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Window seating the preferred location for two thirds of diners, study shows
08/11/2017 - 10:08
A study into the nation's preferred restaurant seating set up has revealed that almost two thirds of diners' first choice of where to sit would be by a window.
Written by James Callery
Research from online restaurant booking site, OpenTable, found that 61% of people felt sitting by a window helped make for the "perfect dining experience".
Six in ten of the 1,500 respondents admitted they will ask to move tables in a restaurant if they don't like the one they were allocated, with 10% claiming they do this almost every time.
Cramped seating was the most frequent reason given for moving tables, closely followed by being seated next to a draughty door.
Four in five (84%) of those polled said they prefer a small, intimate atmosphere to a bustling one, and half (49%) say their perfect distance from the next table would be around 4-5 feet.
The study also questioned diners' preference for table type and interiors with 38% of people choosing a rustic wooden table as their choice of eating surface. Two in five added that a tablecloth was a 'must have'.
Modern decor (36%), fresh flowers and plants (33%) were other features listed as helping make for a pleasant eating out experience.
Adrian Valeriano, vice president, Europe, OpenTable, said: "The table you sit at is quite literally the centerpiece of any dining experience.
"From rustic wooden benches to marble table tops and communal eating arrangements, we all know what we like and more importantly, don't like.
"Whether you prefer the window seat or a tucked away booth, our advice to diners is always to be honest with the restaurant team, let them know which table you'd like to be seated at from the outset to make the most of your experience."


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A LWB van will give you some serious load space without compromising too much on manoeuvrability or fuel consumption.
Examples of this type of van are the Ford Transit LWB and the Renault Master LWB.
Long wheelbase vans are ideal for larger, longer or heavier loads. They generally have a maximum laden weight of 3.5t - unlike SWB vans - and tend to offer around 9 cubic metres of load space - usually with a high roof and around 3.5m internal length.
All the major van manufacturers offer LWB vans - and the vast majority of van hire companies have them available too.
As you'd expect with a bigger, heavier vehicle, fuel consumption is lower - around 25-35mpg - and costs are slightly higher. Payload is up too and will probably be somewhere between 1400kg - 1600kg.
Driving a LWB panel van shouldn't be a problem for most car drivers - a little experience might help, but these larger vans generally have big, clear wing mirrors, power steering and car-like gear sticks and controls.
They are bigger and potentially less stable, though, so remember to take it easy on the bends and think a bit further ahead than usual.
Take a minute to think about your load, too. Is it securely fastened in the back, or will it move around when you go round a corner?
Depending on what you're carrying, you could end up damaging the van and the load if you don't secure or pack it properly. Not to mention your pride...
Some of the most popular makes and models you'll come across are:
See our What Size Van? page to work out if this type of hire van is the right size for your requirements.

subset: commoncrawl


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The face behind Sweeties Vintage
Lisa L. Martinez is a Los Angeles fashion stylist that has collaborated and styled on many projects ranging from a cover shoot for Rolling Stone Italy to curating a very eclectic and stylish collection of vintage finds. Leaning toward the free spirit feel of the 70s, Lisa had worn vintage herself since she was in high school. " I love wearing one of a kind items that have that edge and are slightly more hip than modern day items." Martinez explains. Her secret to looking cool is that she wears the actual old stuff. "The quality and attention to detail in clothing dating from 50s to 80s is remarkable."
Martinez enjoys styling personal clients, music videos, and countless magazine layouts in addition to growing her vintage clothing business. Being a stylist has led her to the best sources of incredible vintage goodies and her hunt to find the best treasures are never ending.


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LEDC is your one-stop portal for technical assistance, business counseling, sources of financing, import/export help, regulatory or permitting issues, workforce development, business recruitment and much more.
Co-Located with Vermont Small Business Development Center
In addition to the services LEDC offers, the Vermont Small Business Development Center has a Business Advisor, Charley Ininger, who is co-located at our office at 582 LaPorte Road in Morrisville, Vermont, (802) 888-4542.
Our strategic partners on the state, regional, and local level are part of this network that supports business and industry while working to strengthen the county's economy.
For help in any or all of these areas please contact us directly or click any of our partners below to visit their website.
- Farm Service Agency
- Senator Patrick Leahy
- Senator Bernie Sanders
- Small Business Administration
- Representative Peter Welch
- USDA, Rural Development
- State of Vermont
- Vermont Economic Development Authority
- Vermont Department of Economic Development
- Vermont Small Business Development Center
- Efficiency Vermont
- Vermont Global Trade Partnership
- Center for Rural Studies
- Vermont Manufacturing Extension Center
- Vermont Sustainable Jobs Fund
- Vermont Economic Progress Council
- Vermont Employee Ownership Center
- Vermont Center for Emerging Technologies
- Vermont Council on Rural Development
- Rural Vermont
- Vermont Housing Conservation Board
- Vermont Housing Finance Agency
- Lamoille County Planning Commission
- Lamoille Chamber of Commerce
- Lamoille Regional Solid Waste Management District
- Vermont Department of Labor
- Green Mountain Technology and Career Center
- Lamoille Workforce Investment Board
- Lamoille Housing Partnership
- Johnson, Vermont
- Morrisville, Vermont
- Smugglers' Notch Area Chamber of Commerce
- Stowe Area Association
- Town of Stowe Vermont
- Town of Hyde Park Vermont
- Town of Wolcott
- Town of Elmore
- Town of Eden


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Would you like to write about a new technology / framework / engine related to game, app and web development? Would you like to share your story with people who want to create their own games?
If you are interested in writing a tutorial we would love you to get in touch with us and work out some the topics you want to write about.
Why write for the Game Dev Academy?
- Having tutorials under your name can be a great portfolio piece for potential employers in the game development industry. It can also impress potential customers.
- We'll take care of bringing lots of people to your content and share it all over the web.
- If you would like to promote your brand, website, game or product in your tutorial that is totally cool with us.
What can I write about?
Here is a few suggestions, we are also open to hear your ideas:
- All sorts of programming tutorials: How to build a game with a certain language / engine / technology.
- Tutorials on how to build a game with drag and drop game engines.
- Comparisons between different game frameworks.
- How to use tools / programs related to game dev.
- Design, artwork, and usability aspects of game development.
- Entrepreneurship and game development.
- Marketing of games.


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WILLOUGHBY, Bob (photographer); Richard Schickel (text)
New York: Random House, (1974). First Edition. 4to. White boards with silver- and gilt-stamped titles, in photographic dust jacket. A very good copy in like jacket. Mild edgewear, rubbing. Light bump to book's spine at head. Bright, clean, throughout; binding tight. 268pp. 039449380X (Item ID: 18160)
Lavishly designed book of movie set photographs from the "Platinum" years of Hollywood. Films include REBEL WITHOUT A CAUSE, MY FAIR LADY, DR. DOLITTLE, and ROSEMARY'S BABY.
More: Photography • rss
By This Author: WILLOUGHBY, Bob (photographer); Richard Schickel (text)


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On Wednesday 11th of February, Point England School lost one of our most important teachers. Mrs She is a very independent, loving and caring person who will never complain through out her years here in Point England. Being in Mrs She's class in 2008, was one of the greatest blessings I could ask for. Mrs She was a very strong women to me, who helped me and supported me through my time at Point England. Her smile was my favorite things about her. It always made me smile too :) As I am writing this, my heart feels really broke down and numb just thinking about her. When I first heard the news, I quickly broke down in a blink of an eye, that's how much I loved her.
- Mrs She,
My condolences go out to you and your lovely family. You were very warm, funny and lovely to me. Most importantly, you are a winner to me. Even when your fighting, your smile would always lighten everyday up. I know that your family is very proud of your work as a loving mother. Mrs She, I pray for you and your family to carry on through this hard time. I love you heaps and a lot more! You were the best junior role model I have had ever known. I send many blessings and strength to you and each of your wonderful children. May you be laid in peace and love. I love you Mrs She. xoxo


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|By Admin1 (admin) (ppp-70-245-110-11.dsl.okcyok.swbell.net - 18.104.22.168) on Friday, February 10, 2006 - 4:49 am: Edit Post
1967: James S. Harrison served in Sierra Leone in Koyeima School north of Bo beginning in 1967
Returned Peace Corps Volunteer James S. Harrison can be contacted at jsh279ahotmaildcom
Country of Service: Sierra Leone
Training Group: Secondary Education
Cities you served in: Koyeima School north of Bo
Arrival Year: 1967
Departure Year: 1969
Work Description: Taught geography at Koyeima School.
Bring us up to date on your life after the peace corps:
I returned to NYC for four years and then moved to Oregon where I
taught in the public school system for 20 years; I am now a college
professor and teach African history.
Any thoughts you have now looking back on peace corps days?:
Those were still the greatest years of my young life.
Anyone you are looking for or would like to hear from?:
I'd be happy to hear from any PCVs from the 66-70 years.
Originally posted: August 10, 2001
Looking for another volunteer who served with this Group?
If you know this volunteer or someone from his or her group and are looking to reconnect with them,
leave a message above where it says "Create New Conversation."
If this is your profile, post any additions, updates or corrections to your profile below where it says "Add a Message."
RPCVs: To add your own RPCV profile click here.
| The Peace Corps Library
Peace Corps Online is proud to announce that the Peace Corps Library is now available online. With over 30,000 index entries in 500 categories, this is the largest collection of Peace Corps related stories in the world. From Acting to Zucchini, you can use the Main Index to find hundreds of stories about what RPCVs with your same interests or from your Country of Service are doing today.
|By James S. Harrison (126.96.36.199) on Tuesday, November 10, 2015 - 12:33 am: Edit Post
An update. I now live in Oregon. I taught at Koyeima Secondary School- 1967 to 1969.
My email address is jsh279 at gmail dot com


