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Inside the cult controversies: Recovery from abusive groups
Joe Szimhart, 9/11/11
This controversial and colorful topic of cults provokes a wide array of opinion as well as confusion. I hope to clarify some things here. My qualifications in this field come from self-education and experience since 1980 as an educator and intervention specialist including more than 500 "exit counseling" cases on an international scale, as a media consultant, lecturer and writer as well as countless hours of volunteer time helping former cult members.
Almost all exit counselors (aka deprogrammers) since the 1970s have been former members of a cult. I am no exception. Most ex-members who have tried their hand at the exit business quit after a year or two and entered normal professions. My cult chapter began when I developed a deep interest as an artist in Theosophy sects (primarily Agni Yoga)[3] in the 1970s. Many of the Modern artists and poets I studied were involved with the Theosophical Society (e.g. W Kandinsky, F Kupka, P Mondrian, W B Yeats). By 1979, out of perhaps too much curiosity, I was caught-up in a large, apocalyptic, puritanical New Age sect rooted in Theosophy.[4] The effect of attending several conferences with 4,000 enthusiastic devotees inCalifornia changed me to the point that it ruined my first marriage. My wife of 6 years would have none of it: the changed attitudes and behaviors about music, sex, diet, politics, literature, history, spirituality, etc. After recognizing a host of conflicts a year after our divorce, I defected, or rather struggled away, on my own in 1980.
Recovery from that experience demanded an enormous amount of self-education with social, psychological and spiritual adjustment, but the years of healing taught me what so many other former cult members I met go through. My efforts and lectures drew attention from cult awareness groups, the media, deprogrammers and exit counselors. Subsequently, I chaired and lectured for a cult awareness and counseling group from 1985-1992 in New Mexico and began my international exit counseling career from there.
Exit counseling cases typically lasted several days to a week or more away from home. The business of exit counseling is very demanding on many levels, not a secure way to make a living, and requires a working knowledge of many hundreds of cultic groups, group behavior, influence techniques, social psychology, comparative religion and legal variations in different nations. Making public statements about controversial organizations can be risky. No organization backs exit counselors mainly because no insurance company will protect against liability (I stood trial successfully twice against charges by a large martial arts cult and a larger new age cult and was deposed by Church of Scientology and Ramtha School of Enlightenment, for example, all at my cost). My few colleagues and I regularly get inquires from graduate students who express keen interest in the field, but none have followed up after learning what it requires and the individual risk involved. As a result the field of exit counseling has shrunk to less than a handful of full time cult interventionists inAmericatoday.
My goal in this article is to briefly cover three areas:
Cults, properly defined, have been around since human beings devised devotional and sacrificial rites to influence and appease natural forces, powerful or fickle gods, special people or ancestors, and objects with magical power. Consider that ancient Greek and so-called pagan religion was in reality an extensive collection of non-exclusive cults directed at deities like the Sun (Helios), Zeus, Apollo, and Mithra. Sometime early in the 20th Century "cult" migrated out of its proper and neutral academic definition in popular jargon to indicate spurious, radical and possibly harmful groups with charismatic leaders of questionable character and motive. It is this popular definition of cult that I am dealing with in this article. A religious position ensued by mid-20th Century, primarily among Evangelical camps defining cult as any form of worship not in compliance with Evangelical interpretation of the Bible. Similar attitudes exist among Muslim and Hindu fundamentalists that view all outside their elite if constricted view as "infidels." In other words, cults are "other" religions to a Fundamentalist. However, in my view and that of most of my colleagues in the cult intervention field, this is not a religious belief problem but it does involve questions regarding knowledge and how that influences conduct and governance.
The cult problem is more about behavior than belief. Harmful cult behavior is the problem, but what constitutes harm? Many scholars have proposed models and definitions. I will mention a few here that make sense to me and have proved highly useful in academic research.
Janja Lalich, PhD, a professor of sociology (and a personal friend) developed one of the more recent models called "Bounded Choice" which she presented as her dissertation and later published as a book by that title in 2004.[5] The subtitle of her dissertation sums up the problem well: "The Fusion of Personal Freedom and Self-Renunciation in Two Transcendent Groups." As a college graduate and Merit Scholar after 1967, Lalich ventured into the human rights field and soon joined the Democratic Workers Party headed by a charismatic woman with connections to national migrant workers organizations. After 11 years of service Lalich and others broke away from the DWP thus dissolving the small but potent organization, realizing a deep violation of personal freedom imposed by social and psychological forces that blinded her as to what was really going on. The leader, an unrecovered alcoholic, went into a rage when her followers defected and moved onto other things. As Lalich states, "I wanted to figure out what the heck happened to me." She soon got involved, as I did in the 1980s, with cult awareness groups and with scholars in "brainwashing" theory including Dr Benjamin Zablocki (Rutgers), Dr Margaret T Singer (1921-2003), Dr L Jolyn West (1924-99), and Dr Robert Jay Lifton (b1926).
Lalich's Bounded Choice model compares her political cult experience with that of the Heaven's Gate "UFO" cult led by Marshall Applewhite. Heaven's Gate made headlines in 1997 when 39 members were found dead in California after a ritual suicide. Although Marshall Applewhite quietly co-led this cult under various other names (He and She; Bo and Peep; The Overcomers) for over 25 years, the final act is what people recall. Until that final act, most people and the press will generally ignore eccentric groups much as they ignore a homeless person with schizophrenia until that person defaces a national monument or kills a celebrity.
Drawing on Anthony Giddens's (1984) theory of structuration, Herbert Simon's (1955, 1956, 1976) theory of bounded rationality, and Robert Jay Lifton's (1961) theory of personal closure, Lalich identifies four "organizational aspects" that contribute to harmful cult behavior:
Lalich says, "The result of this interactive dynamic is a "self-sealing system," that is, a social system that is closed to disconfirming evidence and structured in such a way that everything reinforces the system. "Bounded choice" theory helps us understand the seemingly irrational behavior of the most dedicated adherents. The theory attempts to take into account individual choice within the context of an authoritarian, transcendent, closed group."[6]
Lalich taps Lifton's "theory of personal closure" or the experience adherents have under thought reform systems with Totalist agendas. Dr Lifton's 1961 book Thought Reform and the Psychology of Totalism: A study of "brainwashing" in Communist China remains a seminal resource for anyone worldwide studying the cult/brainwashing phenomenon. Lifton identified eight "themes" that appear to create a climate of thought reform (hsi-nao in Chinese means 'cleanse mind' or 'wash brain' but properly translated means thought reform) to create a deployable agent for a sacred cause. These themes occur throughout military training, corporate behavior codes, and almost any exclusive group, club or gang formation to some degree, but Lifton is clear that the more "totalist" an agenda becomes, the more closure or bounded choice an individual will experience.
Lifton's eight themes:
High-demand or totalist cult systems, according to Lifton and Lalich, create an elite atmosphere wherein loyal members can never do enough, know enough or be pure enough, thus setting up a continual feeling of shame and guilt that the managers can readily exploit.
Dr Kathleen Taylor (2006), a neuroscientist, wrote Brainwashing: The Science of Thought Control using Lifton's eight themes as a sociological structure to help explain her research on how our brains work when thinking creatively as opposed to unhealthy, inflexible "neuro-pathways" that develop under influence of cults and in abusive relationships.[7] More importantly,Taylor offers a remedy to brainwashing by explaining how "stop and think" techniques primarily located in the pre-frontal cortex work to keep our brains healthy and our choices wise.
Dr Arthur Deikman (2003), a psychiatrist, expanding on his 1994 version of this book, defines cult behavior in Them and Us: Cult thinking and terrorist threat [8] according to four behaviors:
My four-part model of a harmful a cult was published several years ago:[9]
Cults often begin after a leader or hero establishes a charismatic relationship with followers or fans. Most often this ends there, as in "She has a cult following" when we talk about a popular singer, writer, or actress. Sometimes this kind of hero worship escalates in academia for a philosopher or innovator in behavioral health. The Plato Cult by David Stone (1991) addresses the unrealistic adulation we have for famous philosophers.[10] Now, do not jump to any conclusions from the title—Professor Stone is by no means dismissing Plato's real value as a philosopher. What he does throughout in his series of essays is bring great philosophers down to earth:
"The case of Plato is not at all unique, merely extreme. In fact, all great philosophers attract a reverence which is far stronger and more widespread than that which, by any rational estimate, they are entitled to. The idolatry of Aristotle, for four hundred years after the revival of his philosophy in the twelfth century, is a stock example. But Kant, similarly, has enjoyed for two hundred years a reputation as a philosopher which is ridiculously exaggerated: as is the odour of Enlightenment-sanctity which surrounds his life. Hegel's philosophy is now as much respected as it deserves to be despised, and even his most prosaic (not to say sordid) political adjustments are represented, in retrospect, as Absolute Spirit working itself out in history. And so on."[11]
In the same vein as Stone, Robert Lifton in his book The Protean Self (1993) offers an antidote to not only the sense of fragmentation we experience in the modern world but also the temptation we all have to accept soothing, totalist answers to deal with fragmentation. Lifton points to certain notable behavioral science theorists that create a charismatic relationship with their academic followers. Regarding 20th Century behavioral health theorists R.D.Laing, Jacques Lacan, Heinz Kohut, Lifton writes:
"Laing, Lacan, and Kohut experienced an irony in common: each took on a powerful charisma for an immediate group of followers, a process that inevitably "stops time," imparts a form of magic to intellectual exchange, and thereby undermines the original exploratory impulse."
In a sense, cults create a transcendent experience that "stops time" for the follower who feels the aura of a final answer to life's questions. Thereby, "the original exploratory impulse" that got them there freezes. All that remains is to deflect criticism and doubt and to stay in orbit around the perceived savior or guru. The more constricted the orbit, the more potential for harm due to abslute devotion to the controversial person, idea, or object.
In summary, there is no scientifically established or legally accepted definition of harmful cult mind control or brainwashing in the United States. Established law does acknowledge undue influence, fraud, harassment, terroristic threat, and other factors that contribute to brainwashing or mind control, also known as coercive persuasion, gaslighting, and thought reform. A number of American, British and Australian scholars have been contentiously arguing over the validity of thought reform theory since the 1970s.[12] Existing religions and eccentric social clubs are wary of established legal parameters regarding aggressive recruitment and conversion techniques. Official positions regarding cults vary from nation to nation with Germany, Israel, Russia and France having perhaps the most rigorous national safeguards against harmful cult activity for obvious reasons stemming from a variety of totalist movements that devastated Europe and Asia in the 20th Century.
Remedies and recovery
Recovery is the best revenge!
Most people, as I did, leave spurious, radical and possibly harmful groups with charismatic leaders of questionable character and motive on their own. Some studies estimate that 80% of new recruits to high demand, spurious groups tend to defect within the first few years. Cult life can be very demanding. Think of a modified boot camp that never ends! The high demands can also be quite subtle yet deeply psychological. A loyal cult member can maintain a mainstream job with an apparently seamless co-existence in society. Think of the men one year before they piloted airplanes into the World Trade Center on 9/11.
Many cult members defect out of shame and not because they see anything wrong with the group; rather, they feel inadequate for the demanding, holy, or total task. Others, realizing how deeply they were duped, go through stages of anger, grief and retaliation all at once and not in any sequence, as I did. I was lecturing against the group soon after I defected. Most however choose not to retaliate recognizing the toll this might take on emotional and psychological recovery, not to mention personal risk. Some of my colleagues and I have been defamed, harassed, picketed and sued by cult groups. For example, I was asked to present papers twice (1996, 97) at annual meetings of the Association for Sociology of Religion. Scientology operatives that attended my presentation, demanded I not be permitted to speak, a demand never before experienced by theASR. In 1992, an IRSagent informed me that a martial arts cult, whose leader John C. Kim went to jail as a result of my work exiting several high ranking members, had a "hit" out on me. That group also sued me for "slander." The judge in Houston threw it out but it cost me and others named—lawyers do not come cheap!
Concerned family members and close friends of cult members often consider intervention, not willing to just stand by and watch someone they love potentially waste relationships, money, and time on something so controversial and offensive to them. The intervention "industry" began in recent history during the 1970s after new mass therapies like "est", Jesus movements like the Children of God and Peoples Temple, Eastern movements led by gurus and Zen masters from India, Japan and Korea, and channeling cults led by people who "spoke" as gods and angels mushroomed as if out of nowhere in Europe and America. By some counts, more than 3,000 new cultic groups existed inAmericaby the late 1970s. Although many of these groups have imploded, faded away, or been absorbed into mainstream after de-radicalization, new ones are always appearing. The cult problem may have changed due to a new era of Internet and social mobility, but the cult problem has not gone away by any stretch of the imagination.
Deprogramming was coined around 1974 by Ted Patrick and others who would often but not always resort to kidnapping or house arrest to "rescue" someone from a purported cult. Judges throughout the United States might sign restraining orders or involuntary commitment papers (LS-302 in Pennsylvania) to temporarily detain cult members for deprogramming, but this legal practice was challenged by Katz v. Superior Court , 73 Cal. App. 3rd 952 (1977). The decision effectively ended all court orders for deprogramming adults in America.[13] Thereafter, anyone who participated in any way in coercive detainment of an adult for exit counseling would always risk a criminal charge and trial. Statistically, close to half of all coercive interventions failed, so legal retaliation was a strong possibility. Some of my colleagues and I took these risks in some cases until the early 1990s. I stood trial once in Idaho for an expensive month two years after a failed, coercively initiated intervention, but was acquitted of all charges.[14] Coercive or illegal deprogramming effectively ended in the vUnited States 20 years ago.
The legal intervention, sometimes called non-coercive exit counseling, developed throughout the past four decades with various approaches. The typical cult intervention differs from intervention with addicts in various ways. The goal of intervention with an addict is to convince the person to sign in for treatment as soon as possible. The treatment facility or therapist is responsible for evaluation and educational factors that support recovery. Family interventions with addicts fail or succeed within a few hours if that.
Nearly all interventions with cult members take place by surprise after extensive preparation by the consultant(s) with concerned persons. The preparation of families can last one to three days prior to actual intervention which may occur immediately. Most occur weeks to many months down the road. Access to the cult member can be a major problem as most have already had ugly arguments with spouses or family, thus the topic is avoided. In most cases, easy access and communication have already been cut off by the time I am contacted.
The ideal intervention begins with the client away from the group or person of influence in a comfortable setting that will allow for many hours to several days of conversation and discussion. In my experience and that of my colleagues during interventions of this type, 10 to 16 hour days were typical. Marathon discussions included educational video, extensive documentation and interaction with ex-members in person or over the phone. Family members or concerned adult friends were always present.
Exit counselors rarely work one on one during intervention for a variety of reasons including liability and support for meals, errands etc. Obviously, the client (cult member) can end the discussions at any time. Exit counselors will leave the premises if the client no longer wants to interact. The family however may continue to try to persuade the client to re-engage the exit counselor, thus re-starting the meeting. Sometimes interventions can stall for hours or even days before realizing a successful exit of the person from the cult. Due to the educational content shared during exit counseling, recovery begins during the process. Recovery means that "stop and think" parts of the brain have been re-engaged regarding ingrained beliefs, charismatic attachments, and constricted behaviors. Although most of the following factors are addressed during intervention, re-socialization after a cult experience depends on many factors including finances, mental health, employment, relocation, children, medical condition, cult induced phobias, etc. Because cultic groups vary widely in formation, purpose and number, and individual experience varies among members of the same group, there is no set recovery plan that works for everyone. Nevertheless, Take Back Your Life: Recovering from cults and abusive relationships seems to have enough solid information to remain useful for most any former cult member.[15]
Several, small post-cult rehab centers exist in the United States. Many have come and gone since the late 1970s. Wellspring Retreat in Albany, Ohio has the most enduring program with perhaps the most significant research in the field.[16] The Wellspring model has influenced a host of similar efforts in other nations. Most of these centers are poorly funded with insurance covering little if anything. The vast majority of former cult members are not only devastated emotionally immediately after such an experience, but tend to have little financial support. Most are mature adults in age between 25 and 45. Many are "second generation adults" or SGAs that have special recovery problems as they never had a life outside the cult. Therapist Colleen Russell works with SGAs in her practice.[17] Carol Giambalvo has long hosted former member workshops, including special sessions for SGAs on a regional basis in connection with the International Cultic Studies Association.[18]
In the Middle East, Indonesia, United Kingdom, Singapore, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Iraq moderate Muslim clerics have used an exit counseling technique to re-socialize Islamist radicals and terrorists.[19] This is a fascinating phenomenon with highly successful results. It depends wholly on what one young Egyptian student said after 9/11 when asked, "What will it take to defeat extremists?" He answered with one word: "Education." Exit counseling is primarily an educational process that uses principles of healthy skepticism, civility, verifiable facts from history, group dynamics, and choice theory. The tough part is getting it started without excessive or illegal coercion. In most cases of Islamist radicals and terrorists, the person is already incarcerated, so "classes" are readily arranged.
But the old controversy remains: Civil libertarians will claim that these "prisoners" are being coerced to renounce their religious beliefs, thus violating civil rights. To me this is tantamount to arguing it is wrong to re-educate an engineer who designs high rise buildings with flawed techniques for building a foundation. In the very least, that engineer must be stopped from contributing to another high rise structure if he does not accept re-education.
There is a lot I have not covered that qualifies as a cultic abuse relationship. I have had clients for exit counseling from all of the following that may appear not to be cultic yet falls under the parameter of undue influence and psychological coercion: One-on-one dominance through folie à deux, spousal abuse or battered women's syndrome, crime syndicates, boot camps for recovery from addictions[20], and gang formation to name a few. I will not overwhelm the reader with too many references, but here are some websites that you may find useful:
[1] http://www.icsahome.com
[2]Prochaska, JO; Norcross, JC; DiClemente, CC (1995) Changing for Good: A Revolutionary Six-Stage Program for Overcoming Bad Habits and Moving Your Life Positively Forward
[3] http://www.agniyoga.org/ (around 3 million people inRussia today adhere to Agni Yoga. Notable US members: Alan Arkin, the American actor and Henry Wallace, Sect. of Agriculture under the F D Roosevelt)
[4] Founded in 1958 by Mark Prophet (real name; died 1973) the Summit Lighthouse changed its name to Church Universal and Triumphant under the dynamic leadership of Mark Prophet's second wife, Elizabeth Clare Prophet (1939-2007). Today it primarily goes by Summit Lighthouse again.
[5] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Janja_Lalich
[6] http://www.icsahome.com/infoserv_articles/lalich_janja_boundedchoice_abs.htm
[7] http://www.amazon.com/Brainwashing-Science-Thought-Kathleen-Taylor/dp/0199204780/ref=ntt_at_ep_dpt_1
[8] http://www.deikman.com/wrong.html
[10] David Stone. The Plato Cult: And other philosophical follies (Basil Blackwell, Inc.,1991)
[11] IBID xii
[12] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coercive_persuasion
[13] http://www.icsahome.com/infoserv_articles/van_hoey_sara_cults_in_court.htm
[14] http://www.psywww.com/psyrelig/szimhart.htm
[15] http://www.baytreepublish.com/take-back-life-fr.html
[16] http://wellspringretreat.org/
[18] http://www.carolgiambalvo.com/recovery.html
[19] http://www.ucm.es/info/unisci/revistas/UNISCI DP 21 - ROHAN.pdf; http://www.cultnews.com/?cat=18
[20] http://stinkin-thinkin.com/2011/09/07/essential-reading-from-maia-szalavitz/
This article was submitted to a hospital webpage as an informational brief. This is an edited version.
Joe Szimhart
Copyright 2010, 2013: artist, author, mental health professional, and cult information specialist. All rights reserved.


