some amazing horchata from the markets and street food vendors.
This was a life-changing day. So incredibly powerful; a day I will never forget as long as I live. Some of the things I saw, oh boy.
There was so much to see and so much food to eat.
I started researching recipes and came across a Rick Bayless recipe for horchata.
It seems that most people make horchata with almonds but I generally prefer cashews to almonds because cashews are creamier, they're more neutral-tasting, and they blend much better and more easily.
The blending part is key because I didn't want to be bothered with straining this or bothering with a cheesecloth, which is why I used cashews.
The vanilla flavor was very pronounced and there was a hint of cinnamon present.
The horchata was sweet, creamy, milky, and I had to restrain from drinking about 19 ounces of horchata at once.
It's that good and this is going to become a staple.
A Visual Guide
Put the cashews (or almonds) into the Vita-Mix or blender canister with rice, water, and a cinnamon stick and refrigerate overnight.
The next morning, remove the cinnamon stick, add sweetener and vanilla…
Blend, blend, blend…
And try not to drink the whole batch at once.
Refrigerate excess (if you mange to have any and haven't drank it all directly from the Vita-Mix canister).
I was classier than that.
I used a straw and a mason jar.
Homemade Horchata (vegan, gluten-free, soy-free)
This creamy, smooth, nourishing & healthy beverage is as easy to make as turning on your blender!
1 cup raw cashews (or use raw or blanched almonds)
2/3 cup white rice, uncooked (medium or long-grain preferred)
2 1/2 cups water + 3 cups water
one 3-inch cinnamon stick
2/3 cup granulated sugar, or to taste*
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract (increase to 1 teaspoon, or to taste, if you love vanilla)
- In a large blender canister, Vita-Mix canister, or large bowl combine cashews, uncooked rice, 2 1/2 cups warm tap water, cinnamon stick, cover and place in the refrigerator for 8 to 12 hours.
- Remove canister from the refrigerator, remove the cinnamon stick, and blend the mixture for 2 to 3 minutes on high speed, or until blended as smoothly as possible.
- Add sugar (to taste), vanilla extract, 3 cups more water and blend again for 2 more minutes, or until mixture is as smooth as possible.
- If desired, strain horchata through a sieve or cheesecloth (I did not find it necessary as the cashews blended incredibly smoothly in my Vita-Mix). Serve immediately as is, over ice, or refrigerate and serve chilled, shaking before if mixture has separated. Horchata will keep in the refrigerator for 3 to 5 days; use common sense.
- Notes: I used traditional recipes here and here and here as reference for the sugar (and they use more than I did). You may wish to start with 1/3 cup sugar, and increase from there if you prefer something less sweet. You can use another form of sweetener, to taste. All amounts are to taste. If you are serving over ice, it will also water down and become less sweet, something to keep in mind. This is a sweet beverage; it's not supposed to be "barely sweet"; it's supposed to be sweet. If you prefer a thinner horchata increase the amount of water, to taste, or strain it. Whatever blender you use, blend, blend, blend. Depending on type of blender used, and taste preferences, strain if desired.
- Ideas: Use over cereal, in oatmeal, in smoothies, make ice cubes with it for iced coffee, bake with it in place of recipes calling for nut or rice milk, use it as coffee creamer, add chocolate sauce for chocolate "milk", freeze it for 2 hours or until barely frozen for a slushy-ice cream treat; add 1 ounce of Baileys, Kahlua, or Vanilla Vodka, etc. to 4 to 6 ounces of Horchta and ice cubes, shake/stir and serve.
All images and content are copyright protected. Please do not use my images without prior permission. If you want to republish this recipe, please re-write the recipe in your own words, or simply link back to this post for the recipe. Thank you.
Another beverage that's incredibly easy to make is kefir. Three ingredients, let it sit on your countertop for a day while the good bacteria do their work, and serve.
Coconut Milk Kefir (gluten free, vegan)
You could also make smoothies such as a Pineapple Banana and Coconut Cream Smoothie with horchata rather than using coconut milk or another type of milk.


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WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. House of Representatives Speaker John Boehner said on Thursday broad automatic budget cuts will go into effect next month unless Congress and the White House find other spending cuts and "reforms" to balance the U.S. budget within 10 years.
Some $85 billion in budget cuts, also known as the "sequester," are due to go into effect March 1.