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Tuesday is always a fun day for me, I can't wait to get on, and find in my inventory my new 25L Tuesday shopping list. This week Kei-Spot put out a few different Nymph outfits. You get a dress, wings and antenna in each pack.
Shape - Over the Moon - Tigerlily Shape - SL Marketplace Free Gift
Hair - Rezology - Save the Queen in Brown - Free Dove Free Item
Skin - Bold and Beauty - Marihenny Skin in Coffee Tone
Eyes - Kurious Panda - 2013 Holiday Eyes - SL Marketplace Free Gift
Lashes - Essences - Eyelashes 01
Hands - Slink - Casual Pose
Nail Appliers - By Snow - French Natural Nails - SL Marketplace Free Gift
Outfit - Kei-Spot - Snakeskin Forset Nymph - L$25 for 25L Tuesday
Pose by Bella Epoque - A Thousand Years Pose Set - L$25 for 25L Tuesday
Location - Dandelion DayDreams Factory
This post features an items from the wonderful collection of fantasy designers who are a part of the Medieval Fantasy Grid Crier group. https://medievalsl.wordpress.com/


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Capello 2seater Sofa
Dimensions: 2100(W) x 900(D) x 700(H)
"The Capello couches, exclusive to Furniture Warehouse, has got that classic look to turn any dull lounge into a beautiful living area.
The Capello couches are constructed from solid A grade timber, manufactured with kiln dried,
industrial spec, South African pine.
High quality webbing is used as a support base and is topped off with a high density multilayer foam cushion seating.
All springs and webbing are covered with Polyprop before foam is applied.
All loose back cushions are filled with chip foam in various grades and filled into a
lutrasil cover before fitted into the back cushion.
The Capello couches come in variety of colours, and fabric choices (subject to availability)
to suite any living space and style."


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We all love Jim Cramer's rants, because whether you think he's right or wrong you have to admit two things — he makes a point, and he makes it with trademarked style.
This morning, his rant focused on JP Morgan CEO Jamie Dimon. Dimon's annual shareholder letter came out yesterday, and around page 20, the CEO goes into a long discussion of the damage new government regulation is doing to JPM. It's going to cost his bank about $3 billion.
Cramer, you will soon see, was not impressed. "He's a whiner," said the Squawk on the Street host.
His co-hosts broke in with the usual, "well he's saying what everyone on the Street is thinking... etc."
But that wasn't enough for Cramer either. Bottom line: To him, the banks are paying for the things that they did. "No one asked them to make those mortgages," he argued. Period.
"I wanted to see (Dimon say), 'Look, it's a mess... but in the interim we're going to kill everyone because we get it.' I want offense! I want charging! I want no whining! I didn't get that."
Watch the video below:
Get the latest JPM stock price here.


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Heaven News 9 January 2007
New Subscribers
The Beauty of Volunteers
Your Most Wonderful E-mails
Holiday Greetings
God Quote and Response
Welcome to New Subscribers Everywhere
Welcome to New Subscribers around the Universe
India Canada United Kingdom Italy
Australia Romania Mexico Portugal Spain
Belgium Turkey Mozambique Ireland
California, Illinois, Maryland, Tennessee, Nevada, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Texas, Oregon, New Mexico, Utah, Nebraska, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Indiana, Colorado, Washington, North Carolina, Virginia, Georgia, Maine, Florida
The Beauty of Volunteers
Naomi www.roseofgalilee.org has added another Hebrew translation, #2220, The Tone of Your life.
Jana www.iamamiracle.com has translated the flash presentation into French, and
Leen www.reikileen.be has translated it into Dutch for us.
Dr. Laura De Giorgio, www.deeptrancenow.com will get them up for us as soon as possible.
Many thanks to Leen, Engin, Veronika, Maria, Paula, Alexiis, Pablo, and Gloria Janaya who faithfully translate Heavenletters into Dutch, Turkish, German, Italian, Greek, and Spanish. Note we have three Spanish translators. More translators are always welcome.
Paula received the following recognition from a subscriber to her Italian translations:
What you are doing is a prelude to something magnificent and great. Your translations are your way of giving of yourselves to others and your way of passing your immense love to others. You are as important as those who have the talent of writing. Without your translations, everything would be available only for few. Believe me, your work is an enormous light for so many. There are so many people who every morning wait anxiously for your translations, and in the silence of their hearts thank you and love you for what you are doing, even without knowing you personally. Be blessed for ever, with brotherly love --
This acclaim goes for all translators, of course. It also goes to all the angel team who do so much to keep the Heaven train running. This includes all the publishers and sponsors of workshops and the almost 3,000 subscribers. You are long familiar with volunteers like Adrachin, the forum administrator; Kirt, the webmater; Annette, the archivist; Karen, haiku poet; Russ Michael, promoter; and Santhan, Creative and Marketing Director. Berit of Italy is now helping with Heaven News. Great gratitude to you all.
Special thanks to Ron Hall firstname.lastname@example.com who so generously continues to give us his magnificent Metatron™Global Technology products. The latest is an activated Personal Harmonizer that you carry in your wallet. It enhances every aspect of life. Thank you, Ron.
Your Most Wonderful Emails
Sadly, too much mail arrives in my junk box. I have even found Heavenletters there! I certainly have found the most beautiful emails from many of you there as well. I shudder to think of all those I haven't found and that went off into cyberspace.
The solution is simple.
Please put your comments up on the Heavenletters Community Forum http://heavenletters.org/angelsplace/index.php or the Heaven blog www.godwriting.org I will be sure to find them there.
Adrachin has just made it as easy as pie to register on the forum. And for the Heaven blog, it's always been a breeze. I look forward so much to reading your comments on the forum and the blog. Many thanks for your consideration.
Holiday Greetings
I know it's late for Christmas Greetings, but isn't it wonderful when someone of a different faith values another faith as deeply as his own? Please read this beautiful message from C. M. Yogi in Nepal:
Dear Friends
Namaste !We wish you a very happy and joyful Christmas. May Christ always be with us showering his blessings in order to enable us to lead a meaningful and benevolent life. May we always be wise enough to understand Him, realize Him and act according to His divine direction for the happiness of everyone. May He always guide us towards the path of service and love so as to create a more harmonized and peaceful world.
Let's praise Him,for this universe of countless stars
for this planet earth and its abundance of life
for the oceans and sea creatures
for the deserts and their unexpected life
for the mountains and cascading waterfalls
for the plains and the grasses and flowers
for the forests with their prolific variety of life
for the beauty of birds and the wonder of wildlife
for domestic creatures
and for one another - our fellow human beings.
And, we wish that the New Year 2007 will be filled with joy, happiness, peace and prosperity. May the New Year bring more hope, successes and determination to your life so that the world filled with all good virtues would be built where everyone could enjoy the beauty and wonders of the Mother Earth.
Sincerely yours,Chintamani Yogi
And, Hindu Vidyapeeth-Nepal Family
C. M. Yogi has an ashram in Nepal. He feeds and educates the homeless children. Does he not live all of God's teachings?
Veronika veronika.lichtserver.net who translates Heavenletters into German suggested that we relax into the New Year as follows. And I think it's a great idea!
God Quote:
"No one can tell you what you are. They can tell you until they are blue in the face, but your evolution is not a question of advice. Your evolution is not a sequence that you can map out. It is not a school of study. Your evolution takes its own course. Just like history does. It cannot be clamped down. We are talking about your history, beloveds, and you are vibrant and alive. You are not a theory. You are My child I love. So love and be loved, and your love does not have to have a name. It does not have to fit under a heading. It does not have to be identifiable. It just has to be the love it is where it is and how it is. Aim for love, but do not don robes of love, beloveds, as if love were something you had to put on."
HEAVEN #2215 Your Evolution December 16, 2006
Santhan www.khanyi.com www.mojahmedia.com selected the above quotation and wrote the following:
My God, I love You
I care not about the Zen and their theory of no God.
I am within You and You within me.
I am Thine.
That is what is felt.
Your presence everywhere.
Your magnificent beauty. Your simple beauty. You're simply beautiful!
When there is no more me and only You, then I will be free.
Then I will fly again like in that distant intensity,
Fleeting moments of powerful remembrance.
Happy New Year and love and blessings on behalf of all the Heaven Team,


