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Home » Opinion » Editorials
Ignore money: Shaheen's awful college advice
Sen. Shaheen is a sponsor of the "Pay As You Earn plan." The legislation "caps payments for Federal Direct Student Loans at 10 percent of discretionary income," as a Shaheen press release explained it. The idea is that recent college graduates often have low-paying jobs, so their student loan payments should be held to levels they can always afford to make.
Shaheen said the plan "is especially important for workers in lower-paying public service careers, such as teachers, nurses, or first-responders." Then she made this stunning statement: "Students should be able to pursue a career based on their passions and interests, not by concerns about being able to pay back their loans."
In what universe?
Shaheen would have students pursue their dreams free from financial considerations. Their parents might have other ideas. Choosing to be a social worker or a (gulp) journalist instead of a banker or entrepreneur is a matter of more than personal fulfillment. It is a matter of economics as well. Young people should understand the real-life financial consequences of their career choices. They should not be encouraged by government policy to expect that such consequences are a matter of no concern.
The ready availability of government-subsidized, low-interest student loans already encourages people to pursue careers with little regard to their ability to repay those debts. Further distancing career choices from the financial realities that await in the real world sounds compassionate, but it could lead to many more people staying in debt much longer while pursuing work for which there is little demand.
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What's the rush? Executive Council follows Pelosi planREADER COMMENTS: 3
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By: The author chooses anonymity, but wrote this for Patch.
Whether one believes in the medicinal use of marijuana or is against it is not the point of the following column. In fact, many people from various walks of life advocate for the legalization of , including doctors, businessmen, lawyers, police officers and so on.
They each have their own reasons, whether based on medicine, economics or spirituality. No one can argue the tremendous amount of tax dollars that are wasted fighting this otherwise and unwinnable war against pot.
Most law enforcement agents will tell you, even members of the Drug Enforcement Agency --off the record-- that compared to harder narcotics and alcohol, pot is relatively harmless. Personalities such as Bill Maher, Pat Robertson, and Ron Paul, who may differ completely in ideology, all agree that marijuana should be completely legal.
Indeed, has distanced itself from the hippies and nature lovers of the '60s that revolutionized the plant's image in mainstream society. But is that a good thing? Most dispensary "operators" don't give a damn about the environment. They seem to be focused purely on making profit, no matter how they spin the facts—it simply doesn't take millions of dollars a year for one dispensary to grow some pot for cancer patients and other ill people, including people with anxiety and headaches. Collective! What a joke.
Many of them don't advocate for full legalization due to fears of hurting their profits—they're sellouts.
Now, what's even worse is this green gold rush has spread into our national park system. Drug cartels, which some contend would be eliminated if full legalization were instituted, have spread into the park systems, including the San Gabriel Mountains. Farmers, who more than likely supply the so-called "medical marijuana" dispensaries, have begun setting up guerrilla farms , using chemicals and growing techniques that are obliterating many native species of plant. The weed is truly earning its namesake and this cash crop is destroying some of our last remaining natural areas.
"The illegal cultivation of marijuana on our National Forest System is a clear and present danger to the public and the environment," said David Ferrell, when he testified before the Senate Caucus on International Narcotics Control, according to an article on Live Science.
According to the Mother Nature Network, various environmental agencies including the U.S. Forest Service have called for government agencies to prevent the destruction to our forests. Many believe that the solution is complete legalization, which would cause prices drop and make the risks too great for individual illegal farmers to set up shop.
I mean, how many illegal tobacco farms do you ever hear about, right? But how can you help? Boycott dispensaries because all they do is increase funding toward the medicinal marijuana lobby, which has basically become the "privatization of medicinal marijuana for profit movement."
Also, boycott illegal drug dealers because all they do is put money in the hands murderous cartels, and further bolster illegal grow houses and farms.
You want your medicine—then grow it or find a true collective that grows it for you, and truly shares the cost . And keep this fight out of America's wilderness because in the end, all these illegal farms and greedy dispensary owners will be the poster children of the anti-legalization movement.

subset: commoncrawl


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Like most wars, the battle waged with my sister during the summer of 1994 was fought over resources. We didn't fight over land. We didn't fight over oil. We didn't even fight over who got to choose the TV station during the afternoon cartoon peak hour. We fought over something that in the pre-internet world of the mid-nineties was a scarce commodity. We fought over porn.
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Though internal divisions in the Democratic Party's base fed the growth of the Republican Party, not all of this growth can be attributed to Democratic defections. As the state's economy gradually diversified, the suburbs grew, people migrated to Texas from other states, and religious conservatives became more involved in politics, the natural Republican base in the state grew. It was only a matter of time before Republican activists and candidates overcame the entrenched Democrats whose own electoral base was steadily eroding.
Republican fortunes were foreshadowed in 1952 and 1956, when conservative Democrats led by then-governor Allan Shivers engineered Democratic support for Republican presidential candidate Dwight Eisenhower. Subsequently, John Tower's election in 1961 as the first Republican U.S. senator since Reconstruction marked the beginning of a long Republican climb that would span over four decades. A critically important milestone in the Republican ascent occurred in 1978 when Bill Clements won the governorship in 1978, the first time since 1869 that a Republican won election for Governor in Texas. Clements was defeated four years later in 1982 by Democrat Mark White, but returned to win the governorship again in 1986.
Republicans continued to erode - if unevenly - the Democratic Party's dominance of state politics over succeeding years, as this chapter's feature on The Rise of the Republican South illustrates. The Republican Party reached a summit of sorts in 1998, when it won all 27 state-wide offices. Just two years earlier in 1996, Republicans won control of the Texas Senate with a slim majority (17 of 31 seats) and have held control in subsequent elections. In the Texas House of Representatives the Republicans enjoyed a sharp gain in the number of seats in the 1984 election (a Presidential election year that saw the reelection of Ronald Reagan). The party has made steady gains since then, and finally established a majority in the House in 2002, allowing Tom Craddick to become the first Republican Speaker of modern times.
The erosion of the Democrats' historical base of conservative whites and the growth of a newly reorganized conservative base in the Republican Party polarized the ideological orientations of the two parties beginning in the 1970s. As a party, the Democrats shifted to the more liberal side of the spectrum. This brought them much closer to the orientation of the national Democratic Party, with which Texas Democrats had often been at odds in earlier periods. Meanwhile the Republican Party more or less kept to the same strongly conservative path it had followed for decades, a path that would lead to continued electoral gains from the 1970s on. This chapter's feature on Comparing Ideology in Texas Politics - which presents the ideological orientation of U.S. congressional representatives from Texas, the South, and the country as a whole - illustrates this polarization.
On the national level the Republican presence in the Texas delegation to the U.S. House of Representatives grew from two in 1974 to twenty-four in 2013. In 2003, the Republican-controlled state legislature launched a bid to exercise control of the redistricting process through which the boundaries of congressional districts are drawn. Republicans argued that while their candidates were sweeping statewide races, typically with substantially more than fifty percent of the vote, Republicans still held less than half of the state's thirty-two seats in the U.S. House of Representatives.
Governor Rick Perry called a special session of the legislature in the summer of 2003 to address the issue after Democrats in the Texas House of Representatives employed the unusual tactic of leaving the state in order to deny the quorum needed to conduct business on the chamber floor. This effectively killed the redistricting legislation during the regular session. Democratic Senators tried the same ploy, also leaving the state in protest during a subsequent special session called that year. Ultimately, Democratic unity broke, and a new map was passed which appeared to give Republican candidates a chance to gain as many as seven more seats. The redistricting battles of 2003 were thus the final step in the Republican rise in Texas. The redistricting process after the 2010 U.S. Census also resulted in litigation that continued into 2013, though no result was likely to seriously erode Republican legislative majorities.