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"Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh." ~ Matthew 24:44
It's no surprise we've been seeing predictive programming almost everywhere in the mainstream media: especially surrounding this particular landmark.
Film: San Andreas (2015) Predicting Hoover Dam Collapse
Many are saying this landmark could trigger the New World Order, in a sort of "birthing," if you will.
Many are associating this landmark with the next major false-flag event in the U.S.
Many have even pointed out the eerie symbolism associated with this landmark.
Many are also noticing the similarities between Paris, the City of Lights, which experienced a series of false-flag events just a few weeks ago, to the other corresponding City of Lights that just so happens to be only minutes away from this particular landmark: Las Vegas, also known as Sin City.
Well, I would like to point your attention to yet another source that points to this landmark, the Hoover Dam, as the next potential false-flag event, a source yet to be covered.
And where does this source come from? From probably one of my favorite television shows of all time as a child: none other than our favorite talking sponge who lives in a pineapple under the sea: SpongeBob SquarePants!
When I first saw this episode, I thought nothing of it. Until I saw it again, and then a third time. I was beyond perplexed and bewildered that they would even include such content catered towards children!
But then again, this should come as no surprise considering the Illuminati/All-Seeing-Eye symbolism embedded in even PBS programs such as Arthur and Cyberchase. Not to mention the SpongeBob episode featuring a "grand lodge."
Ready? Here goes:
The Hoover Dam reference is found in the episode "A Day Without Tears," in which Squidward bets SpongeBob to go a full day without crying.
Now what is first very interesting about this episode is that it is included with Season 7: again, here we see that "7" reference. And as I mentioned in my previous post, Biblically speaking, "7" represents COMPLETION!
This episode also aired on Monday, March 22, 2010, or 3/22. Eerily fitting close to the Spring Equinox, or the "birthing" of a new season, new decade…
Hmm… Where else have I seen those numbers: 3/22, or 322? Oh yeah! Skull and Bones! The same secret organization behind 911!!!
Not to mention this episode deals almost entirely with crying, or water, or floodgates, or massive flooding.
Also, the year 2016 will mark the 7th year of the decade. Another "7"!!! Could "2016" be the year they pull this one off? I don't know. Only time will tell.
We see SpongeBob hysterically crying throughout the first part: over a stubbed nail; and then a ripped suit; and finally over a sad song: his favorite pastime.
When he cries over a thrown away Krabby Patty at work, Squidward, his co-worker and neighbor, can't take it anymore, and lets him know of his infernal crying.
After Squidward informs SpongeBob of his crying 43 times in just the timeframe of this one day (with clips to support this), he then makes a bet with SpongeBob, and bets him that if he can't go a full day without crying, he has to clean Squidward's yard for an entire year. And if SpongeBob does go a full day without crying, Squidward has to join SpongeBob at an evening slumber party (because what else would he bet Squidward?)
Throughout the episode, Squidward tries convincing Spongebob to cry, even tempting him with cliched sunsets, cute sleeping pets, letters from parents, and even mind-numbing television (with the occasional sad story).
Kind of like subliminal mind control…
When nothing else works, and all else fails, Squidward realizes he only has a few minutes left before midnight, and SpongeBob has yet to cry. So, he attempts the all-time-favorite: the classic bed time story.
Here's where it gets interesting:
After the bedtime story, when there are only 10 SECONDS LEFT, and when Squidward BEGINS THE COUNTDOWN, we zoom inside SpongeBob's brain, and what do we find there?
We see SpongeBob doing his best to hold in those tears for another 10 seconds, BUT WHAT ELSE DO WE SEE?
As you can see, the pink imagery is none other than SpongeBob's brain, and you can see the strains of his eyes towards the bottom of the images. BUT WHAT ABOUT THAT THING IN THE CENTER? Strangely enough, IT LOOKS JUST LIKE THE HOOVER DAM! AN EXACT REPLICA!
Then we see the Hoover Dam-like image "bursting," or "breaking," symbolizing SpongeBob's tears that he has desperately been holding in.
And finally, out pours the water…
Simultaneously, this is all occurring while Squidward is shouting: "4, 3, 2, 1…"
Then the clock strikes MIDNIGHT…
Here we see AN ALARM going off…
Letting them know THE TIME HAS COME: MIDNIGHT.
Could this be the elite's way of ALARMING US for the potential upcoming event to take place? Who really knows…
Then Squidward lets SpongeBob know that it's midnight, and the bet is over… and so Squidward frowns an utter frown of defeat… knowing that he has lost the bet…
But SpongeBob has yet to "burst"…
And when he finally does, this is the outcome…
Flooding… Flooding… And MASSIVE FLOODING…
This seems to indicate an ABSENCE of mainstream news and media reporting on such catastrophies with the broken television… homes will be flooded, and catastrophy will strike AT ANY GIVEN MOMENT… UNEXPECTEDLY!
Even Mr. Krabs is helpless… MONEY WON'T BUY YOU OUT OF THIS ONE!!!
A choir singing amid all the chaos… I could be reading into this just a bit too much, but could this possibly represent THE CLERGY RESPONSE TEAM?!?!
And then, of course, at the very very end, Squidward is the one crying because he has to endure quite an awkward and unwanted slumber party…
Personally, I'm convinced this isn't just some mere coincidence.
When I saw this episode for the third time, I couldn't help but wonder: is everything starting to piece together? Is everything starting to tie-in with one another? From what others are saying about the Hoover Dam, to this as well? Is this really all just one big "conspiracy?" Or will this really happen?
Are the dots finally connecting? Is this predictive programming TRULY pointing to an event that would ultimately "birth" in the New World Order and "wash away" how life USED to be? Or is this just another "coincidental" Hoover Dam "incident," just like all the other "incidents" and predictive programming we've seen?
What could all of this be possibly hinting?
What could this be telling us?
We've already seen the Hoover Dam portrayed and depicted in several other films, movies, and television shows.
But now this one too???
In a television show supposedly for kids?! Popular among kids?!
Could this truly be the event that sparks the SUDDEN DESTRUCTION spoken of in I Thessalonians 5?
Could this be subliminal predictive programming for children as well? To mentally prepare them too for the oncoming, ensuing chaos THAT WILL REACH AMERICAN SHORES REAL SOON? Are the elite preparing EVERYONE subliminally, EVEN CHILDREN, and not just adults?
I don't know. You decide.
But, from what I see, it all looks too "coincidental" not to be a coincidence…
It's no longer a question of IF, but rather WHEN…
Please let me know!
ALSO: You can check out my latest video HERE!