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As a massive concrete paving machine inches its way along a 1.6-mile-long strip of real estate at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, Port of Seattle officials are entering final approach on their long journey to add a third runway for the Northwest's biggest airport.
What a long, sometimes strange, trip it's been.
SeaTac's new runway will run parallel to the existing runways on the west side of the airport. It will help reduce flight delays at the airport by giving SeaTac the capability of operating at full capacity in nearly every type of weather. The total cost of the runway is estimated at $1.2 billion, making it the most expensive public works project ever undertaken at SeaTac.
Construction of the third runway at SeaTac has been two decades in the making. Transportation planners recognized the limitations on bad-weather operations imposed by SeaTac's current two runways as long ago as the 1980s. Because the existing runways are only 800 feet apart, FAA regulations limit the airport to operating only one runway for both incoming and outgoing aircraft when visibility is limited. That's a big deal, considering the airport served about 29 million travelers last year.
After a thorough investigation of possible alternatives to expanding SeaTac came up empty, the Port of Seattle filed an Environmental Impact Statement for building the Third Runway in February 1996. Permitting and legal wrangling with neighboring communities consumed more time, and work on the preliminary phase of construction began in 1997.
In 2002, contractors for the port began the first of several projects that ultimately would consume 13 million cubic yards of earth to fill a slope on the north end of the airport. Three giant retaining walls, the tallest 130 feet high, were built to hold the dirt in place (see PB&E, Nov. 7, 2005). It wasn't until the middle of 2004, however, that the port won final approval to construct the runway.
ICON Materials, with headquarters in Kent, Wash., won the job to pave the runway with a bid of $79.8 million in January 2007. Ironically, the paving project constitutes just 6 percent of the total cost that the Port of Seattle is spending to build the runway.
The centerpiece of the project is, of course, the runway. It measures 8,500 feet long by 150 feet wide and is 17 inches thick. Eight concrete taxiways, each 100 feet wide, will connect it to the rest of the airport, said Bruce Harjehausen, construction manager for ICON Materials.
"It's not complicated at all," Harjehausen said in jest. "Just get the concrete down, grade the shoulders and land the plane."
Actually, there is a lot more to the project than simply paving a big strip of concrete. It also involves installing 70,000 linear feet of duct banks and 25,000 linear feet to 30,000 linear feet of storm sewer and water lines, plus extending the safety area by 40,000 square feet for the airport's existing 16C runway (which will become SeaTac's center runway in the new configuration) by placing about 1 million tons of fill at the north end of the airport. In addition, the runway and taxiway shoulders will be paved with 35,000 tons of asphalt, 1,500 runway and taxiway lights will be installed in fixtures cast into the concrete, and 500,000 square yards of airport property will be seeded.
Work began early this year when mass excavation subcontractor SCI Infrastructure did the cut for the runway. ICON followed, starting late March, with 320,000 cubic yards of cut and fill work to shape the infields between the taxiways. ICON also is doing earthwork, grading, crushed rock, and asphalt paving, plus trenching and backfill for the duct banks, Harjehausen said.
Meanwhile, work on the Runway 16C extension got under way. ICON is supplying fill and topsoil from its site in nearby Auburn, Wash., running 75 trucks in a 24-hour operation. To ease their impact on the busy roadways around the airport, ICON is running 45 trucks at night and just 30 during the daytime, Harjehausen said. The fill area will be held in place by a 60-foot-high MSE wall supplied by Reinforced Earth Co., he added.
In addition, subcontractor Harbor Pacific Contractors Inc., Woodinville, Wash., is building a 12,000-square-foot lighting vault on the far side of the runway that will serve the entire airport.
Gary Merlino Construction, the Seattle-based runway and taxiway paving subcontractor, set up a mobile batch plant at the north end of the airport to produce the 133,000 cubic yards of concrete needed for the project. With the plant no farther than 1.6 miles from the site of the paving, it has been no problem to deliver concrete in open dump trucks. The concrete mix includes fly ash, port officials have reported.
Concrete paving began with the taxiways on July 19, and then moved on to the runway itself on Aug. 6, starting on the south end. Harjehausen said the Merlino crew is able to pave three or four days a week, depending on the cure times.
The preparations for paving included rolling the subgrade to 100-percent compaction and then placing an 8-inch layer of crushed rock, which was hauled from Washington Rock Quarries Inc. in Graham, Wash., Harjehausen said. ICON used three graders and eight rollers for this work, he added.
Merlino Construction is using a Gomaco GHP2800 slipform paver for the project. Because the dowel bar cages and light cans are prepositioned ahead of the paver, Merlino is feeding concrete to it with two Gomaco 9500s placed on either side of the section to be paved. Trucks deliver concrete to the hoppers of the 9500s, and their conveyers dump the material in front of the GHP2800 as the three machines move in unison.
A crew from Arizona-based T.L. Smith follows after the concrete takes its initial set to saw cut it into 20-foot-by-20-foot panels for the expansion joints. Merlino Construction also is using a Gomaco TC 600 surfacer to create a rough texture on the runway.
Likely starting in January, a crew from Pennsylvania-based Cardinal Grooving will spend 12 working days cutting runoff slots in the runway that will allow rain water to dissipate. The slots, measuring 1/4-inch wide and 1/4-inch deep and placed 1-1/2 inches apart, will run perpendicularly across the runways. After that, Apply-A-Line Inc., Pacific, Wash., will stripe the runway.
Harjehausen said ICON expects the runway paving to be completed early this fall. Then another year of work will remain to tie the new runway into the existing airport facility.
"This is different and interesting," Harjehausen said of the project. "But basically it's earthwork, grading and paving when it comes right down to it. It's just that the scope is huge."
Port of Seattle officials expect the new runway, designated Runway 16R, to open in November 2008.


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This is for my son's lunch bento box. Usually I don't decorate his bento but due to my daughter not feeling well and only prepared one bento. I just can't help it without decorate it since I've plenty of time after finished cooking the spaghetti ^_^
The two birds were added last minute as I find it too plain in the middle :p I think myself can't help it without making any cute character! Haha....when I told my son and he saw the birds. He said: Mummy, its ok. I will shake it before I open =_="
I just add cucumber, egg sheet, sweet potato and cherry tomato for decoration. Birds were cheese and used cutter to cut. Punch out nori for the birds details. For fruits, I cut some kiwi fruits, strawberries and grapes.
I hope you will like this simple design "Birds Spaghetti" bento ^_^ Cheers!


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Spanish Language School
Director's Message
"We are committed to sharing with you the wonderfully diverse Oaxacan culture and the beauty of the Spanish lanuage."
Location Maps
Here we offer you maps of the state of Oaxaca as well as maps of the downtown area of Oaxaca City.
Photo Gallery
Check out photos of past students participating in workshops and events here at ICO, as well as photos that portray the culture and traditions of Oaxaca!
Spanish in Oaxaca, Mexico
Related Links
Check out these external links to learn more about some of our partner institutions and associations.
Real Reviews
Join hundreds of others, many of whom have already shared their opinions about studying Spanish in Oaxaca.


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Rangers Yankees Betting – Rangers Look To Flex Muscle Against Yankees In The Bronx
When the Texas Rangers met the New York Yankees for a three-game set in the Bronx in mid-April, reigning MVP Josh Hamilton watched from the sidelines with an injury as the pinstripes took two of three from the defending AL champions. With Hamilton back in the lineup the Rangers feel as though they are ready to exact some revenge and return the favor in a three-game set this week to build their lead in the AL West division.
Texas Rangers @ New York YankeesTuesday, 7:05 PM ET
There isn't a better way to open a series between two playoff contenders than to have the two best pitchers for both teams on the mound in a crucial matchup. That will be the case when Yankees' starter CC Sabathia throws the first pitch on Tuesday, when he will try to set the tone for the game against Texas starter Alexei Ogando. Sabathia allowed six earned runs in just over six innings of work in a loss to the Boston Red Sox the last time that he was on the mound, and will need to be much better to give New York a chance against Ogando. The Rangers' ace is perfect so far this season with seven wins and a 2.10 ERA, and has allowed just one earned run in each of his last two sports betting starts.MLB Betting Pick: Texas Rangers
Texas Rangers @ New York Yankees
Wednesday, 7:05 PM ETThe same way that the Rangers' offense came alive in the opener to keep Ogando perfect, they will do it again in the second game to continue to add to Derek Holland's win column. Despite a pedestrian 4.41 ERA Holland is 5-1 on the season, and should have the edge over Ivan Nova. Nova has looked very good in his past two starts and should be due for a loss, and while Texas should take it look for the over as the solid sports betting bonus option as well with both offenses taking advantage of a weaker pitching matchup.
MLB Betting Pick: Texas Rangers
Texas Rangers @ New York Yankees
Thursday, 7:05 PM ET
The Yankees still aren't sure who they will go with for Thursday's contest, but whoever it is he will need to have a big game to prevent the sweep. New York has hovered around the .500 mark through their past ten games, and in order to avoid falling even further behind the Boston Red Sox for the division lead in the AL East they will need a solid effort from on the mound. CJ Wilson will get the call for Texas, and he has looked very good of late with consecutive wins in which he has allowed three runs combined. Still, the Yankees are too good and too proud to be swept at home by the defending AL champions, and they will answer by solving Wilson early on to avoid the MLB betting sweep.
MLB Betting Pick: New York Yankees


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B-D reports:
If you head on over to Rope of Silicon you can check out five clips from Fox Atomic's Turistas, which hits theaters on December 1st. The film is the tale of college-age backpackers who embark on a dream vacation along the Brazilian coast. After an accident leaves them stranded, they discover a beachside bar filled with revelers, only to end up drugged by the locals and two of them kidnapped.


