text:
(2584 Views – 5/02/13) – Location: Hutto, Texas
RedBubble Feature – Explore Page
RedBubble Feature – Your Magic Place
RedBubble Feature – Moody & Evocative
RedBubble Feature – The Woman Photographer
RedBubble Feature – Buyers Club
RedBubble Feature – Visualizing Emotion
RedBubble Feature – Simple By Design
RedBubble Feature – ▲Lost in Space▲75% Negative
RedBubble Feature – Textured Abstract
RedBubble Feature – Textured Landscapes
RedBubble Feature – Artist on Facebook
FineArtAmerica Feature – Dimensions – 6/11/11
FineArtAmerica Feature – Stop Time with Art – 8/22/12
tree, field, sky, metal, tractor, frame, country, grass, textured, square, antique, rusty, farmland, landscape, moody, atmospheric, vintage, land, countryside, rural, silhouette, broken, nostalgic, nostalgia, away from it all, farm, simple, branches, leaves, simplicity, gloomy, grunge, hot, machinery, farming, abandoned, secluded, dry, agricultural, agriculture, nature, outdoors, outside, leflaneuse textures
This is so good, love the textures and your processing! Hope you been well, my friend! :)
Thank you very much Parmi! I have been very well, but very, very busy at the moment :D
– Trish Mistric
Wonderful, moody piece! Love the silhouette and tones.
Thanks Patricia!
– Trish Mistric
Love it, great work!
Thank Cater!
– Trish Mistric
great landscape and textures
Thanks rain!
– Trish Mistric
Wow…thanks so much for the feature Jenny!
– Trish Mistric
its so evocative, love this!
Thank you Simone!
– Trish Mistric
Beautiful work Trish!
Thanks Carol!
– Trish Mistric
excellent work Trish
Thank you Anthony!
– Trish Mistric
Perfect texture choice and comp.
Thanks Lucin!
– Trish Mistric
awesome work!
Thank you :D
– Trish Mistric


text:
This is an all you need kit for great studio portrait photography. The lights offer many settings for intensity and come with umbrellas. The 85mm lens is phenomenal. First time I have ever used one and the portraits come out amazing. See every pore on the skin. The tripod is great and the ball head is a must have for studio because you can switch from head shots to full body shots in 2 seconds. Very convenient.
- Product Details
- 1 Product Reviews
Rental Package Includes: Canon EF 85mm f/1.2L II USM, Bowens BW-4805USD Gemini 500R 2-Light Kit, Induro Carbon Fiber CT113 Tripod Legs, and a Manfrotto 222 Grip Action Ballhead. Description If you already own a Canon body, and looking to increase your portfolio with some portrait photography, then the Portrait Essentials Package - Studio Use (No Body) - for Canon is the perfect fit for you. The Canon EF 85mm f/1.2L II USM will allow you to capture any subject you desire. Using the Bowens Light Kit provides versatility and simplicity within any environment. The Manfrotto 222 Grip Action Ballhead is a fast, one-handed positioning tripod head ideal for portrait photographers, and the Induro CT113 Carbon Fiber Tripod will keep your set up stable for your exposures. |

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Guest Author - April Alisa Marquette
Many times when we think of beauty we think of a rose, with whisper soft petals and scent. Or we may think of a lovely lady or baby, one with flawless skin and radiant eyes. Stop right there. Today let us think of another kind of beauty. Let us ponder the simplistic joys that October can bring.
So you don't have a lot of disposable cash right now, or perhaps you do. Still what could be more beautiful than setting a seasonal table, and perhaps sharing a meal with those you love? It can be as simple or as elaborate as you choose. On your table you can create a centerpiece of candles, small pumpkins, gourds, colorful dried corn, or flowers. You can use anything that is of value to you, things you most likely already own. For when we look upon beauty, it has the effect of making us feel warm, enriched or even enticed. Just seeing it can aid us to feel beautiful, inside.
Why not take the kids to a pumpkin patch? One frosty morning or afternoon, forget your to-do list for a while. Just pull on your favorite sweater or jacket. Then get cracking. Out there as you tramp among nature's bounty, pick a pumpkin to carve. The one you choose doesn't have to be the biggest -- the midgies make great little 'homes' for votive candles. Yes, once the small pumpkin has been scooped out. Don't forget, you can roast the seeds, and thereby also make more fun and beautiful memories for your little ones.
This October, instead of allowing the kiddiewinks to have all the fun, you too can dress up for Halloween, Mama, and Papa. I'll tell you, I have bought myself a bewitching little mask. This I will wear when I open my front door to all the little ghosts and goblins who'll yowl "trick or treat!" Because really, what is more beautiful than the element of a sweet little surprise?
When the leaves begin to turn scarlet and gold, you can take a lovely wind-chilled walk, or a drive, to note them. Then why not enjoy the beauty of being a kid again, if only for the one evening a year when 'It's the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown ' appears on television. Have a glass that sparkles with champagne and enjoy the beauty of the bubbles as they tickle your nose as well as your palate. If you're not an imbiber, you can heat some cider and add a cinnamon stick. Then hold your mug in two hands to warm them, inhale and enjoy. Kiss your lover under the harvest moon.
Are you in a sentimental mood? Or do you love big band jazz or orchestral standards? If so, then re-visit songstress Natalie Cole singing the timeless 'Autumn Leaves.' Whatever your pleasure, remember that although the onset of colder weather may have been cause for some of us to feel blase -- in the past -- determine that this October will be different. Convince yourself that it will be beautiful...because with a little ingenuity and a few pennies, you can make it so!


text:
Timothy Peters, of Providence, North Carolina, is a race car driver in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. He drives the #17 Wiss Tools/K&N Toyota Tundra for Red Horse Racing.
Timothy Peters, of Providence, North Carolina, is a race car driver in the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series. He drives the #17 Wiss Tools/K&N Toyota Tundra for Red Horse Racing.
Top Timothy Peters Articles
Displaying items 12-22
Timothy Peters wins truck race in Las Vegas
Peters Finishes Strong To Post Second Iowa Speedway Victory
After making history on dirt, Timothy Peters heads to Langley Speedway for the Hampton Heat
Story | Jul 23, 2013 | 5:40 PMHAMPTON — After helping the Camping World Truck Series make history Wednesday, Timothy Peters will make some personal history Saturday. Peters will compete Wednesday in the Truck Series race at Eldora Speedway in Rossburg, Ohio — the first... -
Talented visitors to challenge Langley Speedway stars in Hampton Heat
Scoreboard -- July 26, 2013
Story | Jul 26, 2013 | 11:24 PM|TV SPORTS| |SATURDAY| Auto Racing--Formula One, Hungarian Grand Prix qualifying, 7 a.m. (NBCSN); NASCAR Sprint Cup, Samuel Deeds 400 practice, 8 a.m. (ESPN2); NASCAR Sprint Cup, Samuel Deeds 400 pole qualifying, 1 p.m. (ESPN); NASCAR Nationwide... -
Peyton Sellers beats Langley Speedway regulars to earn $10,000 in Hampton Heat 200
Scoreboard -- August 3, 2013
Story | Aug 3, 2013 | 9:16 PM|TV SPORTS| |SUNDAY| Golf--Women's British Open Championship, 9 a.m. (ESPN2); PGA Tour-WGC, Bridgestone Invitational, 1 p.m. (CBS) Auto Racing--NASCAR Sprint Cup, GoBowling.com 400, Noon (ESPN); Indy Racing League, Indy Lights, same-day tape,... -
Scoreboard -- August 17, 2013
Story | Aug 17, 2013 | 10:07 PM|TV SPORTS| |SUNDAY| Soccer--Premier League, Crystal Palace vs. Tottenham, 7:25 a.m. (NBCSN); Premier League, Hull at Chelsea, 9:55 a.m. (NBCSN) Motosports--MotoGP Moto3, 10 a.m. (FS1); Moto GP Moto2, 11a.m. (FS1); MotoGP World Championship, 1 p.m.... -
Kyle Busch wins Truck race, 14th Bristol victory
Scoreboard -- Aug. 22, 2013
Story | Aug 22, 2013 | 11:06 PM|TV SPORTS| Auto Racing--Formula One, Belgian Grand Prix practice, 7 a.m. (NBCSN); NASCAR Nationwide Series, Food City 250 practice, 8 a.m. (FS1); NASCAR Sprint Cup, IRWIN Tools Night Race practice, 11 a.m. (FS1); NASCAR Sprint Cup, IRWIN Tools Night... -
Elliott wrecks Dillon to win Truck race