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We offer a range of programmes in partnership with accredited international educational institutions. Consequently, we provide the platform for our students to attain the essential qualifications for entry into higher learning institutions. Students can be sure of getting qualified and experienced teachers at the college. Campus life will not just be classroom learning. Where possible, we will provide experiential learning as well when we take students out of the usual classroom activities and do external school projects. Project works and group presentation of research works will also add to the overall learning experience of our students.
Location & Facilities
DIMENSIONS International College now has three campuses: The Main Campus at Lowland Road, the Bukit Timah Campus at Jalan Seh Chuan and the City Campus at River Valley Road. DIMENSIONS International College has a total land size of 332,000 sq ft. and a total built-up area of 171,000 sq ft.
The three campuses have a total of 87 classrooms and 6 training facilities. In addition, we have 3 libraries, Wi-Fi, 2 auditoriums, 1 computer room, 2 canteens, 1 Chemistry laboratory and 1 Physics laboratory. To promote a healthy lifestyle as well as social activities, the College also has 1 basketball court, 2 badminton courts, a tennis court and 1 multi-function hall. DIMENSIONS International College has come a long way since its founding in 1980.
Catering to a student population from Asian countries like China, Thailand, Philippines, India and Korea, the College is committed to being one of the premier institutions in the private education industry, adding to Singapores status as an education hub.
List of Departments / Schools / Faculty / College
We have been able to accomplish our education mission through our four distinct educational arms, each catering to specific market segment of learners. They are:
Courses Offered
Download Application
Click here to Download Application form
Candidates who wish to apply for a course offered by DIMENSIONS must ensure they meet the entry and English requirements for the course. Application fee of $500 (non-transferable and non-refundable) payable to DIMENSIONS International College Pte Ltd.