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Grado GR8 In-Ear Headphones
" I love the full size grado HF2 and older grado's but these do not sound good to my ears. Strident and uneven. These were not lovingly crafted or dialed in. There was no 'man' behind the tuning of these and this is evident in the final product. I'd love to see grado come out with a smooth yet dynamic sounding iem similar to the HF2 but am not holding my breath, especially when I've found..." --thelostMIDrange
EM-JE003-FI - Smile Jamaica In Ear Earphones with Apple 3-Button Remote/Mic - Fire
These affordable, eco-responsible in-ear headphones offer sound isolation, three colors to choose from, a comfortable fit with three sizes of ear tips and amazing sound quality. Small and simple, with the smile Jamaica ear buds what you see is what you get. We've stripped the ear buds down to its essence and built it back up using natural materials. Then we stopped when the sound was just...
The House of Marley People Get Ready IEM
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Avenue Q's Gelber to Guest on "Ugly Betty" Season Premiere
By Andrew Gans
Avenue Q's Jordan Gelber, who will be part of the upcoming Broadway revival of All My Sons, has filmed a guest appearance on the season premiere of "Ugly Betty."
The award-winning ABC-TV series, which is broadcast Thursdays at 8 PM ET, is now filming its episodes in New York.
Jordan Gelber created the role of Brian in the Tony-winning musical Avenue Q. He was also seen Off-Broadway in the world premiere of The Polish Play and will return to Broadway in the fall in the revival of All My Sons, which begins previews at the Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre Sept. 18.
For more information visit http://abc.go.com/primetime/uglybetty.
Send questions and comments to the Webmaster
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Times West Virginian
Dortha Jane Drake, 73, of Fairmont (Rivesville Community), passed away early Tuesday morning (Jan. 8, 2013) in Monongalia General Hospital in Morgantown.
She was born Oct. 25, 1939, in Rivesville, daughter of the late Walter and Emma Rice Moore.
She was preceded in death by her husband, William Drake, who died in 2007. Mrs. Drake was a Methodist by faith.
She was a graduate of Rivesville High School. She spent more than 20 years in the Chicago area as a housewife and mother of four children. She also was an avid gardener, very active in crafts and enjoyed reading.
Survivors include three daughters and their husbands, Donna and Ed Guerrero of Mikilteo, Wash., Sandra and Vic Jaynes of Lafarge, Wis., and Mary and Bob Taylor of Reedsville; a son and his wife, Walter and Connie Shaw of Genoa, Ill.; seven grandchildren and their spouses, Amanda and Derek Bell of Kingwood, Chris and Carmen Jaynes of Wisconsin, Emily and Lance Oium of Wisconsin, Leah Jaynes of Wisconsin, and Jacob, Joshua and Jonah Guerrero of Washington; three great-grandchildren, Logan, Scarlet, and Sawyer; a brother, Clyde Moore of Rivesville; a sister, Hazel Metz of Fairmont; and several nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by two brothers, Virgil and Russell Moore.
Friends may call at Ford Funeral Home, DeGarmo Chapel, Jasper Street, Rivesville, from noon until 1 p.m. Friday. Funeral services will be held in the funeral home at 1 p.m. Friday with the Rev. Stanley Merrifield officiating. Burial will follow in McCurdysville Cemetery in McCurdysville.


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Stencilling for the First Time
Sterling Publishing Company Incorporated, 2000 - Crafts & Hobbies - 112 pages
Even if you think you have no artistic ability, you can transform dull, dreary surfaces into works of art, or create your own family heirlooms from scratch, with the aid of this easy-to-use primer! Unlike many other art forms, stenciling is a simple craft to master, given the right instruction. This user-friendly guide, geared just to beginners, takes you every step of the way. Start by learning the basics--how to choose and position stencils, types of paints and applicators, and the advantages and disadvantages of each. Then move on to one of 25 charming projects, each tackling a particular issue, such as stenciling on fabric, glass, or metal; adding shading to a design; or working with multiple stencils. Soon you will be creating unique wall borders, decorative boxes, handmade greeting cards, table runners, and hand-painted tables. . .in short, enhancing any room or piece of furniture in your home. Bring stenciling into your life--you'll discover creativity you never knew you had!
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Stencilling for the First Time Fruit Drawers
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Acrylic paints acrylic spray Paper Adhere stencil Allow to dry apply paint apply stencil cremes back side backer board base-coat body birdhouse card stock Carefully mist chair rail checkerboard colonial blue craft knife cut card dark green decorative enamel paints flat brush frame Grapevine green paint Here's ivory paint layers lightest shade makeup sponges matte acrylic spray medium tin motifs olive green openings of stencil Order on pages Paper towels Stencil pencil Prepare the wood Preparing Unfinished Wood Refer to Base-coating Refer to Preparing Refer to Stencilling registration marks Remove stencil Repeat Steps sandpaper seep Self-adhesive notes side of stencil small tin sponge brush Sponge Pouncer spray adhesive Stencil spray Paper towels Spray the back stencil and allow stencil blank stencil brushes stencil design stencil openings Stencil spray adhesive Stencil tape stencil with spray Stencilling Order sunflower surface swivel knife technique texture Troubleshooting wall border yellow Stencil spray


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Movie T Shirts, Costumes & TV T Shirts
If you can afford HBO, you can definitely afford one a hilarious Eastbound & Down t-shirts, Moneybags! You probably can't throw a fastball like Kenny Powers, but you'll still look great shotgunning a beer wearing one of these officially licensed Kenny Powers shirts.
Another storyline about a failed athlete and the demotion to sub-pro. In Eastbound & Down, Kenny Powers is forced to return to his hometown and work as a substitute Phys Ed teacher after a disappointing career with the pros. Star baseball pitcher may not have been Kenny's calling, but Phys Ed definitely wasn't supposed to be in the cards. At least this hit comedy HBO series gave us an excuse to wear the awesome shirts below.


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New Hilton - nice, but NOT perfect A review of Hilton Virginia Beach Oceanfront
My family and I stayed in the new Hilton Oceanfront for the week before Memorial Day. I had done a great deal of research when selecting this hotel, because it was our first trip to Va. Beach, and I had heard that the hotels were not that great. I selected this one because it was new, and because I generally stay Hilton or Marriott when travelling for work and have typically had consistently good results with both. I would echo the statements in other reviews about the magnificence of the facility. It really is a beautiful hotel. From the lobby, to the rooftop, everything is immaculate--asthetically. The service -- for the most part -- was great as well. When we checked in, we were made to feel welcome right away, and all of my requests (oceanfront, balcony, refrigerator, etc.) were fulfilled. In fact, when we got to the room, they were pulling a brand new stainless refrigerator from the box to install in the room for us. The room was beautiful, and very clean. Bedding, bathroom, furnishings, TV, etc. were all topnotch.--although, I'm not real sure why they bothered with installing large flat panel HDTVs in standard rooms when the selection and picture quality of the cable was so poor, but still...the tv was really cool. The rooftop was really the most awesome feature of the place for us. The view was great, and once the weather gets warmer, the zero edge pool will be hard to leave--it really is nice. For the most part, our experience was good,
but this place is not perfect. The biggest negative we experienced was the air conditioner in our room. Literally, it sounded like you were riding in a bus all night long. A very noisy bus. We complained 3 different times, and on all occasions, an engineer was sent to the room...but to no avail. The problem could not be corrected. The front desk did offer us a different room with an even better view, but when we went to check it out, the AC unit in it was even worse than ours, so we just stayed put. So, although the bedding is very plush (extremely good bedding for a standard room--6 feather pillows, feather comforter, top of the line sheets, etc.) its hard to feel rested when you lie awake listening to the AC most of the night--a real nuisance. We were told, however, that engineering is aware and are working to correct the problem throughout the hotel. Also, we had a little bit of a run in with the pool attendant but 90% of our staff interaction was good. Some was great, but one or two could use some customer service training...I'll leave that at that--because overall, that was not a problem. I was not impressed with Catch 31--the hotel restaurant. Breakfast was typical hotel breakfast- nothing special. We ate dinner a couple of times, and both left me feeling unsatisfied. It also is very nice to look at, and it has a very upscale feel to it for a beachfront restaurant, but service and food are mediocre--at best...especially for the price. All in all, our stay was good. We had a great vacation, and because we stayed just before the rate change, I feel good about the value we got in this hotel.----but its not perfect, and if you check out the prices they're asking during the summer months...you might want to take that into consideration if you're looking for overall value. I'd rate it a A- overall.
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Victoria C. Rowan
BN Review Contributor
Victoria C. Rowan has written for The New York Times, The Financial Times, The Moscow Times, National Public Radio and many others. A longtime producer of literary events in New York City, she was the Artistic Programmer for the 92nd St. Y/Unterberg Poetry Center's 2006-7 literature series featuring the world's greatest living writers. Since leaving Mediabistro.com, where she developed its nationwide school for media professionals, she has founded her own enterprise, Ideasmyth.com
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The beautiful Miss Amelia Snow is not accustomed to being snubbed by the gentlemen of the ton. But when her mother dies unexpectedly, forcing Amelia to take employment as companion to a wealthy cit's daughter, she quickly learns to play down her looks or risk losing her position. When her employers, the Smithsons, decide to throw a country house party, she is determined to fade into the background. But how can she when the Smithson's guest of honor is Lord Quentin Fortescue, the childhood friend who stole her heart?
Younger son, Lord Quentin Fortescue, is far more interested in his host's cotton mills in the north than he is in courting the man's dim-witted daughter. But it's the girl's companion who makes him look twice. Years ago, Miss Amelia Snowe rejected his proposal without a backward glance. Quentin has molded himself into just the sort of man she'd have wanted back then, but is Amelia still the smug beauty who broke his heart? And can either of them risk their newfound positions to indulge the fiery attraction that burns between them?
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Manda Collins spent her teen years wishing she'd been born a couple of centuries earlier, preferably in the English countryside. Time travel being what it is, she resigned herself to life with electricity and indoor plumbing, and read lots of books. An affinity for books led to a graduate degree in English, followed by another in Librarianship. By day, she works as an academic librarian at a small liberal arts college, where she teaches college students how to navigate the tangled world of academic research. A native of coastal Alabama, Manda lives in the house her mother grew up in with three cats, sometimes a dog, sometimes her sister, and more books than strictly necessary.
Manda Collins