text:
Psychoeducation for Hepatitis and Alcohol Behaviors
Recruitment status was Recruiting
- Full Text View
- Tabular View
- No Study Results Posted
- Disclaimer
- How to Read a Study Record
The proposed project will apply a unique, effective family-responsive psychoeducation program, PsychoEducation Responsive to Families (PERF), for Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) treatment. The goal is to demonstrate that the intervention will enlarge the eligibility of some patients for HCV treatment and help sustain others through it.
Condition | Intervention |
Hepatitis C Substance Abuse |
Behavioral: Family-Responsive Psychoeducation Program (PERF) |
Study Type: | Interventional |
Study Design: | Allocation: Randomized Endpoint Classification: Efficacy Study Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment Masking: Double Blind (Subject, Caregiver, Outcomes Assessor) Primary Purpose: Supportive Care |
Official Title: | Psychoeducation for HCV and Alcohol Behaviors |
- Increased treatment readiness and better treatment adherence for treatment of HCV. [ Time Frame: Index, Post intervention, and 1 year follow-up ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
- Better management of substance abuse and other psychiatric disorders. [ Time Frame: Index, Post intervention, and 1 year follow up ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
- Better social functioning and increased quality of life. [ Time Frame: Index, Post intervention, and 1 year follow up ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
Estimated Enrollment: | 400 |
Study Start Date: | September 2006 |
Estimated Study Completion Date: | August 2011 |
Estimated Primary Completion Date: | August 2011 (Final data collection date for primary outcome measure) |
Arms | Assigned Interventions |
Experimental: Psychoeducation |
Behavioral: Family-Responsive Psychoeducation Program (PERF)
Group psychoeducation for HCV patients and their primary caregiver.
Detailed Description:
This study aims to evaluate the utility of a psychosocial intervention (PsychoEducation Responsive to Families; PERF), applied to help patients prepare for and sustain HCV treatment in the treatment setting. Through careful psychiatric diagnosis and multiple longitudinal assessments, this study will also shed further light on the course of comorbid alcohol use, drug use, and other psychiatric syndromes and their interrelationships. The proposed study combines an innovative psychoeducation program with traditional HCV patient care and education. The goal of this work is to improve treatment adherence, allowing individual drug regimens to achieve their optimal effectiveness and reach a wider patient population. Support and sustenance of patients from a psychosocial perspective while they are in treatment should also help deliver more patients to sustained suppression of HCV as well as help presently untreated patients and populations become candidates for this therapy—ultimately reducing the disease burden of increasing numbers of patients needing liver transplantation or facing imminent death.
Ages Eligible for Study: | 18 Years and older |
Genders Eligible for Study: | Both |
Accepts Healthy Volunteers: | No |
Inclusion Criteria:
- Individuals who are seropositive for HCV as determined by ELISA test and confirmed by direct measure of viral load as part of their clinical care
- Lack progressive or decompensated liver functions (manifest in jaundice, ascites, variceal bleeding, hepatic encephalopathy)
- Age at least 18 years
- Identified family member(s)/significant other(s) also willing to participate in the psychoeducation groups, and
- Ability to provide informed consent for research participation. "Family" will be defined to include biological relatives, as well as any non-biological individual or significant other considered "family" by either the ill member or his/her immediate family.
Exclusion Criteria:
- Inability to provide informed consent such as irreversible cognitive impairment precluding participation
- Progressive or decompensated liver functions (manifest in jaundice, ascites, variceal bleeding, hepatic encephalopathy), and
- Age <18 years.
Contact: Dana Downs, MA, MSW | 214-648-5378 | firstname.lastname@example.com |
United States, Missouri | |
Washington University School of Medicine | Recruiting |
St. Louis, Missouri, United States, 63110 | |
Contact: Lori Cupps 314-286-1361 firstname.lastname@example.com | |
Principal Investigator: Barry Hong, PhD |
Principal Investigator: | Carol S North, MD, MPE | Univeristy of Texas Southwestern Medical Center |
No publications provided
Responsible Party: | Carol S. North, MD, MPE, University of Texas Southwestern Medical School |
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: | NCT00598416 History of Changes |
Other Study ID Numbers: | NIAAA-NORTH-AA015201, R01-AA015201 |
Study First Received: | January 10, 2008 |
Last Updated: | November 20, 2009 |
Health Authority: | United States: Federal Government |
Keywords provided by National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA):
Hepatitis C Substance Abuse Psychoeducation Psychiatric functioning |
Physical Functioning Quality of Life NIAAA Alcohol |
Additional relevant MeSH terms:
Hepatitis Hepatitis A Hepatitis C Substance-Related Disorders Liver Diseases Digestive System Diseases Hepatitis, Viral, Human |
Virus Diseases Enterovirus Infections Picornaviridae Infections RNA Virus Infections Flaviviridae Infections Mental Disorders |
ClinicalTrials.gov processed this record on March 10, 2014


text:
HRSA is helping veterans translate the health care skills gained during their enlistment into civilian medical professions.
Health Professions grants improve access to health care by addressing some of the most pressing needs across the U.S. health workforce.
The Center provides a comprehensive store of health workforce data to inform public policies and private sector investments in the workforce arena.
Protect the public from health care practitioners, providers, and suppliers with a history of malpractice, adverse actions, fraud and abuse.
Data Banks>
Research on the state of the healthcare workforce, tracking shortages, trends and issues as they develop. Health Workforce Analysis >
Geographic areas, population groups and facilities with too few primary care, dental and mental health providers. Shortage Designation>


