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Brussels, 16 July 2009
Financial services: Commission publishes study on trading and post-trading prices, costs and volumes
(see MEMO/09/336 )
The European Commission has today published a first study on the prices, costs and volumes for trading and post-trading of securities in the EU, carried out by Oxera Consulting Ltd. This study, which will be renewed, allows the Commission to monitor how prices and costs evolve. In this way, the Commission will be able to better evaluate the effect of its policies in this area and to base future policies on solid evidence.
Internal Market and Services Commissioner Charlie McCreevy said " This study is significant because it helps us understand the evolution of end-to-end trading and post-trading prices, costs and volumes. While acknowledging the broad diversity in the financial centres covered, I particularly welcome the study's findings concerning the decreases in costs for trading and clearing and to some extent also for settlement services since 2006. This confirms the positive impact on competition of the Markets in Financial Instruments Directive and the Code of Conduct on clearing and settlement. I encourage market participants to continue supporting our efforts to improve transparency and carry out sound policies based on facts."
This study contains data from the full securities trading and post-trading value chain for 2006 (as well as 2008 for trading venues, Central Counterparty clearing houses (CCPs) and Central Securities Depositories (CSDs)). It accordingly provides a detailed understanding of end-to-end trading and post-trading prices and costs in a number of European financial centres.
The study's findings are built on data provided by intermediaries (fund managers, brokers and custodian banks) and providers of infrastructure services (trading venues, central counterparty clearing houses and central securities depositories). The study is accordingly important for intermediaries and infrastructures as well , as illustrated by the reactions to the report set out in the annex below.
Main findings
The purpose is not to compare financial centres, but to see how prices, costs and volumes in a given centre evolve over time. Building on the diverse picture of the financial centres covered in this study, the following general findings can be made:
This study is the result of the first data collection exercise. It collect s data for 2006, thereby establishing the baseline against which future prices, costs and volumes will be compared. In addition, the study also contains data for 2008 as regards providers of infrastructure services (exchanges, CCPs and CSDs). This study accordingly establishes the baseline as well as providing a first illustration of how certain trade and post-trade prices have evolved.
More information is available at:
Wider reactions
Frank Gerstenschläger, Member of the Deutsche Boerse Group Executive Committee and Vice President of the Federation of European Securities Exchanges: " We welcome the approach of the Commission to conduct comprehensive market analysis such as the Oxera study and therefore we actively participated in it. In particular, we welcome that the study focuses on transaction costs along the entire value chain including both market infrastructures and intermediaries. By showing a decrease in costs for customers of trading platforms, CCPs, and CSDs in most markets, the study demonstrates the efficiency of market infrastructures. We look forward to future developments of the study based on the baseline now established. "
Robert Barnes, Managing Director of equities at UBS Investment Bank, said " This first report by Oxera on behalf of the European Commission benchmarking the impact of tariff prices on cost and activity of trading and post-trading services provides insights into the difficulty and frictional cost users face and seek to overcome for pan-European equities business. This is an important exercise, UBS welcomes the Commission's efforts to improve efficiency of European securities markets and commends the Commission for its commitment to evidence-based policymaking. To become an effective tool, further reports need to reflect also post-trade costs as a proportion of the respective value-traded – as this is what impacts investors."
Dr Luis Correia da Silva, Man aging Director of Oxera, said, " This study provides the first detailed empirical description of how the European capital markets are operating in terms of market dynamics and customer and supplier behaviour. It shows that integration of markets is well under way but there is some further work to be done. The costs of cross-border transactions are still between two and six times more expensive than domestic transactions. At the same time, our analysis shows that using infrastructure providers has become cheaper, by up to 80% over two years. This reflects some significant price reductions and is what one would expect as competition increases. The next Oxera study will assess more precisely the extent to which these price reductions have translated into lower trading and post-trading costs for institutional and retail investors. "
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As I have mentioned earlier that I'm a big fan of liquid lipsticks and I want to try most of the liquid lipstick available in the market, so I'm stocking up slowly and increasing ,u liquid lipostcik collection. Couple of month's back I got this beautiful set by Huda Beauty from Sephora. It was one of the holiday gift set.This contains a full size lip contour pencil in the shade TRENDSETTER, two deluxe size liquid lipstick in the shade TRENDSETTER and BOMBSHELL. This is a beautiful nude set and I'm just crushing on these. Ever since I got them I have been using and totally love it.
TRENDSETTER (Lip pencil & liquid lipstick) is a gorgeous nude/brown shade which will look flattering on all skin tones but will look different on every skin tone. I love how it looks on my skin and it's my favorite shade. BOMBSHELL is a subtle pink nude shade which dint suit on my medium skin but with a darker lip liner it works great and also I like to use on top on my dark shades to create the ombre effect.
The formula of the liquid lipsticks are very creamy, not runny nor thick so glides on pretty easily and within few seconds it dries out completely matte. It has great lasting results and stays put for more than 7-8 hours with eating and its transfer proof. It does not settle into the lines and doesn't feel dry or patchy hence it's so comfortable to wear. It just feels like there is nothing on my lips too heavy or drying. I always recommend exfoliating or apply a lip balm prior to applying liquid lipstick to prevent any cracking or settling into lines throughout the day.
I use the lip contour pencil with these liquid lipsticks and other nude liquid lipsticks. Also I just like to use this lip pencil on my entire lips. The formula of this lip contour pencil is so creamy and velvety and gives such an opaque finish with a matte look. Although I love the lip pencil and I wouldn't pay the full price and but a lip pencil so this set was a great deal.
The packaging of liquid lipsticks comes in a frosted tube like which shows the color of the lipsticks and has vanilla fragrance. I highly recommend these lipsticks. They last all day long and there are so many shades to choose. The mini sets are always great way to try high end lipsticks. Although this limited edition set is sold out.Huda Beauty has now come up with 3 different mini sets with 4 lipsticks in each set so look out for that.
Have you ever used Huda Beauty Lipsticks? Which is your favorite? Thanks for reading!
Price: $24
Rating: 4.7/5

subset: commoncrawl


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Attention: For textbook, access codes and supplements are not guaranteed with used items.
For Pieper, the study of tradition is anything but antiquarian. He begins with a consideration of tradition in a changing world and is well aware of the need to confront the all-too-common perception that tradition is nowadays irrelevant. On the basis of his profound knowledge of the Western philosophical tradition from Plato and Aristotle through Augustine, Boethius, Thomas Aquinas, and Descartes, to modern Existentialism and Marxism, Pieper is able to highlight the values established and challenged down through the centuries. He sees the need to re-examine these values, to rid them of the false interpretations and misunderstandings that threaten to consign them to oblivion. He attempts to restate them in language which, in fact, not only reflects the clarity of his mind but also expresses his conviction that these values, freshly examined and understood, provide a sound basis for healthy living and for our survival against the dangers that pose a serious threat to the very existence of Western civilization. He illustrates these values by examining the contrast between an exponent of them, like Socrates, and an opportunist, like the Sophist Protagoras; between the man of principle and the nihilistic pragmatist. The book consists of a mixture of articles and speeches, produced by a man who, though often wooed by the academy, was not concerned with achieving personal status as an academic professor. He insisted, for the most part, in combining purely academic teaching with the education of teachers in teacher-training colleges. He would not be removed from close contact with learners, and he remained a learner himself from tradition.


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Scenes From A Half-Autistic Marriage, Part I Forget The Number
December 12, 2011
Aaron: You know, I never thought that I'd enjoy a show like Bones.
Me: But you live with a Bones, and you fancy yourself an Angel.
Aaron: Shut up.
p.s. Hello, peoples! I promise that I haven't forgotten about you. I have just bitten off more than I can chew. Again.


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Posted by Anuraj on Sunday, October 26, 2014 Reading time :4 minutes
.Net ASP.Net ASP.Net MVC Visual Studio
ASP.Net vNext is the next version of ASP.Net Framework. As part of ASP.NET vNext, the MVC, Web API, and Web Pages frameworks are being merged into one framework, called MVC 6. The new framework removes a lot of overlap between the existing MVC and Web API frameworks.
ASP.Net vNext Features.
ASP.NET vNext is not backwards compatible with existing ASP.NET applications. However, the current frameworks (Web Forms 5, MVC 5, Web API 2, Web Pages 3, SignalR 2, and Entity Framework 6) will continue to ship in Visual Studio, and will be fully supported in ASP.NET vNext.
Creating Hello World application in ASP.Net vNext
Select the ASP.NET vNext Empty Web Application template, name the project HelloWorld, and click OK.
One of the vNext feature was it is lean, Microsoft has re-written the Framework and project / solution structure. You will not find the web.config, *.csproj files.
* Project.json - The project.json file contains a list of dependencies for the project and a list of build output configurations. It can also include a list of commands.
Dependencies section lists all the dependencies of your application. These are defined by name and version, the runtime loaders will determine what should be loaded. Frameworks section lists target frameworks that will be built, and dependencies that are specific to the configuration. This snippet will build for Desktop (aspnet50) or Core CLR (aspnetcore50). You can find more details about the Project.json schema from github link. Frameworks you can configure using Project property pages, by default application will be using ASP.Net 5.0 Framework. Once you change the Active Target Framework, Visual Studio will update the references appropriately.
**Active Target Framework is ASP.Net**
**Active Target Framework is ASP.Net Core**
* Startup.cs - By default, the vNext hosting environment expects to find a startup class named Startup. This class must contain a Configure method that takes an IBuilder parameter, and you configure the HTTP pipeline inside this Configure method. The empty project creates the class with nothing in the Configure method. If you were worked in Owin / Katana project, Startup.cs is similar to Owin Startup file. This is the default Startup.cs file for empty vNext application.
To enable MVC in the HTTP pipeline you'll add a NuGet package and configure the Startup class.
Once you save the changes, Visual Studio will detect the changes and download the required nuget packages (You can find the details from output window).
If you didn't add the using Microsoft.Framework.DependencyInjection, you won't get services.AddMvc() method. The AddMvc method adds the MVC framework services to the dependency injection system. The UseMvc method configures MVC default settings such as routes.
Next create a folder called Controller and add a controller class, HomeController.cs. Also create Home folder inside Views folder, and add a razor view - Index.cshtml. (You won't get option like Add View by right clicking on Controller method.)
Press F5 to start the application. voilà , you have created your first HelloWorld ASP.Net vNext application.
In the next post I will discuss about deployment. Happy Programming :)
What do you think? I would like to hear your thoughts, suggestions, and questions in the comments section below.