(Reporting by Richard Cowan and Thomas Ferraro; Editing by Vicki Allen)


text: Just updated … Posted on Mai 4, 2019 by phb … my site PODCASTS on Learning German Online just check it out – new episodes of The Real Word, when you scroll down … kindly yours from Burleigh Waters in QLD Australia phb Teilen mit:TwitterFacebookWhatsAppTumblrSkypeLinkedInPinterestE-MailRedditPocketTelegramDruckenGefällt mir:Gefällt mir Lade … Published by phb Ex - teacher of English and German, retired since AUG 2015. Teacher at the DHPS Windhoek, Namibia, from 1988-2004. Living in North Germany near LG and at the Gold Coast in QLD Australia. German Language Adviser of the Goethe-Institut Sydney from 1998 - 2005, based in Brisbane, Education QUEENSLAND. Coordinator & Director at Fritz Reuter Gymnasium, Dannenberg (Elbe) from 2005 - 2012. Active blogger and active citizen plus digital nomad - from time to time ... Zeige alle Beiträge von phb


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Adm. Cecil D. Haney, commander of the U.S. Pacific Fleet, will host the first-ever Wounded Warrior Pacific Trials at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam and other locations on the island of Oahu, Nov. 12 to 16.
Nearly 50 seriously wounded, ill and injured Sailors and Coast Guardsmen from across the country will compete for a place on the 2013 Warrior Games Navy-Coast Guard team.
The trials will kick off on Veterans Day, Nov. 11. Throughout the week, wounded warriors will compete head-to-head in archery, cycling, track and field, shooting, sitting volleyball, swimming and wheelchair basketball.
Participants in the trials include active-duty and retired service members with upper-body, lower-body and spinal cord injuries; serious illnesses; traumatic brain injuries; visual impairment; and post-traumatic stress disorder.
"This is a one-of-a-kind opportunity for our wounded warriors, who are eager to demonstrate their abilities – rather than disabilities – in a new competitive arena," said Haney. "November marks Warrior Care Month, and this year's theme is 'Success through Transition.' I can think of no better time to celebrate the accomplishments of these service members, who have not let illness or injury slow them down."
Ultimately, 35 athletes will be selected for the Navy-Coast Guard team that will compete at the 2013 Warrior Games, an annual competition among wounded warriors from all branches of military service. The final Navy-Coast Guard team roster will be announced aboard the USS Missouri Nov. 16 at 3:30 p.m. The team is sponsored by Navy Wounded Warrior-Safe Harbor, the Navy's organization for coordinating the non-medical care of seriously wounded, ill, and injured Sailors, Coast Guardsmen, and their families.
A schedule of Wounded Warrior Pacific Trials practice sessions and events is available at http://www.cpf.navy.mil/pacific-trials/2012/. Athlete biographies, news and imagery of the competitions will be posted to the website as they become available.
Related articles
- Q&A: Adm. Cecil Haney, U.S. Pacific Fleet commander (utsandiego.com)
- New York-based Coast Guardsmen lend helping hand to Hurricane Sandy victims (uscgnews.com)
- Coast Guard helps America remember 'service and sacrifice' (uscgnews.com)
Filed under: aloha, Announcements, Hawaii, Military, Something New?, State Affairs Tagged: | Cecil D. Haney, Navy, United States Pacific Fleet, Wounded Warriors Pacific Trials 2012


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South Garden VA Locksmith Store - Emergency Lockout in South Garden, VA - 804-493-5806
We at South Garden VA Locksmith Store , take pride in our team of highly trained locks & locksmith specialists. The obvious benefit of having such a highly trained staff is our ability to provide a wide variety of locksmith services to those who reside in Fan District. We have done so for many years and our goal is to continue this long tradition. We are ready and available to provide locks & locksmith service 24/7, 365 days a year. With a mobile locks & locksmith service fleet designed to allow us to solve a wide variety of issues, we can be at your location anywhere in Richmond, with all the tools needed to solve your unique locks & locksmith issue.
At South Garden VA Locksmith Store, we provide a variety of different locks & locksmith services beyond the simple lock and key situations. South Garden VA Locksmith Store specialists are highly trained and can offer their expert advice on the most effective locks & locksmith security measures needed to ensure that your property is protected. In addition to performing a wide range of standard locksmith services, we offer specialized locksmith services as well as standard locks & locksmith services like key replacement and lock repair. As always, we aim to offer the best resources for peace of mind when it comes to protection. At South Garden VA Locksmith Store, we deliver much more than simple lock and key services to customer's we serve.