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Cebu Waterfront Hotel
Rooms are not expensive considering the facilities and quality of accommodations. Close to shopping at the Ayala Center and other restaurants if you don't want to eat at the hotel.
4 Reviews
Waterfront Cebu City Hotel & Casino is a place I try to stay everytime I visit Cebu City.
I love the atmosphere of the foyer,the breakfast in Cafe Uno and the pool.
However the standard rooms are badly in need of refurbisment.The Rattan room fittings are outdated,the TV`s are small and old (still being CTV)You would just say the whole room was showing it`s age.Hopefully in the near future the rooms will be refurbished.
The WiFi is free, signal is strong in the foyer,in the rooms so so at times
Now don`t get me wrong that criticism aside the rooms are clean and ok but for me disappointing for a hotel with the reputation and stature of Waterfront Cebu City Hotel & Casino
Unique Quality: As I said above I just love the atmosphere,decor of the foyer also the location being close to a multitude of restaurants and also close to Ayala Mall
My husband attended a conference in Waterfront Hotel-city side and I followed him. On his first night, he dined in the lobby court and ordered a pasta dish. Upon following up order after 30 minutes, he learned order was not placed and dish is not available. He went ballistic and threatened to pull out booking from hotel. Hotel made up for boo-boo by giving complimentary stay nights and hotel limo pick-up for me. They also delivered a bottle of wine, two dozens of roses and a box of chocolate cake upon my arrival.
All restaurant outlets were at par or even better than Manila hotels. I'll describe later in the restaurants section of this travel file.
Amenities were new and working. The Duty Free outlets inside hotel were adequate.
I am just bothered by constant influx of people because of the Bingo in the casino.
Unique Quality: Food taste very good and truly affordable if not cheap. Resto facilities are world class
Directions: At the center of the Queen City of the South is Waterfront Cebu City Hotel & Casino, located 30 minutes from Mactan international Airport, and a stone's throw away from the city's financial district.
Waterfront Lahug is my second best if you are staying in Cebu City. Not sure nowadays as there are new hotel sprouting.
As most business offices are located at Asia IT Town Park, you may better off staying in Waterfront Lahug if you have business meeting there. Since The Village, one of the premier night spot in Cebu is currently closed and being renovated (?), activities near Waterfront maybe limited.
But the hotel has its own attraction- PAGCOR Casino.
Unique Quality: Casino inside the hotel and near Asia IT Town Park.
For a hotel that claims to be a five star, this was a huge letdown. We were lucky to have been assigned a 16th floor twin room. It had the basics: twin beds, a TV (an old one), a working desk, a sitting area, a minibar, a closet and a decent bathroom. It was decent, but it wasn't five star quality.
For a hotel that claims to be a business hotel, it surprisingly lacked an iron and an ironing board. We reserved for a twin sharing room, but we were only provided with one bathrobe. The towels were old, and we were only provided with 2 bath towels, a hand towel and a floor towel. At my four-star hotel in Singapore, I was provided with at least 7 towels---if I remember correctly. They also didn't replenish their toiletries daily, like they do in most hotels.
They couldn't even clean the bathrooms thoroughly!
Breakfast is served at the Cafe Uno daily. It was fare. They served a good variety of fruits, cereals, bread and pastries. As I normally don't eat anything heavy in the morning, I can't say much about the relatively heavier fare. I must say, though, that the food they served during our workshops was good.
The convention center needs some renovation, too, especially the restrooms. It's old, it stinks (the air freshener is too overpowering) and needs thorough cleaning. They seriously need to change the hand dryer.
Unique Quality: On the plus side, they do provide free wireless internet access at the hotel lobby and function rooms. However, the in-room wired internet access can be very expensive.
I checked out the gym, the Citigym, and I'm impressed. But then again I'm easily impressed as I only use the treadmill. ;) They have a lot of cardio machines on hand, that's always a plus. I didn't get to check out the pool, though.
The hotel also houses a small shopping arcade, Duty Free Philippines, the Casino Filipino and a restaurant row.
The staff are friendly and helpful. We had difficulty getting the shower started (I know! I know! I stay in a lot of hotels, but this one stumped me. It's soooo embarrasing!). We had to call the front desk for assistance, and they sent up somebody to help us out. All this in less than 5 minutes. Now that's service.
As they are renovating, the hotel promised larger rooms with better amenities. I suggest you wait for that as they will be changing everything from the layout to the beds.
Rooms are not expensive considering the facilities and quality of accommodations. Close to shopping at the Ayala Center and other restaurants if you don't want to eat at the hotel.
I attended a 3-day conference in this hotel but wasn't billeted here. I had a good look of the spacious rooms though. It has a casino, a large convention center, a business center that lets you receive your faxed messages at no charge and swimming pools. Food is good and staff is friendly.
If shopping is your deal in Cebu, this is not the hotel for you as the shopping malls are some 15 mins. away from the hotel.
Waterfront Cebu
I will be coming to the Philippines for the first time in about 10 days. Im looking for a site where I can find information on what to do in Cebu and where to stay.
I am into snorkeling and nightlife. Shopping is not of interest to me.
I would like to find accomadation that is close to the ocean, standard, and cheap. Approximately, how much would this be?
Also, I have been thinking about Boracay. This island receives so much praise that I want to see it. Should I try to go there from Cebu considering I only have 6 nights?
Thanks for the input and feedback it is much appreciated.
Hi there,
In Cebu, if you are looking for a beach accommodation, Mactan area would be the place, , unfortunately though most accommodations there are high end, as it caters mostly to Korean and Japanese tourists. It could range from $60-$250 per night.
Nightlife in Cebu is on city center, or near Lahug area, and its far from Mactan, 45minutes away..
Ratsky got live bands nightly and located in Ayala Entertainment Center..
You may also check the bars in Waterfront Cebu City, it got a great chill out place.
Snorkeling in Mactan is mediocre, why dont you hop off to Bohol, diving and snorkeling are its forte and got cheap accommodations by the beach.. If you like diving , check out Malapascua page of vt member jemm, great diving tips... but there is no nightlife there.
Go to Boracay, I think its really more of the place that you are looking for :-) great beach, nightlife and also got areas for snorkeling..
Stay longer in Boracay than Cebu.. :-)
Hope it helps.
Thanks Arni for the credit! ;-)
There is some life there down at Maldito's and Sunsplash, but I wasn't really a fan of it. More into the season I am sure it will pick up. But it will never be like a bar-strip (row of, I don't mean strip-bars!) or exactly "lively", but there are "discos" in the night.
Fantastic diving and good snorkelling.
Moalboal may be more convenient and have more nightlife. But I've not been there.
I will join these guys and suggest that you stay longer in Boracay..
Serging Osmena Boulevard, Corner Juan Luna Avenue, Cebu City
Cardinal Rosales Avenue, Cebu City
Waterfront Cebu City Hotel & Casino
Salinas Drive, Lahug, (formerly Waterfront Cebu City Hotel), Cebu City
Cebu Veterans Drive, Nivel Hills, Lahug, , Cebu, 6000, Philippines
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Address: Salinas Drive, Lahug, (formerly Waterfront Cebu City Hotel), Cebu City, 6000, Philippines


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---- — RAYMOND – We are winding down to the most important primary election in recent history. Our country and our state are really at a major crossroad that only you the citizens can correct. So, where are we headed? God only knows. Everyone has an answer, but to tell you the truth, you will hear a million different answers.
Yes, we cannot all be correct, all the time, but I do know, in my honest opinion, listed below are some serious questions that you need to ask your local State Representative candidates because, if elected, they will play a major role in the next New Hampshire legislature, supposedly working for you, making some major decisions.
~ Do you truly have the: time, health, and energy; can you be there, working in your House committee, sub-committee, and at sessions three or four times a week, as needed, to do the peoples' work, regardless of the hours involved?
~ Will your candidate pledge you and all constituents that they will be present for all their House work, including policy committee, sub-committee, and sessions, including all votes, working for their constituent?
~ Would your candidate further pledge to all constituents that they will be present for all the County work, including Delegation meetings, sub-committees, and Executive
Committees (if they're on it), ensuring that our County budget is balanced, and quarterly on target?
~ Would your candidate pledge to work to reduce the state and county budgets, but at the same time, requiring what funds they agree to cut from the budget, they cut what that money funded?
~ With the massive new problems arising from various state departments, would your candidate agree to work to correct this growing problem? Even supporting possibly a new "Independent Inspector General", overseeing all departments, if deemed necessary?
~ Is your candidate running as an involved special interest front man, or is he or she working for you, and their other constituents?
~ If the candidate is a prior State Representative, have you looked at their prior attendance and voting records for their previous terms? Although a continuous problem, this has become a major problem this term. Just since January, I have been sent 51 times to 13 various committees, plus I was sent to five Committee of Conference meetings to replace absent committee members. The last two times the County had very important budget work, with line item transfers to pass, we could not get a quorum at the scheduled county meetings, so meetings were called during the House session lunch breaks, requiring County personnel to come to the State House, at County taxpayers expense, to hold these meetings. Out of 88 current County representatives, we got only 47 at one meeting, and 51 at the other. The rest, were mostly present at the session, just uninterestedly, left the hall and didn't bother to attend these important budget meetings. In my opinion, this is serious problem, we are talking your tax dollars...
~ How long has your candidate lived in your community? Only a couple years? Are they just an 'implant' pushing a personal agenda? There have been some serious issues worked on this past term, drawing unknowns out of the woodwork. Be cautious!
~ Ask them how a dream becomes a bill: what is the process, how much is involved, who has to walk the bill through the system? Do they have the: experience, time, and energy to do it? Some bills can be a lot of work. How about other legislator supporters: do they know any? Getting a bill passed requires team work.
~ As for legislative bills, does your candidate even have any ideas of bills they plan on bringing up in the next session? What are they about?
Be sure and ask the candidates these very important questions. And listen carefully to their answers.
(Editor's Note: NH State Representative Mike Kappler can be reached at email@example.com)


