text:
The Panthers don't plan to take extra precautions this week when they travel to Tampa Bay to face the Buccaneers, who have had three players diagnosed with MRSA.
Bucs offensive lineman Carl Nicks had surgery last week to get rid of MRSA, a staph infection that is resistant to many common antibiotics. The other two Bucs players with documented cases are kicker Lawrence Tynes, who is sitting out this season, and rookie cornerback Johnthan Banks, who played Sunday at Atlanta.
According to a report from Fox 13 in Tampa, a cleaning crew wearing Hazmat suits sterilized the visitors locker room at the Georgia Dome on Sunday after the Bucs left.
The Patriots did the same thing after training with the Bucs in New England during the preseason, sanitizing the visitors locker room at Gillette Stadium to remove any existence of MRSA.
But Panthers officials and players said Monday they weren't concerned about playing at Raymond James Stadium during their Thursday night game against the Bucs.
Tampa Bay has had its training facility professionally cleaned twice since the outbreak. The Bucs' practice facility is not located at the stadium.
"We trust that they're taking the proper precautions," Panthers long snapper J.J. Jansen said. "I remember my first or second year in the league, we played Miami in the preseason and they had bird flu. These little things pop up.
"Obviously, every other team's played them so far. And they had training camp with the Patriots, and the Patriots had training camp with the Eagles, and there wasn't any residual effects."
Panthers wide receiver Domenik Hixon said trainer Ryan Vermillion talked to the team recently about how to prevent MRSA, which can spread through cuts and abrasions and can be life-threatening, especially in cases of older people who are infected.
The Panthers encourage their players to use an antiseptic, antimicrobial liquid soap, and there are signs in the training room and shower area about skin infections.
"We take all the precautions. Ryan Vermillion and his guys are on us about the Hibiclens (antiseptic soap) and keeping ourselves as clean as possible, treating wounds and all that stuff," Jansen said. "I'm sure we'll take any extra, necessary precautions. But I don't think it's a concern."
Panthers cornerback Captain Munnerlyn contracted MRSA as a freshman at South Carolina. Munnerlyn was hospitalized for several days and missed a game after his elbow swelled as a result of the staph infection.
"I was in the hospital for like three or four days. It was crazy. I've never felt that bad in my life," Munnerlyn said. "And I couldn't remember (how it) happened.
"I'd never experienced anything like that before. I didn't know what was going on. Coming from fresh out of high school, I'd never heard of anything like it. So when I got it, I knew it was serious."
Munnerlyn needed stitches to close a gash on his right shin two weeks ago after Panthers linebacker Luke Kuechly stepped on his leg in the first half at Arizona. Munnerlyn said he's been careful to treat and clean the cut.
Panthers team physician Robert Heyer said it's difficult to prevent MRSA, which accounts for about 40 percent of all staph infections.
"You cannot prevent it 100 percent. It is everywhere," Heyer said. "It is concerning because it takes longer to (treat), especially a deep-tissue infection that requires surgery. It's not going to be antibiotics for five days and you'll be back on the field. It usually takes longer than that."
Matthew Matava, the St. Louis Rams' team physician, said players are more educated about MRSA now than they were when the Rams had an outbreak in 2003.
"Players would joke around back then. They'd see a wound, they'd rub it on each other (jokingly)," Matava said. "Now they know you don't do that. You cover it up. We'll have players come to us with little bitty pimples and say, 'Is this MRSA?' And we have signs in our locker room, the signs and symptoms of skin infection."
Matava said MRSA is a bigger issue at small colleges and high schools, where players might have to share towels or equipment because of budget constraints.
But Jansen said despite the precautions NFL teams take, MRSA is a real danger.
"The scary part is you don't know until you know. There's nothing that clues you in," Jansen said. "It's not like a cold and you might have a little bit of a cough. We've always been on top of it."
Person: 704-358-5123; Twitter: @josephperson
Subscribe to The Charlotte Observer.
The Charlotte Observer welcomes your comments on news of the day. The more voices engaged in conversation, the better for us all, but do keep it civil. Please refrain from profanity, obscenity, spam, name-calling or attacking others for their views.
Have a news tip? You can send it to a local news editor; email firstname.lastname@example.com to send us your tip - or - consider joining the Public Insight Network and become a source for The Charlotte Observer.Read moreRead less
The Charlotte region is vast and diverse. The more voices engaged in conversation, the better for us all. The Charlotte Observer welcomes your comments on news of the day, but we ask that you keep the discourse civil.
- Do not use profanity or obscenities. And don't try to camouflage profanity with asterisks, abbreviations or other symbols or foreign phrases.
- Do not use threatening language. Talk of violence won't be tolerated.
- No racial, gender or sexual-orientation name-calling.
- Do not attack other commenters for their views. Do not libel or defame anyone or violate their privacy.
- Keep your comments succinct and stay on topic. Comments that bear no relation to the story may be deleted.
- Do not add images to your comments.
- Do not report comments as abusive simply because you disagree with them. Report them only if they violate these guidelines.
- Do not post spam or advertising of any kind.
- Do not post a comment using all capital letters.
We do not monitor each and every posting, but we reserve the right to block or delete comments that violate these rules.
You can help: Notify us of violations by hitting the "Report Abuse" link. Users who continue posting comments that violate these guidelines may, at our discretion, be blocked from submitting future comments as well.
And finally, as Mark Twain said: "Always do right. This will gratify some people and astonish the rest."
Enjoy the discussion.