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Lauren Ceglio's words are jumping off the page as she recounts her life of flowers, from her early days of gardening with her father, and today, as a flower shop manager who saves every customer thank you notes. Her stories brim with glee, and it doesn't take long to feel that Lauren is happy—supremely happy to design and deliver gifts as a florist.
And, according to a new book, Lauren is not alone. Arranging floral gifts in communities across the country makes florists the happiest profession in the world, says a prominent UK economist in his new book. The book says gardeners and florists are nearly twice as happy as people in higher paying jobs. As a matter of fact, more than 87% of florists consider themselves happy compared to all other professions.
What makes being a floral designer so merry?
"Every day is a new adventure with new stories to hear and new events to plan for," she said. "I've had people take time out of their busy lives to call and express their appreciation. I have received many wonderful letters and I save them all!"
As a kid in Bethpage, Lauren noticed early the joy she felt while gardening with her father and watching fruits and vegetables grow. ("He says I have the magic touch," Lauren quipped.) This early experience in gardening inspired her career path in the floral business.
In high school, she worked at a flower shop in Syosset and took floral design classes in Carle Place. Her fascination with design then carried her to AIU in Florida, where she graduated with a degree in management. After college, she spent a couple years in other businesses before realizing she missed the warmth of the floral industry and made a final career choice. "Flowers won!" she exclaimed.
Today, Lauren manages the shop in Carle Place, where she once attended for floral design courses and lives in Long island. Peonies are her favorite flowers. Montauk in eastern L.I. is her go-to vacation spot, and this mom "loves, loves, loves" pumpkin picking, hayrides and homemade pies in the fall. Lauren finds herself energized by community fundraisers and feels an intense pride when customers express their appreciation of her team's artful designs.
"Customers love to open up to us. I like to think it is because they feel welcomed and comfortable in my store," she said. "Sometimes, people want to stop by the store just to say thank you."
Florists set out to make their communities happy places, and apparently, wind up making themselves the happiest in the process.
Our Florists are very hard working and they work tirelessly to deliver the special messages people send everyday. Support your local florists with specially crafted arrangements from our wonderful florists around the nation. Go check out our local artisan collection today.


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Browsing Recipes similiar to Tropical Fruit Salad.
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orange, lime juice, brown sugar, mango, banana, pineapple, +chicken, +lemon juice, +rum, +garlic, +chilies, +red pepper, +red onions, +cider vinegar, +olive oil, +vegetable oil, +salt, +butter
Tropical Fruit Salad with Fruit Vinaigrette
"Seasoned rice vinegar is the secret ingredient that brings out the bright flavors of tropical fruits in this fresh fruit salad."
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This is a rare shot indeed. Not only is Joey skating, but he's skating switch!
Not such a rare sight, but soon to be if he gets deported. Keep Jason in Australia!
What's going on here?
Dave did a lovely smith grind.
A less intimate view.
I neglected to get any photos of Ben or the rest of the crew. Rest assured, they were there and performing spectacularly. If all goes well, the next post will be from the streets of gay Paris!


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My husband and I have 10 chickens: 9 hens and 1 rooster. 1 Barred Rock
rooster (his name is Rooster), 4 Buff Orpington hens (The Orpington Sisters: Bridget, Baldie, Beulah, Betty),
2 Rhode Island Red hens (Earlene and Roxie), 1 Black Sex Link hen (Velvet),
1 Barred Rock hen (Audrey), and 1 Wyandotte mixed breed hen (Cindy).
All the kiddos together (minus one that didn't make the picture) eating frozen corn
kernals on a hot Sunday afternoon this summer. They loved me, to say the least.
This has been a favorite thing to do for them, to help them keep cool. Along with
giving them fresh tomatoes from the garden, and cantaloupe and watermelon!
The kiddos with our border collie, Katie. Everyone looks so happy & content.
The chickens know they have a good protector looking out for them!
In one of their favorite spots, under a bush in the back yard.
Rooster, just being....a rooster!!
I honestly can't tell you which of the Orpington Sisters this is....But she sure
is a beautiful blonde!!
This is Velvet. Since she is a Black Sex Link, I figured
she needed a "sexy" name. This is either her "come hither"
look...or her "get away from me" look. You can decide.
Audrey: The Boss. Period.
This is Earlene. She knows she's cute.
This blondie says "Mom, I'm hot!!! Give me some frozen corn!!!"
Thank you for viewing the pictures of our flock. We love them all so much!!
The Kiddos :)
By AmberSchmieg83 · Sep 20, 2016 · ·
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Coastline offers what it believes is the most consumer friendly Residential Lot Loan available in Northeast Florida. It is a 15-year fixed interest rate mortgage loan with no prepayment penalty and no balloon payment. Our maximum Residential Lot Loan amount is $200,000.
Coastline Home Mortgage is a Local Lender!
To apply by phone, please call (904) 448-2595 for more information.


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Harry Potter Gryffindor Top Trumps Collectors Tin Card Game
- £9.99
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About this product
This entertaining, educational, 60 card game is perfect for bringing your favourite Witches and Wizards from the World of Harry Potter to life. Pit them against each other to see which is strongest in a particular category. Choose wisely and win all of your opponents cards.
Find out how magical Harry Potter is, or how courageous Hermione Granger can be!
Play Top Trumps anytime, anywhere, with as many people as you like.
Easy-to-carry tin means there are no limits on gameplay.
Discover new and exciting facts about all your favourite characters from Gryffindor including Harry, Hermione, Ron, Ginny and more!
60 card game.
- 2 or more players.
- For ages 4 years and over.
- Not suitable for children under 3 years old.
- Only for domestic use.
The small print
*Prices correct as displayed but are subject to change.
The customer and brand answers you'll see above are submitted independently. As we don't review these answers, we can't take responsibility for anything they may say. The responses from Argos colleagues are accurate at the time of publishing. For the latest info, you should check the product page.


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Dutch Museum with a green roof
It is not always possible to see stylish and contemporary Museum, emphasizing original design. A striking example of this is the Museum Biesbosch Museum in the Netherlands. The reconstruction of the Museum designers from the Studio Studio Marco Vermeulen Vermeulen for eight months. Also, in addition to reconstruction of old buildings, it was built a new wing, which houses the restaurant and area, which displays contemporary art.
On the new exhibition building, which displays the historical development of a region, did a great job Studio Joyce Langezaal. It also managed to place a library, theater, reception and small shop at the Museum.
The original hexagonal shape of the buildings, the architects decided to keep. That appearance was more harmonious and not so stand out from the surrounding environment, the roofs of the buildings, it was decided to plant grass. Live making not only did the Museum aesthetically pleasing, but also energy efficient.
In the North-West of the Museum green living roof is extra insulation and heat buffer. On cool days all this green allows you to maintain a comfortable indoor temperature of the building. In warmer months the Museum building cooling water from the river that flows through pipelines.
If you look at the roof of the Museum, it seems that they are like a small pyramid made of grass, located on the banks of the river. Take a stroll and admire the beautiful bridge that leads to the river and hangs over a colorful river. Glass wall facades also offer spectacular scenery, and allow plenty of natural light inside the Museum. In the evening looks very fascinating.
In the interior of buildings dominated by a sparkling white. Shiny glossy surfaces beautifully reflect light and fill the Museum by luxury and the share of greatness. Cozy cafe with bright tables, original wooden reception Desk, decorative brook, which is a continuation of the river inside the building, brought to the Museum expressiveness. A unique place in the Museum has a recreation room with green sofas made of grass.
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Quest hubs are fine, but dynamic content is what really gets us jazzed in our MMOs. TERA has already mastered the art of action-packed small-scale fights; now they're going big with Nexus encounters, the feature that's coming soon with an impending patch. Any time an instance can offer drop-in battles with gargantuan enemies, we're totally down.
Below is a trailer direct from En Masse Entertinament, showing off the size and scope of the Nexus instance. We're already excited to charge into the battle with our Poporis (which, as we've stated before, are the best race in the entire game), and the combat within is sure to be fast and furious. Check it out for a taste of the grandiose encounters to come.
Similar to the rifts in... Rift, Nexus events are three-stage invasions of increasingly-difficult monsters; in this case, they're all chromed out like Metal Mario - no doubt for intimidation purposes. Anytime someone enters the Nexus zone, denoted by the gigantic laser piercing through the heavens and warping in baddies, they're given a quest to join the fight and repel the monster attack.
Your participation and valor determines the greatness of your rewarded gear, and some of the incoming monsters will require more than 30 players to take down. Battles this intense are a good thing in any MMO, but being able to jump in and out of these epic-scale boss fights is what makes Nexus events so dang awesome.