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No. Europol has no executive powers.
The European Police Office is a support service for the law enforcement agencies of the EU Member States. This means that Europol officials are not entitled to arrest suspects or act without the approval of national authorities. However, the support provided by Europol consists of tools that can contribute to the executive measures carried out by the relevant national authorities.
Europol supports the law enforcement activities of the Member States by:
Yes, Europol only acts on request at present. However, Article 7 of the Europol Council Decision, allows Europol to request the competent authorities of the Member States to investigate.
The Justice and Home Affairs Council adopted the Council decision of 27 March 2000 (amended by the Council decision of 6 December 2001 and the Council decision of 13 June 2002) which authorises the Director of Europol to enter into negotiations on co-operation agreements with third States and non-EU related bodies.
There are two types of co-operation agreements that can be signed. Strategic agreements are limited to the exchange of non-personal data, which means strategic and technical data. Operational agreements include the possibility to exchange personal data, which means data relating to an identified or identifiable natural person.
No, in case you know about a crime being planned or a crime that has been committed and needs to be resolved, we ask you to report to your local police. Europol has no authority to arrest criminals or investigate on information provided by citizens. You can find additional information below.
Report a crime
No, Europol has neither the technical equipment nor the legal authorisation to wiretap or monitor members of the public by any technological means. Any information being analysed by Europol is provided directly by the co-operating law enforcement agencies. Europol's principal role is to gather, analyse and re–distribute data.
Europol offers job opportunities under contracts as Temporary Agents (TAs) and Contract Agents (CAs).
Available Temporary Agent posts may be non-restricted (open to all EU citizens) or restricted (open only to EU citizens who are members of national services competent to fight organised crime and terrorism). Europol also selects National Experts who are seconded by Member States, to specific fields of expertise.
All non-restricted posts applications must be made via our online recruitment system. Currently it is not possible to apply online for restricted posts.
If you are applying for a post that is open only to staff from competent authorities in the Member States — such posts are marked with a 'Restricted' label — you must submit the form (Application form for Restricted Temporary Agents) through your Europol National Unit (ENU), which will forward it on to us for you.
Before you go through the trouble of applying for such a post, you must ensure that being posted at Europol is in line with, and can be accommodated by, your administrative situation with your current employer. Should your application be successful, you will be required to provide evidence to that effect before you can take up the post.
You must confirm in your application that you are employed by a competent authority, and have that confirmation signed by an official of that authority who is authorised to do so (see ENU confirmation).
In some cases, certain details of a vacancy notice will not be published for security reasons. In such cases, you should get in touch with your ENU to learn those details.
Yes; all non-restricted posts are open to all EU citizens.
If you are applying for a position as a Temporary Agent, you must submit the original form and the original ENU confirmation plus three copies, so four in total.
For a position as a Seconded National Expert, you must submit the original form, the original ENU confirmation and the support letter from your Competent Authority plus two copies, so three in total.
Once you have completed the form and have enclosed the ENU confirmation (and the support letter from your Competent Authority for SNE posts), you can send it via your Europol National Unit or, if permitted, by regular post or by courier.
Here's the address for regular post:
Human Resources
Recruitment & Selection
PO Box 90850
2509 LW The Hague
The Netherlands
For deliveries by courier, the address is:
Human Resources
Recruitment & Selection
Eisenhowerlaan 73
2517 KK The Hague
The Netherlands
You must send your application to us no later than the deadline indicated on the vacancy notice.
For delivery by post, the date of the postmark on the envelope indicates when it was sent.
For delivery by courier, the shipment date that appears on the form accompanying the envelope, and that is also recorded electronically, indicates when it was sent.
Applications received after the deadline will be accepted only if it can be shown they were sent no later than the deadline.
When we have received your application, and if you sent it on time and everything is otherwise in order, we will send you an acknowledgement of receipt.
The eligibility requirement for AD posts is to have a university degree; depending on the profile, usually for IT, HR, Legal, Finance, we might indicate a certain preference for an IT specialisation, or law degree, business, HR or Financial management type of degree, but it's not an eliminatory requirement.
No; EU citizenship is an eligibility criterion.
The Staff Regulations do not impose an age limit for a candidate who would like to apply for a vacancy at Europol – although they 'have to be physically fit to perform the duties' and would have to retire at pensionable age (66 years old if one entered the service on or after 01/01/2014).
The eligibility criteria need to be fulfilled; otherwise your application cannot be considered.
Regarding the essential selection criteria:
As a rule, the candidates invited further for the selection procedure, fulfil all the eligibility and the essential selection criteria.
Both, the written test and the interviews are competency-based assessments, both held in English (unless otherwise specified) and they last usually 3 h -the written test and 30 min – the interview. They are a collection of situational judgement questions, based on situations that you would meet on your daily activity, should you get the job, as well as theoretical questions about your knowledge on the subject matter and scenarios regarding some of your general competencies (ability to draft a clear text for various audiences, keen eye for details, organisational skills, etc.). The interview is split in two parts: one regarding your general competencies and one regarding your technical knowledge. At the end of the interview you can ask the Selection Committee your questions; the same questions are asked to all the candidates; however you can expect also follow-up questions, based on your own answers.
The organisation of the written tests and of the interviews is a huge logistical effort, involving a lot of internal and external people: booking of rooms, PCs, plane tickets, hotel rooms, sometime, if external Selection Committee members participate – make all the travel arrangements for them to be at Europol on the day of the selection procedure. Not to mention that in the same time several other procedures are taking place and the planning is done taking all these factors into account. So, we really appreciate if you can keep the day/ time slot that has been assigned in the invitation letter. Should really force majeure circumstances happen, we do have a bit of flexibility in terms of the time slots, but the days have to be respected. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation on this matter.
When the invitation letter is sent, you are required to submit documentary evidence of education diplomas and proof of employments. At this stage, a scanned signed PDF sent electronically is enough. On the day of the written test, however, you should bring with you either the originals – so we can certify the copies and return the originals– or officially certified copies that we get to keep.
Yes, please see our travel policy on the website (see Annex C, page 14).
It means that within the next 2 years, you are eligible to receive a job offer from Europol for the post you applied for or for a similar position, should the business opportunity arise. It's not an obligation for Europol to employ you and also you are not obliged to accept if you are unhappy with the terms and conditions of a similar vacancy.
Yes; a list of the basic salaries and the type of allowances you might get is available on our website; you can also use the available Excel calculators for a more customized approach. However, the step you're allocated in, as well as the allowances depend on the personal situation of each individual, so a more precise calculation is done when an official offer of employment is issued.
On our website, monster, LinkedIn, eurobruxelles; follow us on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn!
Currently Europol has 1065 staff members, 201 LOs, 32.3% women and 67.7% men.
No. We don't send newsletters. We advise you to check our website regularly in order to be informed about the latest job postings.


text: When it comes to neck-snapping, you're sort of a legend. Figuring this pipsqueak won't be too much of a problem, you grab his hair and bend his head back and sideways. Too late, you notice he is wearing the Neck-Blocker 9000, and you are quickly overwhelmed, shot, and mutilated (but not in that order).