text: MasterChef Series 2 - 22. MasterChef Goes Large Share: About this programme 22/40. John Torode and Gregg Wallace challenge three of the next batch of contestants to cook in Kensington's fashionable Notting Hill Brasserie. They will then select one winner to progress on the basis of a two-course meal prepared by each hopeful. Cast and crew Crew Director Dan Dimbleby Producer Dan Dimbleby Series Editor Karen Ross Series Editor John Silver Series Producer Paolo Proto Categories Food Share:

subset: commoncrawl


text:
LOUISVILLE, KY (WAVE) - Amy Lyons and her co-workers have decked the halls and offices of the Jefferson County Property Valuation Administrator with plenty of Christmas spirit.
But it wears thin, when the Fiscal Court building's lack of heat forces them to dress like something out of Dickens.
"I'm all sock-monkeyed out. I have a headache from trying to sit here and work," Lyons said on Monday.
Her attire included gloves, two scarves and a full-length wool coat covering work clothing and tights.
"I believe that I probably am working at about 35 percent of what I would normally do."
"We're not getting work done," said Jay Mickle, director of the PVA's mapping division.
Mickle and other supervisors sent staffers up to the 7th floor to get warm, after thermometers on the 4th and 5th floors read 52 degrees in late morning.
"We'll get caught up," Mickle said. "But we shouldn't have to - shouldn't have to be put in that position."
Chief of Staff Colleen Younger blames the building's ancient boilers, which fire up slowly and heat unevenly.
"The plumbing backs up, the toilets overflow, the electricity goes off," she said.
The building itself is almost a century old. It was a laundry company, converted to government use in 1935 as part of Franklin Delano Roosevelt's New Deal of public works projects to battle the Great Depression. It's why Younger and PVA Tony Lindauer weren't surprised when the $600,000 earmarked for heating, cooling and ventilation was cut from Mayor Greg Fischer's current budget.
"This building has outgrown its life," Younger said. "It's gone, it's over."
Younger and Lindauer would prefer that all of the building's tenants meet to determine how they might acquire new offices somewhere else. But they maintain that the County Clerk and County Sheriff, as fee offices, are better positioned financially to effect repairs or move.
"Why should you care?" Younger repeated WAVE 3's question. "You should care that your property is valued at what it's supposed to be valued at."
Translation: PVA employees can't be measuring, calculating and determining fair appraisals, if they're preoccupied by trying to stay warm.
"If it compromises productivity, it slows the whole process down," Younger said.
Copyright 2013 WAVE 3 News. All rights reserved.
725 S. Floyd Street
Louisville, KY 40203
FCC Public File
EEO Report
Closed Captioning


text:
LOUISVILLE, KY (WAVE) - A man is facing charges after a gun scare in Louisville.
Louisville Metro police officers were called to the Louisville Loop near Johnsontown Road and Cane Run Road on a report of possible illegal dumping in a wooded area around 4 p.m. on Thursday.
According to an arrest report, when officers arrived they heard gunshots coming from the woods near a parked red truck.
Police said they spotted Mark Willett leaving the woods with a SKS high powered rifle.
According to police, Willett told them he did not know it was illegal to shoot a gun in the city limits.
Willett is charged with wanton endangerment and criminal trespassing.
Copyright 2013 WAVE News. All rights reserved.
725 S. Floyd Street
Louisville, KY 40203
FCC Public File
EEO Report
Closed Captioning