text:
March 12, 2014, 02:25:33 PM
. Please
1 Hour
1 Day
1 Week
1 Month
Login with username, password and session length
The Rules page has been updated. Please familiarize yourself with its contents!
General Forums
Board News
> Topic:
Posts of the Month
Go Down
« previous
next »
Topic: Posts of the Month (Read 2130 times) Average Rating:
0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.
The Rodney Dangerfield of OC.net
Site Supporter
Faith: Orthodox Christian
Posts: 7,252
Holy Father Patrick, thank you for your help!
Posts of the Month
October 02, 2008, 10:08:52 AM »
(Dateline OC.net Palace): The usual crowds hawking their wares and wearing their hawks within hte OC.net Palace courtyard were startled when the Forum Administrator's balcony doors opened. A trumpet fanfare bagen with a flourish, and those gathered heard a voice calling out...
After much delay solely the fault of the Forum Administrator, the Post of the Month awards are finally being announced!
For July 2008 we have two awardees: One poster so honered is AlexanderofBergamo for
this opus
on July 5:
Back to our question (which is one of most disputable anyway), I obviously wasn't dealing with entire (and enormous) range of Protestant movements. I was thinking just of the risks concerning the idea of Sola Scriptura. I know there are many Protestant churches who regard the Church Fathers if not as "authoritative", at least like a model of how the first Christians understood faith and read the Bible. But we can't deny that fundamentalists (or "bible believers", as they sometimes call themselves) have risen introducing many errors in their doctrines as they read the Bible as the only one necessary for truth and even stated that the entire Church apostatized after the Apostolic Age. It's not a case, I think, that many sects like Jehowah's Witnesses and Unitarians formed within the protestant wing of Christianity (although it's an act of injustice and blasphemy to consider them as Protestants or Christians, anyway). I repeat, there are many Protestant movements which I hold in high esteem (here in Bergamo - Italy, the Valdese-Methodist Church can serve as a clear example). But when we define ourselves as Orthodox we recognize that both Bible and Church Fathers (including the Ecumenical Councils) belong to the same Holy Tradition - and this Tradition is our only source of faith. While Roman Catholics feel that Bible and Tradition are two different "sources", and Protestants either reject Tradition at all (fundamentalists) or use it to see how someone read the Bible (the position of many other movements, maybe the majority). But I think the way is to mediate between the two positions. Anglicans, for example, try to reconcile Bible and Tradition by the use of Reason. Often that's not enough, though, but that's
of course a better solution.
As I think my words have been often misunderstood on this Forum (maybe 'cause I'm Italian and my English isn't perfect... I use the words I know to express my opinions as I can), I'll try to clarify my ideas. I don't want to be accused for my beliefs!
The Orthodox Church should not define nor condemn ANY creationist or evolutionist position. The Orthodox Church should take no official position with regard to those things whose nature we'll discover only on Judgment Day. On that occasion, if I were wrong, then you could say "We were right" and I'll accept my error. What's really important is not to reject the CORE of our faith... and this core says we are all God's creatures in his Image; that we're not just animals; that we live in a decaying world; that we all need personally and collectively that one God who became our Saviour and died for our sake and for our salvation 2000 years ago on the altar of the Cross.
The Orthodox Church has survived for two millennia with no necessity to solve this question. Many positions have been taken by individuals and movements within Orthodoxy but the Church is still One, because this questions are to be left unsolved. Yet I still believe in a historical truth of those characters Genesis refers to, and their lives. Most Orthodox did the same for 2000 years, but now it seems that being "creationist" or "traditionalist" has become a heresy... Freedom of thought on this specific questions implies that you should be left the right to doubt and establish by your own but not to impose the belief of the "majority". That's not what Orthodoxy was afraid of in the past... Compromise with the "world" was not the way the Church tried to form her beliefs.
I want to be free to profess my belief as I want you to be free, too. This same conversation is the proof that we're all Orthodox but still personal opinions are allowed.
The fellow awardee sharing this honor in equal measure is Paisius for
this post
on July 20:
The law was complete we just weren't mature enough to understand it. I'll give you an analogy. When you were a young child if you did something wrong or that could cause you harm your parents would correct you. When you asked them why almost invariably what was the answer? "Because I told you so." They would say that because you weren't mature enough to understand the reasons, all that was important was that they kept you from harm.
The Old Covenant was very similar. All of the law was in place for one reason, to lead us to love and communion with God. But as we humans weren't mature enough to fully understand the purpose of the law there were penalties in place to discourage us from breaking the law. They were there to protect us and for the most part the explanation was simply because God told us so.
With the Incarnation God became one of us so He could talk to us on our level, face to face. He did this so He could explain in terms we could understand the reason for the law. With the New Covenant the law wasn't abolished but rather it was fulfilled because now in Christ we know the purpose of the law.
In August 2008, the awardee is DavidBryan for
this work
given to us on August 12:
I think the intellectual input and stimulation, as well as the realization that they're actually DOING something with their faith outside of church services provides a thrill that they weren't getting with just "spectator sport" Orthodoxy/Catholicism, where the priest/choir/chanters sang the Divine Liturgy/said Mass and they went through the motions without any purposeful explanation and education of what was going on.
When you take the stated doctrine of having all your sins completely and permanently wiped out, forever, of never having to deal with any kind of ascetic effort in order to arrive at purification and sanctification, and are "free" to rejoice in a perceived spiritual perfection that God has granted you apart from any obedience you may or may not have actually walked in -- well, as virtual and artificial as it may sound when I put it that way, it does make for a VERY grateful reaction on the part of the believer. "He who has been forgiven much, loves much," and all that. The Evangelical perceives that his sins have been declared null and void through the legal transaction of the blood of Christ before the Father, and so they are free simply to rejoice in an already finished righteousness, an already guaranteed place in heaven. Couple this grateful state with AGRESSIVE memorization of proof-texts that seem to bolster this teaching, and you have the added rush of thinking that God's biblical stamp of approval supports the idea, adding confidence to enthusiastic gratitude.
It is difficult, then, to put Orthodoxy next to that and say, "Christ has died and risen again; through baptism we are brought into His Kingdom so that we would have the POTENTIAL of working out our salvation with fear and trembling, making every effort to enter into the rest He prepared for us through His Passion and Resurrection. The enemy, however, still prowls around as the wolf of souls, seeking to make us his prey, so we must be ever mindful of sinful habits that remain in our lives, as they could be occasion for the enemy to gain a foothold. Our life in Christ consists of constant vigilance, constant repentance, constant participation in the sacramental life of the Church, and constant sorrow and (should God grant) true tears of repentance over our state as 'chief of sinners' so that we might gain times of refreshing from the presence of the Lord which is the comfort for those who have mourned."
Evangelicals will say that this gospel has been tried and found wanting, pointing to the Orthodox hierarchs' and clergy's moral failure, as well as the laity's laxity and lack of fervor in studying about and participating in their faith outside of services. I would say that the faith is not so much tried and found wanting as it has been found difficult and left untried. This is not so much an excuse as it is an explanation. What is needed? A culture shift, I think. Increased emphasis on personal sin and the need for repentance, forgiveness and grace. Priorities on parish education regarding biblical, patristic support for Orthodox positions. Clear opportunities to LIVE the gospel (service projects like the ones above, for example). Fellowship and increased accountability among the faithful, pushing each other on to greater piety and holiness of life, seeking out ways to rid ourselves of sin and live to Christ. I say that, if these things are considered solely Evangelical territory, we as Orthodox have sold our birthright, so to speak, and Evangelicals' coming in and gaining the souls the Church has neglected should come as no surprise.
And September 2008's awardee is from Marc1152 for
this elucidation
from September 17:
Here is what I think is the problem with this.
The argument for a Chinese Theotokos Icon is cultural and has a whiff of political correctness to it. No big deal. However, the objection is Theological and rather serious.
There are two types of religion and since the Buddha was mentioned I will use some Buddhist terms to explain this. One type of religion is "Ji " or "Ji-Kempon" (Sorry, I have to use Japanese Buddhist terms since that is what I was trained in) It means.. ACTUAL.. or Actual Manifestation. Orthodoxy is a Ji type of religion. The Eucharist is ACTUALLY the blood and body of the Christ. We are to be actually (Really) raised in our own bodies at the end of time. Our pratice it Theosis, we are literally transformed to a closer likeness of Christ. Jesus himself is God, not a fine Rabbi or just a some sort of half measure. He is fully God......ect. ect. Got it?
The other type of religion is "Ri" or Ri-Kemon, Manifestation ...IN PRINCIPLE... The way forward in this type of religion is you shoot for a bundle of admirable Principles. Each person, on the inside, is like God and by following these Principles (Christian Principles in this case) you reveal and bring out this inner way of being. All people have this internal seed or divine spark and only need to practice these Principles to make spiritual progress.
So why not have a Chinese Theotokos or a Black Jesus? It is the Principle which all people can access, that is what is operative. But this is not Orthodox Christianity. In Orthodoxy, the Truth of the Theotokos is not representative. It is her in actuality, the factual Jewish Woman who really carried God in her womb. The Truth is Jesus himself and his teachings (His "Dharma") are inseparable from his actual being and his actual life. It is not symbolic and cant be honestly transferred into a misrepresentation.
Furthermore, the Dao is not the Christ any more than the Eternal Buddha Shakyamuni is the Christ just by another name. Those things are LIKE the Christ in many interesting ways. It proves that spiritually minded people of past ages with no knowledge of Christ or Judaism could discern some things that are correct about the Universe and how it operates. That is a fine thing but does not mean the Dao or the Eternal Buddha is in actuality Jesus Christ who really lived, really died and was really reserected in a really existing place and time.
All of the awardees were shuttled onto the balcony, and after the stunned silence, the crowd roared their approval:
"As the sparrow flees from a hawk, so the man seeking humility flees from an argument". St John Climacus
High Elder
Faith: Eastern Orthodox
Jurisdiction: GOA
Posts: 826
O sweet Jesus, cleanse my soul.
Re: Posts of the Month
Reply #1 on:
October 02, 2008, 10:24:47 AM »
Excellent posts!!! Congratulations to all of the awardees and may I add....
I'll take you for who you are if you take me for everything.
Faith: Orthodox Christian
Jurisdiction: Oecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople, the New Rome, the Great Church of Christ.
Posts: 16,382
My plans for retirement.
Re: Posts of the Month
Reply #2 on:
October 02, 2008, 04:12:44 PM »
If you're living a happy life as a Christian, you're doing something wrong.
Fr. George
formerly "Cleveland"
Faith: Orthodox (Catholic) Christian
Jurisdiction: GOA - Metropolis of Pittsburgh
Posts: 19,808
May the Lord bless you and keep you always!
Re: Posts of the Month
Reply #3 on:
October 02, 2008, 04:17:51 PM »
Congratulations. Truly worthy of honor.
"The man who doesn't read good books has no advantage over the one who can't read them." Mark Twain
Ordained on 17 & 18-Oct 2009. Please forgive me if earlier posts are poorly worded or incorrect in any way.
Professor Emeritus, CSA
Faith: Christian
Jurisdiction: OCA Diocese of the Midwest
Posts: 8,790
Re: Posts of the Month
Reply #4 on:
October 02, 2008, 04:24:58 PM »
"It is remarkable that what we call the world...in what professes to be true...will allow in one man no blemishes, and in another no virtue."--Charles Dickens
Mrs. Y
Faith: Orthodox
Jurisdiction: OCA Diocese of the Midwest
Posts: 3,976
lolcat addict
Re: Posts of the Month
Reply #5 on:
October 02, 2008, 04:53:50 PM »
Human beings, who are almost unique in having the ability to learn from the experience of others, are also remarkable for their apparent disinclination to do so. -- Douglas Adams
Formerly Friul & Nebelpfade
Faith: Machine God
Posts: 4,495
Re: Posts of the Month
Reply #6 on:
October 02, 2008, 04:56:53 PM »
As a result of a thousand million years of evolution, the universe is becoming conscious of itself, able to understand something of its past history and its possible future.
-- Sir Julian Sorell Huxley FRS
Faith: Orthodox
Jurisdiction: GOA, for now, but my heart belongs to the Ukrainian Orthodox Church
Posts: 8,576
Re: Posts of the Month
Reply #7 on:
October 02, 2008, 06:02:43 PM »
Very well-deserved awards!
Love never fails.
Section Moderator
Faith: Ukrainian Orthodox
Jurisdiction: Pennsylvaniadoxy
Posts: 4,715
Re: Posts of the Month
Reply #8 on:
October 02, 2008, 06:06:31 PM »
Good job!! Congrats! M'nohaya Lita
Mr., Sir, Dude, Guy, Male, tr. Minas in Greek, Menes in white people Egyptologists :-P
Section Moderator
Faith: Oriental Orthodox
Jurisdiction: Coptic Orthodox Archdiocese of North America
Posts: 8,548
Pray for me, Sts. Mina & Kyrillos VI for my exams
Re: Posts of the Month
Reply #9 on:
October 02, 2008, 06:22:04 PM »
(did I miss a June post of the month?)
Vain existence can never exist, for \\\"unless the LORD builds the house, the builders labor in vain.\\\" (Psalm 127)
If the faith is unchanged and rock solid, then the gates of Hades never prevailed in the end.
Faith: Orthodox
Jurisdiction: Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America, Holy Metropolis of New Jersey
Posts: 9,951
Re: Posts of the Month
Reply #10 on:
October 06, 2008, 12:07:29 AM »
Congratulations to all best posters!
Faith: Ain't Nobody Got Time For That
Posts: 26,816
Re: Posts of the Month
Reply #11 on:
October 06, 2008, 03:04:00 PM »
"Anybody who believes that the way to a man's heart is through his stomach flunked geography." - Robert Byrne
Faith: Eastern Orthodox
Posts: 2,760
Re: Posts of the Month
Reply #12 on:
October 06, 2008, 03:35:01 PM »
Congratulations! Many thanks for the edifying posts! Congratulations also to the authors of all the other very worthy, helpful posts this month.
+ Our dear sister Martha (Rosehip) passed away on Dec 20, 2010. May her memory be eternal! +
Fr. George
formerly "Cleveland"
Faith: Orthodox (Catholic) Christian
Jurisdiction: GOA - Metropolis of Pittsburgh
Posts: 19,808
May the Lord bless you and keep you always!
Re: Posts of the Month
Reply #13 on:
October 06, 2008, 03:51:59 PM »
Quote from: minasoliman on October 02, 2008, 06:22:04 PM
(did I miss a June post of the month?)
No, you didn't miss it.... we just forgot to post the winner. It's coming.
"The man who doesn't read good books has no advantage over the one who can't read them." Mark Twain
Ordained on 17 & 18-Oct 2009. Please forgive me if earlier posts are poorly worded or incorrect in any way.
Fr. David
The Poster Formerly Known as "Pedro"
Faith: Eastern Orthodox
Jurisdiction: OCA, Diocese of the South
Posts: 2,828
Re: Posts of the Month
Reply #14 on:
October 06, 2008, 10:14:37 PM »
Wow. Very kind, y'all. Thanks. And
to the fellow post-of-the-month-ers, as well.
Priest in the Orthodox Church in America - ordained on March 18, 2012
Oh Taste and See
(my defunct blog)
From Protestant to Orthodox
(my conversion story)
Post of the Month
Go Up
General Forums
Board News
> Topic:
Posts of the Month
« previous
next »
Jump to:
Please select a destination:
General Forums
=> Board News
=> Christian News
=> Reviews
===> Book Club
=> Technical Help
=> Prayer Forum
Moderated Forums
=> Convert Issues
=> Faith Issues
=> Liturgy
===> Western Rite Discussion
=> Orthodox-Other Christian Discussion
===> Orthodox-Catholic Discussion
===> Orthodox-Protestant Discussion
=> Oriental Orthodox Discussion
=> Orthodox Family Forum
=> Other Topics
=> Free-For-All
===> Religious Topics
===> Non-Religious Topics
Foreign Language Forums
=> Foreign Languages Forum
===> Slavic Languages
===> Discusión en español
===> Romance Languages
===> Practice English
===> Other Languages
===> Greek
===> Limba Romana


text:
The Ways You Can React to Anderson Cooper's Big Announcement
Last night at Eastern Bloc, the Lower East Side gay bar owned by Anderson Cooper's purported boyfriend Benjamin Maisani, the mood was far from celebratory–it was downright staid. Five or so gay men watched the movie 54 on speakers. The movie is about when New York had a terrific club scene.
We asked a fellow Read More


text:
Good Books
Resources on Our Website
- Book Blog
Book reviews from WPL staff and kids. - Book Lists
Our local, award, reading level, genre, and subject lists. - Online Research: Books & Literature
Links to websites and databases about children's books.
Children's Literature Databases
Professional book reviews, reading lists, discussion guides, and more. Search by genre, reading level, and other criteria. Log in with your library card number.
E-Books and E-Audiobooks
- E-books and E-audiobooks
Check out downloadable books and audiobooks to your personal device. - TumbleBooks
Animated, talking picture books great for pre-readers, beginning readers, and English language learners.