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Basic Job Description
Most Army recruiters are on a three-year special duty assignment. Once their recruiting duties are over, they are reassigned back to their primary MOS (job). Eligible Soldiers in the rank of Sergeant through Sergeant First Class can volunteer for recruiting duty, if otherwise qualified. Soldiers who volunteer for recruiting duty have the option of selecting their priority of assignments under the assignment incentive program.
The Army can also involuntarily select eligible Soldiers for this three year special duty assignment. This is known as a "A DA-selected Recruiter." The selection process starts with assignment managers at the Personnel Command who review the personnel records of soldiers from all Army MOSs (jobs). The best soldiers in each career field are nominated to be recruiters. The nominations are then sent to the field where each nominee's immediate commander must verify that the soldier meets the high standards necessary to become an Army recruiter. There is a similar program for selecting Drill Sergeants. On average, around 1,000 NCOs per year are involuntarily selected for recruiting duty.
However, there are some NCOs who are "permament recruiters." After 24 successful months of special duty recruiting, NCOs can volunteer to re-train into MOS 79R, Recruiter.
Duties performed by Soldiers in this MOS include:
Recruits, interviews, counsels and qualifies applicants for enlistment, Distributes and displays recruiting public ity material. Identifies and cultivates community centers of influ ence. Explains benefits, Prepares enlistment forms and documents. Arranges for transportation, meals, and lodging for applicants where required. Assists in market research and analysis and makes appro priate recommendations to the chain of coumnand.
Utilizes and analyzes management data to evaluate subordinates' performance. Conducts professional develop ment programs. Accomplishes administration, prepares plans and SOPs. Maintains statistics on recruiting programs. Maintains enlistment publications and administrative files. Prepares enlistment reports.
Training Information
Army Recruiting Course (ARC): 6 weeks, 4 days, at Fort Jackson, SC
ASVAB Score Required: 110 in aptitude area GT waivable to 100 with a score of 100 in aptitude ST.
Security Clearance: None
Strength Requirement: None Established
Physical Profile Requirement: 132221
Other Requirements
- Cannot have had a bankruptcy within the past 5 years, cannot have current credit problems
- Must have a high school diploma. Those with GEDs can qualify if they have at least 30 college credits (waivers possible)
- Soldiers in the rank of Sergeant must have less than 8 years time-in-service (TIS)
- Soldiers in the rank of Sergeant (Promotable, or Staff Sergeants must have less than 12 years TIS
- Soldiers in the rank of Staff Sergeant (Promotable) or Sergeant First Class must have less than 14 years TIS
- Must be at least 21 years old, but not exceed 37 for SGT or 39 for SSG or SFC
Similar Civilian Occupations
- Advertising and Promotions Manager
- Employment, Recruitment, and Placement Specialists
- Market Research Analysts
- Marketing Managers
- Personnel Recruiters
- Training and Development Specialists


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The Real Goal of Arizona's Book-Banning Thought Police: Harass Latinos
Stay up to date with the latest headlines via email.
On Jan. 1, Arizona's ban on the Mexican American Studies curriculum used in Tucson high schools went into effect. The weeks since have been marked by confusion and backtracking as the district leaders and teachers scramble to comply with the state law. The fight is far from over, though, with a federal lawsuit pending and ongoing organizing taking place.
Initially, the Tucson Unified School District Board of Education seemed poised to refuse compliance. But it quickly caved when State Superintendent John Huppenthal, who thought up this whole thing, slapped the district with a $4.9 million penalty by cutting its state funding retroactively to last August.
How do you get rid of a program that has, by all educational standards, been successful for more than a decade? Apparently, the first step is to strip that curriculum of the material that gives it heft. This week, the district began removing seven books from MAS classrooms, which were boxed up and stored in a warehouse where books go to die. That list includes " Occupied America: A History of Chicanos," Paulo Freire's " Pedagogy of the Oppressed," " Rethinking Columbus," " Critical Race Theory," Shakespeare's " The Tempest" and " Chicano!: the History of the Mexican American Civil Rights Movement."
The removal is to be thorough—teachers are not allowed to keep even personal copies of these books in their classrooms. Students and teachers described their fear and heartbreak at an emotional community meeting over the past weekend.
It isn't just the books but also the context in which they are being taught that is problematic for the district. As the list has made its way around the country, the district immediately objected to accusations of banning books. In a statement, the district said that it had not banned the books, but simply removed them from classes that had been banned. The books could still be found in other classrooms across the district, and in its libraries.
Jeff Biggers, who has done excellent, consistent journalism on this issue, reported the following availability: two copies of "Pedagogy of the Oppressed," one copy of "Critical Race Theory" in the online catalog and of 16 in-district copies of "Rethinking Columbus," none are in Tucson High School, the home of the Mexican American Studies curriculum. So these books can still be read and taught, says the district, just not in the context of Mexican American Studies and racial politics.
That is the problem, for instance, with "The Tempest," Shakespeare's play about colonialism and slavery. Teacher Curtis Acosta, who designed much of the banned curriculum and led its implementation, recorded a meeting with district administrators last Wednesday. Everyone is clearly confused, and trying to protect the district. So administrators tell Acosta in the meeting that it would be best not to teach "The Tempest" using the "nexus of race, class and oppression" or "issues of critical race theory."
In an interview with Biggers, Acosta notes that he was told to avoid texts and lessons with race or oppression as central themes. He further notes that there may be penalties if students independently address these themes: "We also have not received confirmation that the ideas, dialogue, and class work of our students will be protected…. if I avoid discussing such themes in class, yet the students see the themes and decide to write, discuss or ask questions in class, we may also be found to be in violation."
Three things strike me about this situation.
First, I'm impressed with the rigor of this curriculum. I have read most of these books, and the "Critical Race Theory" anthology is challenging even for me, with 25 years of such theory and a lot of practice under my belt. No wonder this program raised grades and graduation rates so successfully.
Stay up to date with the latest headlines via email


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Team ride
Nov 25, 2009 Events, Team Rides
|December 19, 2009
|8:15 am
|1:15 pm
Saturday December 19th intensity / Technique
8:30 SHARP 50 miles F-1
Race Team Ride – Race Practice at the EB Circuit
A day with our team mentor, Larry Nolan. The Plan is to practice some race techniques, and to ride with some higher intensity. Larry will be setting the program in detail.
NOTE : if this day is rained out we will be moving this program to Dec 26th
All race team members are requested to wear their team uniform. Rain will stop play. No stopping, no dropping.
Start from the Niles Parking Lot
Garry Birch (925) 819-0247 email@example.com


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We are a weekly wrestling podcast that covers everything wrestling. WWE, TNA, RoH, and more!
Remember we are still recruiting for the show for new members! We're back again with a short episode for you guys. We've been busy with some some behind the scene things. An update will come later. It's a bullshit show really. twitter.com/arcofwrestling
twitter.com/arcofwrestling youtube.com/arcofwrestling Now Recruiting! PM us If you would like to join the Podcast!