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Ultimate Roadtrip Dream Car Born, Internet IncludedTravel News — By Candice Walsh on January 10, 2011 at 11:11 am
Hyundai is making it hard to resist a sweet road trip with all your buddies.
The company has just introduced its new Blue Link system to the market, which has the promise of making your next vehicle a digital playground. GPS, entertainment, OnStar and even Internet…all you need is a kitchen and a porta-potty, and you'd never have to leave your car!
What makes Blue Link so special? You can start and disable the vehicle with a text message. You no longer have to worry about endangering the lives of others due to your texting-and-driving habits, because hands-free features let you send texts and make phone calls without touching your phone. You even get a bunch of anti-theft features like roadside assistance and GPS-enabled vehicle recovery.
But the coolest little feature of Blue Link has mass appeal for travelers: the system has speech recognition software to help you locate points of interest, allowing you to interact with the in-dash entertainment system. It's kinda like having Foursquare wherever you go, but the only Mayor title you'll ever have is the Mayor of Awesome.
Or if you're looking for a little something without all the frills, GM has finally made OnStar available to most other cars…after 15 years of keeping it exclusively to themselves. Packaged as a rearview mirror, non-GM customers will be finally able to call Onstar operators for help or to track a stolen vehicle (or you can use the Bluetooth capabilities for the hands-free speakerphone, whatever's more important). Unfortunately, it can't do your homework or remote start your vehicle.
Don't let the excitement of all this newfangled technology distract you from packing your other essentials, however. You'll need your combination cup holder and iPod dock to keep you going!
[photo: conundrum525/flickr]


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Catch Lounge Chair JH14 - Dark orange
This product is currently sold out.
Design by Jaime Hayon
The Catch lounge chair is a playful design piece with round embracing armrests and steel tube legs. It is upholstered with Kvadrat fabrics by Raf Simons or with CA-MO leather, offering options suitable for any modern design space.
Colour: Dark red/orange with black legs (RAL 8022 gloss 20)
Material: Molded PU foam, CMHR foam, Ø20mm steel tube base, Kvadrat Steelcut 2 365 fabric.
Dimensions H: 86cm, W: 82cm, D: 92cm, Armrest height: 58cm, Seating height: 36cm
COM and other fabrics / leathers available upon request
Made to order
Delivery: dispatched within 6-8 weeks
If you need more details regarding this item please feel free to contact us at email@example.com. Please note that delivery times may be longer for shipments outside the UK.


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Premiere: October, 2016
Choreography: Julianna Slager
Costumes: Lorianne Barclay
"I was standing today in the dark toolshed. The sun was shining outside and through the crack at the top of the door there came a sunbeam. From where I stood that beam of light, with the specks of dust floating in it, was the most striking thing in the place. Everything else was almost pitch-black. I was seeing the beam, not seeing things by it. Then I moved, so that the beam fell on my eyes. Instantly the whole previous picture vanished. I saw no toolshed, and (above all) no beam. Instead I saw, framed in the irregular cranny at the top of the door, green leaves moving on the branches of a tree outside and beyond that, 90 odd million miles away, the sun. Looking along the beam, and looking at the beam are very different experiences."
- C.S. Lewis, Meditations in a Toolshed


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Sunday, April 15, 2012
Blog Tour: Hiding In Plain Sight (Review)
In Hiding In Plain Sight, Wallace creates a world where Ashley Walters, a "weary" but artistic and caring police office struggles to solve a variety of issues - in both her personal and professional life.
This world also includes a Mennonite community, which re-introduces Walters to the peace found within a relationship with Jesus.
Through it all, Walters learns to trust God (and people) again, as she heals from the past.
This is the second book (and series) I've read written by Wallace. I love her style - which mixes real life and suspense. This novel, the first in the Place of Refuge Series, has a solid story line.
On the scale of one to five, I give it a four. It's well worth the read (although, her book "Enduring Justice" remains my favorite of her books so far.)
More About The Book
(From The Publisher)
Secrets of the Heart Never Stay Hidden
World weary and down to a threadbare faith, Police Officer Ashley Walters seeks refuge in Montezuma, Georgia, a quiet town with a thriving Mennonite community. Even in the peaceful surroundings, she can't escape the haunting memories of crime-ridden Atlanta.
Then handsome Marriage and Family Counselor Patrick James partners with a teenaged Mennonite runaway to offer Ashley a second chance at redemption…and romance. But when violence erupts over revitalization plans that pit the Montezuma and Mennonite communities against each other, Ashley is forced to stop the person responsible—even if he is someone she's come to love.
As God unlocks the secrets darkening Ashley's heart, she must answer two crucial questions: Who is in control? And can she trust Him?
More About The Author
Amy is also a graduate of the Gwinnett County Citizens Police Academy and a contributing author of several books, including A Novel Idea: Best Advice on Writing Inspirational Fiction and God Answers Moms' Prayers.
She lives with her husband and three children in Georgia.
Online Resources
Buy it at Amazon
Check Out Amy Wallace's website
Note: As a freelance journalist, I was provided a copy of this book by Amy Wallace. This review was not influenced by a free book - just in case you (or the FTC) were worried about this detail.
Posted by K. Hutson at 9:08 PM
Labels: Book Reviews
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Clouds Man Out of Dubs EP
Fledgling Brooklyn imprint Fifth Wall's third release sees the record hub branching out beyond the work of label bosses Divvorce and Hound Scales for the first time, adding Scottish production duo Clouds to its roster with the Man Out of Dubs EP. It seems a logical fit: Clouds is one of the so-called "New Jack Techno" artists affiliated with Tiga's Turbo label, and deals with a dark and oddly playful type of club music that has a lot in common with both of the Fifth Wall owners' output.
Opener "Drone Function" quickly sets the tone. It's a murky cut of warehouse techno built around the sort of crunchy, bass-laden kicks common in classic British Murder Boys records or Blawan's recent tracks. Clouds' added element of bombast outshines both of those artists, however, as it cloaks the track in a layer of wildly oscillating noise and gives the whole thing an enjoyably overblown instability. This combination of serious techno rhythms and over-the-top dynamics is a running theme throughout Man Out of Dubs. "Tropical Fuck" lives up to its ridiculous title thanks to a relentless rhythm carved out of a thick soup of mid-range percussive elements that seem to veer all over the place. There's a seriously enjoyable groove at the heart of the track, though, and it keeps Clouds' production grounded in the late-night spectrum of classic dancefloor fare.
But it's the similarly high-energy "Phantom Female" that provides the EP's most bombastic moment. Again, the track is rooted in the throbbing pulse of dark techno, but Clouds piles on harsh, overlapping FX which eventually engulf the beat, making for a noisy breakdown that feels peculiar and cartoonishly menacing. By comparison, "T-AO-192" is a relatively restrained affair, a more classically minded drum-machine workout set over a backdrop of ambient drones and filtered FX. An element of dynamic playfulness remains in the track, as the duo peppers its mix with surprising outbursts of metallic hi-hats and mystifying, pitched-down vocal lines.
Both Divvorce and Hound Scales supply appropriately brash and floor-focused remixes to round out the EP. The former of the two strips "Drone Function" of its dynamic chaos, recreating it as a piece of proper eyes-down techno infused with rhythmic reverb outbursts and a slow-building wash of delay. Hound Scales, meanwhile, coats "Tropical Fuck" in a thick layer of saturation, working it into a dense and distorted club track which eventually yields the spotlight to an otherworldly female vocal sample.
Man Out of Dubs is high-drama stuff, so much so that it could have easily come off sounding plain ridiculous. To its credit, though, Clouds pulls the whole thing off with enough skill and conviction to get away with its antics. The result is an EP that balances deadly serious grooves with a load of personality, all of which bodes well for whatever the pair releases next.


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I like this page a lot. It's such a simple page that seems to resolve a major chapter-long conflict almost too easily. But I just really like this page. I dunno. I think it's the way that Maria's loyalty to her new girlfriend supersedes her need to quarrel with her sworn enemy. She may be an aggressive, self-righteous bitch sometimes, but Maria's heart really IS in the right place.
And I think we owe Chanel our thanks for reminding us of this.
Rain, all characters and all other aspects of the story are copyright material belonging to me.
Like Rain on Facebook!
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XD Ugh yes, Hallelujah Marias rage is finally pacified
Chanel you're the best~
It does seem like it was resolved too easily at first, but at the same time it really works since you showed Maria's loyalty to Chanel and how that's a priority.
>> Now if she could have the guts to apologize to Emily....hhahah
Maria, you're just as bad as she was in the past. Because she's straight, she can't know anything about sexualities? Tsk tsk tsk....Emily is trying her best to be friendly and patch some things up. She's trying. Which, altogether, makes you look pretty bad...or at least from where I'm standing.
I don't think something like this can actually resolve the conflict in the long term, since it clearly doesn't resolve the *source* of the conflict, but still it's a brilliant way of getting a ceasefire ^_^
Also... yeah. I was kinda wondering how Emily knows so much about sexuality myself, to be fair, being straight
@Allie: Emily has a internet account. No, really. When I went to college in the early 90s the world wide web had just come out and I learned a HECK of a lot about everything there is about sex, gender issues, trans-issues, just by reading or visiting those chat areas. I know a lot of stuff that I don't need to know about all these, such as the medical issues and ethics - and I think of myself as straight.
I wonder where Maria got the idea that Emily is homophobic?
I agree with you 100%
Whipped = one's partner has them wrapped around their finger.
Also, your art's really improved from the beginning.
Chanel and Maria are too lovely. I'm dying