text:
promotional discount applied. Cart total will reflect savings.
Quantity discount will reflect in cart.
This product may only be purchased with the approval of a veterinarian and may require verification. We will collect any necessary information at checkout and verify a prescription if required.
Sometimes, manufacturers require that products be advertised only at their suggested prices. When we choose to sell these items for less, we display the sale price only in the cart. To see the price, click Add to Cart.
One-time delivery
Save time with Auto Ship (Details) Deliver Every: 2 Weeks 3 Weeks 4 Weeks 5 Weeks 6 Weeks 7 Weeks 8 Weeks 1 Month 2 Months 3 Months 6 Months
Product Summary:
The Eheim Ehfi Mech Mechanical Filter Media offers optimum water values and perform different functions in the water setting. The media offers a coarse surface, and is used where water enterst the filter process. This mechanical filter medium offers effective water treatment with long-lasting results.
· Easy to clean and can be used several times
· Hollow ceramic cylinders for mechanical filtration
· Traps solid dirt particles at the water inflow and ensures an even flow of water through the filter
· Can be washed under lukewarm water
· Pre-filter mechanical filtration
· Traps large-sized debris
· Re-usable, cost effective
Item Specifications:
1 Liter, 5 Liter
Eheim Ehfi Substrat Pro Filter Media
Starting at: $75.59
Seachem Water Treatment Purigen
Starting from: $10.99
Caribsea Ivory Coast African Cichlid Sand
Starting from: $20.99
Product Reviews by Customers
This item is not eligible for Canadian shipping.
Some items everyday price is so low we can't discount or we have marked down the item to a final sale price. These select items will not be included in your order total when determining if your order qualifies for a promotional event.


text:
Tired of doing the roof thing 4-6 times a year.I am looking for gutter protection that is good in all seasons. WARNING-- avoid Master shield at all cost. Works ok in spring thru fall except in heavy rain. winter is a disater. Ice forms over cover ,snow on top melts over the gutter and runs down the outside causing large areas of ice on the porch and sidewalks.Can't park the car in my driveway. On going battle with co. to fix problem , they don't return my calls. Local rep left the state. Am looking at Gutter Filter, any comments?
- Forum >
- Electrical & Lighting >
- gutter protection
My gutters used to clog all the time with leaves and pine needles from all the trees around my house. my husband hated getting out the ladder and cleaning them. I finally installed a gutter guard so that we wouldn't have to worry about it anymore. It's called Gutterglove Gutterguard. It's has a stainless steel mesh on an aluminum frame. It looks and feels pretty heavy duty. I ordered it and installed it myself. I am so happy with the way it is preforming. We don't have to clean the gutters anymore. It was well worth the investment and I would recomend it to everyone!
This produce is just the same as Mastershield. If snow and ice are in your weather belt , be on guard. I had a rep from gutter filter put several sections of his product in my gutter and left Mastershield screens on the remaining gutters. The only place I have no dripping,no ice and no ice cicles are on the gutter filters sections!!!
I live in North Carolina and although we do not get a snow storm but every few years, I have found that the gutter glove gutter covers work perfectly in all weather, especially for rainwater harvesting, no wonder they have been awarded the best in class award two years in a row, the link to the review of all the gutter products is at: http://gutter-comparison-protection-covers-review.ncreview.org/
I found this new resource recently about gutter guards and wanted to share it.
There is a good comparison, and basically it says:
Gutter cover type guards
Polyethylene Mesh (but not in fire hazard areas)
Hope that helps someone who is looking at getting the fact about gutter guards.
There is a good comparison, and basically it says:
Gutter cover type guards
Polyethylene Mesh (but not in fire hazard areas)
Hope that helps someone who is looking at getting the fact about gutter guards.
If you are looking for something in the Australian Market you might want to take a look at Gutter Guard for Installation Service.