South Garden VA Locksmith Store specialists are prepared to provide their expert locks & locksmith insights on effective security locksmith measures to ensure the property is protected as well as performing a wide range of standard locksmith services such as key replacement and lock repair, making us a complete resource for peace of mind.
Our security locks & locksmith experts rely on years of education and hands-on experience to develop the best security locksmith arrangement for your unique locks & locksmith situation. We understand the importance of keeping your family and personal belongings safe and would be honored to have the opportunity to take care of your personal home security requirements. We'll create locksmith systems designed to match your unique security locks & locksmith needs, wherever needed: in your home, office, and even your vehicles. We'll also design access levels with the appropriate amount of authority specific to the person.
Our top priority is customer satisfaction. South Garden VA Locksmith Store's cornerstone values have always rested in providing the best locksmith customer service possible. This is why we employ highly skilled and experienced technicians, committed to on-going training to stay cutting edge in the industry. This makes it possible to promise quality. This is why South Garden VA Locksmith Store looks forward to servicing Richmond. Trust us to bring better safety and security to your surroundings.
Emergency Locksmith
The peace of mind that 24-hour locksmith service creates is invaluable. South Garden VA Locksmith Store takes pride in being able to be of service to the Fan District. Our locks & locksmith mobile units are designed to service a wide variety of locksmith security and access issues, day or night. Our specialists are able to handle a wide range of issues from changing and repairing locks to key replacement and more: anytime day or night.
When you call South Garden VA Locksmith Store with your security or lock-out emergency, we come prepared to solve your problems and will arrive within the hour. Our locks & locksmith service units are available at hours when the competition is not. We are set up to serve you 24/7.
We at South Garden VA Locksmith Store take pride in being able to offer quick turnaround projects for the on-the-spot needs of homeowners, landlords, and businesses. We quickly re-key your entries restoring safety and security to your place of business or residence. We can even transition the locks overnight for office buildings, hotels, and other high volume establishments.
South Garden VA Locksmith Store is honored to deliver effective emergency locksmith services in your area. Our locksmith specialists work round-the-clock to provide solutions to all your business and residential security needs. South Garden VA Locksmith Store provides on demand service in the Fan District area because we know security issues can take place at any time. Call our 24-hour emergency hotline today.
We Provide Emergency Lockout in the following neighborhoods.
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Sherlock Holmes: Did we get an answer when it came to Cumberbatch's leap off the building?
Sherlock (BBC1, New Year's Day) is a worldwide phenomenon, with some justification. It has two fine actors, Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman, and a devilishly good script from Mark Gatiss.
Yet Arthur Conan Doyle, the creator, would be wondering what he did to deserve a plot with a ticking time bomb in a carriage on the London Underground. Elementary it was not. I would not have been surprised to see John (Watson) give MI5 operative Rupert Penry Jones from Spooks a tinkle to say they were in a spot of bother on the District Line.
He did not need to, however. Sherlock knew how to defuse it (apparently there's an off switch), as he knows how to do everything else, and London breathed easier again.
Sherlock is the closest thing we have to a British superhero. He is like a clever, educated Bond who is one step ahead of everyone, not least because he has a sat-nav in his brain. (Where do you get those?) However, he should come with his own warning: do not believe what you are seeing.
The episode apparently opened with an answer to a two-year mystery. How did he survive stepping off that six-storey building? Helpfully, if you are a devoted fan, the show provided us with several scenarios, including one aided by illusionist Derren Brown. Indeed, the whole series has become a sleight-of-hand. It kept you on your toes, if nothing else.
Sometimes, you could never quite put your finger on what you had just seen. How did Sherlock escape those nasty Russians? He seemed to talk them into submission.
The writing is clever, knowing and ironic. You are either in on the joke, or you are nodding off. Grounding the entire episode with a semblance of reality was Sherlock's landlady Una Stubbs, who played a helpful member of the audience, wondering what an earth was going on. A wonderful, stand-out performance.
Freeman, too, had a healthy strain of obstinacy. In Gatiss's hands, Sherlock and "John" are like a squabbling civil partnership, although Watson insisted: "I am not gay!" Unlike many other things in this drama, that at least seemed equivocal, at this stage.