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Dothan renters insurance will come in handy for anyone currently renting in Dothan, AL or anyone considering a move to this lovely Alabama town. Regardless of whether you are looking to study, to work, to play or to retire in Dothan, you will find a wide array of activities and accommodation available. When looking into the sights, sounds and selection of homes in Dothan, be sure to also compare Dothan renters insurance.
Dothan is an excellent place to call home. Regardless of whether you are renting or own your own house, there are plenty of fun filled activities to keep you busy and entertained all year round. This sunny town is home is the National Peanut Festival every November as well as the Featured Players Theatre. There are several different museums and monuments to discover on your weekends off including the US Army Aviation Museum, the Wiregrass Museum of Art and The George Washington Carver Museum. On the art and music front, there are plenty of places to enjoy the Alabama culture including the Southeast Alabama Community Theatre, the Opera House and Country Crossing. For the kiddies, be sure to also check out Adventureland Theme Park, the Botanical Gardens and the Landmark Park Agricultural Museum and Starlab Planetarium.
Renters Insurance in AL
The type of Alabama rental home you choose to live in will depend on a number of different things. Do you plan on attending school in Dothan? If so, then you might want to consider on campus student dorms, off campus shared housing or other student housing options. If you are looking to retire, you might want to check out the various senior citizen complex and apartment blocks catered towards the relaxed retirement lifestyle. If you are looking for a place to settle down and raise a family, there are plenty of townhouse and condominium options both in the center of town as well as in the various suburbs around Dothan. Or, if you are looking for your own single pad then a high rise loft or condo in the heart of town may be more your style.
Once you have established what you are looking for when renting any type of home, you will also need to consider the various Dothan renters insurance options. Not only should you compare Dothan renters insurance providers, but you should also consider the policy options as well as the premium rates. In general, you can expect anywhere from $10 to $20 per month for a complete Dothan renters insurance policy. However, how much you pay will depend on what type of home you live in, how much you want to insure and what options you want to include on your plan.
Dothan Renters Insurance Options
Although your landlord's house insurance may pay for any structural damage incurred in the event of any natural disaster or accidental damage, renters are responsible for what is inside their home, including any belongings and guests. Contents coverage is the most common type of renters insurance or rental house insurance. This type of renters coverage will pay for the costs incurred to replace or repair your belongings, including your furniture, electronics, clothing and area rugs. Loss of use coverage is another option and will pay for the moving costs incurred if your house is made unlivable. Physical liability protection will pay for any medical or legal costs incurred if someone is seriously injured or killed in your apartment. Physical liability protection will relieve the financial burden of medical expense, funeral and burial costs, loss of income and rehabilitation fees to name a few. It can also take care of any legal fees if a lawsuit incurs because of the accident, injury or fatality.
Best Renters Insurance Deals
One of the main reasons to consider Dothan renters insurance, regardless of where you are in your life is because of the financial relief it can provide. If you are ever faced with any natural disaster or accident, the last thing you want to worry about is how this will impact your bank account. You are probably devastating, distraught and emotionally traumatized without even considering how this will impact your financial future. Dothan renters insurance provides you with the support and financial relief you need during this difficult time.
Although no one rents a house thinking "one day this will burn to the ground and I need to be prepared." However, unexpected disasters happen every day. Isn't this why we purchase car insurance, income protection and life coverage? Fires, thefts, hurricanes, cyclones and other unplanned emergencies are a part of life. Instead of take the risk and rent without Dothan renters insurance, give yourself an added dose of protection and security by looking into a renters insurance policy that is right for your needs.


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Express. Home of the Daily and Sunday Express.
Leeds to face Man City in cup
Leeds were rewarded for their victory over Tottenham with a trip to Barclays Premier League champions Manchester City in the fifth round of the FA Cup.
Neil Warnock's men knocked out Spurs 2-1 at Elland Road to book a trip to the Etihad Stadium in the pick of the ties.
Non-league Luton, who claimed a famous 1-0 win at Norwich on Saturday, missed out on a plum draw with a top Premier League side as they got Millwall at home.
Oldham, the npower League One side who stunned Liverpool 3-2, were handed their Merseyside rivals Everton at home in the next round.
Manchester United were drawn to face Reading at Old Trafford, while Arsenal also got a home tie, against Championship outfit Blackburn.
Chelsea, should they see off Brentford in a replay after the two sides drew 2-2 at Griffin Park, can look forward to a trip to Middlesbrough.
QPR's conquerors MK Dons were drawn at home to Barnsley, while Wigan will travel to Huddersfield or Leicester.
Fifth-round draw: Huddersfield/Leicester v Wigan; MK Dons v Barnsley; Oldham v Everton; Luton v Millwall; Arsenal v Blackburn; Man City v Leeds; Man Utd v Reading; Middlesbrough v Brentford/Chelsea
The ties will be played on the weekend of February 16.


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Travel. We all have to do it on a regular basis. Most of us do it without even batting an eyelid. Most of us.
Not my mother.
I don't deny that it can be stressful at times. But it's never as stressful as when I do it with my 5 foot nothing mum. She brings the worst out of me.
Just yesterday we flew from Brindisi to Birmingham. A direct flight for this route does not exist. So we had to get creative.
After an hour of research we found that our best (admittedly extortionately expensive) bet was to fly Brindisi-Rome with Alitalia, and then Rome-Birmingham with Monarch (I'd never heard of them either; my mum suggested it all gooey-eyed because it's the company she used to fly with to visit my dad).
We scheduled in a two and a half hour stopover to give us plenty of time, and set off on our journey, carefree and light, the picture of confident travellers, suitcases rattling jauntily behind us.
Sidenote: my teeny mum likes to avoid stress of any kind when flying, so arrives at least two hours before any flight.
'I always say it's better to be waiting at the airport than at home!' she'll say. (I think it's better not to be waiting anywhere, but what do I know?)
So for this 8am flight, we left at 6.15.
I'm not complaining. She could be a lot worse. My friend, M.H.'s dad lies to his family of seven about what time their flights are so as to stay on top of things, and none of the children (all 18 and over) are allowed to carry their own passports (but neither is M.H.'s mum come to think of it...) 'just in case.'
So, at 23 years of age, I'm just happy to be entrusted with my own travel documents.
Picture us yesterday morning... We're swimming in time to spare, there's no queue to check in because it's such a small airport, we're talking about all the duty free shopping we'll be able to cram into those two hours that we have in Rome airport. This is the life! What larks! The holiday continues! If things were any better it'd be illegal!
Get to the desk.
'Scusa, ma c'e un'ora e mezzo di ritardo.'
For all you pesky non-Italian speakers (what are you thinking? Buy a Rosetta Stone!) that translates to... my mum having a breakdown.
That simple delay meant that all our plans were scuppered. Forget duty free, we'd be lucky to even get on our second plane. It meant that we had 40 minutes to get off the first plane, collect our case from baggage reclaim, find the desk for our second flight and check in, go through security again, and all in flip flops. And Roma Fiumicino airport is so big.
It didn't help that my aunty (my mum's equally panicky sister) had driven us to the airport, and so was essentially our support network at that crucial moment. Not only did she not help, but when she heard the news she had to sit down and take deep breaths.
'I'm not leaving you here,' she said as I rubbed her back.
'Yes you are,' my mum said.
'Come home with me,' my aunty said.
'No,' I said.
'We have to at least try!' shouted my mum (cool and collected as ever.)
We went back to the desk quite a few times during our wait for the first plane. In fact, I'm not ashamed to admit it, I'd go as far as saying that we harassed the staff. Not me. I'm British. I don't like to kick up a fuss. But my mum? A different story altogether.
She tried sob stories - 'we paid a fortune for our second flight, where am I going to get the money to pay for another one?'
She tried gentle persuasion - 'can't you just squeeze us onto an earlier flight?'
She gave them tips on how to do their jobs - 'MAYBE IF YOU WERE MORE HELPFUL, YOU'D ENJOY YOUR JOB MORE!'
She tried to humiliate them into helping us - 'you fly with Alitalia in good faith, thinking you'll be looked after...'
She suggested alternative solutions - 'why don't you just get our suitcase back out of there and we can have it onboard with us to save time later?'
And when all else failed, she just glared at them from afar.
My mum's coping mechanism was scarily similar to the five stages of loss and grief.
1. Denial and isolation
When she was told of the delay her face drained of all colour and she said, 'not our flight?', then, 'an hour and a half, are you sure?', then, 'no. Check again!' She then went back and forth from the departures board regularly to double check, each time more surprised than the last, shaking her head in bitter disbelief. When I tried to talk her off the bridge, she asked to be left alone to digest the information.
2. Anger
She started off by asking the staff very sweetly if there was anything that could be done. When they politely said no, (being as the second flight wasn't even with their company) she politely told them that it's no surprise their company's going bust, and were they being so rude because they couldn't be certain they were going to get to keep their jobs?
3. Bargaining
After she'd calmed down somewhat and had been talked into sitting down, she started with the irrational 'what if's.
'If only we'd gotten here 10 minutes earlier they would've put us on the earlier flight...' (the earlier flight was at 5am.)
'If we had only brought hand luggage, we'd be fine.' (We'd been in Italy for a fortnight. I don't think you can even fit 14 pairs of pants into hand luggage.)
We even weighed up the pros and cons of just abandoning the suitcase in Rome to save time - 'maybe they'd send it back to us...?' (neither of us were convinced of that one, plus there was no address on it anyway), 'what was even in there that you'd miss?' (loads of things), 'do you think we could re-buy everything that was in there for less money than it'd cost to buy two more flights home?' (no.)
4. Depression
At which point she just melodramatically slumped in her chair, refusing even coffee ('I couldn't possibly eat a thing; my stomach's completely closed up.')
5. Acceptance
And then all of a sudden, she was smiling again.
'Oh well! If we miss it, we miss it! It's only money! We'll make a holiday of it! I still know people there! Three nights in Rome it is! (Not sure why it had to be that long, but that part was non negotiable.) It's not like you've got a job to go back to! (Thanks mum.)'
Once on the plane, everyone had calmed down. Apart from the fact that my mum had found a particularly docile stewardess to bother all flight. She cornered her as soon as we got onto the plane, asking her numerous questions while the other passengers filed on, getting in everyone's way and causing the stewardess to get flustered and forget to check half the people's tickets (safe.)
Each time the stewardess walked past my mum had a new question that the poor girl couldn't possibly know the answer to.
As the stewardess brought drinks through, my mum shouted, 'do you think we'll make it?'
As the stewardess collected the rubbish, my mum shouted, 'what are the chances of us making it?'
As the stewardess handed out in flight magazines, my mum shouted, 'what are your tips for making it?'
The flight was only an hour long, and before the 'fasten your seatbelts' sign was even off we'd grabbed our hand luggage and were standing by the door.
I ran, oblivious of anything else. I pushed a man with a cane out the way. My mum ran her trolley wheels over an infant's feet.
As I ran for my life, I noticed my minuscule mum lagging behind. I lost 3 seconds turning to look for her. She wasn't running right.
'I need a wee!' she said.
'YOU CAN'T HAVE ONE!' I shouted.
'I'm going to do it now.'
'I'm really going to do it!'
'Fine!!!' I growled.
So we lost 2 minutes for a toilet break.
As my mum emerged from the Ladies' I threw her bag at her and carried on running. No more stopping.
An unhelpful fellow passenger shouted after us, 'I heard your connecting flight is at half 11?' (Of course he heard that, the whole plane heard that...)
'Good luck!' someone else shouted.
'Remember to breathe!' shouted another person.
At baggage reclaim there was no baggage. Obviously. We'd outrun the baggage.
The fellow passenger from before joined us as we paced the hall.
'God, it's so bad about the delay, isn't it?' he said.
'Mmhmm,' I said.
'I mean, I don't have a flight to catch, but, you know, you make your plans, don't you?'
Thanks for that.
After approximately one minute's wait, my mum lost all patience.
'WHERE ARE THE BAGS FROM BRINDISI?!' she screamed at nobody in particular, looking around accusingly.
Thankfully they came within 10 minutes. I grabbed ours and ran. The wrong way.
Once again, my mum resorted to shouting, 'HOW DO WE GET OUT?!', directed at absolutely anyone who might know. A terrified cleaner pointed us in the opposite direction to the one in which we were throwing ourselves.
My mum followed me.
We ended up turning on each other.
'Are you sure this is the way to departures?!' my mum asked me, panic-stricken.
'YES, OBVIOUSLY!!' I screamed back (even though I wasn't sure at all, and had only seen signs for 'arrivals' for the last 500 metres.)
We found the check in desk with mum's usual method - 'WHERE'S DESK 234?!'
Unsurprisingly it was last call and there was nobody else in sight.
When we saw the enormous queue for security I could've sworn I saw my mum swallow a sob.
'It says Terminal 3, 5 minutes!!!!' she wailed, despairingly.
A member of staff took pity on us; she hustled us to the front and winked.
'Just this once!' she said.
My mum almost leant in to kiss her.
As we waited for our stuff to come out the other side of the machine, mum was hopping from foot to foot. She shoved a woman's bag out the way to get to hers, and the woman in question started to say, 'ma che cazzo...', but we were running off before she had a chance to say any more.
As we neared H3, I almost turned religious.
'Please, please, please, please...' I chanted in my head, as I ran.
As we skidded round the last corner, we found a long line of people by H3, all patiently waiting to board.
Swimming in sweat, but amazed by our good fortune, we high fived, hugged, and called everyone who would care to tell them that we'd made it. (Even though most of them didn't even know that we'd feared we wouldn't, and J.G. wasn't even awake yet.)
Then we waited 45 minutes to board.