text:
RENSSELAER, N.Y. - An investigation into alleged overtime padding and missing fuel oil in the city of Rensselaer is now in the hands of the State Attorney General.
Mayor Dan Dwyer and newly-appointed commissioner of the Rensselaer Department of Public Works say the case was handed over to the AG's office last week. City officials say the former DPW commissioner resigned in light of the investigation.
In addition, four garbage truck drivers have been fired, and two other DPW employees are being investigated.
A current employee, who wished to hide his identity over fears if retaliation, claims the drivers were told by the former commissioner to stay home after finishing their routes, and their time cards would reflect a full day's work.
As for the missing fuel oil, Mayor Dwyer says the taxpayer money lost is more than $10,000.
341 Northern Blvd., Albany, NY 12204
Telephone: 518.436.4822
Can't find something?
All content © Copyright 2000 - 2014 Young Broadcasting of Albany, Inc. A Media General Company.


text:
GOUVERNEUR, N.Y. (AP) - Authorities say a 10-year-old girl abducted in Pennsylvania by her mother's ex-boyfriend is not the man's daughter, despite his claims that the girl was his daughter.
Officials in St. Lawrence County say 39-year-old Peter Tarbox and 55-year-old Annette Williams were driving to their home in Norwood when a police officer in the village of Gouverneur spotted their car at a gas station Thursday night around 11 p.m. and took them into custody without incident.
Officials say the girl, 10-year-old Alexandria Jade Long, was found safe in the vehicle. Police say Tarbox claimed he was the girl's father when he was captured, but investigators found that to be false.
Pennsylvania State Police issued an Amber Alert in New York around 9:20 p.m. after they determined the girl had been abducted Thursday afternoon from her home in Gordon in eastern Pennsylvania and was traveling heading toward the town of Norwood, N.Y.
Police say they're trying to verify Tarbox's claim that the girl is his daughter.
Police initially said the suspect is the former acquaintance of the abducted child's mother from seven years ago, and is a stranger to the child.
341 Northern Blvd., Albany, NY 12204
Telephone: 518.436.4822
Can't find something?
All content © Copyright 2000 - 2014 Young Broadcasting of Albany, Inc. A Media General Company.


text:
A phone call from an inmate put another Central Texas school on lock-down Monday afternoon.
Authorities say an inmate in a West Texas jail called in a bomb threat to Marlin Elementary school about 2 p.m.Those students were evacuated to the high school campus, accounted for and then released to parents.
No bomb was found and the school was cleared at about 4:30 p.m.
Constable Johnathan Shoemaker said he arrested a Marlin school teacher for interfering with public duties when she refused to stay outside a search perimeter during the threat.
News Channel 25 KXXV-TV
P.O. Box 2522
Waco, TX 76702
Phone Numbers:
Main: 254-754-2525
Tip Line: 254-757-2525
Contact Us
KXXV Employment Opportunites
FCC Filings
Advertise on KXXV


text:
TODAY | December 12, 2012
>>> condemning the launch of a long-range rocket this morning. jim miklaszewski has the latest. mick, good morning.
>> reporter: good morning, natalie. after four unsuccessful failures, north korea shocked the world with this successful launch. and the white house called it a provocati provocative. the three-stage unha 3 like this one blasted off on the coast, take i taking off on a southern course, passed over okinawa. as planned, jettisoned into second stage in the philippines. tracking the rocket, they reported the missile deployed an object that appeared to achieve orbit. north korean television, an excitable anchor announced mission accomplished . the successful launch is sure to give a huge boost to north korean president kim jong un who took power only a year ago after the death of his power. but it raises fears in the west that kim is now ready to further develop their nuclear capability. u.s. officials warn the satellite launch is actual aimed at developing long-range missiles that could carry a nuclear warhead as far as the u.s. west coast . this morning, even china, north korea 's strongest ally, condemn this had launch. it's not clear yet whether the u.s. will actually seek additional economic sanctions against north korea . natalie?
>> jim miklaszewski at the pentagon. thanks so much, jim.


text:
Senator Max Baucus visited Missoula on Wednesday for a round table discussion on how Montana businesses can better themselves using technology. Community leaders and entrepreneurs were included in the discussion at the University of Montana.
It's all part of the planning for the 6th Annual Montana Economic Development Summit, set to take place next month in Butte.
The summit features keynote speakers and a breakout panel sessions to help businesses learn different ways to create jobs, and bring more money into the economy.
"Today's session, like other sessions around the state, is asking what do you want us to do at our summit?", said Senator Baucus. "Tell us what you want, and I got some great ideas here on areas we should focus in on to help Montana companies."
The summit takes place September 16th and 17th in Butte. The event is free for all Montanans, but space is limited. To find out how you can register, visit the event website here.