text:
BeerAdvocate on your phone?! True story. Try the beta now.
Tickets for American Craft Beer Fest are on sale now! (May 30 & 31 in Boston, MA)
AleSmith Speedway Stout - AleSmith Brewing Company
Displayed for educational use only; do not reuse. |
Ratings: 3,834 | Reviews: 1,363 | Show All Ratings:
4.6/5 rDev +4.5%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
My first indepth review. Since turning 21, I've been trying many beers of many different varieties.
Appearance: Well, there is no way in hell that anyone who is into beer can't tell this is a stout. With a slightly vigorous pour, it gave off a good two finger, lightly chocolately malted head. I found the appareance very appropriate for a stout of this magnitude (from what I've heard before tasting)
Smell: Instantly, you know you're in for something big. Something pretty complex. The aroma is quite beautiful, but I almost want to give the word "dangerous" to it as well, because it smells almost gorgeously, but with a harsh note of darkness that I can't quite attribute to it.
Taste: Pretty much what I gathered from the nose. It comes in with a very dark, but very inviting taste, it almost clings to your tongue as it wants your whole pallette to just absorb all of the intricate flavors. In the very finish, I honestly just feel a great coffee stout.
Overall: This is a beer to sip lightly on throughout the night. Those harsh hints of chocolate and coffee are fantastic on the tongue, but if you try to take too much of it, you're going to miss what this beer is about. Grab it for a nice evening that you can afford sipping on a larger bottle for over a period of time, or save this for a sharing with friends. Amazing beer,
Serving type: bottle
06-10-2013 07:30:50 | More by jordanmiller
4.04/5 rDev -8.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Speedway Stout has been around for a while and is one of the easier 10+% ABV stouts to find in So Cal. As long as you are in the right mood this is one of the better Imperial Stouts you will find. AleSmith has a history of making very strong flavorful beers and this is no exception.
Pitch black in color with amazing aromas of coffee and mollasses. A thick mouthfeel as is appropriate for the style but not too chewy. Certainly sneaky on the alcohol front since the array of chocolate and other dark malts and slight residual sweetness balance the beer nicely. A good beer to enjoy in small glasses, great as a substitute for dessert or a nightcap.
Serving type: bottle
06-01-2013 16:31:12 | More by Slackerville
New Jersey
4.33/5 rDev -1.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25
a deep brown/black with 3 fingers of fluffy tan head which dissipated slowly leaving behind a ton of great lacing. smells of chocolate, coffee, raisinets, vanilla, cedar, licorice. the flavor is mostly chocolate and coffee with a nice roasted grain bitterness. there is a harsh boozy feel up front but that mellows out as the drink warms up. molasses, caramel, nutty, bitter roastyness lingers.
full body with a silky smooth mouthfeel, low carbonation. a really nice all around imperial stout. definitely lives up to the recent hype (even though this beer seems to have been around forever!).. definitely worth trying at least once (and i'd suggest picking up an extra bottle to age)
Serving type: bottle
06-01-2013 00:49:02 | More by facundoCNB
3.9/5 rDev -11.4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Aroma here is very very strong. At first, lots of bittersweet chocolate and roasted notes just jumped out. As it opened, a layer underneath of sweetness and dark fruit became noticeable. A note of licorice as well. Booze.
Initially, this one smacks the mouth with big bitter chocolate and coffee. There's no mistaking that. However, then you get the big sweetness coming through which is characterized by mostly chocolate notes interspersed with licorice. The dark fruits that some others have noted just doesn't seem to come out for me. For an ABV of 12 percent, I'm impressed there's really no burn here. Goes down pretty well.
This is an aggressive chocolate/coffee stout here. Thick, rich, and will kick your ass in a hurry.
Serving type: bottle
05-31-2013 00:30:36 | More by NODAK
4.83/5 rDev +9.8%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
A: Black, with small brown had, leaves nice lacing around the glass
S: Coffee is strong upfront and finishes with some sweet malts, also a little boozy smell, but I feel this complements the overall smell
T: Coffee upfront, then a little bit of sweet malts to balance it out, chocolate and very light fruit flavor with a hint booze on the finish, exceptional flavor and balance
M: It is a little thick but not as thick as I was expecting, very good carbonation level, a hint oily too
O: Exceptional stout, definitely recommend picking this up, little pricey for the bottle but I find it worth every penny, if your getting into stouts this is definitely one to grab
Serving type: bottle
05-29-2013 05:59:42 | More by bpasquini
4.5/5 rDev +2.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
Had Speedway stout on tap several weeke back then decided to try it out of the bottle at $10.99 a pop. Stout poured in a snifter. Solid abv of 12, and kept its stout taste and not like a barleywine. Initially cold its a decent stout gets better with warmth.
Stout is solid. U get what u pay for. Dont think its overhyped but could be alil cheaper for a 25.4 oz bottle.
Very good Stout and worth top50 BA Rating.
Serving type: bottle
05-29-2013 03:59:02 | More by ajramirez1
4.63/5 rDev +5.2%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.75
Poured from a bottle into a red solo cup on the golf links.
Appearance- Thick, viscous motor oil with a substantially bubbly head. Looks like a fresh poured double espresso with brown bubbles.
Smell- Roasty espresso malty notes, a hint of boozy kahlua vibes. Awakens the senses with its robust richness.
Taste- Big coffee attack, followed by a very strong dark chocolate swell. A dark fruity raisin and brown bread note precedes a slightly boozy finish. Roasty charred chocolate and coffee notes remain on the palate.
Mouthfeel- Thick and creamy, like a heavy cafe au lait. Thickens up your saliva and gives you brown spits.
Overall- Possibly the best "breakfast" beer out there. I drank this one at 9 AM, and found it quite enjoyable. I'm not much of a coffee drinker, but I love coffee stouts, so it isn't uncommon for me to get into a stout like this in the morning on weekends. The perfect storm of coffee, chocolate, creamy texture, and well-hidden alcohol make this a great stout all around- no matter what time of day! This would be an excellent beer to pair with a creamy dessert.
Serving type: bottle
05-27-2013 19:43:14 | More by SaisonRichBiere
4.16/5 rDev -5.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4
Poured from a 750 ml bottle into a unbranded snifter/short-stemmed tulip
The pour resembles dirty motor oil; the very darkest brown to black capped with a light beige one and half finger head. Big roasty malt, charred grain, bitter bakers chocolate, dark roast coffee accents, and plenty of alcohol on the nose. Dark chocolate, roasted husky grain, roasted malt, and hints of molasses and caramel. Finishes with robust roasty bitterness emphasized by espresso and clean warming alcohol. Big full body that seems a bit lighter due the abundant carbonation. Smooth with a creamy finish. A brew with complexity as well as excellent balance. This big, brooding stout more than lives up to its reputation and hits on all cylinders
Serving type: bottle
05-24-2013 04:57:53 | More by chanokokoro
New York
4.89/5 rDev +11.1%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5
A-almost black in color with two fingers worth of thick tan head, looks like a milkshake
S-big roasted malt smell with espresso and dark chocolate, also getting a bit of molasses
T-the taste on this one did not disappoint! Big rich roasted malt flavor with espresso and dark chocolate with a bit of molasses and you are left with a nice alcohol warming
M-amazing full body, light to medium carbonation, dry roasted flavor left over
Overall amazing, amazing beer. The richest, fullest body I have ever had. All the flavors blend together perfectly.
Serving type: bottle
05-23-2013 21:44:10 | More by ksimons
4.33/5 rDev -1.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
A - Black body, deep brown head that has some retention and lace.
Coffee-forward stout. Rich, thick, roasted, creamed coffee. Dark chocolate, baker's chocolate comes through in the finish with not much bitterness. Full, very smooth, rich, creamy mouthfeel. Not terribly complex, but sure is delicious. Well done coffee flavors.
Serving type: on-tap
05-22-2013 19:38:03 | More by garuda
4.01/5 rDev -8.9%
look: 3.75 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Poured into Chimay chalice. Bought off the shelf and in the cellar about two months.
A- Black with an ultra-creamy tan head. Looked like a well-made latte, complete with swirls.
S- The most exceptional component of this for a stout is the nice fruitiness. This combines with milk chocolate and a little coffee. Very malty
T- Roast, bitter, dark chocolate, dark coffee. Fairly crisp
M- Not very thick for the style and abv, but very smooth and pleasant.
O- A very solid imperial stout. It didn't quite "wow" me, but it is a good take on the style.
Serving type: bottle
05-21-2013 04:08:34 | More by DubbelTrubbel
4.61/5 rDev +4.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75
Had a couple of times before, just getting around to reviewing now. Poured from a bottle into a tulip.
A- Pours black with a nice tan head, which lingers. A little lacing.
S- Delicious dark chocolate and coffee. Dark fruit as it warms, with a little alcohol. Definite coffee liqueur character.
T/M- Coffee is the main flavor. Very roasty. Dark chocolate, dark fruit. A little bit of wine-like sweet booziness, but with no burn. That dark fruit is more pronounced as it warms. All of these flavors are powerful and delicious. Definitely let this one warm up, folks. One of the most flavorful non-BA stouts I've enjoyed. Mouthfeel is thick and creamy with low carbonation.
O- Outstanding. Go get some.
Serving type: bottle
05-15-2013 01:45:44 | More by CharlatanSin
4.31/5 rDev -2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5
First review... Here it's goes
Poured in to a pint glass
A: pours thick, pitch black, one finger head
S: roasted coffee beans hit the nose first, followed by dark chocolate, and roasted malts
T: bitter dark chocolate up front fades to coffee/espresso and finishes with the malt and a hint of alcohol at the end
M: thick, creamy, heavy, very smooth, warm alcohol feel as you swallow
O: very enjoyable and balanced. gets better as it warms up, that's when the complexities shine.
Serving type: bottle
05-15-2013 00:28:55 | More by johnnydicfore
4.35/5 rDev -1.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5
A- Black with two finger tan head and very sticky lacing.
S- Sweet and Roasty with a lot of chocolate malt.
T- Sweet and Roasty with a bit of heat and a coffee after taste.
M-Thick and oil like.
O- Good beer similar taste/mouth of ST Imperial Series.
Serving type: bottle
05-11-2013 00:20:54 | More by EigenBeer
3.81/5 rDev -13.4%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
I got this beer at the Zeebra Extreme Beerfestival in Holland on may 4th 2013. Zeebra was held for the first time with lots of very very very great beers like this one. As a matter of fact the BA version of this beer was also there....
This one was poured in a Zeebra glass, a small tasting glass. I did not really know what to expect from this beer but the expectation were higher than the taste i got.
No head and no carbonation. Just a normal Imperial stout where i made the remark that this is good one for the beginners in this style. Not bad but i have had way better ones....
Serving type: bottle
05-06-2013 17:48:20 | More by Brabander
Alberta (Canada)
4.19/5 rDev -4.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25
750ml bottle. There are 19 different versions of this beer, by dint of wood, fruit, and spice? Fuuuck. Anyways, thanks be to doktorzee for 'importing' this for me from SoCal a little ways back.
This beer pours a typically opaque black, with the same subtle, understated basal dark cola highlights, and three ebullient fingers of puffy, bubbly, thickly foamy milk chocolate head, which leaves rather prominent Tim Burton-inspired honeycombed lace around the glass as it evenly subsides.
It smells of a soft milk chocolate sweetness, further dense mountain holiday fudge, thin, somewhat plain morning office coffee, middling dark roasted salted caramel malt, a hint of wayward smoke, fleshy, watery orchard fruit, mild anise spice, and a bursting at the seams booziness. The taste is weirdly acerbic cocoa powder, well toasted Americano coffee, all with a certain lack of smoke or wood - things so prevalent elsewhere in the realm, instead bolstered by a restrained lactic quality, some softly oily nutty notes, more earthy licorice, and an amusing tussle amongst the sassy hops and alcohol for the title of 'innocuous in the least obvious way'.
The carbonation is quite on the low and unobtrusive side, the body heavy with a niggly medium twinge, and crazily smooth and creamy, with a sense of god-like pandering. It finishes off-dry, in the most pithy way, as the chocolate, coffee, and regrouped black fruit hold great sway, in the face of a swelling alcohol and hop (why are they so easily coupled here?) edginess.
A solid example of things possible with a stout when the American sensibility takes a firm hold - duly tasty additives without overt responsibility. An offering more or less worthy of its heady reputation, especially its ability to rein in the 12% ABV elephant in the room.
Serving type: bottle
04-30-2013 04:36:58 | More by biboergosum
South Carolina
4.48/5 rDev +1.8%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5
750mL bomber picked up at Mikkeller & Friends in Copenhagen. Poured into a snifter...
A: Pours black and dense, with about one finger of mocha head; leaves some nice strands of lace for a 12% beer.
S: Dark chocolate; cocoa; some roasted malt; very big, rich aroma.
T: All of the chocolate and cocoa evident in the aroma + coffee; kind of like an imperial Founders Breakfast Stout; coffee on the end is very nice; virtually no indication of the abv (12%).
M: Huge... Thick, heavy, full mouthfeel; lower carbonation; viscous; wow.
O: A big, chocolate/roasty/coffee imperial stout; a sipper at 12% but delicious and decadent.
Serving type: bottle
04-26-2013 00:28:28 | More by jpro
Alberta (Canada)
4.35/5 rDev -1.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.5
750ml bottle poured into tulip 23/4/13 cheers Rutager for the long time want
A black liquid with a dark cola edge a fingernail deep, plenty of bubbles floating up the side of the glass and they keep a two finger mocha foam going for quite a while leaving a couple partial rings followed by random patches
S all sorts of chocolate on the nose, coco, fudge, bakers chocolate and syrup, coffees hard to miss and the roast is dark, there's a little booze, smoke and charred wood but its faint, just a little over ripe plum and licorice with a slight nutty aspect, smell very rich and sexy
T the coffee I'm smelling more like burnt espresso in the mouth, much more dark roast with lots of char but not smokey, faint booze but I'd be guessing 8% not 12% so its quite well concealed, I like it but I loved the nose with more chocolate and less ultra intense roast the mouths offering
M thick and silky with just the right amount of carbonation, a little heat but less then one would expect from a beer this strong, very strong espresso and char on the finish lingers for ages and its just a little sticky on the lips
O big on coffee and chocolate and a very intense dark roast make for an intimidating brew, well concealed booze and I 'll be tasting this one tomorrow at this rate, pretty solid brew if your a coffee lover like me
No bottling date info that I can see but I'd be surprised if this ones fresh as they hide 12% pretty well, enough booze to close one eye and enough coffee to have the other wide open.
Serving type: bottle
04-24-2013 04:24:51 | More by wordemupg
3.81/5 rDev -13.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.75
Aged two years--Poured into a Two roads tulip
Appearance: black in color, opaque, 1/2 inch head, moderate carbonation
Smell: coffee, rich chocolate, cream, and alcohol
Taste: tastes starts with rich dark and sweet chocolate and quickly changes to black coffee and espresso, light creaminess at the end before a bitter coffee finish
Mouthfeel: roasty bitter with slight sweetness, heavy body, low carbonation
Overall: A big big beer. This one is coffee and alcohol on overdrive. Nice and smooth and it mellows as it gets warmer. I found the alcohol to be a bit overpowering at times. Quality beer, but I do tend to prefer other coffee stouts and beers by Ale Smith more.
Serving type: bottle
04-22-2013 14:04:47 | More by tigg924
Quebec (Canada)
4.14/5 rDev -5.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.25
Picked up in Philly 2 years ago.
Poured from a 750ml. bottle, code2120L (not sure if it means anything).
Appearance: Real thick, viscous pour. Like motor oil almost. Frothy foam that`s modest but ever present. Thick coating on the glass.
Smell: Macadamia nuts, ground coffee beans, very long lasting and full.
Taste: Well roasted coffee beans, not too robust, bit milky, bittersweet chocolate a bit but all about the coffee in a good way.
Mouthfeel: Ultra smooth, silky, melt in your mouth quality.
Overall: Bonus points for being drinkable despite high ABV. A bit expensive but a nice treat all around.
Serving type: bottle
04-22-2013 00:58:19 | More by papat444
New York
4.6/5 rDev +4.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5
The black beer and two-inch, dark walnut, rocky-to-creamy head cascades within a Dogfish Head snifter before quickly dropping to a dense, quarter inch after leaving a thick coating of lace.
Mellow, dark roasted malt with dark chocolate forms a backbone to the aroma profile. Warmth brings out malted milk, coffee ice cream, and alcohol fumes.
The flavor profile follows the nose, however focuses on coffee ice cream. Mellow, roasted bitterness makes this an exquisite sipping beer that unfolds with warmth, adding hints of cigar smoke and leather. The long, pleasant finish returns light bitterness.
This is a full, almost dense, bodied beer with warm, yet controlled, alcohol, soft carbonation, and a velvety texture. The finish brings out a hint of astringency.
Speedway Stout is a superb compliment to reading on a warm Saturday afternoon in January.
Serving type: bottle
04-21-2013 14:46:25 | More by SLeffler27
4.54/5 rDev +3.2%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5
Served at cellar temperature, and poured into a snifter. Bottle is from 2012
Appearance: pours jet black with a thick 2 finger off white head. Leaves only a little bit of lacing.
Smell: Rich! Coffee, chocolate, and burnt malts - smells thick enough to eat, rather than drink. Amazing richness for a non-barrel aged stout.
Taste: follows the smell with a decent amount of bitterness, but not too much. It's really well balanced. As it warms in the glass, more dark fruit and sweetness show up, as well as a bit of booziness. It doesn't burn though, even though it's 12%. It really does a pretty good job of hiding the alcohol.
Mouthfeel: silky, so fantastically silky. It has a decent amount of carbonation, but not more than you'd want. It's a good beer to savor in your mouth and almost chew to really appreciate it.
Overall: One of the best non-BA imperial stouts that I have ever had so far. It just does it really well. As I continue to drink some of the top beers, I'm realizing that it's really all about balance. This beer has amazing balance and is a true pleasure to savor for a while.
Serving type: bottle
04-21-2013 02:11:03 | More by douginromeo
4.78/5 rDev +8.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.75
I can't look at this bottle, and not think about Indianapolis. You know, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, home of the Indianapolis 500? I lived in Indiana for 28 years and never went to the race. I never saw the Brickyard 400 there, either. Or the moto GP stuff they did. They even race F1 there. But I did walk the golf course, so there's that! Matter of fact, we had tickets to the Indy 500 the last year we were living in Indiana and didn't end up going. Oh well, go fast and turn left!
Until recently I hadn't tried this beer. We couldn't get AleSmith in Indiana, ironic, but the other day after 18 holes at Papago Golf Course we went over to O.H.S.O. They had it on tap. I remember it being great, but I was also eating a jalapeno burger and drinking several other beers. So today I can focus on the beer as is, and spend some time with this big black bottle. We did get the chance to try the Vietnamese Coffee Stout a few weeks ago at a tasting. It was incredible, as well. OK, here we go… Speedway Stout!
In the Glass: OK, so this beer looks amazing coming out of the bottle. It's thick and I can already smell the coffee. Then the dark tan head starts to form and just sticks to the side of the glass like glue. I don't remember my sample of O.H.S.O. being so memorable. But like I said, now I am able to focus solely on the bottle that I have in front of me.
The beer, as the head begins to settle, is dark as night and the head just sits there. Give me a spoon because that head isn't going anywhere. This is a good sign of a great beer to come.
Nose: At first I am smelling dark roasted coffee flavors, then I get a nice metallic ting toward the end of the sniff. Granted, I am smelling the head… so the beer itself might smell different. I will want to see what it smells like once the head is gone. I am also getting some nice milk chocolate aroma toward the finish that have me tasting the beer before I even take a sip. The head is gone… time to take a sip! (Actually, the head isn't gone… but I am getting impatient. Bottoms up, people!)
Flavor: This is too cold, but I couldn't wait any longer. Glad I didn't… WOW. This beer is incredible. There is a TON of coffee at first, then the booze kicks in, and the finish is that of a nice cup of Joe. Holy crap, this beer is amazing. I can't imagine how good this will get with age. The bottles says to wait 6 to 24 months before opening this. I would like to see what 3 or 5 years does to a bottle of this. That is just an incredible flavor and experience all across the board. I do NOT remember is being this good on tap. I haven't had a ton of beers from AleSmith, but this one is one of the best beers I have had in a long time. Bravo, AleSmith!
Mouthfeel: It's thick, and there are no bubbles to speak of. It is almost too thick, and I am sure it will thicken a bit as it heats up. But that's OK. That is just a part of the overall experience with this bottle. It's a big bottle, too. I was surprised when I took off the foil it was capped and not corked. Oh well, still a great beer and I am SO glad that it is on our list. I am starting to stop buying beers that are not on the list to get through the beers we have to buy. Of course, I am still buying a few six packs every week of stuff just to enjoy!
I did take a sip to swish around in my mouth, and it didn't really do much for me. The bubbles then become overwhelming, and the finish becomes drying. Speaking of the finish…
Aftertaste: Not my favorite part of this beer, actually. I would say just the overall experience here is my favorite part. This is a bottle that, if drinking alone, I could spend 2 or 3 hours with. I bet this would be a good cigar beer, too. Regardless, the beer is very easy to drink considering the ABV, and you would never know that as this heats up. The booze begins to, as it nears room temperature, disappear and more coffee and chocolate flavors rush to the surface.
AleSmith, you have outdone yourself. This bottle is worth every penny of the $12.99 price tag, and is the official Total Wine & More 1001 Bottles bottle of the week this week at the Scottsdale location. It's cool to get a local liquor store to promote what we are trying to do here. One beer at a time, anyway!
If you haven't had this beer, do yourself a favor and get a bottle. This beer is ridiculous. I will let my last few sips get to room temperature before I finish my glass. Man, what a great brew. Cheers!
Serving type: bottle
04-17-2013 23:35:09 | More by rickyleepotts
3.14/5 rDev -28.6%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 3.5
I felt this stout was a little over rated. The beer pours jet black with a thick'ish tan head that leaves some nice lacing as it goes down. The smell is a little sharp, perhaps some hops character coming through. The body is thin for a stout like this, I expected something more chewy; I love a thick syrupy imperial but this isn't even close. The flavor was not very well balanced, dominated by the unmasked alcohol. Granted 12% is hard to mask, but there is very little sweetness, it's like they didn't even try. Notes of coffee and chocolate are apparent, but not as dominating as I'd like. The vanilla notes are hidden behind what seems to be a bit of unsavory tinny hops on the finish. I only began to notice the vanilla about half way through. While there is a lot going on in this stout, it just didn't seem to come together. Perhaps this would be a good one for the cellar to let it mellow out and come together.
Serving type: bottle
04-17-2013 02:17:02 | More by Kevin73
4.28/5 rDev -2.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
750ml capped bottle that has a silver foil over the cap and a small portion of the neck. The front and back label are silkscreened. The front has AleSmith's symbol, and two checkered flags coming out of the name of the beer. The back label has a wealth of information. It contains a large paragraph about the beer, proper serving temp, and proper serving glass. It also says that it approves with age. To the right of that is the Government warning. No bottled date, no best before date, or a bottle code anywhere on the bottle. You'd think there's enough room on the bottle for one of those.
The bottle suggested an AleSmith Tulip (of course!), but I don't have one of those. So I poured this beer into my small Great Lakes Snifter. Out of the bottle came a liquid that's just as thick and black as motor oil. I wouldn't be surprised if this is discarded oil after a long NASCAR race. Don't even think about highlights in this dark brew. It's so thick and black that the mighty sun would have problems shining a ray of light through this beer. Sitting on top of this black as night liquid was a 1 inch creamy mocha colored head of foam. It had pretty good retention that left behind a tiny skim of foam and a mix of streaks and blots of lace. It couldn't decide to what it should leave behind so it left both.
The aroma was just as thick as the beer itself. The first aroma that came pouring out of this beer was the roasted coffee beans. Not just any ordinary coffee beans. I could really smell the high quality of the coffee beans. When it's swirled around, the thick coffee aroma will diminish a little bit. That's just enough time for the dark roasted malt, a splash of dark chocolate, roasted barley, and a whiff of black cherry to come through. When the coffee beans found out that the other aromas weren't coffee based, the coffee beans came in again to cover up what it accidently let through.
The taste was extremely hoppy and fruity. Yeah right! The taste was just as thick and dark as the color and the aroma. The taste was dry and dark with the thick taste of roasted coffee. Not only could you smell the difference between quality coffee beans and regular average Joe coffee beans, but you can taste the difference as well. You can tell that they used quality coffee beans for their beer. Once my tastebuds got passed the thick coffee wall, I was able to pick up roasted barley, roasted malt, a gentle touch of dark chocolate, and a black cherry or two. After all the dark roasted flavors, this beer finishes up with a slight roasted hop taste. The roasted coffee beans were more bitter than the hops.
This is clearly a full bodied Imperial Stout that had a OK level of carbonation and a full flavored aftertaste. The aftertaste was dark and roasted (no duh!) with more quality roasted coffee beans, roasted barley, roasted malt, and dark chocolate. The coffee beans have a hard time leaving so they'll stick to the roof of your mouth for a long time.
Even though the taste of roasted coffee beans was around every corner, the taste never got boring. Like every other AleSmith beer, the price is a tad on the high side. You pay for the quality of the coffee beans and the quality of the beer. Would I buy another bottle? More than likely, I would. Great beer!
Serving type: bottle
04-17-2013 00:22:52 | More by AltBock
AleSmith Speedway Stout from AleSmith Brewing Company
out of 100
based on 3,834 ratings.