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Posts TaggedPhotos
Camera apps are among the most popular on the App Store. From social networks based upon photos to simple apps that make collages, all types of activities that are based on photos are active pieces of the market.
Most of these apps rely upon Apple's own Camera app for the photo itself. This isn't surprising — the native Camera app is utterly fantastic in almost any condition, as Apple has taken its time to optimize in every possible way. Camera Plus — note the word "Plus," not the symbol — takes on Apple's solution, as well as all other competitors. (more…)
I'm a sucker for sticker apps. If you like it, then you should've put a stamp on it. That's my motto. I can never really have enough photo apps, because my thirst for stickers will never be satiated.
That's why I was happy to try out Moonfrye, with its tons of free stickers to download. There's a lot more here than meets the eye, though, and I'll take a look at this surprising little app. (more…)
I really dig Instagram — or I used to. But since the service was purchased by Facebook, I feel like it's lost its focus. Instagram's new video features are nice, but they don't feel as smartly-designed as Vine. And speaking of design, I feel like Instagram's has suffered recently — particularly on iOS 7, where the app looks like something an arts college dropout would whip up if given the opportunity. And finally, I can't be alone in saying that I think the filter selection is getting worse with time.
That's why I'm really excited about Favd. Favd is a photo-sharing app made for iOS 7 that's designed on the App.net backbone. It offers total ownership of your photos, great filters, and the ability to share them on Twitter and Facebook. Better yet, its design harkens back to the days of early Instagram and uses App.net for its social structure. Read on to find out why I think Favd is a must-have app.
In the wake of iOS 7, it feels like the App Store is the Wild West. Every app territory is up for grabs again — it's no longer about who has the best app, but about who's made the best iOS 7 app. Camera apps, despite iOS 7's arguably disappointing camera filters, aren't excluded from this. In fact, thanks to iOS 7's renewed focus on clarity, I think that camera apps could benefit more than most.
Landcam requires iOS 6 or higher, but it looks like it's been made for iOS 7 from the get-go. This is the rare camera app that surprises and delights as often as it snaps a shot. Let's take a look and see whether or not it can supplant your current favourites.
Let me get this out of the way: iOS 7 is great. I love it. But it's not perfect. There's a million fantastic improvements, but there's also a few things that Apple still hasn't gotten around to improving. I'm not talking about design problems (although there are a couple of those), but rather about some of the little quirks that still drive me crazy.
With that in mind, this is my attempt to keep a small log of the things that really bother me. Consider this is a wish list of tiny things I wish Apple would get around to in iOS 7.1.
I've made it no secret that I love the new Flickr. I think it's a great way to share photos. I use it for my business all the time to privately share photos with my clients using Flickr's Guest Pass feature, and so far they've all loved the experiences, too.
But nothing is perfect. It's nice to see alternative takes on a product we love, so I was really excited to see Pure for Flickr. It's a lightweight, minimalist way to browse Flickr photos. Naturally, I downloaded it right away. Read on to find out more. (more…)
My business doesn't just include writing, but also photography. And one of the things I love about my iPhone is that it's a great opportunity to practice taking photos. It eliminates the need to worry about things such as aperture, soft focus and lots of other technical gibberish. My iPhone tears down the technical walls and helps me focus on taking photos with great composition.
But is there a place for an iPhone app designed to completely replicate the experience of an authentic digital SLR? While I'm a big fan of apps like Analog Camera and Instagram, I can definitely see the market and desire for an app that offers me more control over the technicalities of my photos. In that regard, 645 PRO Mk II wants to be your go-to app. Its tagline states that 645 PRO "feels like a pro camera. Because it is one." Read on to find out whether or not it lives up to that claim. (more…)
I try my best to stay away from cliches when writing reviews. But, with the app that I am gonna review today, it is imperative that I use the old adage: a picture is worth a thousand words. It's so very true, and in this age of chronic attention deficit syndrome, pictures are the easiest way to convey the message to your audience.
But what if a picture isn't by itself enough to get the message across and there is something more you've got to say? Not everyone is good at understanding the subtext behind a visual, and this requires you to explicitly spell out what's on your mind. ThingLink is an app that helps you bring life to your images by associating relevant multimedia content to them. Let's go check it out! (more…)
I was actually really late to the photo filter game on my iPhone. It wasn't until earlier this year that I really got into Instagram, and Analog Camera really rejuvenated my love for a truly mobile camera app. (Actually, I'd say it spoiled me). The iOS 7 camera has me excited, but I'm not sure it can replace both those apps on my home screen.
That being said, I'm always up for trying new camera apps, because I think they're a lot of fun. Recently, Sprinter caught my eye: It's an Instagram-like camera app that uses App.net as its social network, so the community is already there. Sprinter's goal is to make sharing photos to ADN as easy as possible. Read on to find out what I think about this new app. (more…)


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Guaranteed shipments by Christmas to Europe for orders received by December 17th
The Ottoz Génépy Elixir is a liqueur containing the Génépy plant (Artemisia glacialis), an alpine herb that grows over 2000 meters in the Alps. The flavor is intense, the fragrance aromatic and it is free from those natural dyes that colour traditional genepy a bright green.
The production of the Ottoz gé,né,py began in 1902, when Laurent Ottoz came back to live in the Aosta Valley after having gained a valuable experience in a glorious French distillery. For many years, this traditionnal liqueur has been the only symbol of the typical Aosta Valley product for those who love the region. Today, the Ottoz genepy remains the most popular Aosta Valley liqueur.
Alcohol consumption can be harmful. Drink moderately.
Distillati Ottoz
The Ottoz products made the Aosta's Génépy famous in all Italy, due to its colour and its incredible aroma.