text:
When a tree falls in the forest and the only people who can see it are the costumed fanatics on the side of the road, did it actually fall? It seems like every stage in this year's USA Pro Cycling Challenge has been plagued at one point or another by the grey screens of death when the motorbike cameras can't seem to get their signals out.
On stage 4, nobody outside of Beaver Creek was able to see Jens Voigt's dominating climb to the finish, or what must have been a furious battle for second place (and the yellow jersey) just behind. On stage 6 we got the same problem in the final kilometers, if not to nearly the same degree, but the recurring video problems that are happening with clear skies overhead and helicopters circling that should be able to help relay signals to our TVs is an embarrassing reminder that for all the corporate sponsorships that this American race offers, not one of them will apparently pay for a consistent broadcast.
The USA Pro Cycling Challenge presented by Exegy – with its Waste Management sprint points, United Healthcare overall standings, SmashBurger starts, Radio Shack trackers, GoPro aerial images, RoadID rides of the day, Nissan Leaf drive electrics to the finish, and Lord knows how many other absurd sponsorships that I've lost track of – has been a fantastic race, but it has also been a mentally exhausting display of unrestrained commercialism that only underscores the fact that this race seems to exist to sell us things rather than to promote our cycling heroes in all their glory.
Now I've been watching cycling long enough to know that signal problems happen in big races in Europe too, but they are usually limited to the rainiest of days or the most overcast of mountaintops. And rarely have I ever seen a spectacle like on Stage 4, where 15 minutes of pans and zooms of the finish area are finally broken by the lone figure of Jens Voigt struggling to the line, on a perfectly sunny day at a modern ski resort that probably has fiber optic service in every condo's living room.
Perhaps I'm being too harsh. Perhaps I'm just too used to the more restrained European approach to televised cycling, where they show you commercials during the commercials rather than at every possible minute along the road, but it's hard to watch a bike race when someone is constantly shouting their brand in your face and trying to sell you something.
So one piece of advice to the organizers of the USA Pro Cycling Challenge presented by Exegy – other than a plea to just call the damn thing the Tour of Colorado – is to get your act together and spend some of that sweet, sweet sponsorship money on making sure your cameras work.
They figured it out a long time ago in France, in Italy, in Spain, and let's put an American race on the map not only for the racing and scenery, but for good old-fashioned production value as well.


text:
Labour Party conference
Welsh delegates are playing a prominent role at Labour's annual conference in Manchester - with Wales the only part of the UK where the party's in power
Miliband: England won't follow Wales in offering free prescriptions
Labour leader Ed Miliband says a future Labour government wouldn't be able to afford to follow Wales and make prescriptions free.
But he told our Political Editor Adrian Masters that he trusts Carwyn Jones' judgement when it comes to the scheme in Wales.
"I think that's a matter for Carwyn - that's his judgement and that's a judgement I totally trust" he said.
"You know, it's different ways of allocating resources".
Scottish Labour leader renews her attack on 'free' benefits
The Scottish Labour leader, Johann Lamont, has renewed her attack on the SNP government's introduction of universal benefits, such as free prescriptions, pioneered by Labour in Wales. She told her party's conference that poorer families are paying for Alex Salmond's 'tax break for the rich'.
– Scottish Labour Leader Johann Lamont MSP
Don't be fooled by the slogans. Salmond trying to claim more things are free in Scotland as a way of building up resentment with our partners elsewhere in the UK. The people of Scotland know that nothing is free. And every day we see more clearly that the costs of Salmond's slogans are being borne by hard working families struggling to make ends meet, borne by the elderly and vulnerable seeing their care slashed, borne by the student who can't get a place in further education.
In the Senedd, the First Minister, Carwyn Jones, was asked by the Conservative AM Janet Finch Saunders to respond to Ms Lamont's criticism of universal free prescriptions, available even to people who earn over £100,000 a year.
– First Minister Carwyn Jones AM
0.4% of the population earn over £100,000 a year. Means testing would cost more than it would save.
Shadow Welsh Secretary addresses Labour conferenceby Adrian Masters
Shadow Welsh Secretary Owen Smith MP tells Labour's conference that the people of Wales want more decision-making but to remain in the UKRead the full story
'Our thoughts and prayers are with April Jones'
The Shadow Welsh Secretary says the nation's 'thoughts and prayers' are with missing five-year-old April Jones and her family.
Owen Smith briefly delayed his speech at the Labour Party's annual conference in Manchester to show his support to the Machynlleth community.
Wales may need more devolution, but UK is better together - Shadow Welsh Secretary
The Shadow Welsh Secretary has told Labour's conference in Manchester that change may be needed 'to accomodate the ambitions' of those who want more decision-making in Wales and Scotland. Owen Smith told delegates that 'devolution is delivering' but that Wales is better off as part of the UK.
People in Wales, Scotland and England too want more local decision making and devolution or other constitutional change may be needed to accomodate those ambitions.
But separation or independence remains a minority interest- outweighed by economic and emotional reasons for Britain and the British people to stick together.
Ed Balls: Housebuilding decision should be made in Wales
The Shadow Chancellor says it would be up to Welsh Govt to decide how to spend its share of proceeds from the 4G sell-off.Read the full story
First Minister's conference claims are 'pure fantasy' - Welsh Conservatives
Welsh Conservatives have attacked the First Minister's claims in his speech to Labour's conference as 'pure fantasy.' Carwyn Jones listed achievements that he said showed his government's 'fairness in action.' Opposition leader Andrew RT Davies said:
Can the First Minister look young people in the eye and tell them they won't be making the grade in global tests on literacy and numeracy?
Can he look them in the eye and explain why pupil spending per head is lower here than in England and why school buildings are crumbling?
Can he look them in the eye and explain why youth unemployment is rocketing and why Wales remains the poorest part of the UK?
Simply - education and the economy are clear examples of how Labour in Wales is failing. To suggest otherwise is pure fantasy.
First Minster: "Wales has a government that cares"
Carwyn Jones addresses delegates at the Labour Party conference, highlighting differences between Welsh Labour and the UK Government.Read the full story
First Minister: Lessons from Wales' "fairer society"by Adrian Masters
First Minister Carwyn Jones is due to highlight examples of Welsh Labour's 'fairness' when he speaks to the party's conference in ManchesterRead the full story