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There is no place like Houston, which features a diverse international community, and is the largest city in the Lone Star State.
Visitors will find a great food and dining, world-class arts, pro sports and a diverse culture and history.
Sports enthusiasts can easily attend games for several professional teams including the Houston Texans, Houston Rockets, Houston Astros and Houston Dynamo.
Those interested in the performing arts are sure to enjoy Houston's year-round professional resident companies in ballet, opera, symphony and theater.
The Houston Museum District is the country's fourth largest and visitors can enjoy an entire weekend visiting 18 cultural centers located in close proximity.
Houston also has the world's largest medical complex with 21 renowned hospitals, 14 support organizations, 10 academic institutions, eight academic and research institutions, seven nursing programs, three public health organizations, three medical schools, two pharmacy schools, and a dental school.
Texas Medical Center Patient & Visitor's Parking by KHOU on Scribd
We recommend you take your time and explore our great community during your visit to the Bayou City.
Once you visit Houston, your appetite may never want to leave.
The Bayou City's culinary scene is just as diverse as its population with more than 10,000 restaurants representing cuisine from more than 70 countries and American regions, according to the Houston Convention and Visitors Bureau.
Whether you are looking for great barbecue or something exotic, there is something for everyone to enjoy in Houston.
And not to toot our own horn, but Houston restaurants stand above the rest with some 70 receiving consistent recognition.
For more great ideas of where to eat, check out this map below.
MAP: Interactive map of award-winning restaurants in the Houston area
There's plenty happening in Houston with a little something for everyone.
Whether you are looking to go dancing or just for a great signature cocktail, there's sure to be a place among the city's nightlife just for you.
You may want to check out the central business district in Downtown Houston or the laid back bars in adjacent Midtown.
Perhaps you'll want to visit the lounges in the gay-friendly neighborhood of Montrose.
Whatever you like, be sure to check out our interactive map before for just some of the establishments you should visit during your stay.
MAP: Nightlife in Houston
MAP: The Houston Live Music Top 20
The Houston Museum District is comprised of 19 institutions located within a 1.5 mile radius of the Mecom Fountain in Hermann Park.
According to the Houston Museum District Association, the District is dedicated to collaborative efforts that maximize use of the artistic, scientific and educational resources by all citizens of and visitors to Houston.
According to the Houston Convention and Visitors Bureau, the District is the fourth largest of its kind in the U.S.
PHOTOS: Meet Angel, the new gorilla at the Houston Zoo
The Houston Zoo is set in a 55-acre lush tropical landscape, and is home to more than 6,000 exotic animals representing more than 800 species.
Visit the wonders of Africa at The African Forest, the new 6.5 acre, $40 million addition featuring chimps, rhinos, and giraffes.
PHOTOS: Sea lion pup, TJ, to make public debut at Houston Zoo
Here's a layout of the institutions in the Houston Museum District:
The Houston Theater District features nine renowned performing arts organizations including:
Society For The Performing Arts
Along with many smaller performing arts organizations, the nine are featured at four main venues – Jones Hall, Wortham Theater Center, Alley Theatre and Hobby Center for the Performing Arts.
Also in the 17-block District you will find the Bayou Place which includes the Sundance Cinema, Revention Music Center and various restaurants.
For more on the Houston Theater District:
MAP: Interactive map of the Theater District in Downtown Houston
Discovery Green Park is a 12-acre park located in downtown Houston. It serves as the location for over 600 free events throughout the year.
Visitors can enjoy local musicians perform in the amphitheater, shop at the Green Market on Sundays and ice skate on Kinder Lake in the winter.
Visitors will find paths to walk, a jogging trail, dog fountains, a children's playground, small and large dog runs, open lawns, and great restaurants.
For more information on Discovery Green and other free attractions, click here.
You can't leave Houston, also known as Space City, without visiting Space Center Houston.
According to their website, Space Center Houston is a living museum where visitors can see astronauts train for missions, touch a real moon rock and tour NASA. It is the largest collection of space artifacts in the Southwest.
In January 2016, Space Houston unveiled its new exhibit which offers a one of a kind experience where visitors can see the inside of a shuttle and what the living quarters are like for NASA astronauts.
It's a 240-ton exhibit with a shuttle replica atop a 747 shuttle carrier aircraft.
"The top of the tail on the shuttle, I think, is eight stories, is 80 feet above the ground, and inside it's just a magnificent exhibit. It's unlike anything you'll see or be able to see anywhere else in the world." said Richard Allen, President and CEO of Space Center Houston.
Visitors are able to explore the shuttle replica Independence and the original NASA 905 shuttle carrier aircraft.
"It's unique in the fact that this is the original 747, it's the real thing, but what really makes this special is the way we have this displayed, and that's with a shuttle on top." said Paul Spana, the exhibit manager.
The 747 is lined with interactive exhibits about how the shuttle carrier aircraft idea came to be and how it worked. One exercise shows visitors how NASA attached the shuttles to the aircrafts prior to transport.
On top of the plane, sits the independence shuttle replica that gives visitors a realistic look at the living quarters of an astronaut.
Houston is also home to The Galleria, Texas' largest shopping center and the fourth largest domain nationally.
According to their website, The Galleria spans 2.4 million square feet of space, houses 400 stores and restaurants, two high-rise hotels, and three office towers.
Along with shopping and fine restaurants, The Galleria features a full-size ice rink for recreational and figure skating, a state of the art children's play area, two swimming pools, a video arcade, three full-service national and international banks, two tailor shops, more than 12 beauty salons, and a post office.
Houston offers year-round professional sports competition with the Houston Texans, Houston Rockets, Houston Astros and Houston Dynamo.
PHOTOS: Fans at Texans vs. Titans
Houston has become a got-to sports destination and is set to host Super Bowl LI in 2017 and the 2016 Men's Final Four.
Annually, golf enthusiasts can check out the Shell Houston Open, while college football fans can take in the Texas Bowl and the Texas Kickoff sponsored by Advocare at NRG Stadium.
PHOTOS: Fans at the AdvoCare Texas Bowl
Rail System Map Plan by JaimeE.Galvan on Scribd
Contact information and flight status
fly2houston.com/hobby; 713-641-4000, 24 hours.
Real-time checkpoint wait times available at HOU website.
Parking information: 713-641-7770, 24 hours.
Most convenient: Valet, $25/2-24 hours. Garage, all levels, $19/day. See more options.
Least expensive: Ecopark 1, $9.24/day; ecopark 2, $5.54/day. (Tax not included). Walk to terminal. See more options.
Cellphone lot: Located off Airport Boulevard.
Contact information and flight status
fly2houston.com/iah; 281-230-3100.
Depending on your airline and your status with TSA, expedited TSA PreCheck lanes may be available.
Parking information: 281-233-1730.
Most convenient: Terminal parking, $19/day, or valet parking, $25/day. See more options.
Least expensive: Economy parking (ecopark), $7.39/day for covered or $5.54/day for uncovered. (Does not include tax.) Shuttle to terminals. See more options.
Cellphone lot: Located at Will Clayton Road (Highway 59-North entrance to airport). Flight status information available at 281-230-7000. Amenities include portable bathrooms and vending machines. Up to 200 spaces. Second lot on John F. Kennedy Boulevard.


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When Joshua Bloch speaks, the ground shakes, oceans part, and Java developers fall to their knees and tremble. At least, I do. I think animals get nervous before Josh writes articles.
His latest article on API design is a must-read. I don't think he's written a single word I don't agree with, and this is no exception.
P.S. If you're a Java developer and you don't have Effective Java within arm's reach, consider it a critical-severity bug in your personal development. The Puzzlers are less practical but fun.


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Welcome to Paleontology at Geosciences, Princeton University
Professor Gerta Keller
Although the present is generally considered the key to the past, we look to the past to understand the nature and causes of climate change, the course of evolution, and the effect of physical catastrophes in the Earth's history, and in so doing both create and improve models that might predict possible future environmental changes.
Research into the Earth's history in the area of paleoclimate/paleoceanography at Princeton focuses on geological, geochemical, and paleontological observations in marine and terrestrial environments. The results of this work aid our understanding of such diverse topics as the nature and origin of change in the vertical thermal structure of the oceans and in oceanic circulation patterns in space and time, the cause(s) and distribution patterns of hiatuses, the biotic effects of climate and circulation changes on marine planktic and benthic habitats, the effects of climate change on terrestrial mammals, the nature of evolution and extinctions, and the enigma of mass extinctions.
Professor Keller and her students are currently studying the faunal turnover in low and high latitudes across the Cretaceous-Tertiary, Cenomanian-Turonian, and Paleocene-Eocene boundaries. These ongoing research efforts focus on evaluating both the short-term biotic effects (extraterrestrial bolide impact and greenhouse warming), and the long-term effects using faunal, stable isotopic, and sediment geochemical analyses. In other projects they are evaluating Cretaceous climate and sea-level changes, the mid-Maastrichtian global cooling and its environmental consequences, and the Cenomanian-Turonian anoxic event. These environmental changes are quantified and compared with a variety of paleobiological data to determine the specific biotic and evolutionary effects that resulted from large-scale environmental changes. In conjunction with Professor Philander, Pleistocene climate variations are investigated in the fossil record and simulated with a coupled ocean-atmosphere model in an attempt to understand the effect of orbital precession on tropical ocean surface temperatures. Most of the projects of Professor Keller require fieldwork in the U.S. and foreign countries, which in the past have included Israel, Tunisia, Egypt, Denmark, Spain, Venezuela, Mexico, Guatemala, Ecuador, and Madagascar.
Analytical facilities include paleontological and sedimentary laboratories for processing and analyzing samples, 40Ar/39Ar radiometric dating facility, electron microscopes and, electron microanalysis facilities.
Back to Top
to Geosciences


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Loren Albert Olson, age 56, of Cokato, died Thursday, Aug. 30, 2012, at his home.
A memorial service will take place at a later date at the New Life Assembly of God Church in Cokato, with the Pastor Al Jones officiating. Interment will be at the Swan Lake Cemetery, rural Dassel.
The Johnson Funeral Home in Dassel is handling the arrangements.
Loren was born Jan. 22, 1956, in Hillsboro, OR, the son of Willard Albert and Mary Louise (Hundley) Olson. He grew up in the Hillsboro area and attended school at Midhigh in Hillsboro.
Loren was baptized and confirmed in the Christian faith.
When he was 31, Loren suffered a brain aneurysm and, after his recovery, moved to the Cokato area to be close to his family.
He was an adventurous person.
Loren had worked at the Grand Canyon, the ARC in Oregon, and for numerous years, at the Norseman, and later Daniel's restaurant in Cokato.
He loved to listen to music, and watch DVDs. Loren collected antique posters, was an avid Beatles fan, and enjoyed spending time with his family.
He is survived by his siblings, Donna (Paul Prestidge) Portillo of Buffalo, Betty Olson, and Billy Olson, both of Cokato; and several nieces, nephews, great nieces, and great nephews.
Loren was preceded in death by his parents, Willard and Mary.