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Captain's Report
Contents of Report
While there are many changes and upgrades in the new Back Cove 30 over the old 29, 9 things pop out at us right away as being noteworthy. Let's take them one at a time—
1. Beam.
The nine inches of added beam may not sound like much, but it is 7% more, and that has allowed Back Cove to do two important things on the bridge deck. First, it permits a bench seat to be placed on the portside facing forward so that a companion or two can join the skipper in piloting activities. We like facing forward when we're boating and now three sets of eyeballs can be keeping lookout forward. Second, a sofa for two has been added to the port side just abaft the forward-facing seat. These two additions mean that four more people can be seated on the bridge deck of the new 30-footer. Added beam also pays off in the cabin, as well, creating a larger, more comfortable V-berth both for sleeping and when using the berths as seats around the table. Nine inches also turns into more usable stowage space for dry goods and oil skins. In the cockpit, Back Cove has been able to add an extra step from the cockpit sole up to the side decks. The added beam will also make the boat more stable at rest.
2. New cockpit arrangement.
While the Back Cove 29 was conceived as a boat for a couple, perhaps it did not fully appreciate how much the boat would be used for entertaining. And the prime entertaining area on almost every boat in this size range is the cockpit. The Back Cove 30 was two comfortable seats, one each in the port and starboard quarters of the cockpit. This not only provides seating, but also much-needed storage beneath.
3. Transom door.
The 29 did not have a transom door. That meant that visitors who came by tender had to climb over the transom to get aboard. From a floating dock it meant that everyone had a big step up from the dock the boat's gunwale to board. With the new transom door on the 30, entrance and egress will be easy.
4. Yanmar 315-hp diesel is standard.
When we tested the old 29 several years ago she was powered by the Yanmar 315-hp engine, so we have a pretty good idea of how the new boat might perform. The added beam and the 2000 lbs. (909 kgs.) added displacement will – all things being equal – reduce the boat's speed somewhat. But, of course, all things aren't equal. The hull is one foot longer, there is an "advanced prop pocket hull design" and the boat has reverse chines – all elements which should improve performance. The WOT speed we recorded on the old 29 was 27.5 knots with a 7/8ths fuel load and two people aboard. Backing off the throttle 14%, at 3250 rpm our Back Cove 29 registered 21.7 knots and got 1.85 nmpg. This is where most people will feel comfortable running the boat, and maybe even a bit slower at 20 knots. (We find that running a 20 knots makes navigational math easier.)
5. More displacement.
As noted above, the new Back Cove 30 has 2,000 lbs. more displacement. Most of that added weight is because of the added material required to make the boat beamier. Other new structures such as the new seats in the cockpit and on the bridge, also added to the boat's weight. We like the extra weight because it makes the boat more comfortable in a seaway, and it, along with the added beam and reverse chines, will make the boat more stable at rest.
6. Spoon-shaped bow.
The new 30 has what Back Cove calls a "traditional spoon-shaped bow" that flares to throw water down and away from the hull. That and secondary spray rails should do a lot to help keep the deck and windshield dry. Another benefit of the new bow flair is that an added storage shelf can be installed in the forward cabin.
7. Improved mechanical access.
The new 30's entire helm deck sole rises on a hydraulic life to expose the engine compartment below. This is said by the folks at Back Cove to make access to service points on the diesel engine "exceptional." This is a big improvement on the access hatches on the 29 to the engine and engine room.
8. Increased capacities.
Both fuel and water capacities have been increased by 10 gallons (38 L). The fuel tank on the 30 holds 160 gallons (608 L) and the water tanks is 40 gal. (152 L).
9. Softer lines.
The most obvious change is the slight tumble home added to the transom. That, together with the flair in the bow and the rounded edges of the cabin, all work together harmoniously to create a pleasing "Downeast" look without being squared-off like most Maine workboats. Back Cove has made its reputation by giving good value for money, and for doing the important structural and mechanical things right. The company is owned by the same folks who build the Sabre powerboat line, which is more expensive and more up-market than is the Back Cove line. So, if the price-point of the Sabre models are too rich for your blood, or you just don't think you'll be using the boat enough to justify the extra cost, then Back Cove's line of boats is a good option.
Standard and Optional Features
|Air Cond./Heat
|Battery Charger/Converter
|CD Stereo
|Dripless Shaft Seals
|Shore Power
|Trim Tabs
Exterior Features
|Outlet: 12-Volt Acc
|Swim Ladder
|Swim Platform
|Transom Door
|Transom Shower
Boats More Than 30 Feet
|Bow Thruster
|Oil Change System
Full Warranty Information on this brand coming soon!
(It's quick and FREE!)


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EVANSTON, Ill. — Studio2a, one of the world's leading architectural rendering agencies, announced a major, recent update to the company's online portfolio at www.studio2a.net. Now stocked with nearly a hundred Studio2a 3d Architectural Renderings and other samples of past projects, the newly updated portfolio clearly displays the quality and scope of the company's work. Since 1998, Studio2a has been collaborating with architects, designers, advertising agencies and others to create detailed, realistic, engaging 3d renderings of interior and exterior architectural spaces and other projects.
"Seeing is believing, especially in this industry. That's why we're so excited to announce that we have just updated our online portfolio," said Studio2a founder and Principal Adam Kruvand, "From large-scale commercial buildings to intimate residential spaces, our updated portfolio shows how our architecturally informed approach produces results that make a difference. We encourage everyone interested in the field to stop by our website to have a look."
Ever since individuals began specializing in the field thousands of years ago, architects have struggled with how best to convey their ideas and visions to clients and patrons. While sketches and blueprints can help, they require leaps of imagination that can betray the basic goal. With the advent of realistic, computerized three-dimensional rendering technology in the 1990s and its subsequent refinement, a solution to this age-old problem finally came into sight.
While studying architecture as an undergraduate at the University of Kansas, Studio2a founder Kruvand first became deeply impressed by the potential of 3d rendering technology. Working as a young architect for a world-class athletic architecture firm after graduating, Kruvand decided to pursue 3d rendering on his own, opening the doors of Studio2a in 1998 at a time when there were very few other companies focusing on the same goals.
Since then, the architecturally informed perspective that Studio2a brings to 3d rendering has become a pillar of the industry. Accounting at a basic level for the fact that architectural rendering necessarily implicates two very different and individually complex fields, Studio2a experts stay continually abreast of the latest developments and technologies in each.
Combined with a deep commitment to communicating and collaborating in productive ways, that drive allows the studio to produce renderings that help architects connect more directly with their own clients. With Studio2a's online portfolio having now been updated, visitors to the company's website will find dozens of examples of the results of this uniquely effective take on architectural 3d rendering.
About Studio2a:
Since 1998, Studio2a has been one of world's most successful and influential architectural rendering companies, combining an ever-evolving knowledge of architecture and cutting-edge technological skills with a deep commitment to collaboration and communication.


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Date: Jun 20, 2018 | Time: 8:00 pm
The Shakespeare Festival St. Louis presents "Shakespeare in the Park - Romeo and Juliet" which will be performed in Shakespeare Glen located in Forest Park, near the Saint Louis Art Museum. Performances take place nightly June 1st through the 24th (except on Tuesdays) at 8pm. The "Greenshow" starts at 6:30pm. Bring lawn chairs or a blanket to sit on. Concessions available beginning at 5:30pm. Admission is FREE! See website for all the details!
For More Information:
Shakespeare in the Park | 315-531-9800 | Website
Shakespeare in the Park is an annual production of a Shakespearean play, produced and performed by Shakespeare Festival St. Louis. The performances take place over several weeks beginning in the end of May and continuing for a few weeks in June. The productions are held in the outdoor Shakespeare Glen that is located in Forest Park near the St. Louis Art Museum. Admission to the plays are free and are a highlight of the summer in St. Louis.
Directions: Shakespeare Glen is located in Forest Park, just off Fine Arts Drive on the east side of Art Hill between the St. Louis Zoo and the St. Louis Art Museum.


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Iskandar Investment Berhad (IIB) is a strategic developer incorporated in November 2006 to stimulate the long-term development of Iskandar Malaysia. It is currently focused on Iskandar Puteri (previously known as Nusajaya) or Flagship Zone B. Khazanah Nasional Berhad (KNB), Employees Provident Fund (EPF) and Kumpulan Prasarana Rakyat Johor (KPRJ) are the shareholders of IIB.
To ensure that Iskandar Malaysia grows into an attractive investment destination and a vibrant livable region, IIB continues its focus on developing catalytic or high impact projects in the education, tourism & leisure, creative and health & wellness sectors that cultivate a dynamic and sustainable ecosystem.
IIB has an outstanding track record of delivering dynamic catalytic projects. Its principal accomplishments to date include the successful joint ventures and investment partnerships in EduCity, LEGOLAND® Malaysia Resort, Medini and numerous infrastructure projects under the 9th Malaysia Plan in Iskandar Malaysia that include the Lebuhraya Pesisir Pantai Johor Bahru-Nusajaya or more popularly known as the 'Coastal Highway'.
IIB through its wholly owned subsidiary EduCity Iskandar Malaysia Sdn Bhd (EIMSB), has developed EduCity as the new education hub in the region. Already in operations with nine (9) local and international education partners, EduCity plays a significant part in developing the education sector of Iskandar Malaysia. EduCity shall be further developed to reinforce its status; as the education cluster's multiplier effects have proven to be multifarious to the local economy.
The latest development to benefit the rakyat is the Coastal Highway Southern Link (CHSL), the final stretch of the Coastal Highway from Johor Bahru to the Second Link. The CHSL, upon its completion in the second quarter of 2017, will reduce travel time from the Sultan Abu Bakar CIQ at the Second Link to Medini, from ten to just five minutes.
IIB not only plans for a sustainable head-line growth but is also mindful that growth with equity is always its top most priority. And this is where its social inclusion projects are meticulously designed to benefit the locals, whether through education, employment, business opportunities or community building. The first major social inclusion project for IIB was the relocation of Kampung Sg Pendas which involved 72 units of houses built on 40 acres of land, while maintaining its natural green landscape and terrain. The second phase of the Kg Sg Pendas relocation development which is expected to be completed by Q4 2017 will add a further 46 units of houses to the local community. For this phase, IIB will help the villagers to ply their trade and venture into businesses related to tourism activities. This project will see the construction of two restaurants, a wet market, a retail area and a new jetty. Upon completion of the project, villagers will be able to sell their daily catch and other processed marine products direct to consumers. They can also set up various eco-tourism based businesses such as fishing trips, boat excursions, guided tours and homestays.
Another of our major social inclusion programmes – Cruyff Court Iskandar (CCI) – is an enormous success with the youths in Johor Bahru. CCI was built and launched as part of a worldwide initiative in 2012 through a collaboration with the Cryuff Foundation to provide sports programmes especially to children. Located at Kg Melayu Majidee, it was the first Cruyff Court in Southeast Asia and was graciously officiated by DYAM Tunku Ismail Ibni Sultan Ibrahim; the Tunku Mahkota Johor. The development of CCI was made possible through the generous sponsorship from Khazanah Nasional Berhad whilst the sports programmes have been kindly sponsored by other corporate sponsors namely Sunway Group Berhad, Mah Sing Group Berhad, WCT Berhad, Sunsuria Development Berhad, UM Land Berhad, Distinctive Group Berhad, MCT Berhad and Tang Group Pte Ltd.
Education also forms a key focus in our initiatives. Through our collaboration with the PINTAR Foundation, we are committed to inculcating education empowerment and improvement that results in the most beneficial returns to the society. The IIB school adoption programmme under PINTAR began in 2011 to support under-served schools to create a culture of education excellence and develop human capital of high caliber in the region.