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Coach of the Year is another very difficult award to bestow. There are so many devoted and excellent ones out there.
These awards were not necessarily awarded to a man and a woman, but to the top coach of a boys' team and the top coach of a girls' team.
Winter 2009-10 Southern edition Coach of the Year-Boys' Team
When the South Portland boys' hockey team dropped three of its first four games this winter, there were some who felt that last year's growth and success might have been a fluke.
By the end of the season, there wasn't a detractor to be found.
The Red Riots won 13 of their final 14 regular season contests, then won a quarterfinal round playoff game for the first time, culminating what has to be considered as the finest campaign in the program's history.
In just a few short years, Joe Robinson has raised the Red Riots' profile, has made the most of a small roster and has produced a winner, attributes that convinced The Forecaster to name him our Winter 2009-10 Southern edition Coach of the Year, of a boys' team.
Robinson is a Red Riot at heart. He's a member of the Class of 1994. He was a hockey and baseball standout in high school, went on to Bridgton Academy and the University of Southern Maine and started coaching at the ripe age of 20 when he ran across South Portland athletic director Thor Nilsen while serving jury duty and learned of a freshman softball opening. After spending a short period of time in Arizona, Robinson returned to South Portland and coached girls' soccer and baseball at Mahoney Middle School. He served as an assistant with the Cape Elizabeth hockey program and was an integral part of two state championships. He took over the Red Riots for the 2007-08 season.
South Portland was coming off a 4-16 campaign, but Robinson produced a winning record (10-9-1) in his first year, then led the Red Riots to 15 victories and a trip to the quarterfinals last winter.
This year's team not only had to deal with small numbers and youth. Brendan Horton was diagnosed with cancer. While he missed much of the season, the team, led by his older brother, Zach, rallied around him and overcame its 1-3 start to finish fourth in the Western A Heals. A come-from-behind 3-2 win over rival Portland in the quarterfinals made history and even though the run ended with a 7-2 loss to eventual state champion Biddeford in the semifinals, the Red Riots produced a feel-good story.
Robinson pushed all the right buttons this year. He credited the timing of Christmas break and a team meeting for turning things around.
Robinson is still the girls' soccer coach at Mahoney. He's preparing to embark on his first season as the South Portland assistant varsity baseball coach. He and his wife, Jen, and their baby live in Biddeford.
The flip side of South Portland's youth is the fact that almost everyone will be back next winter, where the Red Riots will face expectations for the first time and won't be able to sneak up on anyone.
That's OK, this program will be ready for any eventuality. Joe Robinson, our Winter 2009-10 Southern edition boys' Coach of the Year, has created a budding powerhouse.
2008-09 winner: Derek Veilleux (Scarborough track)
2007-08 winner: Phil Conley (South Portland basketball).
2006-07 winner: Tony DiBiase (South Portland basketball)
2005-06 winner: Jay Mazur (Scarborough hockey)
2004-05 winner: Jason Tremblay (Cape Elizabeth hockey)
2003-04 winner: Jim Ray (Cape Elizabeth basketball)
2002-03 winner: Matt Townsend (Scarborough basketball)
2001-02 winner: Paul Brogan (South Portland indoor track)
Winter 2009-10 Southern edition Coach of the Year -Girls' Team
A program that had never made it past the regional final is now the finest in the state.
The Scarborough girls' basketball team boasted an indomitable group of senior players who simply don't know how to lose, but the architect of the Red Storm's revival was the man at the top.
Jim Seavey left Greely four years ago after leading the Rangers to two regional titles and the 2004 Class B championship. He inherited a Scarborough team that was coming off a five-win campaign and promptly molded the Red Storm into a tenacious, clutch group that simply wouldn't be denied.
For proving once again that he's a coach with few equals, for getting a group unaccustomed to hardwood success to believe it could be the best around and for mixing and matching with nearly flawless results during the regular and postseasons, Jim Seavey is The Forecaster's choice as our Winter 2009-10 Southern edition Coach of the Year, of a girls' team.
Seavey won the award twice previously at Greely, in 2003 and 2004.
Seavey grew up in Biddeford, playing football, basketball and baseball. Before coaching at Greely, he served at Edward Little, Gray-New Gloucester and Oxford Hills. He reached the pinnacle of his profession at Greely, then, decided it was time to take on a new challenge.
In his first season in Scarborough, the Red Storm won eight games and made it to the preliminary round of the Western A playoffs, losing to Kennebunk. The next season, Scarborough won 13 times and got to the Expo before falling to Westbrook in the quarterfinals. Last year, the Red Storm won 18 times, but were upset by Biddeford in the semifinals.
There would be no stumbles this winter.
Scarborough entered the year as a co-favorite with two-time defending champion Deering. The Red Storm quickly became the team to beat with a dramatic come-from-behind home victory over the Rams, then passed every subsequent test. Seavey relied heavily on his accomplished players, many of whom had won titles in other sports.
Scarborough entered the tournament as the favorite for the first time and didn't disappoint. In the quarterfinals, against South Portland, the Red Storm's defense (a longtime Seavey calling card) didn't allow the Red Riots to get across halfcourt for much of a first period that ended with a '0' next to South Portland's name on the scoreboard. In the semifinals, playing without injured stalwart Jenn Colpitts, Seavey got his girls to stay focused despite an early deficit and they rallied to set up another date with Deering in the regional final. There, the Rams appeared on several occasions primed to pull away, but Scarborough hung close, then finished with a flurry to capture the regional crown. In the state game, against Skowhegan, Seavey threw a wrinkle at the Indians, playing sophomore Brittany Bona for major minutes. Instead of coming from behind, the Red Storm raced to an 19-3 lead and cruised to a 52-32 win, capping a first-ever undefeated and championship season.
Seavey, who also worked as a football coach at Greely and Gray-New Gloucester and led the Greely softball team to the 2002 Class B title, broke the 200 career hoops wins mark this winter. He and his wife Heather (the South Portland field hockey coach) and their children, Quincy (5) and Sydney (3), live in Westbrook.
Seavey now turns his attention to coaching Westbrook softball this spring. Next winter, the Red Storm won't be picked by many to repeat, but you can never rule out a Seavey-coached squad.
This basketball season will never be forgotten in Scarborough. A championship was only a pipe dream for years until Jim Seavey, our Winter 2009-10 Southern edition girls' Coach of the Year, arrived on the scene.
2008-09 winner: Chris Roberts (Cape Elizabeth basketball
2007-08 winner: Bre Fortiguerra (Scarborough hockey)
2006-07 winner: Ron Kelly (Scarborough Indoor track)
2005-06 winner: Deven Morrill (Cape Elizabeth Nordic skiing)
2004-05 winner: Ron Kelly (Scarborough Indoor track)
2003-04 winner: Mike Giordano (South Portland basketball)
2002-03 winner: Kerry Kertes (Cape Elizabeth swimming)
2001-02 winner: Tim Kipp (Scarborough swimming)
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Dunham Farms offers a lovely setting for everything from simple company retreats to reunions and oyster roasts for 300 people. With 30 acres of beautiful grounds featuring mature azalea and camellia gardens, expansive lawns, glorious "big sky" views of Ossabaw Island, and inspiring oak groves, the hardest part will be choosing your favorite spot.
For business meetings, Dunham Farms offers The Retreat, a separate building just a 3-minute walk from Palmyra Barn B&B Inn. The Retreat has formal and informal meeting space for up to 30 people. It also offers areas for break-out sessions. Or opt for an informal meeting in the lovely screened Poolhouse. Live Oak Hall is also a great place for parties and events of all sizes.
Group activities such as flatwater kayaking, nature and heritage walks, and special presentations round out a great retreat or reunion at Palmyra Plantation.
A full gourmet breakfast and afternoon hors d'oeuvres are included in group rates, and other meals and refreshments can be arranged for an additional fee.
Groups taking 4 or more rooms in The Barn B&B Inn are eligible for group discounts on multi-night stays. Maid service, free movies from our extensive list, use of trails and trail bikes, discounts for kayaking and free admission to Melon Bluff's Nature Preserve are included in the room rate. For a complete description of rooms and rates please click here.
Children 8 years and up are welcome. In consideration of all guests, smoking is not permitted nor do we allow pets indoors. We accept Visa, Mastercard, American Express and Discover credit cards as well as traveler's cheques, personal checks and cash.


text: Hi, I have the database (gdbm) and I put "access to * by * write" in ldbm configuration area of slapd.conf. I am using java "ldapbrowser". As anonymous I can see only root suffix, as cn=Manager + root_suffix I am not able to BIND at all. I though "access to * by * write" should allow every thing for everyone. Cheers, Ashish ________________________________________________________________________ Want to sell your car? advertise on Yahoo Autos Classifieds. It's Free!! visit http://in.autos.yahoo.com