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"Great translation service and fast turnaround. The all around experience with your company has been phenomenal!"
The Shade Store
For over 20 years Language Connections has been providing expert clinical research translation services for the medical industry. We supply multilingual support to major pharmaceutical companies and CROs, as well as numerous biotechnology and medical device firms around the world. We provide Clinical Research Translation Services to clients that include Roche, CHDI, The Progeria Foundation, and Parexel.
We work with a variety of medical documents and provide translation of Informed Consent Forms, Pharmacological Studies and Clinical Trial Protocols, Patient Questionnaires and Adverse Events Report Forms.
As clinical trials increasingly go global, contract research organizations (CROs), biotech, pharmaceutical and medical device companies are seeing the opportunity for reduced costs, higher patient enrollment and the ability to collect data from a varied ethnic pool. With this comes a pressing need to understand and comply with varied and evolving international clinical research regulations.
Language connections offers clinical research translation services via textual, audio and visual translations for all stages of clinical research. We cover preliminary outreach, patient recruitment, regulatory approval of documents, safety reporting, as well as post-trial communication with the participants.
Language Connections recognizes linguistic validation and cultural adaptation as essential parts of a clinical trial process. We specialize in linguistic validation of Clinical Outcome Assessments (COAs), Patient Reported Outcomes (PROs) and Quality of Life Patient Questionnaires (QoLs). It is often required that CROs perform back translation, cultural adaptation and harmonization of the patient responses, to ensure accuracy and consistency across languages.
Our specialists have the in-depth expertise to guarantee that your materials will be culturally and conceptually equivalent in all languages, and that you will be in full compliance with regulatory authority requirements.
Some clinical trial processes require the assistance of trained linguists on-site or via remote connection to aid in communication. Language Connections provides rlinical research translation services, including certified interpreters for informed consent interviews, patient meetings, investigator meetings, and other instances where direct, oral communication with LEP individuals is needed.
Compliance with strict international regulations creates an urgent need for precise clinical trial translation, completed with an up-to-date knowledge of the industry and global markets. Language Connections works with linguists who hold advanced degrees in the Life Sciences and medical fields to meet the highest quality standards of clinical research and trial demands. Our translators follow distinct and strict methodologies for each document to ensure accuracy and proper layout.
CROs conducting clinical trials internationally have to conform to the requirements of the FDA, EMEA and other regulatory organizations and ethical committees. Regulators require that the patient recruitment materials, Informed Consent Forms (ICF), clinical protocols and other documents be in a language that is clearly understood by the people participating in the clinical studies. We have provided expert multilingual support to CROs, translating product labeling, clinical trial documentation, patient recruitment materials, as well as marketing and legal documents.
Language Connections understands that medical and legal materials relating to clinical trials need to be kept secure. We provide our clients with a quality assurance program that guarantees confidentiality, and provide NDAs and secure client portals to ensure maximum security.
To Get More Information, Or To Request Clinical Research Translation Services:
"Great translation service and fast turnaround. The all around experience with your company has been phenomenal!"
The Shade Store
Language Connections provides superior service in a timely manner. We enjoy very much working with them, we will contact them again in the future.
We needed help with a unique project: translate 45 words with complex meaning into 22 languages, some of which aren't really spoken anymore. The team at Language Connections was eager to help, enthusiastically found solutions to problems that arose, and completed the project with surprisingly fast turnaround.
Language Connections has translated many of our documents into various languages. They are cost-effective, on-time, and reliable.
Language Connections enabled us to really connect with our new clients through translation and publishing of contracts, brochures, and other materials, as well as interpreting during negotiations.
Language Connections delivers first-rate legal translation quickly. We use their interpreters for international training programs. These people are true professionals. We have found them to be extremely reliable and flexible.
Language Connections has provided us with a very good first impression and has not let us down! They worked on a seminar with a large number of participants, which demanded simultaneous translation of postings as quickly as possible and with great command of French. We were impressed by the quality of their work, flexibility to work long hours as needed to complete all translations on time, and their high level of computer savvy.
The Idaho Office for Refugees relies on Language Connections for all our translations… read more


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When it comes time for your wedding weekend, many of your guests will most likely be arriving from out-of-town. And while your only responsibility is to really offer up a suggestion for where they stay, and entertain them at your actual wedding, there's plenty of free time between their touchdown and your "I do" where they'll have nothing to do. As a courtesy, it's nice to suggest activities throughout the entire weekend. Here, our etiquette experts offer up some advise for creative ways for keeping your out-of-town guests busy throughout your wedding weekend.
Sure, your only responsibility to your guests is to entertain them during your actual courtesy, but if attendees are traveling across state lines to witness your nuptials, it's a nice gesture to outline some fun things to keep them busy during the rest of their stay. Oftentimes, brides and grooms who have time gaps between ceremony and reception or just a lot of free time in general offer up a list of local activities in their welcome package at the hotel. It's not only thoughtful, it'll make your guests's weekend that much more memorable.
During the rehearsal, friends and relatives may offer to host a barbeque or a cocktail party to welcome out-of-town guests so they don't feel stranded when they arrive. The same goes for your wedding day: If you're having an evening wedding, a close friend or family member may offer to host a luncheon for guests to get them in the wedding spirit. Last but not least, it's become popular to host a post-wedding brunch for guests at the hotel — it's just one of the many ways you can say thanks for them making the trip to see you get married!


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University of Miami
Poor-shooting Canes women fade in second half of loss to Notre Dame
The only thing missing was Lou Holtz in the stands … or maybe Digger Phelps.
Sunday started Notre Dame week for the University of Miami basketball programs. The Fighting Irish women, ranked seventh in the nation, defeated No. 14 Miami 67-55 at the Watsco Center.
On Thursday, Notre Dame's men, ranked 23rd, will take their turn visiting Miami as the Canes will get a chance for a split.
As for Sunday's game between the Atlantic Coast Conference rivals, Miami (13-3, 2-2) was right there after the first half, trailing 30-29. But Notre Dame (15-2, 3-1) pulled away in the second half.
The Fighting Irish overcame 21 turnovers, including 14 in the first half, by shooting 50 percent from the floor. Miami, which shot just 37.5 percent, had 18 turnovers.
"[Notre Dame coach] Muffet [McGraw] and I met at midcourt [after the game] and thought [the game] was shockingly bad," UM coach Katie Meier said of her Notre Dame counterpart. "We both felt that way."
Notre Dame 6-3 junior forward Brianna Turner, one of the nation's five preseason All-Americans, tied a season low with seven points, taking just four shots and making three.
Turner did have a game-high 10 rebounds, but she tied a game high with four turnovers.
"She was not active at all," McGraw said. "She was passive. She didn't look for the ball."
Another Notre Dame All-American, point guard Lindsay Allen, was held to seven points, although she did have a game-high seven assists.
Perhaps that's a sign of how good the Irish are that they beat a top-15 team by 12 points on the road on a day when their All-Americans were held down.
UM was led by its senior backcourt, as Jessica Thomas had 15 points and Adrienne Motley added 14.
But the Canes could have used a performance like they had exactly two years ago, when Motley scored a career-high 32 points and Miami knocked off fourth-ranked Notre Dame on this same court.
Meier said "gimmicks and side stories" weren't going to beat the Irish.
Another one of those side stories revolved around the Mabrey sisters. Michaela was a Notre Dame senior guard last year but now serves as Miami's coordinator of program and player development.
Her sister Marina, a 5-11 sophomore guard, led Notre Dame with 15 points, adding four assists and a game-high four steals.
"It was really fun to play against her and not with her," said Marina, who added that she is not the trash-talking type. "I know she's really happy [in Miami]."
A positive development for UM was the play of 6-3 sophomore center Emese Hof, a reserve who scored nine of her 11 points in the second half, adding a team-high six rebounds in 26 minutes.
Hof also played a role in Turner's off game, battling her in the post.
"We tried to pick [Turner] up early," Hof said. "We counted on our defense [to stop] the lob — we got that part out of it."
But Notre Dame had other options such as Kathryn Westbeld (14 points) and Arike Ogunbowale (11 points).
Conversely, UM guard Laura Cornelius, who shot 6 for 6 on three-pointers last week against Pittsburgh, only managed two points on 1-for-7 shooting.


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LIS S523 Science & Technology Information
Course Materials
This area of the course website provides information about the course requirements. The IUPUI Canvas system will be used to share assignments.
Let's Get Started!
When you're ready to begin the course, read the Course Syllabus. Pay particular attention to the course grading scale.
Next, work your way through the Course Tips for ideas to make your distance learning experience successful.
Read the Course Guide. This guide will take you step-by-step through the course materials and assignments.
The Course Calendar highlights the readings and details the course deadlines.
Finally, the Course Checklist will help you stay on track as you move through the course requirements.
Regular communications will be sent to you through email. If you think you may have missed class email communications, check the ANNOUNCEMENTS in Canvas.
If you're not registered for this course but would like more information about when it will be offered again, explore the IUPUI distance learning web page. Our graduate courses are 100% online and can be taken from anywhere in the world.
Links to the materials in this section can be found in the navigation bar on the left side of this page.


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Oh the nine lives this console has had. Remember this post?! Yup. And that's not even all of the styling that has happened on this one console over the years. It's newest purpose?! A bar cart. Well console...
The girls have a birthday party tomorrow that happens to be 5 minutes from a great antique mall, I'm on the hunt for some more great colored glasses to add into the mix. Jenny's art fits perfectly here, and I love the mix of all the colors. Can you even believe me and all this color?! I never would have ever predicted..
I added a little pot of fresh mint to add some green, and one day I want mint juleps ;)
design philosophy | providing a foundation to grow and alter through the years, I keep the core basic and layer in the current, creating a room that is innately yours. I believe great interiors are not found in one shop. I know you should feel a sense of calm in your space as well as balance, and revel in that gut feeling that it's the right fit. DESIGN SERVICES start at only 10.00. See Sarah Swanson Design at the top left of this blog!
March 9, 2013
my little bar cart-
posted by Unknown at 9.3.13
3 comments:
- Danielle Hardy said...
Those lamps are amazing!! where are they from?!
- March 9, 2013 at 8:04 PM
- Ann said...
love the lamps
and that beautiful artwork.
- March 10, 2013 at 4:10 AM
- Mary Ross said...
where is the dresser from!? I have been looking for one similar!!
- March 10, 2013 at 2:09 PM
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Resistance is fruitful
The bold statement that begins today's first reading (Hebrews 12:4-7, 11-15) reminds us that we can do much better in resisting sin.
In your struggle against sin
you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding blood.
Rejection of temptation is a kind of martyrdom and is the path to infinite joys.
So strengthen your drooping hands and your weak knees.
Make straight paths for your feet,
that what is lame may not be dislocated but healed.
Strive for peace with everyone,
and for that holiness
without which no one will see the Lord.