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Tampa Bay trades in another icon in David Price deal08/01/14 The Heater
The past year has not been easy here in Tampa Bay.
Think about it. We have lost three of the most iconic, three of the best, three of the most popular athletes in Tampa Bay sports history.
It started last summer when the Lightning bought out the contract of captain Vinny Lecavalier, the face of the franchise.
Then came last spring when the man who replaced Lecavalier as captain, Marty St. Louis, demanded a trade and ended up going to the Rangers....
David Price trade deal is better than you think07/31/14 The Heater
That's it? That's all? Bet that's what you're thinking right now. I'm guessing that was your immediate reaction when you heard the Rays traded their best pitcher — the best pitcher they have ever had, maybe the best player they have ever had — to the Tigers just before Thursday's Major League Baseball nonwaiver trade deadline. At first glance, the return for All-Star pitcher David Price seems rather light. The Rays got a mediocre major-league pitcher, a middle infielder who has yet to really stick in the majors and an 18-year-old prospect still down in Class A ball. Egads. They got more for Matt Garza, didn't they? They got a better haul when they traded James Shields, wouldn't you say? So what the heck happened? The Rays just got fleeced, right? Well, to everyone looking to burn down the Trop, calm down. Take a deep breath. Put away those pitchforks and torches. It's not the end of the world. It's not the end of the Rays....
Trade David Price. Now.07/30/14 The Heater
You have to do it, and you have to do it now. Trade David Price. I know. If you're a Rays fan, that stinks. When you draw up blueprints to build championship ball clubs, you look to get pitchers such as Price, not get rid of them. He's the ace of the Rays staff, a leader in the clubhouse and one heck of a good guy. Price broke in as a Tampa Bay Ray, and if life was fair and baseball was just, he would go out as a Ray — about 10 years from now. And, yeah, you figure if the Rays are going to finish off what could be an amazing comeback this season, they need one of the best pitchers in all of baseball. But it's time to say goodbye. Before today's 4 p.m. trade deadline. As hard as it is to admit, it really is best for the Rays. No, not for today or tomorrow, and maybe not for two months from now. But it's the right thing for the future. It's the right thing when you're a small-market team that has payroll constraints and plays in an outdated stadium in front of embarrassingly small crowds. Franchises like that do what they can to maximize any and all assets. Franchises like that have to get creative to get the best returns on their investments....
Jeff Demps seeks fast track to Bucs success07/29/14Bucs
TAMPA — The Fastest Man in Pads.
Quite the title, isn't it?
But that's what Jeff Demps is called. Just ask him.
"I think there's no doubt,'' Demps said.
He isn't bragging. He's just saying.
No one, he will tell you, is faster on a football field. Come to think of it, there aren't many faster away from the football field, either.
"Olympic-type speed,'' Bucs coach Lovie Smith said....
Rays can't keep this up, can they?07/25/14 The Heater
Big game. Big series.
Huge win.
Rays vs. Red Sox. Even normally sleepy Tropicana Field had a bit of buzz to it Friday night. Okay, so it wasn't Fenway Park, and it didn't quite feel like October, but it did feel like a game that mattered.
And right now, the Rays are suddenly a team that matters playing games that matter.
Opening night of this key three-game series against those hated Red Sox, and David Price was throwing peas and Evan Longoria was hitting seeds. The Rays' two stars led the way to keep the winning streak going. It's now eight and counting after the 6-4 win....
Bucs camp off to a better, boring start07/24/14Bucs
First day of Bucs camp, and if you're looking for controversy, all we can offer is Pro Bowl defensive tackle Gerald McCoy showing up in a robe and slippers.
There you go. That's pretty much it. There's your TMZ moment. Big guy rolls out of bed and goes to work. Film at 11.
No one stayed away demanding a new contract. No one showed up two hours late with booze on his breath. No one left his brain at home and said something stupid....
Tony Dungy's comments on Michael Sam disappointing … and hypocritical07/22/14Bucs
Tony Dungy has long been the conscience of the National Football League.
He is thoughtful and kind and smart. He is a pioneer, the first African-American coach to win a Super Bowl.
His words have meaning. His opinions carry weight. We seek his advice.
We listen to him. We like him.
Most of all, we trust him.
Which is why it was so disappointing to hear his comments — and his rather convoluted and contradictory explanation of those comments — about the first openly gay player in NFL history....
Best and worst of weekend televised sports07/20/14 TV and Radio
Tampa Bay Times columnist Tom Jones looks back at the best and worst from a weekend of televised sports.
Biggest switch
The big controversy in sports media at the moment is Fox announcing that Pam Oliver has been removed from her role as sideline reporter for its No. 1 NFL broadcast team, which includes Joe Buck and Troy Aikman. Erin Andrews will take Oliver's spot, and Oliver will work one more season on the NFL with the No. 2 team of Kevin Burkhardt and former Bucs safety John Lynch....
TV networks hope to ride soccer surge07/15/14 World Cup
It was the 84th minute of the World Cup final.
Germany and Argentina were locked in a tense 0-0 game. The first goal almost assuredly would be the deciding goal in one of the best soccer tournaments we have ever seen.
As we inched dramatically toward a thrilling conclusion, ESPN announcer Ian Darke took a moment to remind fans that later that night on ESPN, Portland was taking on Seattle in a key Major League Soccer match....
Best, worst of weekend sports TV: LeBron breaks his story07/13/14Sports
Tampa Bay Times columnist Tom Jones looks back at the best and worst from a weekend of televised sports.
Best story
Perhaps the most delicious part of the breaking news that LeBron James was going back to Cleveland to continue his NBA career was who actually broke the story: LeBron James. Well, that's mostly right. While it seemed as if ESPN had 100 reporters working the story, not to mention all the other news outlets that were scrambling for the big scoop, James controlled the message by working with Sports Illustrated writer Lee Jenkins. Here's what happened: Jenkins is a longtime NBA writer for SI and has known James for years. He penned the cover story when James was named the magazine's "Sportsman of the Year'' in 2012 and wrote a piece late last year nominating James for the 2014 "Sportsman of the Year.'' Last spring, Jenkins approached his editors with the idea of writing a first-person story about James' upcoming free agency. Last week, Jenkins informed his bosses that the James story might come to fruition. It appears that James and his camp reached out to Jenkins. According to several reports, Jenkins met James in Las Vegas on Thursday....
For LeBron James, this decision feels right07/11/14Nba
This time LeBron James got it right.
He said it the right way, with class and grace.
He did it for the right reasons, such as loyalty and humility.
This time there will be no burning of jerseys or hanging of effigies. This time there will be no disparaging words or hurtful criticism.
This time he deserves our applause and admiration, our open arms, our pats on the back.
Four years after leaving, LeBron James is going home....
Paul Azinger says Tiger Woods needs to regain confidence07/11/14Pga
The 143rd British Open begins Thursday at Royal Liverpool in England. It's only the second time in the past 47 years the seaside course has hosted the Open Championship. The other time was 2006, when Tiger Woods scorched the course by shooting 18 under and winning by five shots over Ernie Els and a stunning 17 shots ahead of third-place finisher Mark Calcavecchia. We get you ready for the Open with this Two Cents preview, including a Q&A with Bradenton's Paul Azinger, who will be the lead analyst on ESPN's coverage of the season's third major tournament. Azinger, 54, won the 1993 PGA Championship and nearly won the British Open in 1987....
Baseball steroid policy needs more bite07/10/14Ml
Why would you ever take steroids?
In a more innocent time, in a more decent and honorable day, that was a question that you would ask a baseball player.
The question today is: Why wouldn't you take steroids?
These days, it all seems worth it.
The health risks. The shame of being labeled a cheater. The temporary loss of employment.
It seems like no big deal.
Look around major-league baseball. Look at the players who have been busted. Look at how their careers have not only continued, but flourished....
Jeremy Hellickson gives Rays (and fans) some hope07/08/14 The Heater
ST. PETERSBURG — We now welcome you back to the bizarre career of Rays pitcher Jeremy Hellickson.
Part drama and part mystery, Hellickson has become baseball's version of the show Lost. You tune in, but you honestly have no idea what you were watching.
With Hellickson, he remains an enigma wrapped in a conundrum. I'm still not exactly sure what I'm seeing and, more important, where it is all headed....
Best and worst of weekend sports TV07/06/14 TV and Radio
Tampa Bay Times columnist Tom Jones looks back at the best and worst from a weekend of televised sports.
Best coverage
Because of the focus on the World Cup, Wimbledon seemed to slip under the radar this year. Having no Americans reach the quarterfinals on either the men's or women's side also didn't do ESPN any favors. Still, ESPN did a bang-up job for the fortnight. Chris McKendry was more than capable as host. She took over the lion's share of hosting duties with Mike Tirico off in Brazil doing the World Cup. Chris Fowler also did a solid job as the main play-by-play voice. ESPN also continues to get strong work from the likes of Chris Evert, Cliff Drysdale and Brad Gilbert. But there's no question about who the stars are: the McEnroe brothers, John and Patrick. John McEnroe has turned into arguably the best analyst of any sport. He is honest without being preachy, authoritative without being arrogant and funny without being a smart aleck. He is simply brilliant. On Sunday morning, John and his brother were the perfect analysts to call Novak Djokovic's thrilling five-set victory over Roger Federer. They never once overshadowed the match, yet perfectly complemented the drama with well-timed and consistently good analysis....