We also had the bizarre notion of Sherlock "fans", the so-called "Empty Hearse" group. What was put out by the BBC as a trailer, was actually part of the drama itself. Not sure about that one. What about in the next episode having fans at home on their sofas scratching their heads before heading to the kitchen to make a cup of tea?
Arguably, it was too clever by half but dazzling and funny. The final word of warning is: do not take any of it too seriously. Indeed, we may never find out the definitive explanation of how he survived that fall. Maybe, that is how it should be. We will have to settle for Sherlock's trainspotting abilities. His only inspired moment of detection was seeing that Tube train had lost a "car" between stations. I do hope he took down its engine number.
Does 3D television just get better and better? It does in the hands of the master broadcaster Sir David Attenborough. His Alive: Natural History Museum (Sky3D, New Year's Day) was as entertaining as it was informative.
With a nod to Ben Stiller in Night At The Museum, Attenborough pored over his favourite fossils and bones before realising each creature in fabulous 3D. It is no longer a simple gimmick, 3D gives you a view of prehistoric life that we have never had before, bringing them to life in a digital zoo of trickery. You also get to see Attenborough standing at one of the highest points in this wonderful building while dangling a branch of fern so "Dippy" the dinosaur, its most famous resident, can enjoy a midnight feast. Imagine what Attenborough would do with a 3D printer?
There was dark trickery on display in The Thirteenth Tale (BBC2, Monday). The plot centred on two writers, one doing a biography of the other. It sounds dry but in the hands of such acting talent as Vanessa Redgrave and Olivia Colman it was enthralling. You know where you are when one of the characters asks: "Do you believe in ghosts?" Well no, since you ask, but neither did Colman's biographer, who soon changed her mind when she heard a woman wailing in the garden late at night and, no, the drama was not set on New Year's Eve in Nottingham either.
Redgrave's story was a cracking yarn. She started by saying she was one of twins. She also confessed to being the more monstrous of the two, whom even Nanny McPhee would refuse to put to bed. Their party trick, as demonic twins, was to roll a Silver Cross pram down the side of a grassy knoll, with a baby on board. How we laughed.
Finally, lock your doors, Nan is back, or should I say Catherine Tate's Nan (Last night, BBC1). For that matter, put on your earmuffs too. I thought Mrs Brown's Boys was the foulest thing on television, until I tuned into this awful comedy.
Do you remember when they used to say Alf Garnett was "ironic"? Pull the other one. The same case is put here. It had it all: the F-word, casual swipes at Indians, gypsies, Muslims (Nan dressed up in a burkha), council workers and the fat.
It also felt like yesterday's television. Why wasn't this piloted when the character was actually on the box? To borrow a catchline, I ain't bovvered, except for these particular "minority groups" above.


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Tell the USDA to shut down law-breaking puppy mills!
The USDA needs to act on violations documented by their own agency, and do their job to protect animals.
The USDA needs to act on violations documented by their own agency, and do their job to protect animals.
Demand that the IOC ensure that 2020 Olympic Host Nation Japan abide by ALL environmental rules of the Olympic Charter!
US Fish & Wildlife Service is issuing an import permit for a hunted down endangered Black Rhino, a dangerous precedent.
Sign this petition to show how much support exists for ending animal cruelty at the local law enforcement level
A day in the life of a bird raised for foie gras includes several force-feedings in which a thick pipe is rammed down
Rangers are giving their lives to conservation. It's our turn to give back.
Ag gag laws criminalize the collection of evidence of animal abuse on factory farms and are a threat to people across
Because some of the most iconic species of animals are in danger of going extinct if we don't act immediately.
All animals deserve legal protection from exploitation, cruelty, neglect, and abuse.
Our mission is to reform the meat industry and rebuild networks for sustainable farming across the country.


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Security & Trust
Fraud recognition and prevention tips
We encourage all of our booksellers to be informed of the potential risks that exist in the world of Internet commerce. To continue to reduce the risk of fraudulent orders for all of our booksellers, we have created this page to provide booksellers with information on how to recognize and take action on possible fraudulent orders.