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We arrived at the park and started up the path. The signs said that once you arrived to the tunnel portion of the path, children and those with improper footwear should turn around. The rest of the path would be extremely dangerous and difficult. I blew it off...like we got this..no big deal. Ok, well it was a big deal....it was the scariest climb I have ever taken! And Van, the mountain goat that he is, just climbed it with no concerns...in his flip flops!!
I actually have no photos of the "path" that we took because I couldn't hold my camera. The path was extremely rocky and slippery and just plain terrifying. My legs were shaking just about the entire time and I just focused on following Van the mountain goat.
Well, we made it to the top and it was totally worth it. The views were INSANE. You really can't even imagine how high it was. We could even see Ibiza from the top. We sat up at the top and took in the views and let our muscles rest.
|Panoramic view
|Cray cray mountain Goat
|Our hotel is the black one in the upper left
The climb down was easier but OMG my muscles were done when we reached the bottom. Luckily we found the perfect spot to park ourselves afterwards with a nice jug of sangria. I am so glad I stuck with the climb and completed it. The views and the feeling of accomplishment were well worth it. And so was the sangria :)


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Product Description
This rhythmic read-aloud par excellence follows a clever mouse on a walk through the deep dark wood, where he encounters several hungry inhabitants who want to make him their main course. Lacking size or strength as defenses, quick-witted Mouse instead taps the powers of his imagination to create the gruffalo, a 'terrible creature with terrible claws, and terrible tusks in his terrible jaws.' But will Mouse's frightful description be enough to ruin the appetites of his determined foes? After all, there's no such thing as a gruffalo. Oh, no??
Publishers Weekly
The eponymous character introduced by this British team owes a large debt to Maurice Sendak's Where the Wild Things Are. When Mouse meets Fox in the 'deep dark wood,' he invents a story about the gruffalo, described very much like Sendak's fearsome quartet of wild things--'He has terrible tusks, and terrible claws, and terrible teeth in his terrible jaws.' The gullible fox runs away when Mouse tells him that the gruffalo's favorite food is roasted fox. 'Silly old Fox!' says Mouse, 'Doesn't he know?/ There's no such thing as a gruffalo!' Owl and Snake follow suit until, with a turn of the page, Mouse runs into the creature he has imagined. Quick-thinking Mouse then tells the monster, 'I'm the scariest creature in this deep dark wood./ Just walk behind me and soon you'll see,/ Everyone for miles is afraid of me.' Fox, Owl and Snake appear to be terrified of the tiny mouse, but readers can plainly see the real object of their fears. By story's end, the gruffalo flees, and Mouse enjoys his nut lunch in peace. Despite the derivative plot line, debut author Donaldson manipulates the repetitive language and rhymes to good advantage, supplying her story with plenty of scary-but-not-too-scary moments. Scheffler's gruffalo may seem a goofy hybrid of Max's wild things, but his cartoonlike illustrations build suspense via spot-art previews of the monster's orange eyes, black tongue and purple prickles until the monster's appearance in full. Ages 4-8. (June) Copyright 1999 Cahners Business Information.
Children's Literature
The little mouse fools his enemies with tales of his friend, the gruffalo. What is a gruffalo? When a fox comes along who thinks the mouse looks tasty, a gruffalo is a creature with terrible tusks, claws and jaws whose favorite delicacy is roasted fox. When an owl swoops down because the mouse looks good, a gruffalo is a monster with knobbly knees, turned-out toes and a wart on his nose who loves owl ice cream. When a snake slithers through the wood and wants to feast on the mouse, a gruffalo is a fearsome thing with orange eyes, black tongue and prickles on his back that has an appetite for scrambled snake. The mouse laughs at his enemies for believing there is such a thing as a gruffalo until he himself encounters the huge beast. Indeed, there is such a thing as a gruffalo and now the mouse must be smart enough to fool his biggest enemy! The illustrations are grand, especially the uprooted tree trunk which looks just like a monstrous claw reaching out from the wood.
School Library Journal
PreS-Gr 3-To save himself from being eaten by a fox, an owl, and a snake, an enterprising mouse declares that he is having lunch with a monster whose favorite food just happens to be the animal who is at that moment threatening him. With each telling, the gruffalo becomes more menacing until all of the rodent's tormentors leave him unharmed. The mouse scoffs at them, for everyone knows 'There's no such thing as a gruffal....' But a turn of the page reveals-you guessed it-a gruffalo, that thinks the mouse will '...taste good on a slice of bread.' Undaunted, the rodent devises a plan to frighten the monster off. Young readers will love the humor in this preposterous story of a trick that backfires and the way the protagonist talks himself out of his difficulties. Best of all, they will relish being in on the joke as they join in the reading of the delightfully repetitious rhyming text. Scheffler's cartoonlike illustrations, rendered in watercolor, color"


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Create a 60-second video about where do you live, describing what makes it special, for this ABC Splash competition. You can talk about your street, neighbourhood, home town or school; you can focus on one thing, such as a plant or animal species; or you can talk about a historical fact or geographical landmark. The competition is looking for great examples of local geography or history, and how you use your English and media literacy skills. (DON'T include personal details or specific addresses.)
Entries close 26 November, 2018.


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My daughter the Girl Scout went out tree planting with her troop yesterday. Nothing wrong with that. I like trees. I like them for their shade, their ability to mitigate the wind, and their gifts of nuts (Pecan trees) and wood (most trees). Trees are good, especially in this God-forsaken Hell's Half-Acre we call Amarillo (Centrally-Located Between Two Oceans™!). Problem is, the Scout troop was just a part of a much larger contingent, all of which were wrapped up (literally – they got green TShirts) in a big, Liberal, PR event, "Green Select."
Give me a friggin' break.
Leave it to the Progressives to turn a wholesome, civic-minded activity like planting trees in a barren park into yet another excuse to excoriate humanity for having the unmitigated audacity to exhale carbon dioxide. Sheesh. The Scouts were regaled with speeches about "green" this and "carbon" that, and told to be good little citizens and do things to help save our planet. Nobody bothered to ask our planet if it needed saving, or even wanted our help. [Read more…] about Green is the new Red.


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John Kachembere • 20 May 2014 3:54PM • 10 comments
HARARE - Brazil says it will not financially support Zimbabwe's projects under its ambitious economic blueprint, the Zimbabwe Agenda for Sustainable Socio-Economic Transformation (Zim Asset).
The country's ambassador to Zimbabwe Marcia Maro Da Silva told the businessdaily that the southern African nation is too rich to beg for financial assistance.
"As a rule, Brazil does not give any support to sovereign nations and we don't give out hand-outs either. Usually, we find synergies and business opportunities where we can work with people on various projects," she said.
"Zimbabwe is a rich country and does not need donations but investments. ZimAsset offers opportunities for Brazil to come and invest in infrastructure and other sectors but there is need for clarity on the country's economic policies," added Silva.
This comes as the cash-strapped southern African country has been struggling to secure $27 billion to fund projects enunciated in ZimAsset, which is supposed to guide economic development programmes until December 2018.
The blueprint, which borrows from the ruling party Zanu PF's election manifesto and previous national development programmes, identifies four major clusters, namely food security and nutrition, social services and poverty reduction, infrastructure and utilities and value addition and beneficiation.
ZimAsset comes on the back of a cocktail of economic policies that have dismally failed to breathe life into the country's economy.
These range from the Economic Structural Adjustment Programme (Esap) to Zimbabwe Programme for Economic and Social Transformation (Zimprest) to the abandoned Medium Term Plan that was supposed to run until next year, among others.
Zimbabwe, which according to the international Monetary Fund has an external debt of approximately $10,7 billion, is failing to get loans due its bad payment record.
China — long considered Zimbabwe's all-weather friend — recently conceded that it would only provide funding to the country on the condition that the loan is securitised on vast mineral resources.
"My government is committed to give our support to Zimbabwe's economic recovery," said outgoing Chinese ambassador Lin Lin.
"What I can say now is that the two sides are carrying out discussions on lines of credit provided by Chinese financial institutions as proposed by Zimbabwean side using your minerals as kind of security.
We are looking forward to reach a kind of an agreement on that issue and I hope sometime this year," he said recently.
Economist John Robertson says without right policies, which include the respect for property rights and curbing endemic corruption, Zim Asset will remain a pipe dream.
"The policy does not only need money, but also policies that would make people make that level of commitment. Policies that will not damage property and ownership rights," he said.
Robertson noted that the economic blueprint did not have a concrete milestones and substance to remedy the country's economic ills.
"The policy is not a plan, but a description of a destination because it has neither indication nor route of how to get there," Robertson said.
He said plans to get some of that funding from Diaspora remittances was bound to fail as the efforts to securitise minerals underground.
To hell with this ZimAsset rubbish.We need FDI which can only be possible if we put our heads together as brothers & sisters in one Zimbabwe. We don't eat party politics dza Rugare Gumbo. All corrupt pple should be fired from gvt or parrastatals.
Brazil did not rule out funding ZimAsset but rather it ruled out donations.....Correct me if I am wrong but ZimAsset is not premised on funding fromn donations........As the Ambassador said it is about finding synergies and investment opportunities so eg if Brazil decides too fund dualisation of Harare-Nyamapanda Highway it does so on the basis of PPP and gets a BOOT agreement(according to ZimAsset) Daily News calm down.....Tsvangirayi will get another chance in 2018...zve 2013 is past please accept it.
The big problem we have in our country is that we have thick heads like Rugare Gumbo who just utter rubbish and take that as government policy. For how long will we allow these stubborn fools to lead us? ZIMASSET is a cheap document that will get us nowhere. They have looked east to China, they have looked south to Brazil. Now it's time we looked at ourselves and check what it is we are not doing right. We are a rich country and yet we are so poor, let us re-look our policies and weed out corruption. And most of all, let us obey and respect our own constitution.
It is clear that no nation can support us, and by us I mean the government, as long as we continue to hear stories of corruption and nothing is ever done about those corrupt in public office. All they get is coverage in the media on their ability to steal, divert and convert state funds and assets to their own use so who in their right minds would want to assist in this sort of behavior. And as if that is not enough you have no policy in place that can lure private enterprise into investing in this country when you have 51% in place. The president and a few others have mentioned here and there that the 51% is not a hard and fast stance in the last few months but this has not been backed up by any solid reform or actual laws passed in parliament. SO TELL ME NOW ONCE MORE WHY ANYONE WOULD INVEST UNDER THESE CONDITIONS
Lovethynation spot on. I wonder why some pple cannot accept reality.They are only concerned about staying in power at whatever cost. They are even blind to the shrinking of their revenue base. WHAT A SHAME!!!
What country can afford to lend us 27 billion? Brazil has massive social issues of its own...right now demos are underway prior to the world cup. We are led by fools really.
Just ask yourself. In your right senses would you invest in such a country under such conditions? 51%/49%? Let's be serious, if just for once.
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Smith Calls for Changes at the VA
Congressman Adrian Smith (R-NE) today criticized President Obama's statement on the status of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), and called for changes at the department amid growing accusations of mismanagement and abuse.
There are reports as many as 40 veterans died waiting for medical appointments at the Phoenix, Arizona Veterans Health System. Some of these veterans may have been placed on a secret waiting list to avoid scheduling appointments within the required period.
"Given the seriousness of the allegations against the VA, I would prefer Secretary Shinseki resign," said Smith. "The President's statement today was an astonishing endorsement of the status quo. Veterans deserve better.
"I am also disappointed the Obama Administration has already dismissed a House bill which would provide more flexibility to hold senior-level VA employees accountable for their actions. The lack of support for this bill is yet another indication there are no plans to change the culture of bureaucracy.
"We must insist on reforms to ensure this never happens again."
Today, the House of Representatives is scheduled to consider H.R. 4031, the Department of Veterans Affairs Management Accountability Act. Congressman Smith is a cosponsor of this legislation which would allow the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to remove Senior Executive Service employees based on their performance.