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Wet or Dry, Wilkens is a Winner -- November 11, 2005
November 10. IN Washington, anxious Republicans and Democrats were glued to their TVs, as they awaited the outcomes of gubernatorial races in Virginia and New Jersey, the mayoral contest in New York and key initiatives in Texas and California.
But in Middletown, New Jersey, most everyone was focused on the township council race. And the winner, the #1 vote-getter, was... 29-year-old Republican Tom Wilkens, with 10,846 votes.
Winning is a tradition with Wilkens. A 17-time US national champion, he was captain of Stanford's NCAA championship team, an Olympic bronze medalist in 2000 in the 200 IM and captain of the USA's 2003 World Championship team.
Subscribe to Swimming World Magazine TodayDownload The Current Issue of Swimming World Magazine


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No Cost Help During America's Foreclosure Crisis
When: Saturday December 4, 2010 9:00 am – 2:00 pm
When: Immaculate Heart of Mary Church 1100 South Center Street in Santa Ana, California
What: In the midst of the housing foreclosure crisis, New America Media (NAM) and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) in partnership with Neighborhood Housing Services of the Inland Empire, Inc (NHIE) and NeighborWorks are organizing a "Free Foreclosure Prevention Workshop" offering detailed information for homeowners who are in foreclosure now or worried about it in the future.
Attendees can share stories with journalists and the media about the foreclosure crisis and get answers to their questions from housing counselors. Also scheduled is a selection of informational seminars about surviving the crisis covering topics including "Am I A Victim of Fraud," "Can My Home Be Saved From Foreclosure," and "Should I Talk To my Lender."
Attendees should bring copies of the following documents to the workshop: a NHSIE Loan Modification Initial Packet, one month of paycheck stubs, two months of bank statements, a recent mortgage statement, a hardship letter, two years of your signed tax returns, one month of utility bills, your home mortgage deed and note.
Admission is free, food and refreshments provided at no-cost.
Some translation service will be available.
Public contact: To RSVP please call 951-530-1549.
Organizers: New America Media (NAM), based in San Francisco's South of Market neighborhood, organizes the nation's first and largest network of ethnic news services. Founded by the nonprofit Pacific News Service in 1996, NAM works tirelessly to get stories about and from African-, Asian-, South Asian-, Caribbean-, Indigenous-, Middle Eastern-, and Latino-American communities out to the mainstream media as well to more than 2,500 ethnic news outlets. NAM's editor and journalists have won numerous awards and accolades for their reporting efforts. More information is available at www.newamericamedia.org.
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's (HUD) mission is to create strong, sustainable, inclusive communities and quality affordable homes for all. HUD is working to strengthen the housing market to bolster the economy and protect consumers; meet the need for quality affordable rental homes; utilize housing as a platform for improving quality of life; build inclusive and sustainable communities free from discrimination; and transform the way HUD does business. More information is available at www.hud.gov.
Neighborhood Housing Services of the Inland Empire is a HUD approved non-profit organization that assists distressed homeowners in preserving their home. NHSIE is hosting various Foreclosure Intervention Orientations in Riverside and San Bernardino Counties in efforts to assist, better, and preserve communities.
NeighborWorks is the country's preeminent leader in affordable housing and community development, working to create opportunities for lower-income people to live in affordable homes in safe, sustainable neighborhoods that are healthy places for families to grow. Headquartered in Washington, DC, NeighborWorks operates through a national office and eight regional field offices.


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- CW-X's patented Support Web helps the muscles and ligaments band together to stabilize the knee joint. The body becomes a more efficient machine and the opportunity for injury diminishes.
- The taping support commonly applied to injured muscles is here harnessed to uninjured muscles, helping make sure they stay that way.
- CW-X offers gentle and continuous support to both the medial and lateral head of the gastrocnemius in the calf which also improves circulation.
- 80% Nylon / 20% Lycra 2-way stretch Targeted Support Web
- 80% COOLMAX / 20% Lycra 4-way stretch body fabric - Helps to keep the body cool and dry, pulls moisture away from the body and carries it top the outside of the tight. UPF 40+ for UVA / UVB protection.
- Flat seam construction - Eliminates abrasion, increases comfort, and enhances fit by reducing bulky seams.
- Reflective Logo - Increases visibility in low light conditions.
- Versatile performance for both outer wear and as a base layer.
- Key pocket and double-reinforced waistband with flat draw-chord.
- Great service! Prompt delivery.Hope to see more models of the brand in your store. Review by Azharee Arsad
- My first CW-X tight I got was from Japan, on holiday. I was amazed by its quality and effectiveness. I have various brand of tights. For now CW-X was the best. The mesh material is a plus for me living in such a hot and humid country... Singapore. (Posted on 4/20/13)
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The Black Dragon, the once-storied gang that for two decades preyed on Southern California's bourgeoning Chinese immigrant community, suffered an inglorious downfall Monday in a Burbank courtroom.
The three reputed leaders of the gang were sentenced to more than 24 years in prison for attempted murder. Authorities contend that the court action leaves the Black Dragon, once considered one of California's most powerful Asian gangs, rudderless and with a dwindling membership.


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Videos > Harmony Rose > Hot babes Harmony Rose and friend sharing a long hard meatpole
Twistys At Twistys you are guaranteed to have access to videos of the hottest stars in the industry. With daily video updates, over 1 million scorching photos, and more girls than u can shake your dick at, you wont know what to fap off to first!
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Jack Howard's retirement
Howard, a few years ago inside the K-31 building in Oak Ridge
Jack Howard, an engineer and Vietnam War vet who has overseen many of the D&D projects at the K-25 uranium-enrichment plant in recent years, has retired from the Dept. of Energy. Congrats to him. He joined DOE's Oak Ridge operations in 1992.
Howard had more than 39 years of federal service. Besides his time in Oak Ridge, Howard worked for the Tennessee Valley Authority from 1970 to 1992.


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Hostal Martin Reviews
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The rating percentage is calculated from customers who booked within the last 12 months.
All ratings and reviews are based on the feedback and opinions of the customers who submitted them and do not express the opinions of Hostelworld.com. This way, you get an up-to-the-minute opinion of just how good a hostel really is.
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Good location, you can walk to every destination in Madrid. Friendly staff, they tell every question that you ask with friendly. Breakfast 3.9 € /person so effective. Room wider than every hostel that I'v stay in this trip. No danger in the road all time you walk around.
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The Wild Cowboy & The Wild Cowgirl is everywhere! Online Over 12 yrs
You will see The Wild Cowboy western wear in the Movies, TV, Music Videos and top Magazines
We carry western wear for the family. Cowboy boots, cowboy hats and matching western shirts, boys, girls, kids western wear. We offer Western Tack for horses, Mules, or Donkeys. Don't forget your horses need protection from the sun, horse fly masks and fly sheets, horse saddle bags


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Stanford Hospital & Clinics' new daily menu for inpatients features organic, locally grown, sustainable ingredients. The Stanford Hospital & Clinics Farm Fresh program was developed in collaboration with Jesse Cool, a nationally recognized Northern California chef, restaurateur and food writer who has been an advocate and leader in healthy eating for over 30 years.
Cool's creative approach to developing a new menu option at Stanford Hospital reflects a basic principle - simple is best. Soup is the centerpiece of the new menu, with seven seasonal options and chicken noodle soup with vegetables offered each week. Inpatients will be able to take the recipes home by tearing off a section of the menus they receive while in the hospital.