Indicators of fraud:
Although the majority of our buyers are undoubtedly honest and responsible individuals, the occasional order may turn up fraudulent. We advise booksellers to carefully review all orders before processing, particularly those that display the following traits:
Please review the rest of this page as well as the Current
Issues page for further details regarding verifying the legitimacy
of buyers. The above indicators alone do not confirm that a client is
Check Shipping addresses:
If you are not familiar with the name of the city, check that the city name exists in the country. Additionally, unless it's a gift purchase, the shipping address and billing address (if provided by the buyer in "Special Instructions") will be identical. Some fraudulent buyers will use obviously fake shipping addresses. Please take the time to check that the address is valid.
Another way to check the validity of the buyer's address is to research the phone number (if provided) with the address. To do so, you may find the following links helpful:
Germany: http://www.dastelefonbuch.de/
Expensive Orders
Notify AbeBooks Customer Support
To assist us with our investigation, please be sure to include:
Process a Refund for your Commissions
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Because the return reason is "Incomplete Sale," no action is required on part of the buyer. An e-mail will be sent to the buyer including any comments you have entered.
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If you are unsure that a location is valid, you can use Encarta's Maps Center to confirm a client's geographic location.
Sometimes, fraudulent buyers will use invalid e-mail addresses when they place their orders. You can use InterNIC to check the validity of a buyer's e-mail address by verifying that the domain they are using is active.
Again, please be aware that this information alone does not confirm that a buyer is fraudulent!
Protecting your account, personal information and computer
Disclaimer: The information on this page is for advisory purposes only and does not constitute instructions or directives. Booksellers are ultimately responsible for protecting themselves and their business from fraudulent practices. AbeBooks does not guarantee the information contained in this page will prevent or shield booksellers from fraud.


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Torandoes Fly needed a new web page design and created a contest on 99designs.
A winner was selected from 95 designs submitted by 21 freelance designers.
Fermax - we deliver
Fermax is an Australian company that prides itself as one of Australia's leading advertising distributors.
There are two target audiences
• customers who will use our delivery service
• people who will deliver for us
Initial design will need to be 980px wide and may need to be capable of handling fluid width as well.
We are looking for a clean, minimalistic design that works with our logo. We are looking for predominantly light background, with shades of our predominant colours.
Below is a list likely sections to the website, however they do not need to all be part of the main menu.
• About Us
• Customer Login
• Walker Interest
• Driver Interest
• Sales Leads
• Contact Us
• Newsletter
• Testimonials
• Calendar
• Maps
Original Logo images are attached to this contest along with new logo.
Original layered PSD or Fireworks PNG files from winner will be required at end of project.


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Views: 8812
Replies to This Discussion
I am interested. We have some decent lights on the public courts here. Maybe Thursdays?
HI John, Lisa & Tim. I am going to be up in Pasadena tomorrow THURS 2/28 for a lunch meeting and could hit with you guys from 1:30-4pm if that works at all. Rock, this means you too if you are available? please text me if you don't read this till thursday six two six 407*four nine 49 look forward to it!
Thanks all. I'm hitting with Mike at 4 in So. Pas already. Looks like overlap. Next time.
I missed the post from yesterday. Sorry.
Thursday evenings are good for me.
I'd be interested in getting some singles hitting in. I'm a 4.0 looking to get back in shape. In Pasadena, near Victory and Washington Parks.
I'm interested. Around 4.0. Just moved here and live between Victory Park and Washington Park. Could travel to other courts in Pasadena. How does this work?
HI Bruce. This group kind of goes up and down as far as getting together. I usually chime in when I am headed towards Pasadena but most of the time I play in Monterey Park if you are interested in coming south. check out the monterey park group that I host on here. We hit every weekend afternoon and I am usually playing weekday afternoons somewhere :)
Ok, got it. I don't usually get down that far south, but thanks for the reply!
Rock and I are Playing tomorrow morning Sept 6th 10:30 am - 12:30 noon at orange grove park. Looking for two more for doubles. 3.5 range would be great but welcome anyone who wants to join - please text me at six to six 407-forty nine forty-nine
where?--I am m.park 4.0 ready to play
is this still goin on? i'm in temple city, so not far
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Brussels, 7 April 2010
European Commission urges Roma social inclusion
Roma communities, the European Union's largest ethnic minority, continue to face persistent discrimination and segregation. The European Commission urged Member States in a report today to use EU funds for the social and economic integration of Roma. Ensuring these communities' access to jobs and non-segregated education, housing and health services is vital to their social inclusion, the report said. The integration of the estimated 10 to 12 million Roma – a population as large as Belgium's or Greece's – is a joint responsibility of Member States and EU institutions. A separate report evaluated the progress achieved in integration over the past two years. Participants at the second Europe-wide Roma Summit, to be held in Córdoba, Spain on 8-9 April, will review these reports.