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[ Brazilian
Teal ]
Marbled Teal
This species breeds rather well in aviaries, but need lots of cover to nest. The hens will begin to lay her
clutch of 6 to 10 eggs in May and incubates them for about 25 days. The hens will make good mothers and can be used to hatch her own eggs. First year birds are fertile.
General Comments
A very easy species to keep in aviaries, the Falcated Teal is calm species that does very well in mixed collections. They are also Winter hardy, making them desirable for breeders in cold regions.
Place Mouse over Pictures to Enlarge
Falcated Drake
Falcated Drake
Falcated Hen
to Order


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Staff writer
Marion Police officers have been busy this quarter racking up 423 cases ranging from criminal cases to traffic stops from January to the end of April. This total is nearly double the number of cases from 2013 at 285.
Police Chief Tyler Mermis said the increased total is not because there is more crime; it is because officers are being more proactive. He estimates that a third of the cases are of criminal nature.
"This is something all the guys love to do and they want to make our community a great place to live," Mermis said.
So far this year officers have made 302 traffic stops compared to 752 in all of 2013, issued 136 citations compared to only 121 for 2013, and made 43 arrests, more than half of the 82 for 2013.
These numbers set to blow all 2013 totals for the entire year out of the water.
"It's a trend going on all over the U.S.," Mermis said. "Crimes of a certain nature are going up because high unemployment is causing stress, which can lead to disturbances at home."
Mermis said these numbers will only keep going up as officers continue to do their job to protect the city.
"These guys do a tremendous job for me and I believe we have the best PD for our size in the state," he said.
The department has integrated new training and tools to help it be more efficient. A prime example is Legion, the department's police dog.
Since Legion began with the force he has averaged one drug bust every week and a half with his handler, officer Mike Stone.
Monday during a traffic stop at 2:30 a.m. on U.S.56 just east of the Marion city limits, the duo uncovered 7.8 grams of marijuana, 14.5 grams of hallucinogenic mushrooms, drug paraphernalia, and amphetamines.
Legion is trained to smell all major drugs, and according to Mermis is a wonderful asset to the department.
"He is working great and is keeping the streets a lot safer," Mermis said. "He is also a good asset for the community because he is easy to interact with and is very personable and friendly."
Monday's bust was Legion's biggest to date. Since December, Legion and Stone have recovered more than 22 grams of marijuana and $350 of drug money.
Mermis said he believes it is only a matter of time before Legion makes a much larger bust.
"I believe there is a large amount of drugs that are transported through the county," Mermis said. "Legion is definitely good to have on the streets to help keep that out of our community."
The department will also begin utilizing the empty section of the former Arlie's building to house impounded vehicles.
According to Mermis any vehicles used to commit a drug offense can be seized then sold by the department. He plans to extend the offer to utilize the building to the Sheriff's Department.


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MIDLAND - Mid-Cities Community Church staff held an open house and building dedication for the new 54,000-sf children's building located at 8700 W. SH 191.
The 12-month construction project totaled $14 million with $11 million being spent to build the entirely new children's facility.
The remaining $3 million was used to purchase property near the church, build the parking lot and renovate some of the existing structures, said Chris Kelly, the pastor of business and finance.
The original sanctuary was also renovated for the Mid-Cities Espanol, all Spanish service, with room to add up to 200 individuals to each service. Currently, 110 to 120 individuals meet.
The old space available for the children's department, which was approximately 17,000 sf, now will be turned into classrooms for adults.
Our twice-weekly e-newsletter provides a quick overview of Texas real estate markets. Because your time is valuable.


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PERFECT SPECIMEN: Michael Copon
Michael was cast by the Fox Kids Network as Blue Ranger Lucas less than a year after he graduated from Deep Creek High School (2001). He quickly advanced from high school senior and defensive end on Deep Creek's football team in 2000 to print model in Los Angeles to Blue Ranger. He is well known for his role as Felix Taggaro in the hit telly series "One Tree Hill".
More of Michael here...
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Kilkenny claim All-Ireland IHC
Hearty congratulations to the fine Kilkenny intermediate team, who won the intermediate All-Ireland hurling final against a Limerick selection at Thurles, Co Tipperary, on Saturday afternoon last on a score of 1-16 to 0-13.
There was a huge effort put into winning this one; it was the first of four All-Ireland that the county may win this year, so there was great pride and indeed pressure on them to achieve this win against a very strong Limerick team (led out by former Clare County star Ciaran Carey). Nothing was gotten easily in this game as both team battled it out for the title. The Kilkenny boys just kept on playing, with powerful displays, and overcame their opponents in the end.
The team is managed by Mullinavat club man Pat Hoban, himself a Black and Amber All-Ireland medal winner, and he has many from the South Kilkenny area on his team. They included Pat Hartley, who has already picked up All-Ireland under-age medals. The Tullogher great was joined by Mark Phelan, a former Kilkenny senior hurler from Ballyfacey, Sean Cummins, Michael Grace and Kieran Joyce from the Rower/Inistioge club, Niall Walsh of Slieverue (whose late grandfather Tom "Builder" Walsh was one of the great exponents of the game, playing club hurling for Slieverue and with the famed Carrickshock team). From the Graiguenamanagh area came Niall Kennedy, Cathal Dunne, Peter Cleere and James Cahill. Windgap club was represented by Philly Lonergan and from Mooncoin intermediate team came Eoin Hennebry. All of them played their part in securing this first All-Ireland Kilkenny win by their GAA team (with a possible three more), not to mention the girls that might come the Black and Amber way during this hurling and camogie playing season.
Willie O'Dwyer
It is still only a short few years ago that we traveled up to Nowlan Park, Kilkenny, to see a young Willie O'Dwyer of Mullinavat line out for the Kilkenny senior hurling team and make his debut against Clare in a National Hurling League game that marked the commencement of a glorious senior career at county level for this quiet and unassuming young man. It came just a few months after a great minor All-Ireland display. On that day he was joining fellow club man Walter Burke, who had been on the Kilkenny panel for some years prior and had given sterling service. Willie has now become a regular on the Kilkenny panel and has played major roles in most of the Kilkenny games. On Sunday week next, Willie (like many of his team colleagues that have been under Brian Cody's care) will be going for their fifth All-Ireland victory. For Willie O'Dwyer, it could mark his third Liam McCarthy Cup success. He has trained hard, and has also given great service to his native club and has lined out for them in all competitive games this year, while at the same time as continuing a most rigorous and testing training programme with Kilkenny. We wish him well on Sunday week and likewise to all of his team colleagues. His parents John and Mary richly deserve the many congratulatory messages that they have received and should be very proud and honored to have a son associated with Kilkenny glory and going for his third All-Ireland medal. We will be shouting all the way for you, Willie!
Best of Luck!
Up the Cats and the best of luck also to all the Kilkenny players, led by Knockmoylan man James "Cha" Fitzpatrick, this year's captain, and to the still young and talented Carrickshock player, Richie Power, and fellow club men John Dalton, John Tennyson, Michael Rice, to Glenmore's Richie Mullally, to Ballyhale's finest player of all time, Henry Shefflin, and to Kiltorcan brothers Eoin and PJ Reid, and a welcome return from injury to Michael Fennelly from Castlebanny, to Dunamaggin defender Noel Hickey, and to all the members of this talented and great hurling team, the very best to luck against our near-neighbours and friends Waterford, in what promises to be an epic and historical hurling All-Ireland final.
Games between them in 1957, 1959, and again in 1963 are now historical for many. I can still, however, see that great roadside sign reading 'Fleming, Buggy, Sutton: Up Kilkenny' a reference to Mick Fleming, then a player with Kilmacow, the late John Sutton from Rahard in Mullinavat, and Paddy Buggy of Slieverue, who later went on to become president of the GAA in its centenary year.
These games were played with a very high standard of skill and fitness, with Kilkenny winning two and Waterford one. Waterford therefore have to catch up, and Kilkenny have the opportunity to make history with a three-in-a-row victory. Kilkenny will be favourites on Sunday and the marking by players from both sides will be intense. Most, if not all, of this great Kilkenny team have been here before and have collected their medals and All-Stars, so in one sense the pressure is on the lads in the Black and Amber. They have shown great dedication and a new hunger for success, and we are perhaps seeing the greatest Kilkenny team under Brian Cody ever to grace a hurling All-Ireland. We are proud of each and every one of them. Cill Choinigh Abu!
For full story see The Munster Express newspaper or
subscribe to our Electronic edition.
subscribe to our Electronic edition.