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Planning & Designing HP Superdome 2 Server Solutions
HP0-P15 Questions & Answers - in .pdf
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The Journal Sentinel sports staff brings Milwaukee Bucks fans the latest news, notes and analysis
Bucks charge back, cut deficit to 49-47 at halftime
Toronto - Maybe the Bucks missed their wakeup call on a rainy Sunday morning.
But they finally awakened - with the help of their reserves - and fought back from a 20-point deficit to tie the score late in the second quarter.
Two free throws by Toronto forward Quincy Acy gave the Raptors a 49-47 lead at intermission, after they led 32-12 late in the first quarter.
Backup point guard Beno Udrih jump-started the Bucks' rally and finished the half with five points and five assists in 11 minutes.
Brandon Jennings finally caught fire late in the second period and contributed 10 points. Rookie center John Henson also made an impact with the reserve unit and had 10 points and three rebounds.
Jose Calderon was en fuego for the Raptors, scoring all 15 of his points in the first quarter on 6-of-7 shooting. But he limped to the sideline before returning late in the second quarter.
Raptors center Amir Johnson troubled the Bucks with 12 points and six rebounds but limped off with an apparent ankle injury with 1:02 remaining in the half.
The Raptors (14-22) are concluding a six-game home stand while the Bucks (18-17) are opening a four-game trip.
The Bucks shot 52.8% in the half, hitting 19 of 36 shots, and were 6 of 7 at the foul line.
Toronto hit 48.7% from the field (19 of 39).
The Raptors said Calderon went out with a right calf tweak and Johnson twisted his right ankle. Johnson returned and was in Toronto's lineup at the start of the second half.
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This week marked the first anniversary of the tornado that ravaged so many neighborhoods on the North Side and across the Fifth Congressional District.
On Monday, I penned an op-ed for the Star Tribune. The op-ed made the point that especially in the aftermath of the tornado our inner city needs focused leadership.
As evidence I cited the fact that our city has:
- The worst achievement gap in education between black and white students in the entire country.
- The worst unemployment gap between blacks and whites in the entire country.
My op-ed was critical of Keith Ellison's meandering focus on geo-political issues at a time when crucial leadership was needed in his own backyard. I made the point that policy changes and smart, focused and selfless leadership were sorely needed.
By Wednesday Keith fired off a snarly op-ed that misrepresented my position. He said:
"My Republican opponent, Chris Fields, recently penned an op-ed implying that north Minneapolis lacks leadership ("North Side needs attentive leadership," May 21). I strongly disagree."
He followed it up with a radio interview with Al McFarlane on KFAI and attempted to slam me by saying that his 'Republican Opponent thinks he's the Savior of North Minneapolis'. This is the same exact phrase the Minnesota Progressive Project blog used to attack me.
Nice to know that I am the subject of a coordinated attack and smear campaign!
Devin Henry at MinnPost picked up on the dueling op-ed and commentary. Devin is typically a straight shooter. Devin noted that in his piece Keith"offered up a list [of] other federal funding he's helped secure for Minneapolis, including a $28 million grant for an education initiative at a North Minneapolis high school."
It's true that the Northside Achievement Zone received Federal funding. It's shameful to see Ellison tout that as one of his personal successes when insiders know that Senator Al Franken was the lead advocate for the grant. Keith only signed on at the end when it was basically a done deal.
In an effort to get relief for the tornado victims the same thing happened. Franken took the lead and Keith just signed his name to the effort, despite his . (Click to see Franken's letter for yourself.)
In the same MinnPost article Devin Henry noted that:
"Fields' main point, that Ellison failed to secure federal assistance following last year's tornado, is both right and wrong."
The right part being that Ellison did in fact fail to secure assistance for individuals; the wrong part being that some assistance was provided due to the declaration of disaster in June. I respect MinnPost's view but still maintain that if we were a hotly contested district or a swing state, individual assistance would have been made available to us without delay.
It may have been a challenge, but it's not hard. I've lived hard. Hard is something Marines do every day before breakfast.
As a Marine I personally witnessed what's possible when the President, U.S. government and focused politicians want something done. It can be awe-inspiring. The fact that Keith Ellison couldn't deliver is part of the reason people have lost confidence in the federal government.
If Ellison's argument in this election is that he's done a wonderful job and if he just had another two years he can give us more of the same, then I look forward to that debate.
In fact, yesterday to a real debate in each of the cities in the Fifth Congressional District. We are eagerly awaiting his acceptance of our offer.


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Off The Record: On Religion, Politics & Equality
French commercial depicting forms of psychological violence A New York Times article today is reporting that France's National Assembly approved Thursday night a proposal to add "psychological violence" to a … Continue reading
My husband and I are ultimate geeks. He is at the grocery store right now, buying an array of snacky foods for our 10:00 "Health Care Summit Watchin' Par-tay." We will … Continue reading
"You abort the first born of any, nature takes its vengeance on the subsequent children" Virginia State Delegate Bob Marshall of Manassas says that disabled children are God's punishment to women who … Continue reading
Dr. Jack Patterson, founder of the Christian boarding school, Reclamation Ranch, goes on trial for aggravated child abuse March 10 in Blount County Alabama. The trial comes two years after … Continue reading
Stegall at the mic, Culberth looking on Caleb Stegall, Jefferson County, Kansas District Attorney, has been retained to represent former detained Baptist missionary Drew Culberth. Stegall says that Mr. Culberth … Continue reading
Missionaries Carla Thompson, left and Nicole Lankford leaving Haiti "My faith means everything to me, and I knew this moment would come when the truth would set me free,"Jim Allen of … Continue reading
I would never typically write about Glenn Beck. He is repugnant, but is an entertainer that will be the cause of his own tearful, tea-bagging downfall. My tune has changed … Continue reading
Reuters reported last night that the 10 Baptist Missionaries in Haiti will be released today: "The source said the missionaries, who have been in jail since they were stopped at … Continue reading
Yesterday, the Republicans in the Iowa House of Representatives tried to finagle a procedural vote in an attempt to force action on a constitutional ban on gay marriage. Happily, neither … Continue reading
"God wanted us to come here to help children, we are convinced of that," – Laura Silsby Over the last week, I have been following and reporting on the stranger-by-the-minute story of Laura Silsby, … Continue reading


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Hundreds of people celebrated Valentine's Day at the South Orange Performing Arts Center (SOPAC). On Feb. 14, the crooner Jon B made people swoon over his smooth, romantic vocals.
Jon B, R&B singer, songwriter, and producer Jon B. delivered smooth R&B. His unforgettable 1997 classic hit, "They Don't Know" lead the charts and later became a platinum certified single. Jon B's sophisticated sound paved the way for artists like Robin Thicke, Bruno Mars and Justin Timberlake. An accomplished songwriter, Jon B. has penned material for artists including Maxi Priest, For Real, After 7, Spice Girls, Az Yet, and Toni Braxton. His recent album Comfortable Swagg, released on his independent label Vibezelect Inc., reflects Jon B's refined R&B style.
Songwriter, producer, vocalist, and instrumentalist
Jon B. brought a distinctive focus on smooth melodies to contemporary
R&B. Jon B. (short for Jonathan Buck) was the son of a professor of
music and a concert pianist. Influenced by music found in his grandparents'
record store, he began combining the spirit of '70s soul with hip-hop-inspired
productions on his 1995 debut album, Bonafide. It peaked on Billboard's R&B
Albums chart at number 24, led by the Top Ten R&B single 'Someone to Love,'
a duet with prime influence Babyface, and went gold. His second album, 1997's
Cool Relax, continued the emphasis on hip-hop soul and featured two of his
biggest singles in 'They Don't Know' and the 2Pac-assisted 'Are U Still Down.'
As a result, the set sold over a million copies, thus earning it platinum
certification. During the following decade, Jon B. released three more albums
-- Pleasures U Like (2001), Stronger Everyday (2004), and Helpless Romantic
(2008). In 2012, the singer returned with Comfortable Swagg.


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It's Your Friday Morning News Quiz -- Incentivized Via a Prize!
Categories: Quiz
It's fun! It's educational! All right -- you win free shit! Send us your perfect score here and win a prize! And now...
|Whose car is this?
A. Tony Stewart
B. Jamie McMurray
C. Cale Yarborough
D. Bo Duke
2. Where have hundreds of children forbidden from entering UCSF hospital due to concerns over Swine Flu been forced to wait?
A. Child care centers
B. In the geriatric facility
C. In the cafeteria
D. On Muni
3.Why did former San Francisco cop Joseph Ratti claim the department fired him -- in his lawsuit against the city?
A. He weighs 305 pounds
B. He is left-handed
C. Department superiors accused him of "throwing like a girl"
D. He is dyslexic
|Paging Mr. Solzhenitsyn...
A. 4,767 of the signers were named "Bong," "Weed," or "Bob Marley"
B. All of the signatures were gathered from the Humboldt area
C. The signatures were gathered electronically
D. The signatures were gathered on Zig Zag rolling paper
5. How did BART board member Tom Radulovich describe BART to SF Weekly?
A. A "worker's paradise"
B. A "gulag"
C. A "pyramid scheme"
D. A "laugh a minute"
6. We asked a pair of oceanographers if the wave that wreaked havoc during Mavericks was truly a "rogue wave." They said no. What is a rogue wave?
A. A wave taller than 50 feet at its crest
B. A wave three times the size of an average wave
C. A wave with enough power to destroy a standard-sized brick wall
D. A wave that hits with a slightly rakish tilt
1 | 2 | Next Page >>


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When you own a bar and burger joint named Nicky Rottens in a part of town that has a reputation for drunk and disorderly patrons, it's hard to get respect.
That has not stopped Tim Aaron and Nick Tomasello from trying. They have spent $1 million renovating the 1926 building that most recently housed the Island Saloon on the north side of town. They have preserved its bricks, installed laminated windows and imported red oak to build the bar and balcony. "The wood alone cost $200,000," Tomasello said.
By pouring money into the building, the owners hope to set a tone. "We're all a product of our environment," Tomasello said. "If you're in a classy place, you act classy.
"We want to do here what Ron Chapman did at the Coronado Brewing Company," he continued. "It's a place you can bring your family. We want the same for our place."
To pull it off, they believe they need a new liquor license for the restaurant, set to open next month. The one they have now lets them sell whatever adult beverage they want, but they can't serve minors. The license goes back to the 1950s; when Tomasello and Aaron bought the building, they also bought the license.
Last week, Tomasello sought a downgraded license, one normally issued to restaurants with full bars, from the state department of Alcoholic Beverage Control.
Which raises the question, if they wanted to be a family restaurant, why did they wait to apply for the altered license?
"We had to. Otherwise we wouldn't have been able to open," Aaron said. "The approval process would have pushed the opening back months and we would not have been able to serve drinks."
Applying for a new license poses some risks. The public will be able to weigh in; given Nicky Rottens' history with some of the neighbors, a number of residents may ask the state agency to reject the application.
Many nearby residents, especially those living at the Point, have fought the project from the beginning. The restaurant, though, continues to draw support from most of the City Council and the Chamber of Commerce.
At the June 21 council meeting, Councilwoman Carrie Downey said the application was a way to insure that Nicky Rottens Bar and Burger Joint would truly be family friendly.
She urged residents throughout Coronado to write letters of support. If the license is turned down, she pointed out that the establishment will remain a bar. "We don't need more taverns," she said.
When it opens on July 15 Nicky Rottens will remain adults only. Aaron and Tomsasello hope this is just a temporary condition.