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Media Statements
Minister for Main Roads, Road Safety and Ports and Minister for Energy and Water Supply
The Honourable Mark Bailey
Indigenous trainees building skills on Mein Deviation
Minister for Main Roads, Road Safety and Ports and Minister for Energy and Water Supply
The Honourable Mark Bailey
Thursday, October 15, 2015
Indigenous trainees building skills on Mein Deviation
Seven Indigenous trainees are building skillsets, gaining valuable working experience and learning about civil construction on the Peninsula Developmental Road construction project.
Engaged by contractor Civil Mining and Construction Pty Ltd through training provider My Pathways, the Indigenous trainees are working on the $29.5 million Mein Deviation upgrade and seal project, north of Coen.
Main Roads Minister Mark Bailey said the group of mainly Cape York residents was studying Certificate III in Civil Construction as trainees assisting with construction works under the contract.
"The trainees are gaining valuable on-the-job training on this project, supported by textbook learning to help make them job-ready for the civil construction industry," Mr Bailey said.
"Opportunities like this are few and far between in remote locations so it's vital we can create training, employment and business opportunities for Indigenous people through this important road upgrading project.
"The Palaszczuk Government is committed to improving Indigenous training, employment and business opportunities.
"These opportunities for Indigenous people will be the focus of three more projects currently underway on the road at Sourayas Hill, south of Morehead River and south of Hann."
Transport and Main Roads Director-General Neil Scales said TMR was actively building employment capability on Cape York and strengthening local communities through the program of works.
"We made sure the Mein Deviation contract incorporated Indigenous and non-Indigenous training and upskilling, implementation of an Indigenous economic opportunities plan and a local industry participation plan," Mr Scales said.
"The contractor has made significant commitments in the areas of Indigenous employment and training. It is engaging local businesses for the provision of various services that are over and above minimum targets set out in state policy."
The contractor has engaged six Indigenous companies in stand-alone or joint venture arrangements, while using 11 companies local to the Cape region for accommodation, plant hire, traffic control, administrative services and consumables.
The projects are part of the Cape York Region Package, a $260.5 million program of works jointly funded by the Commonwealth and Queensland Governments to upgrade critical infrastructure on Cape York.
Media Contacts: Alex Chamberlain – 3719 7316, 0406 544 142


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Uintah Bluffs proposal goes to City Planning
Plans to develop a Westside ridge top with 28 duplex buildings and one single-family house have been submitted to Colorado Springs Planning.
Dubbed "Uintah Bluffs," the roughly 13-acre parcel is located west of and above Bristol Elementary. Uintah Street is on the north, Manitou Boulevard on the west and mostly open land north of Monument Street on the south.
Craddock Companies, doing business as Uintah Bluffs LLC, is the property owner and developer. Leigh Whitehead & Associates is the planning cosultant. The main reason the company bought the site was its east-looking views over the city, according to Matt Craddock. "It's hard to find property like that anymore," he said.
Although Craddock Companies is not a residential homebuilder, the plat will require the eventual builder to use "suitable materials," Matt Craddock said. "It's in the spirit of what the Organization of Westside Neighbors (OWN) is trying to do," he added, referring to the advocacy group's ongoing efforts to create a Westside historic overlay zone. "These aren't going to be a bunch of stick-built homes. They'll use stucco or another suitable material, so it should be compatible with the surrounding neighborhood when it's complete."
Craddock's request is for the city to approve a zone change to planned unit development (PUD), a PUD development plan and final subdivision plat. After review by City Planning staff and Planning Commission, City Council approval would be needed. The property is currently zoned to allow duplexes, but PUDs generally allow more flexibility in planning larger projects.
The proposal includes a concept Craddock presented about a year ago to the Colorado Springs Parks Board. The board at that time conceptually approved a development-related swap in which the city would obtain trail access to Bristol Park (next to the school) and, in exchange, Craddock would get vehicular access to the property via an easement through several hundred feet of Parks-managed City Utilities open space off Manitou Boulevard.
In the current plan, Craddock would also dedicate land in "the westerly and northerly portion of the site" to City Parks, according to the "Uintah Bluffs Project Statement," submitted by Whitehead.
Another project feature would be an eight-car parking lot next to the easement road and Manitou Boulevard, which will "facilitate a trailhead to the adjacent open space area," the Project Statement says. (Currently, people are known to hike in the area but no-trespassing signs are posted. The Mesa Trail, part of the city trails system, runs past Bristol Park.)
According to plans, the property would have a new two-lane road, connecting with the easement road. Mostly following terrain contours, the property road would curve easterly, with buildings on either side, before ending at a forked cul-de-sac.
Overall, on the 13 acres, the building footprints would only take up 5.46 percent of the property, Uintah Bluffs plans show. Their maximum height would be 30 feet.
The property's topography "will be maintained to the extent possible," the Statement pledges. "Disturbed areas will be re-vegetated to existing levels and types of vegetation."
The development is not proposed as a gated community.
With the Uintah Bluffs plans submitted only last week, city planner James Mayerl said he has just started his review process and has no recommendations yet. Public input is invited on the plan through Dec. 31. Mayerl's number is 385-5360; his e-mail is firstname.lastname@example.com.
One issue that could come up in the review process is the stability of the ground. Much of the land is basically level, but not all of it. In addition to "potentially unstable slopes," there are lesser issues with "expansive soils and bedrock, radon and seismicity," according to a developer-contracted geology report. Unless remedial steps are taken, "eight buildings will need to be relocated or eliminated," the report states.
Craddock said these points are already being addressed, with caissons being considered in certain cases to shore up problem slopes.
The property is within the city's Hillside Overlay Zone, which has stricter slope rules than other zones.
Dick Strauch, who heads up development review for OWN, said the group "met with Craddock and Whitehead and some of the neighbors about a year ago." The main questions raised by neighbors at that time concerned potential traffic problems, he noted.
"We'll be reviewing it," Strauch said. "We'll talk to Mayerl just before the [public input] deadline, to see if any people had negative comments. Then we'll try to get a hold of those people and pass the comments on to the OWN board."
The board will probably discuss Uintah Bluffs at its meeting Jan. 24, he said.
The Project Statement proposes bringing back a piece of area history. "The existing irrigation ditch running along the easterly and southerly portions of the site will be preserved and used as a part of the system to manage runoff from the site," it states. The referenced ditch is the old El Paso Canal that was built by Colorado Springs founder William Palmer in 1871 and kept in use up until 1956. Running downhill all the way, the canal brought irrigation water from Fountain Creek near the present- day 33rd Street diversion to downtown Colorado Springs. The canal's excavation is still recognizable in front of the ridge above Bristol School.
Westside Pioneer article


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Titan the robot, described as 'one of the most in-demand acts in the world' is coming to Friars Square Shopping Centre in Aylesbury.
Titan is coming to the centre during half term on Tuesday February 16 to perform shows at 11.30am, 1.30pm and 3pm.
The robot suit is worn by an actor and is controlled by a combination of body movement and remote control.
Titan has worked alongside famous faces including Rihanna, Will Smith and Jackie Chan, has appeared on The Paul O'Grady Show, The Gadget Show, The National Movie Awards and Jools Holland's Annual Hootenanny and even carried the Olympic torch.
Titan will be performing a comedy show that involves a lot of audience interaction.
He is likely to make fun of various audience members, sing songs and possibly even do a robot dance.
Friars Square centre manager, Andy Margieson said: "We can't wait to have a star as big as Titan visit Friars Square.
"There is already a real buzz around the centre about the event."


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JEFFERSON CITY (AP) - State Treasurer Sarah Steelman lent her Republican gubernatorial campaign an additional $200,000 heading into the final weeks of her primary race against U.S. Rep. Kenny Hulshof.
Campaign fi-nance reports filed yesterday show Steelman now has lent her gubernatorial campaign a total of $770,000 - one-third of the nearly $2.3 million she raised. Hulshof, by contrast, has relied entirely on contributors for the $2.6 million he received.
Both Republicans spent hundreds of thousands of dollars on advertising in recent weeks, and Steelman's personal loan should give her enough cash on hand to keep up with Hulshof's spending in the remaining days before the Aug. 5 election.
The winner of the Republican race is expected to face Democratic Attorney General Jay Nixon in the November gubernatorial election.
The latest Missouri Ethics Commission reports cover a period from July 1 to Thursday.
Including her loan made Thursday, Steelman reported $503,319 on hand at the end of the period; Hulshof reported $426,772 on hand.
The campaigns presented rival interpretations about Steelman's infusion of money.
"We believe that the momentum is moving in our direction," said Steelman spokesman Spence Jackson. "This just shows how committed she is to winning it."
Countered Hulshof spokesman Scott Baker: "She has to prop up her own campaign because Missourians have little interest in doing it for her."
Hulshof received $241,014 in contributions during roughly the first three weeks of July.
Steelman's loan supplemented $129,952 she raised from others during that period. Included in her contributions was more than $25,000 from political action committees created by Rex Sinquefield, a retired investment broker and political activist.
Sinquefield has financed the Show-Me Institute, a think tank that has been critical of urban earnings taxes and Missouri's ethanol mandate - both of which Steelman has proposed to repeal.
Steelman, who previously supported the ethanol requirement, recently changed her position, claiming it has contributed to increases in food, livestock feed and even gas prices.
Hulshof supports the ethanol mandate and contends it has helped prevent gas prices from rising even higher.
Hulshof's spokesman said the Sinquefield contributions to Steelman - passed through various regional committees of "Missourians for Tax Reforms" and "My Job, My Wage" - might reveal why she is opposing the ethanol requirement
"Sarah changed her mind, and now there's $25,000, and people can connect the dots or not," Baker said. "It certainly provides the appearance that this is the reason she changed her mind on ethanol."
Steelman's spokesman called that assertion "patently false," though Jackson added that her position on ethanol likely was part of the reason Sinquefield contributed to her.
Nixon, who does not face a strong challenger in the Democratic primary, nonetheless raised $92,345 during the first several weeks of July and reported nearly $2.9 million on hand.
Nixon also launched his first TV ad during that time. Campaign finance reports show Nixon paid $731,000 to The Campaign Group in Philadelphia for media.
During the first few weeks of July, Hulshof reported paying $745,485 for media expenses to Thompson Communications Inc. in Marshfield. Steelman reported paying $498,590 to Media Placement Technologies of Alexandria, Va.
Copyright 2008 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.