text:
Streak Ends in Rockford
Mar 22, 2008
Dov Grumet-Morris stopped 34 of 36 Rockford shots, but it wasn't enough as the Rockford IceHogs snapped Milwaukee's seven game winning streak with a 3-1 win Saturday in Rockford.
Making just his third start with Milwaukee, and second in as many days, Grumet-Morris was very sharp in the Milwaukee net.
The lone goal of the first period was scored on the power play by Milwaukee's Bryan Schmidt. With Rockford's leading scorer, Martin St. Pierre, in the box for roughing, the Admirals worked the puck around the perimeter before the tally. Jason Guerriero sent a pass from the right corner to Cal O'Reilly at the right circle. O'Reilly fired a pass to Schmidt on the left faceoff dot for a one-timer that beat IceHogs goalie Wade Flaherty high over his left hand. It was Schmidt's fourth goal of the season, second on the power play.
The IceHogs tied the game on the power play at 12:40 of the second period. Petri Kontiola scored his 15th of the year to knot the game with a shot from the right faceoff dot.
With 58.1 seconds left in the second period, Rockford's Kris Versteeg converted a 2-on-1 break by backhanding a shot past Grumet-Morris to give Rockford the lead for good.
Milwaukee had a great opportunity to tie the game with a late power play in the third period. IceHogs defenseman Kenny MacAulay went to the box with 2:48 to play with a five minute major for high sticking. Milwaukee pulled Grumet-Morris with just under 1:30 to play, but the goal came from Martin St. Pierre of Rockford with ten seconds to play. He iced the puck from inside the Rockford blue line into an empty net for a shorthanded tally.
The Admirals host Rockford Monday at 7 p.m. It's the final meeting of the regular season between the teams.


text:
Job Description
We are looking to hire part/full time sales persons to add to our growing company. We are looking for people with good English skills and also with sales skills. We will train you so you can get the job that is assigned done correctly.
Must have experience in CLOSING sales


text:
Original Sewing & Quilt Expo
Thu, Apr 11 - Sat, Apr 13, 2013
Times: See Description
Venue: DCU Center
50 Foster Street, Worcester, MA 01608
Contact:Info User
0 people saved this
Thursday, April 11, 2013 through Saturday, April 13, 2013
Three fantastic days of shopping, classes, being with new friends and doing what you love. Hundreds of quilts on display, fashion shows, free stage presentations and so much more.
Prices: General Admission is $10 per day at the door. Children 12 and under are admitted free. Pre-register for five or more classes and your general admission is free! Classes are $19 per session on-site.
Thursday & Friday: 10:00am - 6:00pm
Saturday: 10:00am - 5:30pm
For more information or to register for classes, please visit the website.
The Charms of Copley Square
If you've been to Boston once, you've most likely set foot in Copley Square. Located...
Search All Listings Here.