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- Author: Bruce Lidl
As part of a series of on-going initiatives to heighten cyber-security throughout the UC system, UC ANR is currently reviewing our on-line infrastructure to identify areas in need of strengthening. CSIT will be rolling out changes in the next weeks to address identity management, user privacy, password complexity and site integrity.
The UC ANR Survey system is one of our most popular tools. A large number of ANR groups use it to organize events, sell tickets, measure audience opinions and solicit member feedback. Because the Survey system supports a great deal of user interactivity, it has elevated security challenges. As on-line threats continue to proliferate, our need for heightened security increases, not just for the Survey system but to prevent unauthorized intrusions endangering other parts of the UC ANR IT infrastructure.
Consequently, starting on Friday January 26, only UC ANR staff and affiliates will be authorized to create new surveys or to act as owners of new surveys. In addition, UC ANR surveys will enforce HTTPS connections to all user devices, in line with the most recent security measures promulgated by the Google Chrome web browser.
We do not expect any service disruptions or user difficulties, but please let us know if you have any questions or concerns about our new security measures. Contact CSIT immediately at firstname.lastname@example.com.
Update: To clarify, "affiliates" refers to county-paid employees, contract employees and contractors. Volunteers are not included. However, volunteers can still be administrators for surveys going forward, they will just need a staff member or affiliate to create and own the survey.
Thanks, Jeannette
The best option would be to work with your local Master Gardener coordinator. They should be able to create surveys for you to administer as necessary. If that is not possible, please contact us directly at firstname.lastname@example.com. Thanks.


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What's Your Opportunity…
ClearCreek provides financial advisory services to entrepreneurs and CEO's of private businesses. We specialize in institutional capital raises, sell-side M&A, and licensing agreements, with transactions ranging in size from $2 to $25 million.
Companies with exceptional promise require resources. Our clients have raised capital from premier institutional funds as well as strategic investors.
Many founders have a large percentage of their net worth committed to their firm. We've helped clients cash out entirely through an acquisition, or just take some money off the table for peace of mind.
We've worked with companies to develop licensing opportunities or to forge corporate alliances – individualized partnerships that contribute specific assets and expertise to accelerate their business.
A company can quickly evolve beyond their initial configuration. We can help determine the optimal capital structure to unlock your firm's true potential.
"When we were approached about a transaction, we knew we needed professional advice from people we could trust. ClearCreek played a small but valuable role in providing thoughtful and clear-headed counsel at an important stage of the process. We're so grateful for the integrity and clarity they brought to what could otherwise have been an difficult road to travel."
Co-Founders, Artifact Uprising
"One of the best decisions our team made during our M&A process was to work with ClearCreek Partners. They were incredibly knowledgeable and responsive in guiding us through all aspects of the acquisition process. As a result of their efforts, the Beat the GMAT company found a great partner in Hobsons and achieved an acquisition with very favorable terms."
Founder, Beat The GMAT
"ClearCreek took us from our first venture fund introduction to a Series A equity investment from Kleiner Perkins in about 90 days, while helping us evaluate multiple offers along the way. The professionalism, integrity and impact was clear at every step of the process, and their advice was always grounded in what was in the best long-term interest for our business. I cannot recommend ClearCreek highly enough to any other firm seeking venture or growth capital."
Co-Founder and CEO, Working Equity
"ClearCreek got us in front of firms we had not been able to see on our own, and were grounded and flexible advisors during a long and complex transaction. We would work with them again without hesitation."
Co-Founder and CEO, Advanced Microlabs
"I had not worked with an investment banker previously, and while we initially focused on raising growth capital, with ClearCreek we considered a variety of options --including the opportunity to sell FCI to a large public company and accelerate our growth through their established channels and global footprint. ClearCreek helped us tell our story authentically and provided incredibly sound advice from beginning to end. It was a great partnership and terrific outcome."
Founder and CEO, Fidelity Comtech
† Client results may not be representative of the experience of others and is no guarantee of future performance or success.
Board of Advisors
Sanjay Dholaki
Chief Marketing Officer for Marketo; former CEO of Crowd Factory; SVP at SumTotal Systems.
Kat Gregory
CPG and natural products guru and supply chain professional; Williams Sonoma, Clementine Arts.
Mike Higgins
Former EVP of Interactive for MediaNews Group; Director of National Sales for Mapquest.
We love what we do, so ClearCreek writes and publishes pieces for a somewhat irregular newsletter about emerging companies and the capital markets (subscribe here). Any errors are ours exclusively while the occasional sharp insight is probably borrowed. We hope you find them of interest, and we always welcome feedback.
A tax on bullsh*t
Betting, as the saying goes, is a tax on bullshit. Opinions are easy -- you can have as many as you choose, often crowding contradictorily around the same topic. But a wager where there is something significant to be gained or lost tends to filter out all but the most serious perspectives. Usually, however, predictions about the future are conveniently forgotten or reshaped before the…
February's Five Best Blogs
Five really good blogs we read this month: a fascinating first-person account of the days leading up to Redfin's IPO, from non other than their CEO; venture fund FirstRound's 30 best pieces of advice to entrepreneurs (our personal favorite: #17: Demo your product with the young, the old, and the drunk); some remarkable data on the differences in economic growth between the largest cities and smaller…
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Modular nursery buildings are becoming popular cost effective accommodation for public and private sector nurseries. Modular buildings are not something new, but in fact unless you look closely, it can sometimes be hard to tell when a building is made from a prefabricated modular construction. Design and manufacturing developments over the last 30 years have come a long way and now can be customised to look pleasing to the eye and to accommodate any number of people.
It is important for the building design chosen, that it suitably meets the requirements inside and out. Modular nursery classrooms can now be designed to be bespoke to suit your branding and learning requirements. This means the modular design can be finished with colourful rooms and creative murals to help with the learning ambiance. Exterior and practical facilities such as door hinge finger guards and friendly toilets can be fitted into any nursery building.
Cotaplan ensure no stone is left unturned in making your nursery accommodation requirements realistic and affordable.
Because of the construction methods, ingenuity and stock holds, Cotaplan believe price is not an issue when helping to achieve a new or extending nursery. By working around any given budget, Cotaplan have been able to successfully assemble nurseries even at short notice whilst adhering to complying with
- Ofsted National Daycare Regulations
- Child Protection Act guidelines
- Equality Act 2010
- the Special Educational Needs and Disability Act (SENDA)
Eco-friendly Design and Construction
Whilst government and councils are making every effort to reduce carbon emissions within their public sector services, modular buildings provide a ideal opportunity to save on making any further increases to their carbon footprints. In fact, modular nursey systems use far less carbon traces where a reduction can be seen in building materials, resources and transportation costs.
Modular Building Resources
If you want to know more about carbon emission and the UK carbon footprint, visit "modular buildings save energy."
Feel Safe and Secure in a Modular Nursey
Modular constructions offer multi-purpose protection. They are fire resistant, weatherproof, and mold-resistant. During the construction process, several inspections are conducted to the modular building to ensure that it has superior quality and also reduce possible risks related with poor building performance.
Package comes with Flexibility
Cotaplan provide a flexible turn key package which can be bespoke to your design and practical requirements.
Low Maintenance
Many people believe that modular buildings are below the required standard but that is far from the truth. Generally, modular constructions are cheaper to maintain and run compared to traditional buildings. Therefore, by constructing a modular nursery and modular building you can be able to save lots of money for many years to come particularly with the stiff economy that has led to rise in electricity and gas prices.
Increased Efficiency
This type of construction comes with minimal gaps on the building, which controls the tightness that induces improved indoor air quality.
Finish and Fitting Options
Modular nursery systems are designed using prefabricated boards. Cotaplan hold recycled construction parts which through design and engineering can be quickly adapted to offer any nursery countless design possibilities and options and that can be suitable for your needs. There is a wide range of design plans you can choose from in which a variety of options to customise the nursery on or off plan.
Find out why nurseries have turned to Cotaplan to help with building needs
Whilst Cotaplan have supplied numerous design plans leading to full completion at a number of nursery sites in the UK, the buildings have all been very different modular constructions, ranging from 1 or 2 storey level floors. Cotaplan believe customers choose modular services because of the wide range of ways Cotaplan can adapt and deliver a modular building. With many ex stock classrooms for sale at Cotaplan, the workmanship produced in designing new or recycled pre fabricated panels are high quality and exceed in craftsmanship for even bespoke briefs. To find out about completed modular systems by Cotaplan, browse the nursery case studies:


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HALIFAX – Hants West MLA Chuck Porter has left the caucus of Nova Scotia's Progressive Conservative party to sit as an independent, according to a statement released Friday.
In the statement, Porter said he and PC Party leader Jamie Baillie do not see eye-to-eye regarding how he wants to serve his constituents.
Porter said it was not an easy decision, but "the move is in the best interest of all those I have the honour of representing."
"When I'm told to stay quiet, 15,000 voters in Hants West are told to stay quiet, that's not democracy" – Porter #NS pic.twitter杭州夜网/93bQwaoYGQ
— Mayya Assouad (@Mayya_Global) June 13, 2014
Baillie said in a statement released after Porter's that MLAs in his caucus "are expected to do the duties constituents elected them to do".
He said he spoke with Porter on Thursday, accusing him of not performing his duties, after the member missed caucus meetings and five public accounts meetings since the October election.
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"Voters expect MLAs to do the job they were elected to do," Baillie continued in the release. "For me, this is a difficult day, but accountability must mean something if people are ever going to have faith in our system again."
Porter was first elected to the Nova Scotia Legislature in 2006, and again in 2009.
He was the party's health critic and had previously served as Chair of its caucus.
"I know and understand there will be some who will not be happy with this decision," Porter said in his statement. "But I want to assure them that I respect their opinion and will continue to work ahrd on their behalf as I have for the past eight years."
Porter's responsibilities within the party have not yet been assigned to someone else.
With files from The Canadian Press


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Meanwhile, the S&P BSE Sensex was down 352.84 points, or 0.98% to 35,531.57.
On the BSE, 11.12 lakh shares were traded in the counter so far compared with average daily volumes of 22.33 lakh shares in the past two weeks. The stock had hit a high of Rs 428.05 and a low of Rs 413.05 so far during the day. The stock hit a 52-week high of Rs 678.80 on 6 September 2018. The stock hit a 52-week low of Rs 402.10 on 5 December 2018.
Shares of Sun Pharmaceutical Industries fell 15.99% in three trading sessions to settle at Rs 413.60 yesterday, 5 December 2018, from its close of Rs 492.30 on 30 November 2018.
Sun Pharmaceutical Industries issued a clarification to the bourses on 3 December 2018, which said that over the last one week, there have been some media reports on Sun Pharma around a note issued by one of the securities firm and a potential whistleblower complaint against the company.
With reference to allegations that one of the partners of an audit firm of Sun Pharma (Valia & Timbadia) was investigated in a stock price rigging case, the company clarified that none of the partners of this audit firm or the firm itself was a party to this investigation. This audit firm audits some of the company's subsidiaries and they have been with the company for a long time. The subsidiaries that this firm audits put together account for approximately 0.6% of the company's consolidated revenues - FY2018.
With reference to a question is being raised about an insider trading case which was settled with Sebi regarding the Ranbaxy acquisition, the company clarified that it has not been involved in any insider trading norm violations relating to the Ranbaxy deal. However, there was some minor technical issue relating to a procedural aspect of trading window closure due to intervening holidays. The board meeting for approving the Ranbaxy acquisition was held on a Sunday and hence the company's lawyers advised that there is no need to announce a trading window closure since stock markets are anyways closed on Saturday and Sunday.
Sebi later on ruled that the company should have announced a window closure. This case was settled with Sebi with no admission of guilt in accordance with the provisions of applicable laws and matter was closed. It is also important to note that none of the insiders traded in the Sun Pharma stock even if the window closure was not announced.
With reference to news reports about Sebi likely to re-open the old insider trading case, the company clarified that it has not received any information from Sebi in this regard.
With reference to news reports of a whistleblower complaint filed against Sun Pharma with Sebi, the company clarified that as of now, it has not received any query related to this from Sebi.
With reference to concerns being raised about Sun Pharma's low single digit tax rate, the company clarified that this was the case many years back and now its effective tax rate is in mid-teens. The company has guided many times in the past quarters that its tax rate will gradually inch up in the coming years.
With reference to queries on loans and advances given to non-related parties which have increased significantly in FY2018, the company clarified that these are loans and advances given in the normal course of business at arms-length basis at market interest rates and at market terms and conditions.
On a consolidated basis, Sun Pharmaceutical Industries reported net loss of Rs 108.84 crore in Q2 September 2018 compared with net profit of Rs 1001.79 crore in Q2 September 2017. Net sales rose 3.89% to Rs 6846.48 crore in Q2 September 2018 over Q2 September 2017.
Sun Pharmaceutical Industries is the world's fifth largest specialty generic pharmaceutical company and India's top pharmaceutical company.
Powered by Capital Market - Live News