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The June 7 letter "Union-election rules should not change," from David S. Kessler, not only is a one-sided view of the Employee Free Choice Act but also is factually wrong. It's too bad that Kessler did not fully research the act to understand why it is essential for rebuilding the middle class and making America's economy strong again.
The June 7 letter "Union-election rules should not change," from David S. Kessler, not only is a one-sided view of the Employee Free Choice Act but also is factually wrong. It's too bad that Kessler did not fully research the act to understand why it is essential for rebuilding the middle class and making America's economy strong again.
The only reason there would be an attempt to organize any company is that the union has been contacted by a group of employees expressing interest. The union does not run a lemonade-style stand on the street corner trying to get employees to join. The fact is, more than 60 million workers say they would join a union if they could, according to recent polling.
It is true that during organizing drives, the union solicits signatures on cards from employees to monitor interest at a company where some of the employees have expressed an interest in joining the union. What Kessler failed to mention is that, if only 30 percent of those employees sign a card, then the union can call for an election run by the National Labor Relations Board.
The Employee Free Choice Act would change that requirement to 50 percent plus one, thus showing a true representative majority.
The act does not take away secret-ballot elections, as Kessler implied in his letter. Under the current law, secret-ballot elections can be called by the employees and also by the company. If 100 percent of the employees of a particular company sign a card saying they want to be represented by a union, the company can recognize the employees without an election, but it almost always calls for a secret-ballot election.
Once an election is called, it is held 60 days later. It is during this period that the harassment and intimidation begins -- not by the union, but by the employer.
Under the act, the employees would have the choice of being recognized under the card-check provision, 50 percent plus one signing and expressing interest, or having a secret-ballot election by petitioning the National Labor Relations Board. Only the employer would not have the ability to call for an election, thus returning this choice to the employees, where it belongs.
The employer is the one who has the ability to harass and intimidate employees by threatening to move operations or lay off employees. The company often will hire union-busting law firms and hold mandatory meetings with employees for the sole purpose of threatening the employees' economic future if they vote to join a union.
Union organizers do not have the ability or the authority to hold any such meetings. Kessler's claim that unions have perfected peer pressure to get union-authorization cards signed is nothing more than a talking point from the Republican Party and the Chamber of Commerce playbook.
Very simply, the Employee Free Choice Act gives the choice of joining a union back to the employees and takes it away from the employer. The act also would ensure a first contract by setting time limits to include mediation and arbitration, and it would set a monetary penalty against a company that fired an employee for supporting an organizing drive.
I see nothing undemocratic about that.


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I am cheated
Your beautiful face , charming smile
Your warm invitation, friendly looks
I followed your steps , expectations
High, all foot steps led me there.
I entered into a chamber, made
Of glistening cob webs, built yet
Incomplete, no owner,many visited,
But none will stay.
The eerie silence , unpleasant odour
Colours depressing, nothing pleasant.
Looks like an entry to hell
Where nothing seems true.
Felt, it's float in a void-dark.
Deceptive doors, deceptive windows
Shaking walls, slippery nasty floor.
True or false , total confusion.
On the branches of sorrow
Fruits of evil , hanging low
Like bats in the dark cave
Hoots reverberating there.
I called your name, shouted
My voice echoed
Your smiling charming face
Turned into ugly, cruel , distorted
Disproportionate face, closed my eyes.
Love ended in fear and hate
Happiness strangled by pain.
Your laughter and voice echoed,
I was fainting, I heard your words
"Why did you love me, you are
You are the cause for your state,
You got cheated , i am sorry"
Seema Devi…1/31/2015[show_avatar email=56 user_link=authorpage avatar_size=100]
Copyright © Seema Devi
Seema Devi is on facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/seema.devi.56
Photo Credit: Art by Seema Devi


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This past week it seemed all that anyone on social media was talking about was gay marriage. This is because of the two Supreme Court cases that were heard last week. Everybody was changing their avatar to an equal sign and what not. I'm going to speak to that a bit later in my post but first I want to tell a story.
My wife is Jewish. This week we celebrated Passover with family and tonight we got our Ketubah from the frame shop. A Ketubah is the literal marriage contract that Jews sign when they get married. It is a contract. For centuries and millennia this is the ways that the Jews have performed their marriage ceremony. By signing a contract. Once you do that, you are married there is no more ceremony needed. However, there are additional vows that can be taken and performed. My wife, the good Jewess that she is wanted all of these things at our wedding. She wanted the Ketubah. She wanted the Huppah, a canopy under which the ceremony is performed. She wanted to spin around seven times like Joshua did to Jericho. She wanted to break the glass. She wanted to do all of this in a synagogue. She would have preferred to do it in her synagogue, but I not being Jewish meant that they would not marry us there. So we go and see another rabbi to see if that rabbi will marry us. It was the most uncomfortable meeting of my life.
During this meeting with this rabbi, I felt like I was a worthless piece of scum. That is the way the rabbi made me feel for not being Jewish and having the audacity to think that I could get married in this synagogue without converting to Judaism. To this rabbi it was the most unthinkable thing possible. Personally, I believe in God but not in religion. I do not think any person can comprehend the awesomeness of God and I certainly do not believe that man was created in God's image. That is some hubris. Now I am not an idiot so I did not say these things during the meeting. I did not have too. Me not being a Jew was enough to be denigrated. The simple fact that I would not convert(as if I could) was enough to be quickly shown the door. If this rabbi would treat us like this and basically laugh in our faces for wanting to be married in a synagogue, then no rabbi would marry us in a synagogue.
In the end we were married Jewish, by a cantor, in a country club, under a huppah that I made and my boys put together. We have also ran into that rabbi and have had much better interactions, and I am sure it was nothing personal. It was strictly business. The religion would not allow such a union. Technically, there are some people who would still not consider us married.
This is what gets me about this current "marriage" equality debate. What is marriage? Is it the thing issued by the government? Does it have to be "before God?" Do the religious folks believe that atheists can get married?
The real problem is that states issue marriage "licenses." They issue them just like fishing, hunting, or driver's license's. Does the reader know how one get's a marriage license in Maryland? One of the parties goes to the circuit court and tells them the social security numbers. That's it. The bride and groom do not even both have to be there. I am actually really shocked that there is not a huge amount of fraud and people collecting benefits from their "spouses."
You can go to the courthouse and get married. In some states there is no requirement for a ceremony or to go to the courthouse at all. How sacred is that? Marriage simply has three meanings. It has a legal meaning that gives you tax benefits, social security benefits, testate benefits, and other advantages. It has a religious meaning as a sacrament. Finally it has a relationship meaning that is particular to each couple.
Going back to the topic de jure, what does all of this mean for "marriage equality?" Well first of all, Justice Kennedy is not going to see your Facebook page so changing the avatar is a bit obnoxious. Let us be honest, Justice Kennedy is the only person that matters. He will decide the two Supreme Court cases. The amazing part of all of this is that ten years ago to the day of the arguments in the Prop 8 case were the arguments in Lawrence v. Texas. That case prohibited governments from criminalizing consentual sexual activity between adults. If Justice Kennedy wants force gay marriage on the country he can. If he wants to keep it in California, he can. If he wants to not allow it in California, he can. I have no real feel for the constitutional issues surrounding the Prop 8 case. Marriage is a fundamental right according to the Supreme Court. Restrictions on marriage are subject to strict scrutiny. The court in Maryland previously got around this by saying "gay" marriage is not a fundamental right. That case Conaway v. Deane is a actually really absurd. If marriage is a fundamental right, there is no reason to exclude gays from that right. You can argue procreation, but infertile couples are not prohibited from marriage. You can argue religion, but atheists are not prohibited from marrying. There is no rational reason to exclude them other than that is the way that is has always been done. That's not an argument. Can Californians vote to outlaw this right? Do initiatives need rational basis? Then there a whole host of standing issues.
The Defense of Marriage Act case seems more cut and dry. The federal government is not allowed to change a state's definition of marriage. It has never done so and the Constitution's full faith and credit clause and the tenth amendment do not allow it to do so now. The more interesting question is actually foreign marriages. Is a gay marriage in Canada valid under US law, maybe for immigration purposes? Why or why not?
The real solution is eliminate civil marriages all together. Eliminate the issuance of marriage "licenses." The state has just as much right to issue a marriage license as it does to issue a baptismal certificate. None. In fact by issuing marriage licenses and not recognizing marriage between same sex partners the state can be infringing on certain religions that are more than willing to perform those marriages. Get the government involvement out of marriage and the religious issues disappear. However, in the mean time, let any loving couple who wants a state issued license have one. Maybe just make it a bit harder for everyone to get one, if the state insists on issuing them.


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House Bill 590, the bill giving Interior Designers the right to seal construction drawings was approved last evening by the NC House and now heads to the Senate where Interior Designers have already gained enough support to receive passage into law. However, that discussion has not yet begun in the Senate Chamber and there is still time for AIA members to join this educational effort.
Five members of the Board of Directors and Seven members from around North Carolina answered the call to come to Raleigh this past week to oppose the House bill, and many more members sent emails to their representatives.
One learning from this experience with House members was that emails are not read, typically until the day the bill is calendared for session. And on that day, as was the case yesterday, the legislators cover a dozen bills and several dozen amendments, calling into question the value of anything less than a personal meeting with legislators. They do however get their direction from their caucus, the influence of lobbyists and sometimes the opinions of their constituents.
To that end, please plan to come to CfAD for a meeting on
June 13 at 9:00 A.M.
where we will cover the bill and our response to it. Following this, at 11:00 A.M. we will go to the legislature to meet with Senators. For as much as we know now, they will likely go into Session at 2:00 P.M. We recommend every architect call their Senator and advise you would like to meet with them on that day between 11 A.M. and 2 P.M.
Also, please invite members you know from the engineering professions who can speak to the necessary coordinate of construction documents, which will be overlooked by Interior Designers not skilled in the integration of building systems. From the statement of one legislator, architects need to get the engineers to come with them, since they do not know who architects are.
To view HB 590 go to NCLEG.NET and look up HB 590. Also, you can get the name of your Senator from the site if you are not already aware.
Lastly, we need to give special thanks to members who came to the legislature to oppose this bill. They include Brandy Thompson, Mike Cincala, Elizabeth Caliendo, Jim Compton, Lynn Dunn, Sasha Berghausen, Catherine Monroe, Shannon Rydell, Erin Sterling-Lewis, Dave Liberatore, Richard Alsop and Erica Unger who brought along her 21 month old son, Eli, for his first legislative experience. Additional help was provided by William Rakatansky and Hunt McKinnon who worked on technical issues associated with licensure qualifications for Interior Designers.