text:
Director of Admissions / Transfer Coordinator / home educated student coordinator
It is good to be back at Catawba! I first visited campus over 20 years ago on a beautiful spring day with a campus festival going on, students competing in a beach volleyball tournament and a band playing in the courtyard. It was still snowing in my hometown: Pittsburgh! I had come down from Northwestern Ohio as a young college graduate ready to start my first "real" job. Several internships during my college experience led me to this place; a place I now call home. For the past few years, I have been raising my family, with my husband, and working in the Rowan-Salisbury public school system. The opportunity to come back to my Admissions' roots was like putting on a comfortable pair of jeans ... a perfect fit!
I am excited to be the Admissions Counselor for Home Educated Students and all students seeking to transfer to Catawba College.
I am delighted to be working with you and other students through the application process, encouraging you to visit as many campuses as you can and to ask lots of questions along the way. It is my hope that YOU find that perfect fit, so that you not only have the best college experience, but that it exceeds all of your expectations!
If you would like to receive information about Catawba College, please complete our Information Request Form. I look forward to working with you and your family during your application process and welcoming you to Salisbury and Catawba College.
E-mail: email@example.com
HERE'S MY TRAVEL SCHEDULE: (See also RCCC, CPCC, and DCCC Visit Schedule)
Stay tuned for future dates! |
Don't see your school listed? Contact firstname.lastname@example.com to request your counselor visit or contact you personally!


text:
Britain's immigration crackdown sparks anger
Aug 8, 2013
In Britain, a recent government crackdown on illegal immigration has had trucks touring immigrant neighborhoods with signs inviting undocumented immigrants to go home or face arrest. Some say this is heavy-handed.
Professional video gamers eligible for athlete visas
Interview by
Jul 16, 2013
Riot Games says it has successfully lobbied immigration services to provide visas for competitive gamers -- the same kind usually reserved for professional athletes.
Lawmakers look to America's northern border
Jul 12, 2013
The U.S. border with Mexico may get all the attention, but the Senate's examining security issues along our border with Canada.
Have lobbyists spent too little on immigration reform?
Jul 10, 2013
It's crunch time for lobbyists pushing immigration reform. How much should lobbyists spend to get legislators on board?
H-1B visa dream a nightmare for some foreign teachers
Jul 2, 2013
Some immigrants looking to teach in the U.S. are forced to pay multiple fees for the chance.
Border security surge threatens U.S.-Mexico commerce
Interview by
Jun 27, 2013
It's called the "Border Surge," and it includes more fencing, drones, cameras, and nearly double the number of border patrol agents along the U.S. Mexico frontier.
Farm worker selfies: Pics for immigration reform
Jun 25, 2013
The UFW's new campaign, "Photos From The Field," encourages farm workers to take pictures of themselves with their cell phones.
City mayors back immigration reform
Jun 21, 2013
The U.S. Conference of Mayors' supports immigration reform as a way to reduce city expenses and grow local economies.
Immigration TV: Get ready for the ad blitz
Jun 11, 2013
As the Senate debates a significant overhaul to our nation's immigration laws, special interest groups are wading into the fight. Advocates and opponents of immigration reform are spending on TV ads and lobbying.
Immigration bill's border security cost could jump even more
Jun 10, 2013
A proposed amendment would double the number of new Customs and Border Patrol officers and add another $6 billion for border security.