"As a Union founded on strong values, we must ensure that Roma's fundamental rights are respected. Discrimination against this ethnic minority is not acceptable," said Commission Vice-President Viviane Reding, Commissioner for Justice, Fundamental Rights and Citizenship. "Addressing their problems benefits our societies and economies. It is only through sustained and coordinated action that we can make a real difference for Roma all over Europe."
László Andor, EU Commissioner for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion underlined: "Efforts to integrate the Roma people need to cover an entire life cycle starting earliest stages of kindergarten to mainstream education for children, jobs for adults and care for the elderly. Roma communities are part and parcel of our fight against poverty and joblessness. He added: "Roma people do not need a separate labour market, they do not need schools that prolong the segregation of Roma children and they do not want renovated Roma ghettos. Our objective is to get Roma accepted on equal terms, to be integrated into society. The European Social Fund is a powerful lever in supporting this cross-cutting approach".
In its policy Communication adopted today, the Commission outlines an ambitious mid-term programme to meet the biggest challenges for Roma inclusion, including:
Although the situation of many of Europe's Roma people remains difficult, important progress has been made at EU and national levels. In the last two years, the EU and Member States have focused on making anti-discrimination laws and EU funding more effective in promoting Roma inclusion. This includes fighting discrimination, segregation and racist violence as well as supporting programmes to address the vicious circle of poverty, social marginalisation, low school achievement and poor housing and health.
For example, the Commission launched legal proceedings against 24 Member States to make sure that EU anti-discrimination law on the grounds of race is correctly transposed into national legislation. Out of these cases, 12 are still open while 12 were successfully concluded. To encourage Member States' effective use of Structural Funds, the Commission is conducting two studies that will identify successful projects, programmes and policies for Roma inclusion – one covering the funds as a whole and a second on the European Social Fund's support for Roma.
The Communication and progress report will be discussed at the second European Roma Summit, which is organised with the Spanish EU Presidency. The event brings together high-level representatives of the EU institutions, Member States and civil society to review progress since the first summit in 2008.
Roma communities often face economic, social and political discrimination. The richness these communities could bring to European society is often overlooked and tainted by stereotypes and prejudices.
Following a request by EU leaders, the Commission published a comprehensive report on EU instruments, policies and progress achieved towards Roma inclusion, which was presented at the first European Roma Summit in September 2008. EU leaders confirmed in December 2008 their governments' commitment to using the tools available to support Roma inclusion. In 2009, the Commission launched a European Platform for Roma Inclusion to bring together experts and policy makers. It developed 10 common basic principles for Roma inclusion that provide guidance for policy makers to design and implement effective actions.
The EU has a strong legal framework to combat discrimination. It uses the European Structural Funds and addresses the issue of Roma discrimination in its awareness-raising initiatives. Moreover, it coordinates a number of key policy areas that are particularly relevant to Roma inclusion, such as education, employment and social inclusion.
Further information
EU and the Roma : http://ec.europa.eu/roma
2nd European Roma Summit :
Europe 2020 : http://europa.eu/press_room/press_packs/europe_2020/index_en.htm
Video News Release: Do we really know the Roma?
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…was the major overall theme yesterday in our anonymous texting service's inbox here at Scarleteen!
Was some misleading info about dry humping + pregnancy starring in some big TV show we must have missed last night?
Seriously though, dry humping is pretty much exactly what it sounds like.
It's "dry" because it does not involve the potential for the exchange of bodily fluids.
But just because we get this kind of question so often, it seemed best for a volunteer (Hey, I'm Claire!)
to try to make sure everyone ever is down with the real deets on dry humping.
The main question: CAN I GET PREGNANT FROM DRY-HUMPING?!
The quick answer here is no!
The just-a-bit-longer answer I know you all want anyway will be illustrated
in a collection of super scientific charts and venn diagrams below.
in order for there to be a risk of pregnancy, first of all, there needs to be direct genital-genital contact.