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Obama went out of his way to make all kinds of claims leading up to the election about the need to avoid
Ted Balaker & Reason TV already created a fine short video (and corresponding article) discussing a few basics of Obama's similarities to Bush on economic issues... Not that they're all that hard to point out.
- Bush initiated bailouts with TARP - Obama continued & expanded them.
- Bush supported a massive stimulus package - Obama's stimulus packages dwarfed Bush's.
- Bush signed into law massively restrictive "reforms" to the financial system - Obama signed into law even more.
- Bush signed a massive new health care entitlement - Obama rammed through an even bigger entitlement.
- Bush added almost 15,000 pages of regulations to the Federal Register - Obama's tally is still rising.
- Bush spent more and went into more debt than any president in 40 years - Obama has already outpaced him.
And yet the apologia from partisan Democrats so far is maddening...
On Facebook the other day, D.J. Grothe (President of the James Randi Educational Foundation) posted a San Francisco Chronicle article by Mark Morford entitled "Letter to a Whiny Young Democrat". Unfortunately, the whiny (probably not young) Democrat in question here is actually the author himself:
The article stupidly blames low voter turnout by Democrats for their losses:
"Oh, now you've done it.Of course, voter turn out was higher this year than in most all other mid-term elections, including 2006 when Republicans lost control of the congress last time. But really, who cares about facts?
See? You see what happens when you young liberal voters get so disgruntled and disillusioned that you drop all your party's newborn, hard-won ideas about Hope™ and Change™, without any patience, without really giving them sufficient time to mature, without understanding that hugely foreign, anti-American concept known as "the long view"
I suppose it's also worth pointing out that it would seem to me that the "long view" would involve caring about the crushing deficits and debt, and the burden of our unfunded liabilities and looming economic catastrophes rather than ignoring them in favor of some misguided, misplaced and magical belief that somehow this time Keynesianism will work.
And then we have Andrew Leonard's condescending piece from Salon entitled, "The Unbearable Stupidity of American Voters" - a sentiment echoed by many of my partisan Democrat acquaintances, by the way - which spouts a stream of economic nonsense, and blames voters for being duped by Republican control of "the message":
"2) Republicans have won the messaging game for the last two years.Yep... The Republicans, without the bully pulpit, a majority in congress or really any friends in the media outside of Fox News, controlled the "message". Most newspapers, every TV network except Fox, and dozens of celebrities have come out again & again regurgitating the timeless statements issued by the White House.
It seems remarkable that a party that governed so badly while it was in power, preaching smaller government while engaging in total fiscal irresponsibility, would be trusted by anyone on anything. But GOP talking points, fueled by Tea Party mobilization, appear to have taken hold almost immediately after Obama's election."
- "It's Bush's fault."
- "The economy would be so much worse without the stimulus."
- "We had to bail out those banks and give trillions of dollars to corporations, or the whole system would have collapsed."
- "RepubliCorp!"
- "Party of NO!"
- "The problem is, people aren't spending enough."
...and when they weren't just repeating whatever Obama or Nancy Pelosi said verbatim, they were busy finding new and interesting ways to make Tea Party activists all look like crazed, racist lunatics.
And yet, after all that... Most of the American public just didn't buy it. I'm personally pretty happy they didn't, by the way... Not because I want to see Republicans in power, mind you, but because I'm tired of watching year after year of the general public in America avoiding a bunch of really serious and systemic problems with our government and finances.
But anyway... No one is confused on why Obama or his party have claimed to do the things they've done. Obama has been stumping for "the message" for the past two years and has appeared on TV more times and more frequently than any president in history. Hell, he's even made regular appearances on entertainment shows like Jay Leno, "The Daily Show" and The View.
The message got out loud and clear. The message sucked.
It still sucks, but I am betting that few hyperpartisan Dems are going to learn from their mistakes.
And why should they? According to writers like Andrew Leonard, the American public was just too stupid to understand that the man who has outspent 8 years of President Bush and who has placed even more restrictions on people's lives and businesses was actually doing them a big favor.
In part, Mr. Leonard bases his point around the assertion that the public mistakenly believes Obama has raised taxes when in fact, he has "lowered" them.
I'll leave the discussion of methodology and the validity of public-opinion survey data for another day, but the article seems to omit that those "lower" taxes aren't across the board tax-cuts, but rather one-time, temporary tax breaks built into the stimulus packages. Leonard gets to play up a technicality as a meaningful truth... But in reality, things aren't quite so simple.
Taxes have been increased on a slew of consumer goods like cigarettes, the Bush era tax cuts will be expiring soon, and the future increase in taxes to pay for things like the health care bill are going to kick in in a couple years and hit everyone pretty hard. And we all know that! Plus, that's all without mentioning the new restrictions on banks & businesses, the regulatory and policy uncertainty and the dozens of tariffs and trade wars sparked in the past couple years dragging us all down, making entrepreneurs and existing businesses extremely cautious with their capital and causing our cost of living to shoot up while we're all suffering from a serious lack of employment...
It's not like the bulk of the American people are incapable of reading the writing on the wall and with Obama's unprecedented spending, I think most Americans are pretty clear that their taxes are going up one way or another... Few reporters seem to have been able to grasp that concept though. Not sure why...
But hey... If only there were SmartPeopletm like Andrew Leonard around to explain all this to them... Geesh. The fact is, most Americans are starting to feel serious pressure from the continuing high rates of unemployment, the pay cuts, cuts in hours & benefits and from years of economic malaise.
In an attempt to explain all that away, Leonard cites a modest increase in GDP as a measure of "growth" in order to prove that although people think the economy is still bad, really it's getting back on track. But since GDP includes government expenditures and refers only to the nominal monetary value of certain types of economic activity, it's hardly a useful measurement in the best of times, and it's nonsensical when the government has taken it upon themselves to burn through trillions of dollars in worthless Keynesian stimulus.
A better understanding of economics would serve a hell of a lot of people well right at this moment, and maybe if they did understand the subject better, people at Salon and the San Francisco Chronicle would be smart enough to realize that the policies pursued by the Obama administration have been identical to those favored by President Bush - and that the reason they're not working today is the same damn reason they didn't work 3 years ago or 8 years ago... Or during the Great Depression, or during the 70's in America, or during the 90's in Japan or anywhere else they've ever been tried!
The American public may not clearly understand that either... In fact, I'm positive that overwhelmingly, they don't, since the economic literacy rate in the US is abysmal. However, people do know when to trust their eyes on the economy, and that statistics like GDP should best be ignored when the reality that money & credit is tight and jobs are scarce is right in front of their faces.
However... That's just the economic side of things!
It's something I care a lot about and focus a lot of my own energies on, but it's hardly the end of Bush/Obama similarities on policy matters - and in a lot of ways, they aren't even the most damning.
The real problem for Team D this year wasn't that Obama and his staff are economically illiterate - sadly, most of their constituents and party-line voters are too. But a hell of a lot of them are also people who care about certain civil liberties violations and wars. Especially (and here's the important part) the independent, non-partisan ones.
Take for instance, my friend Nathan Goodman, an extremely principled and non-partisan guy who has been making the shift from leftist to libertarian for a while wrote a powerful response to D.J. Grothe's posted articles, entirely worth sharing on the subject of why the Democratic party has lost the support of left-leaning independents like him:
""What an arrogant and pompous columnist. I hate this center left assumption that we oppose Obama because he hasn't done good things quickly enough. Has it ever occurred to them that maybe we're pissed off at actual policies like the administration surging into Afghanistan, drone bombing countries with which we're not officially at war, ordering the assassination of American citizens, re-authorizing the Patriot Act, cluster bombing Yemen, harassing anti-war activists, arresting whistleblowers, fighting to prevent death row inmates from accessing DNA evidence which could exonerate them, appointing a former lobbying executive for Well Point to implement Obamacare (In blatant violation of the spirit of Obama's campaign), continuing use of far right death squads for drug war operations in Colombia, repeatedly abusing the state secrets privilege, continuing the use of rendition, denying habeas corpus at Bagram, and threatening the British government to prevent open discussion of torture?"...and then, because the guy rocks so much, links provided to everything:
"Drone strikes:
Patriot Act:
Cluster bombing Yemen:
FBI Harassment of Anti-war Activists:
Arrests of Whistleblowers:
Fighting to prevent death row inmates from accessing DNA evidence:
WellPoint exec implementing health reform:
Expansion of military presence in Colombia:
Abuse of state secrets:
Continuing rendition:
Denying habeas rights at Bagram:
Threatening Britain to conceal torture evidence:
And I think this really clinches it, don't you?
It's not just that Obama and his party's near super-majority of congress for the last two years has behaved identically to Bush on the economy and left us all in an ever-deepening hole with fewer and fewer opportunities - that damage just keeps on hammering ordinary Americans every day and is the big reason the Tea Party folks are upset... But those who voted for Democrats in the past few years expecting an end to Bush-era civil rights abuses and war mongering have been (or should be) equally disappointed!
And of course... Those of us who wanted both less war, less civil liberties abuses, a freer society and a freer economy who didn't vote for either major party candidates are perennially let down. And that's really the point... For all the partisan hacks out there still behind the 8-Ball on this one... It was YOUR OWN PARTY'S POLICIES that lost you the election!
It wasn't that any one really "trusts" the Republicans to do a better job, per se, though I know a lot of Tea Party people who want to believe they can hold their party accountable... It's not that people were duped by GOP sloganeering... It's not that the voter turn-out was low.
You hear that Team Blue? You lost because of what you did (or didn't do).
At some point, it would be cool to see Obama and his party own up to their own failings and to the absurdity of their economic reasoning - but unfortunately, their sycophants refuse to acknowledge that the people know exactly what they're selling and don't like it. Partisan hackery will do what it does though... And in a few years, once the Republicans go back to their big-spending, entitlement bribing ways, I'm sure I'll have to write this article again with a few labels reversed... But I think we can do better.
I think it's time for everyone to wake up. Shrink the size of government, shrink the warfare and welfare states, let our economy flourish by loosening the millions of restrictions on everyone, and unchain its potential.
Seriously... Now's really the time to do it.


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We harshly judge people we interact with every day. We come up with conclusions about their lives despite only knowing them for a few hours at work, a few minutes while they take your order, or a few seconds as you past them on the street. Our biased imaginations create stories of where these people came from, what their day is like when they go home and their overall character.
Now, think about how we judge people we've never met and only heard of.
Heroin-Addicted Prostitutes Reveal Their Untold Stories
LA put together an intimate video weaving in and out of the untold stories of women from Eastern Europe who live in a loop of prostitution and drug abuse. Told in their own words. Listen.


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Online petition
We now have an online version of our petition! You can access and fill in the petition at this address: http://glostext.gloucestershire.gov.uk/mgEPetitionDisplay.aspx?ID=8
- This petition is only open to those living, working or studying in Gloucestershire.
- Please do not sign the online petition if you have already signed the paper version. If you do fill in both, your second signature cannot be counted.
Please send the online petition URL to as many interested people as possible.


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For example, I don't like to do anything in bulk – I do it exclusively – whether writing a message or calling a person or spending time with someone. I treat every moment and every person as a special gift to me. I wish that everyone else has the same feeling about me. Alas! That is not the case. So, Deepavali time is bulk 'wish SMS' time. It scares me. I have written about it in an earlier post Wholesale , so won't repeat myself.
During this Deepavalee, I just decided to enjoy 'Wish messages'. I understand that these wishes are honest though most of them are ordinarily articulated and are sent in bulk. I received about ten standard messages – each message sent by a number of people – taking the cumulative messages to a ton. So many people remember me in good moments is a good sign. May be most people do not have time or courage to be original enough- and hence they forward what has been received. (I am doing the same here :-))
'Wish You Happy Deepavalee' was the most common message that I received. Some added 'Good Wishes' to that message.
However here are some special ones which I liked. May be you too would enjoy these.
One Acronym based message said:
This occasion gives You
D – Dhan (wealth)
I – Ishwarkrupa (God's blessings)
P – Prasiddhi (Fame)
A – Aarogya (Health)
V – Vaibhav (again Wealth)
A – Aishwarya (again Wealth – though Dhan, Vaibhav and Aishwarya have deeper subtle meanings which are different – but let us not go into it now)
L – Lavanya (Beauty)
I – Ishwarsiddhi (attainment of God)? I am not sure of the translation
Another message was eco-friendly. It said:
"If you stop firing crackers, Show lighting on buildings by burning Oil Lamps; this Deepavalee will be definitely "HAPPY DEEPAVALEE". This is demand of hour.. time.. era. Don't waste our valuable resources. "
Third message was a reflective one. It said:
"One day our entire life might flash in front of our eyes. Make sure it is WORTH watching!"
Fourth message was on the same lines:
"May the outer illumination inspire us to search for light WITHIN."
Fifth message was about happiness. It said:
"Like the fireworks sparkling in the sky, may your each day glow with joy and be bright with smiles."
Sixth was a combo message: "A Happy, Peaceful, Safe, Joyful, Prosperous and Healthy Deepavalee". 'ALL in ONE' kind of message – typically 21st Century message. We want everything instantly.
And the seventh was interesting: "Vaikunth se VISHNUJEE, Kailas se SHIVAJEE, Ayodhya se SHRIRAMJEE, Mathura se SHRIKRISHNJEE aur PRITHVI se swayam hum apko Deepavalee or Naye Saal kee hardik shubhakamanaye dete hai" (Lord Vishnu from Vaikuntha, Lord Shiva from Kailas, Lord Rama from Ayodhya, Lord Krishna from Mathura and from the Earth I wish you Happy Deepavalee and New Year." (Now don't ask here why Ayodhya and Mathura are not part of the Earth! You are not supposed to be logical when the intention is to make you smile!) I like this aspect of treating oneself equal to God. Why not?
I smiled at each of these messages. I thought over some of these messages. I never sent a message to anyone. Not even through email. I just called few friends, chatted with them, met some friends online – chatted with them.
Learning to accept wishes is essential element of growing with relevance. I think I moved a bit in this direction during this Deepavalee............ I am sure someone sitting in some corner must have wished me GROWTH along with happiness! Strong wishes always help us, push us forward: isn't it?