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Gunung Arong
If you are a nature lover who enjoys mixtures of beautiful scenery – that combines blue sea and green jungle; flat sandy beach and mountain trail; tall standing tropical tree and beautiful orchid – then Gunung Arong is the right place to visit. Gunung Arong is located about 20 minutes north of Mersing, adjacent to Teluk Gorek and Tanjung Resang.
Gunung Arong has a number of uniqueness. The trail follows a one-way track. Trekkers normally start at the foothill near the small stream and ends at the other side of the mountain on the beach facing South China sea. At the summit of Gunung Arong and the adjoining Bukit Kapor, you can see the magnificent panoramic view of Tanjung Resang and Teluk Gorek area with scores of islands that you do not normally see from the beach. The trek is suitable even for beginners as it will only take around 3 hours for average climbers in a large group. For those regular climbers, only about 2 hours is required. However, take my advice – never underestimate challenges posed by any mountain, you might only regret later.
Celebration Day for IMGLAD B1
Day-23 marked the end of the first part of the training. The two days that followed were designated for appraisal during which all trainees were allocated individual session with their trainer. After completing the 25-days training program, the trainees were interviewed by participating companies for internships placement. Some would secure place soon enough, others would have to wait a little longer.
Interestingly, Day-23 for the IMGLAD B1 fell on the 23rd March 2007. Due to some unavoidable reasons, 3 of the trainees were not able to join the crowd. The journey began that Tuesday morning in a convoy of 3 cars and a van, departing from Skudai close to 9 am. We stopped for late breakfast at Dusun Panti, before continuing slowly towards Teluk Gorek in a scattered morning showers. When we reached the base camp, it was still raining.
Immediately upon arrival, Fendi, the group leader arranged the group check-in. After unpacking and a bit of opportunity to unwind following the bumpy journey, we had our lunch. Immediately after lunch, Peh announced that the permit to climb Gunung Arong has been granted by the forestry department for 23rd of march. "So, we have to climb today, even in the rain" said Peh again. Looking at their faces, there were mixed reactions, but they answered unanimously in affirmative. "Yes, we will climb.". "Aaah, I like these highly-spirited kids", a reflection in my heart. For this occasion, I was also accompanied by my wife, Hana and daughter, Huda.
Gunung Arong Trail
The overall expedition can be divided into four parts. The first leg was a "kampung walk" that stretched about 2 or 3 km from the base camp to the foothill. This was followed by an uphill hike, a descend trail and finally a beach walk towards the camp.
We started our journey at about 2.45 pm after the recitation of do'a that I extracted from "Al-azkar by Imam Nawawi" Interestingly, as we were about to start, the rain subsided and replaced by a bright sunshine. As we commenced our journey leaving the camp, we were greeted by a group of monkeys, running around in big families.
In our group there were several beginners. For some, that was their first time climbing a mountain, some did not look fit for the endeavor. Hoping for the best, we advanced with full enthusiasm.
After about half an hour climbing, some faces were pale, some were reddish, all were wet with sweats. The feelings? You can guess yourself. For me, I had a target to achieve – to ensure the success of going up and down together. "Success or failure, we'll be together", I said to myself. I was thus walking along with the slow ones.
As usual, tropical forests in Malaysia are bestowed with various interesting species of trees and flowers.
One of the most satisfying reward was the magnificent view from the summit. We were lucky as the view was very clear, following an afternoon rain and an evening sunshine.
From the top, we can see Teluk Gorek and Tanjung Resang, as well as islands off the coast, the largest of which was Pulau Seri Buat, one of the popular fishing spots.
Despite the beauties of the forest and the panoramic views of the area, the most satisfying reward for me was the fact that we accomplished the target, reaching the summit together despite all the obstacles. The credit went to the group members who were truly caring, showing compassion to those who had difficulties, playing motivators along the way especially during trying times. I have to admit, I am proud of them all.
The journey downward was supposed to be easier, but slippery tracks due to earlier rain made it more difficult than expected.
We moved slowly to avoid injury and made it to the beach after more than 3 hours of interesting journey.
As the tide was still high, we had to cross the water before reaching the camp. To some, it was up to their waist, but to the shorter ones, it was deeper.The rest of the evening were spent by enjoying the clear water of South China Sea.
After dinner, awards for 9 individuals and 2 groups were presented by Hana. The activities that followed were some creative presentations and games.
The next morning was filled with sports activities and a "sharing session" .
Due to the low morning tide, the planned kayak activities were delayed until after lunch and check-out. The journey home was thus delayed.
Congratulation IMGLAD B1
At the end of this entry, I would like to congratulate all members of IMGLAD B1 for having successfully completed the first part of the training program. You guys were wonderful. I appreciate all the cooperation and attention given. The strong team spirit and empathy shared among group members deserved to be praised. Wish you luck in all your future undertakings and may Allah guide you always…


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Golden boy McIlroy to host and sprinkle The Irish Open with stardust
His mere presence is a gilt-edged guarantee but the news that the Rory McIlroy Foundation is to host the Irish Open at Royal County Down next May coverts the golden boy into the King Midas of Irish golf.
He might not be putting his own millions into the prize fund but by committing to recruit his fellow players from both the European and US PGA Tours and work closely alongside the Tour in developing the event's commercial and sponsorship activities, the move by the four-time major winner is a massive boost to an event that's schedule for the Newcastle venue from May 28-31.
It takes place just a week after the flagship BMW PGA at Wentworth which will give McIlroy a chance to persuade some of his European Ryder Cup team mates to take part. But as it's also happening at the course where he did battle with the likes of Rickie Fowler, Billy Horschel, Chris Kirk and Webb Simpson in the 2007 Walker Cup, there will be high hopes that he can sprinkle the event with some mich needed stardust.
Who knows, perhaps he can even persuade Tiger Woods to return to a course he's played several times in preparation for the Open Championship.
McIlroy's charitable foundation, The Rory Foundation, will become the official charity of what will be called "The 2015 Irish Open Hosted by The Rory Foundation" with the beneficiaries to be chosen by the Foundation in conjunction with the European Tour.
At the announcement, which was made on Sky Sports on Sunday evening, McIlroy said: "Since making my debut in 2005, the Irish Open has always been a special tournament to me.
"I am excited to be partnering with George O'Grady and the European Tour, especially for next year's tournament at Royal County Down."
One of the major beneficiaries of The Rory Foundation, the Cancer Fund for Children, is located just a few miles from Royal County Down, in Newcastle.
McIlroy added: "It's a coincidence, but a nice one, allowing the Cancer Fund for Children to be introduced to other golfers who would be moved and engaged by what it does."
Welcoming the announcement, O'Grady said: "Since I first met Rory when he was playing for Europe in the 2004 Junior Ryder Cup team in Detroit, I could sense he was not just a remarkably talented golfer, but also a remarkable young man.
"As the Chief Executive of The European Tour, it has been a true pleasure watching Rory's transition from one of the world's leading amateur golfers in 2007 to the Number One golfer in the world and a four-time Major Champion.
"The European Tour is thrilled that Rory and his Foundation would wish to partner with the Tour and become more closely involved in the development of the Irish Open. Today's announcement further demonstrates Rory's uniquely special qualities and his commitment not simply to his national Open, but also to The European Tour."
The Irish Open has endured some torrid financial times since it lost its most recent title sponsor in 2010.
Gallery (below) Rory McIlroy practicing with the GB&I Walker Cup squad at Royal County Down in 2007
Ireland's raft of major winners - Pádraig Harrington, Graeme McDowell, Darren Clarke and McIlroy — have kept the tournament's flame alight with their star power while the European Tour has dipped into its coffers to bolster the prize fund and make up the rest with the help of a bevvy of official sponsors and government backing.
As a four-time major winner and world No 1, it's conceivable that McIlroy will arrive at Royal County Down for the first European to complete the career Grand Slam should he win the Masters in April.
The 2015 Irish Open will be the first held at Royal County Down for 75 years and given Sunday evening's announcement, there is sure to be interest from US television.
It's a win-win situation for McIlroy, his Foundation and for Irish golf.
With the Open Championship going back to Royal Portrush (almost certainly in 2019) and the Irish Open confirmed for Lough Erne in Co Fermanagh in 2017, there appears to be no end to the good times .
What will happen in 2016, when the event is scheduled to return to the Republic of Ireland, remains to be seen but if McIlroy remains on board as host, there will be no shortage of venues queuing up to welcome him.


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I tested it out on a second muslin of my pants. I forgot to take any photos, sorry! But I think I worked out most of the problems. The only thing is that I'm not convinced of the width of the legs. I did narrow them, but I might narrow them more. These are meant to be wide legged pants, but they are dramatically wider than the pattern pictures.
In other news, a sewing school is opening at the end of my block. I'm hoping they'll offer some advanced classes so I can take one and then have access to studio time with giant tables for cutting patterns. I'm so tired of cutting on the floor.