text:
The same court has ruled several times on laws relating to the elections. In January, the court ruled [JURIST report] that a law allowing local and parliamentary elections to be held at the same time is unconstitutional. The law had been challenged of creating opportunities of fraud, cheating and confusion in the election process. In 2009, the high court declared [press release, PDF; in Romanian] incumbent president Basescu winner of the country's disputed presidential election [JURIST report]. He had been reinstated in 2007 after the high court certified results of a referendum in which 74 percent of voters rejected [JURIST reports] Basescu's impeachment.
Presiding judge of the Cook County Chancery Division, Moshe Jacobius, agreed [JURIST report] last month to combine the two lawsuits that claim the state's ban on same-sex marriage is unconstitutional. Illinois was the seventh US jurisdiction to legalize same-sex civil unions, but it has not joined the nine jurisdictions that have legalized same-sex marriage. In February, three Illinois legislatures introduced [AP report] the Religious Freedom and Marriage Fairness Act [HB 5170 materials], which would have provided same-sex marriage rights for same-sex couples, but it has not been approved. In March, Maryland legalized same-sex marriage, joining Washington, New York, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Iowa, Vermont, New Hampshire and the District of Columbia [JURIST reports]. On the other hand, North Carolina voters approved [JURIST report] a constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriage in May. In February, the Wyoming Senate approveda bill that would deny recognition of same-sex marriages and civil unions [JURIST report] performed in other jurisdictions. New Jersey is still struggling to pass the same-sex marriage bill because Governor Chris Christie conditionally vetoed the bill [JURIST report] and called for a voter referendum to decide the issue, rather than the state legislature.
The investigation into the antitrust allegations lasted for eight years. In 2008, the Commission carried out an unannounced inspection [JURIST report] at the Munich office of Intel as part of an investigation into the company's possible anticompetitive practices. Intel was accused [JURIST report] of having violated the European antitrust laws by abusing its dominant position in the x86 architecture processor market to exclude AMD from the market. Similar proceedings were initiated and completed [JURIST report] in two years by the Korean Fair Trade Commission [official website, in Korean] that investigated into allegations that the company was forcing consumers to buy its products over those made by AMD.
The right to life is the most fundamental of all human rights. It lies at the heart of international human rights law. The taking of life is too absolute, too irreversible, for one human being to inflict it on another, even when backed by legal process. Where the death penalty persists, conditions for those awaiting execution are often horrifying, leading to aggravated suffering.
Capital punishment has remained a controversial issue around the world. In June Human Rights Watch (HRW) [advocacy website] urged the Sudanese government to reform its discriminatory laws and abolish both the death penalty and all corporal punishment after a young Sudanese woman was sentenced to death by stoning for adultery. Intisar Sharif Abdallah, who is believed to be under the age of 18, was sentenced in April under article 146 of Sudan's Criminal Act of 1991. In April Connecticut Governor Dannel Malloy [official website] signed a bill to repeal the death penalty [JURIST report], making it the seventeenth US state to do so. New Jersey, New Mexico, New York and Illinois [JURIST reports] have all recently eliminated the death penalty, while 33 states retain its use. In 2010 Amnesty International (AI) [advocacy website] released [JURIST report] a report [text, PDF] revealing that the number of countries using the death penalty dropped in 2009, but more than 700 people were executed in 18 countries, with the most executions carried out in Iran, Iraq, Saudi Arabia and the US.
For the first time, Member States are gathering at the United Nations to negotiate a treaty regulating the international conventional arms trade. It is important. It is impressive. And it is long overdue. We have made some progress on weapons of mass destruction issues over the years. But the international community has not kept pace on conventional arms. Yes, nuclear issues always capture headlines. But conventional arms are killing people everyday without much attention. ... Poorly regulated international arms transfers are fuelling civil conflicts, destabilizing regions, and empowering terrorists and criminal networks. ... In the last decade, nearly 800 humanitarian workers were killed in armed attacks. An agreed set of standards for arms exports, along with strict national legislation, can help begin to change all of that.
International arms distribution continues to trouble governments and rights groups. In June Amnesty International called for an end to the supply of arms [JURIST report] to groups in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) after a report highlighted the flaws in Congolese security, which AI says leads to the availability and misuse of weapons and ammunition. In April Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout [BBC profile; JURIST news archive] was sentenced in a US court to 25 years imprisonment [JURIST report]. Bout was convicted in November [JURIST report] on four counts of conspiracy for his proposed sale of anti-aircraft missiles to drug enforcement informants posing as potential buyers for a designated foreign terrorist organization.
In early June the judges from the ICTY went on a five-day visit [JURIST report] to locations relevant to the indictment of Karadzic. They visited Srebrenica and Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) and its surrounding areas. This visit came just months after the ICTY sentenced [JURIST report] former president of the municipality of Sokolac, BiH, Milan Tupajic to two months in prison for refusing to testify against Karadzic. In February former Commander of the Bosnian Serb Army Ratko Mladic [BBC profile; JURIST news archive] accused [JURIST report] the ICTY of being biased. In January the ICTY accepted a plea deal [JURIST report], in the trial of the former case manager for Bosnian war criminal Milan Lukic, convicting her of five counts of contempt for procuring false witness statements. In December the ICTY convicted [JURIST report] former Yugoslav intelligence officer Dragomir Pecanac of contempt for failing to testify before the tribunal.
The government raids did not just target two media outlets but were part of a broader effort to intimidate and harass all critical journalists. Sri Lanka's poor reputation on free speech will only sink lower unless these assaults on the media stop immediately. ... Instead of "shooting the messenger" by harassing the websites that are critical of government policies, the government should focus on addressing the problems raised. The government only seems interested in preventing these issues from being exposed or discussed.
Protection of free expression remains a key concern for international human rights advocates. Two reports were presented in June to the UN Human Rights Council urging greater protection for the right to life of journalists [JURIST report] and media freedom. In February, the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) released its annual Attacks on the Press report [JURIST report], expressing concern about increased censorship of journalists worldwide in 2011. The CPJ criticized the growing trend of government censorship, especially Internet censorship. Last May, journalism rights group Reporters without Borders (RSF) released [JURIST report] its annual list of predators of press freedom, which included the heads of state of several countries in the Middle East and North Africa. In April 2011, the US Department of State (DOS) released its 2010 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices, listing many of the same offenders of free press as the RSF report.
Press freedom has been one of Afghanistan's most important success stories since 2001. The Afghan government should be acting to solidify media gains, not seeking to placate forces hostile to free expression. Journalists are the canary in the coal mine in Afghanistan. Afghan journalists have bravely held the government accountable in key areas such as corruption and human rights. President Karzai should openly oppose any legislation that curbs media freedom.
HRW has criticized the government's human rights record in the past. In March the rights group called on the Afghan government to release women and girls imprisoned [JURIST report] for "moral crimes," many of which involve flight from unlawful forced marriage or domestic violence and "zina," which is sex outside of marriage due to rape or forced prostitution. In December HRW said that the Afghan government had failed to ensure and protect human rights [JURIST report] since the Taliban government ended ten years ago. The report alleged that in the last 10 years, the Afghanistan justice system had "remain[ed] weak" and that human rights abuses were rampant in the alternative traditional justice system, where civilians are often forced to resolve disputes in Taliban courts. In July 2010 the advocacy group criticized Karzai's integration and reconciliation efforts [JURIST report] to end the conflict with the Taliban and other insurgent groups, claiming that women's rights were bypassed in order to reach an expedient solution. Among HRW's criticisms was the president's decision to sign the Shia Personal Status Law [JURIST report], which legalized rape within marriage, and his pardon of two convicted rapists.
The ongoing prosecution of Tymoshenko has been highly controversial. In June a Ukrainian appeals court delayed her appeal hearing despite her announcement [JURIST reports] that she will cease all appeals in national courts. A day earlier, Tymoshenko was ordered [JURIST report] to be seen by a court-appointed doctor after she failed to appear at her tax evasion trial. The EU has consistently condemned [JURIST report] the former prime minister's conviction as politically-motivated, and has indicated that the prosecution could harm Ukraine's bid for EU accession. In August 2011, the Kiev Appeals Court refused an appeal of her detention for contempt charges for a lack of legal grounds to contest the arrest [JURIST reports]. In June 2011 Tymoshenko filed a complaint [JURIST report] with the ECHR alleging various violations of the European Convention of Human Rights and arguing that her charges were politically engineered by rival Viktor Yanukovych. Yanukovych narrowly defeated Tymoshenko in the presidential election in March 2010, but Tymoshenko has claimed that widespread voter fraud contributed to the outcome.
Bahrain has been criticized by international authorities and rights groups for abuse of prisoners and protesters by police. In April Human Rights Watch reported that Bahrain's police officers regularly abuse minor detainees [JURIST report] before transporting them to police stations. Other rights groups have made similar allegations concerning police brutality in Bahrain. Earlier in April Amnesty International issued its own report [JURIST report] alleging human rights violations continue in Bahrain despite reforms. Also in April four independent UN human rights experts called for the immediate release of Bahraini human rights defender [JURIST report] Abdulhadi Al-Khawaja, who is serving a life sentence for terrorism-related charges after being tried before the Bahrain military National Safety Court in June 2011. Special Rapporteur on human rights defenders Margaret Sekaggya expressed concern that Al-Khawaja's trial and sentence are linked to his legitimate work to promote human rights. Last year a Bahrain court sentenced four protesters to death [JURIST report] for their roles in the killing of two police officers committed during mass anti-government protests. Three others were sentenced to life in prison.
To them I want to say: You are an inspiration to me and to millions of people around the world. I am proud to join in this great human rights cause. However hard and however long it may take, I know that justice will prevail and that all people can enjoy the rights and dignity they deserve.
Sexual orientation and LGBT rights are contentious issues in societies worldwide. In June, Human Rights Watch [advocacy website] urged [JURIST report] the Bulgarian Justice Minister Diana Kovacheva to denounce calls to violence by anti-gay groups in anticipation of a LGBT pride parade in Sofia, Bulgaria. During the same month, Ugandan Minister of State for Ethics and Integrity Simon Lokodo said [JURIST report] that the government was not discriminating based on sexual orientation. The statement came days after the government had announced [JURIST report] that it would ban at least 38 non-governmental organizations that are accused of recruiting children to homosexuality. Earlier that month, a prominent Russian gay rights activist filed a complaint [JURIST report] with the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) challenging a St. Petersburg city ordinance that prohibits the spreading "homosexual propaganda" to minors. The ECHR ruled that a Moldova law banning gay groups from protesting in front of the country's parliament violated citizens' rights [JURIST report] to peacefully assemble and to be free from discrimination. Last month, the National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs (NCAVP) released a report [JURIST report] concluding that in the US, incidents of hate-based murders against LGBT individuals increased in 2011.
The Firearm Owners' Privacy Act, however, simply does not interfere with the right to keep and bear arms. The State's arguments rest on a legislative illusion. The Second Amendment right to keep and bear arms refers to the right to "retain," "to have in custody," "to hold," and "to carry" weapons, including firearms. The law at issue here does not affect nor interfere with a patient's right to continue to own, possess, or use firearms. Protecting the right to keep and bear arms is irrelevant to this law; therefore, I do not find that it is a legitimate or compelling interest for it.
Cooke had issued a preliminary injunction [JURIST report] in the case in September, reasoning the same way as she did on Friday. She found that the act in no way affects the primary constitutional right to keep and bear arms. Gun control laws have been much debated in the past. In July 2010, the Chicago City Council [official website] unanimously approved a new gun control law that bans gun shops in the city and prohibits gun owners from stepping outside their homes, including porches and garages, with a handgun. Shortly thereafter, a group of Chicago citizens, supported by both the National Rifle Association and the National Association of Firearm Retailers [advocacy websites], filed suit against the city [JURIST report] claiming the new ordinance infringes on their constitutional rights. In June 2010, the US Supreme Court ruled in McDonald v. Chicago [opinion; JURIST report] that the Second Amendment applies to states and municipalities as well as the federal government, thereby overturning Chicago's ban on handguns and raising considerable uncertainty about what amount of regulations of firearms was permissible. Two years earlier, the Supreme Court ruled in District of Columbia v. Heller [opinion, PDF; JURIST report] that the Second Amendment protects the right to possess a handgun for the purpose of self-defense, overturning the District of Columbia's restrictive firearms law.
Government involvement in religious activity is a contentious issue in the US. The US Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit ruled [JURIST report] in May that a lawsuit opposing a Ten Commandments monument displayed on property owned by the City of Fargo, North Dakota, may move forward. In January the US Supreme Court declined to review [JURIST report] a case concerning whether a county board of commissioners in North Carolina violated the Establishment Clause by opening its public meetings with prayers. The court's denial of certiorari in the case preserved a ruling by the US Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit holding that that the board of commissioners violated the Establishment Clause by effectively using a public forum to endorse Christianity [JURIST report]. Earlier that month a federal judge ordered Florida's Dixie County Courthouse to remove the Ten Commandments monument [JURIST report] displayed on the front steps of the courthouse, concluding that the monument's religious message would be interpreted to be espoused by the government.
Since this report was concluded in April 2012, Amnesty International has received further allegations of human rights violations by law enforcement officials. These human rights violations are not just "isolated incidents" and should not continue to be treated as such, but should be rather seen as a pattern of abuses. Amnesty International considers that it is high time for the Greek authorities to acknowledge the extent of violations by their law enforcement officials and take measures to address the systemic problems which contribute to such abuses. Until these problems are tackled—and they include protracted criminal investigations and trials, disciplinary inquiries and criminal investigations which are lacking in independence and thoroughness, and the lack of a truly effective and independent police complaints mechanism—impunity will continue to prevail and the vicious circle of such abuses will not be broken.
Police abuse is a subject of international concern. Last month, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and the law firm Kirkland & Ellis LLP filed a lawsuit [JURIST report] against the Puerto Rico Police Department (PRPD) alleging that they violated the rights of protesters. The lawsuit came a week after the ACLU released a report alleging widespread abuses [JURIST report] by the PRPD. Human Rights Watch (HRW) reported [JURIST report] in May that China's chengguan, a para-police organization charged with enforcing non-criminal administrative regulations, is abusing its power. In April HRW alleged that Bahrain's police officers regularly abuse minor detainees [JURIST report] before transporting them to police stations. Last October the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan reported that prisoners in some Afghan-run detention facilities had been beaten and tortured [JURIST report]. In June 2011 HRW reported that Iraqi police forces had been beating and illegally detaining protesters [JURIST report].
Authorities have been tracking down members and supporters of the al Qaeda and other terrorists groups. In June a New York native and terrorism suspect pleaded guilty [JURIST report] to charges that he provided the al Qaeda with money and computer assistance. In February Egyptian authorities reportedly arrested [JURIST report] a former al Qaeda military commander at an airport in Cairo. Saif al-Adel [Telegraph profile] was detained upon his arrival after noticing that his name appeared on the passenger list on a flight from Pakistan. During the same month, a judge for the US District Court for the Western District of Kentucky [official website] allowed [JURIST report] certain secret evidence to be used against a suspect who was charged with attempting to provide material support to terrorists and terrorist organizations and conspiracy to transfer weapons to terrorist organizations, specifically al Qaeda.
The individuals who carried out or ordered crimes against humanity bear individual criminal responsibility under international law, as do those in a position of command whose subordinates committed crimes that they were aware of or should have been aware of and failed to prevent or punish. This command responsibility would apply not only to the officials overseeing detention facilities, but also to the heads of intelligence agencies, members of government, and the head of state, President Bashar al-Assad.
Syria has been plagued with violence over the past year and a half, and human rights groups have blamed both the government and anti-government groups for the resulting deaths. On Saturday, the UN-backed Action Group on Syria generated an agreement [JURIST report] designed to aid Syria in ending the violence. Last week, a UN commission said [JURIST report] Syrian forces "may have been responsible" for the killing of more than 100 civilians in Al-Houla last month. Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, however, said earlier this month that the government had nothing to do with it [JURIST report] and that "not even monsters" would carry out those attacks. In April, the UN Security Council approved a resolution [JURIST report] to send 300 unarmed soldiers and other humanitarian aid to supervise the implementation of a peace plan. This came after HRW released a report [JURIST report] stating that Syrian security forces had killed more than 100 civilians and opposition fighters in recent attacks. In March, HRW also reported on and linked to videos of Syrian forces rounding up civilians [JURIST report], including women and children, and forcing them to walk in front of soldiers and tanks during troop movements and attacks so that opposition fighters would not shoot at them.
Securing equality for women is a pressing global concern affecting both women and all members of a community. In June, Egypt elected a second panel [JURIST report] to draft its new constitution. Unlike the first panel, the newly elected 100-member panel represents all Egyptian groups, but still faced criticism for under-representing women, intellectuals and Christians. In May, Moldova was urged to adopt comprehensive anti-discrimination laws [JURIST report] to ensure the equal treatment of men and women. The UN working group on discrimination against women in law and in practice pointed out the inefficiency of allowing practices that subject women to discrimination and that special measures should be taken to overcome the under-representation of women in decision-making positions at all levels.
This past Saturday, the UN-backed Action Group on Syria generated an agreement [JURIST report] designed to aid Syria in ending the violence with a plan [text, PDF] that outlines six steps the international community must take, in addition with steps Syria must take, for a successful transition. Last week, a UN commission said [JURIST report] both sides were responsible for the resulting deaths, but al-Assad denied [JURIST report] that the government was responsible. In April, the UN Security Council approved a resolution [JURIST report] to send 300 unarmed soldiers and other humanitarian aid to supervise the implementation of a peace plan. In March, Human Rights Watch (HRW) [advocacy website] reported on and linked to videos of Syrian forces rounding up civilians [JURIST report], including women and children, and forcing them to walk in front of soldiers and tanks during troop movements and attacks so that opposition fighters would not shoot at them.
JURIST offers a news ticker and preformatted headline boxes updated in real time. Get the code.
Feedroll provides free Paper Chase news boxes with headlines or digests precisely tailored to your website's look and feel, with content updated every 15 minutes. Customize and get the code.