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I'm one of his "accountability partners," and I can't help but feel that I stink at my job. As much as I feel like accountability should "work," it just doesn't—not in his case.
Accountability groups and partners are not magic pills. While I have seen accountability play a crucial role in personal growth and holiness in many instances, there are many accountability pitfalls.
Here are five ways accountability goes bad:
1. When accountability partners are absent
Accountability partners need to be people who follow up on their commitments. All too often we hear stories of men who pledged to be an accountability partner for someone else, only to find that person falling down on the job again and again.
Often both parties are at fault. The one holding accountable often commits to something vague and undefined, and the one held accountable often leaves the idea of accountability elusive. Both parties need to have a very clear picture in their minds about what accountability really entails.
2. When accountability groups are programmatic
When we read through the "one anothers" of the New Testament, one cannot help but see the organic, family dynamic that is meant to exist in the church. We are called to an earnest love for one another (1 Peter 1:22), devoted brotherly affection (Romans 12:10), single-minded unity (Romans 15:5), eating together (1 Corinthians 11:33), bearing each other's burdens (Galatians 6:2), and having the same care for each other (1 Corinthians 12:25).
But often our approach to accountability is programmatic. We simply don't have the quality of friendships that are both close and spiritually meaningful, so we search for it in forced and sometimes awkward settings.
The church, of course, should offer support groups and discipleship models. "Program" is not a four-letter word. But these programs should never be the end goal.
R.C. Sproul, Jr. says,
[W]e have lost what is natural, and sought to replace it with programs. What does it say about the culture, both inside and outside the church, that callings normally born by friends now are met by something so artificial, so inorganic. These groups strike me as the emotional equivalent of a multivitamin. Sure enough many of us are not getting enough vitamin D or zinc in our diets. But isn't eating a few more veggies a better way to solve the problem?
3. When accountability partners are confession-centered
Christian accountability partners and groups often make confession of sin the central activity. We often believe confession is the very point of accountability: giving an account of ourselves.
This is exactly what our uneasy consciences want: we want to get something off our chests. We feel better when the secret is out.
As therapeutic as this might feel, we need to be careful that in our confession of sin we don't trivialize sin as something that resolves itself with mere honesty. Jonathan Dodson, pastor of Austin City Life, says one of the best ways to ruin your accountability group is by making "your accountability a circle of cheap confession by which you obtain cheap peace for your troubled conscience."
We are commanded to confess our sins to each other, but in the same breath, the Scriptures call us pray for each other (James 5:16). Only as we make God central to our accountability does confession have the power to heal.
4. When accountability partners are obedience-centered
Some Christian accountability groups are militant about sin—a healthy attitude in its own right. Members want to see others grow in holiness, so this becomes the focus of the group: questions and answers that deal with moral performance.
The problem is mere rule-keeping does not itself get to the heart of why we sin. This is one of the great lessons Paul teaches again and again. Merely knowing the law only aggravates our lusts (Romans 7:7-12). Merely following rigid ascetic regulations "are of no value in stopping the indulgence of the flesh" (Colossians 2:20-23).
Tullian Tchividjian, pastor of Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church, gives a solution for this kind of moralistic accountability.
I'm all for accountability—but a certain kind. The accountability we really need is the kind that corrects our natural tendency to dwell on me—my obedience (or lack thereof ), my performance (good or bad), my holiness—instead of on Christ and His obedience, His performance, and His holiness for me. It sometimes seems that we can't help ourselves from turning the good news of God's grace into a narcissistic program of self-improvement. We try to turn grace into law, in other words. We need to be held accountable for that!
5. When accountability partners forget the gospel
Whether you slide toward being confession-centered or obedience-centered, both tendencies have removed the gospel from the center of accountability.
When we make our groups all about confession, with no expectation of change, we trivialize the very sins that were nailed to Jesus on the cross. When we confess the same sins week after week, say a quick prayer, and go home, we merely highlight the cheap peace we feel from refreshing honesty, and we forget to comfort each other with a testimony of God's grace. We forget to speak about the grace, hope, and eternal promises of the gospel in a way that comforts us and stirs us up to love and good works (1 Thessalonians 4:18; 5:11; Hebrews 10:24)
When we make our groups all about obedience, we only reinforce our tendency to center our identity on our performance. This either drives us to rigid moralism or hiding from others and ourselves the evil that lurks in us. In these groups, says Dodson, we "produce a 'do more, try harder' moralism that robs us of the joy and freedom Jesus paid dearly to secure for us."
In short, we need a model of responsive accountability. As a good accountability partner, I need to not only hear an account of my friend's sin, but give an account of God's grace—a grace that not only saves us from the guilt of sin, but also from the grip of sin.
Get the E-Book
Accountability friendships are not an optional appendage to the Christian life. Accountability partners are not crutches for those who aren't "spiritual enough." Rather, accountability relationships are one of the ordinary means God has chosen to help us be Godward, to sanctify our hearts.
Learn more in this free e-book. You can read this book by yourself or with an accountability partner or group. Download: Coming Clean: Overcoming Lust Through Biblical Accountability.


text:
By Robert Barron, Staff Writer
Enid News & Eagle
ENID, Okla. —
United Way of Enid and Northwest Oklahoma will be under new leadership in 2013 as Pamela Ballard takes the reins as executive director.
Ballard replaces Sean Byrne, who is leaving to become executive director at PreventionWorkz. Ballard will start her position Jan. 2. She formerly was executive director of the Camp Fire Council of Oklahoma City, but recently resigned from that position.
Janet Byrum, chairwoman of the United Way of Enid and Northwest Oklahoma search committee, said Ballard knows what she is doing.
"She has years of experience," Byrum said. "She was raised by a minister and raised with a passion for helping people and helping them get ready to help themselves."
Ballard said she was honored to be chosen for the job, which she found out about through the Oklahoma Center for Nonprofits. She has been involved with the United Way for about 20 years, serving in a number of voluntary capacities. She started out handing out donation packets, and her involvement grew to being a division chair. In every organization she has worked for, she has been the campaign chair for United Way. She also has been an agency executive director and served on the allocation committees.
"I'm a huge believer in the United Way and what it stands for and the good it does," Ballard said. "I believe it's the best way to help the community."
Most people think of United Way as a resource for giving to people in need, Ballard said, and is an excellent organization for that because it has great oversight and spends other people's money the way they would spend their own.
"They have a great track record for doing that," she said. "They return $4 for every $1 given.
"For two decades or more, I've been involved. I've seen it be the first interest for people who want involvement in the community with local fundraising activities. It is their first glimpse of the needs of the community."
Ballard most recently was executive director of Camp Fire USA Heart of Oklahoma Council. She was responsible for daily management of the organization, including all fundraising, special events, donor relations, grant writing, project development, youth, family and community initiatives, and other tasks.
Prior to that, she was financial administrator for North Church Inc. and assistant vice president/relationship manager/public sector advisory services for Spirit Bank. She also was assistant vice president and branch manager for Arvest Bank in Tulsa.
Ballard has a master's degree in human relations and a bachelor of arts in administrative leadership, both from the University of Oklahoma. She originally is from Sapulpa.
The search committee had more than 50 resumes, Byrum said. She said the board was looking for someone who wants to make a community impact rather than just distribute funds.
"We were very impressed with Pam," Byrum said. "I had the privilege of reading everyone's resume and narrowing them down to 12, then working with the search committee. We worked them down to four and interviewed them. Then, we offered the job to Pam."
Byrne announced several months ago he would be leaving as executive director, but would stay on through the transition. Byrum said the executive committee assembled quickly and formed a search committee. They put out the word on the United Way network and other nonprofit sources, and immediately began to receive resumes.
Ballard said United Way of Enid and Northwest Oklahoma does not take people's money lightly, but takes it seriously.
"We help those who need it most, because there is great need," Ballard said. "We want to benefit health, education and provide financial stability, not just for today. It is about taking a look at what programs are about and making those outcomes happen."