This does not include genital and towel, or genital and shorts with holes you think are a tad on the large side.
Scarleteen's Volunteer Assistant Director Robin posted THIS RESPONSE to a preg q recently.
(I think it's one of the clearest explanations of why the fixation everyone has with whether or not semen
is able to soak through clothing is a little off-base.)
"They [sperm] need the properties of semen in order to move. Another way of looking at it is that if the semen makes any stops between a penis and vagina, such as on your hands or a piece of clothing, the sperm can't then move from there to the vagina, even if the area where they landed touches the vulva (outside of the vagina) or inside the vagina itself."
And remember, if you are scared that you must be pregnant, but your ONLY VALID reason to "back up" that being a possibility is that you are really scared about it? Well, this can be that rare scenario in which you are relieved by your lack of supernatural abilities!
To sum this all up, check out our final scientific graph for today's post to once-and-for-all clarify the pregnancy risk of dry humping for all you visually-minded folks! It took a good hard look at all possible scenarios or situations and turned it into raw, real data!**
**Seriously though, this data is not a joke.
Do you still feel unsure about YOUR DRY HUMPING RISK? If you think you could be categorized as "other," refer to the red section on the pie chart above to suss out the level of your potential pregnancy risk.
Blog Post Comment
I sure wish this site had been around when I was first exploring these questions. Keep up the good work! Educating youth about sexual health is very necessary!
corky's reply to dry humping charts
This is very well informed, i sure wish i looked at this sooner when i needed it most. Im very glad this is up and available.
Does this account for fluid soaking through? Why is there a wet patch on the outside of his sweats? Does this fluid not cause a risk?
It does, indeed, account for
It does, indeed, account for fluids, and no, fluids that wind up on clothing do not present viable risks of pregnancy.
Editor & Founder, Scarleteen: Sex Ed for the Real World
Author, S.E.X.: The All-You-Need-to-Know Progressive Sexuality Guide to Get You Through High School and Col
so your'e saying even if the
Yes, that is what is being
Yes, that is what is being said in the above comment.


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The NFL combine officially gets underway today in Indianapolis with kickers, special teamers, offensive linemen and tight ends arriving in Indianapolis for registration.
While Kansas State quarterback Collin Klein will be among the players taking part in workouts this week, Purdue defensive tackle Kawann Short will not.
Per Gil Brandt of NFL.com, Short has a hamstring injury that will prevent him from participating in drills this week. Instead, he will have a workout for teams on campus at Purdue on March 25. A strong showing at the Senior Bowl has vaulted Short's draft stock as he has entered the conversations as a possible late first-round draft pick.
According to Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com, Klein will be throwing and is planning on doing all of the drills at the combine. While top quarterbacks have sat out during the combine in favor of throwing during pro day workouts on campus with their own receivers, Klein doesn't have that luxury. Despite being a Heisman trophy finalist, Klein is currently projected as a late round draft pick or possible undrafted free agent and needs to take advantage of every opportunity he can to prove his throwing ability in front of scouts.


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Location: 2600-2800 blocks between 152nd Ave NE and 156th Ave NE
Project Phase: Complete
Timeline: Master Plan completed in December 2011; to be constructed in phases over several years
Contact: David Lee, Planner, 425-556-2462, firstname.lastname@example.com
Esterra Park is the first major urban mixed-use redevelopment in Overlake Village. In total it comprises 1,400 homes, 1.2 million square feet of office, 25,000 square feet of retail, a hotel and conference center, a 2.67-acre public park, and associated street and utility infrastructure. Capstone Partners is the master developer for the site and is currently building basic site infrastructure in advance of building construction.
Phase 1 of Esterra Park consists of two mixed-use residential blocks (4 and 7), two office blocks (2A/2B and 3), the hotel and conference center (block 1), the public park, and most site infrastructure. First out of the ground will be two apartment buildings totaling about 480 units on blocks 4 and 7 of the site. Avalon Bay Communities owns and is developing these blocks. Construction on blocks 4 and 7 is underway. Capstone is also applying for permits for two office buildings that would likely be constructed once a tenant is identified. The public park would be constructed concurrent with office buildings on blocks 2A and 2B. The hotel is also part of Phase 1; construction is likely to begin in 2015.
Future phases would comprise the balance of the site. Construction would occur at an undetermined time in the future. View Master Plan document.