text:
Chicago (AP) -- Gov. Pat Quinn says any overhaul of Illinois' worst-in-the-nation pension problem should have a funding guarantee.
He spoke Monday just days after House lawmakers approved their third pension-related bill. The latest would reduce and delay cost-of-living increases in state employees' retirement pay.
Pensions have been Quinn's top issue for more than a year. He says lawmakers' work last week was a step in the right direction but there's further to go. Quinn says any reform package should address retirement age and pensionable salary.
Illinois has nearly $100 billion in unfunded pension debt because lawmakers skipped or shorted pension payments for years.
House lawmakers recently OK'd bills that would cap the salary on which benefits are based to the limit set for Social Security and delay the retirement age incrementally.
Evangelist Franklin Graham prayed on a sidewalk outside the Pentagon Thursday after his invitation to a prayer service inside was withdrawn because of comments that insulted people of other religions. More>>
904 South Side Drive
Decatur, IL 62521
Primary Phone: 217-424-2500
Primary Email: firstname.lastname@example.com
All content © Copyright 2000 - 2014, WorldNow and WAND. All
Rights Reserved.
For more information on this site, please read our Privacy Policy and Terms


text:
Videos > Black Angelica > Exotic brunette Black Angelica gets her wet pussy and tight asshole drilled deep
Ass Traffic AssTraffic.com brings you the best 100% original and exclusive anal sex movies. If you like big butts, big gaping assholes, thigh asses, double penetration, double anal, ass to mouth and more, this site is for you. Brought to you in mind blowing 1920x1080p HD.
Featured Pornstars:
- Black Angelica


text:
The Story of Jewarts Gymnastifcs
Jewart's Gymnastics started in my basement in 1969. Actually, it didn't have a name at that time. But it did have a purpose; to teach dancing lessons to the neighbor kids. I had a pre-school program and several classes for elementary school-age kids. Tap, ballet and acrobatics were the roots. Modern Jazz and "toe" were soon added. My goal was to have a school that gave kids the best things that I had learned from my 12 years of dancing lessons, my four years as a Slippery Rock Dancer/gymnast, and my three years of teaching physical education for the Los Angeles City School District. To me "the best" meant that it would be really fun, only the best technique would be taught, it would be creative and we would "show off" our skills to get recognition. There was an unwritten mission statement in my heart
It was 1972, the year that Olga Korbut dazzled the world with her innovative routines, that we expanded to the Dance/Gymnastics School under Adzema's Pharmacy. When one of the girls broke my nose while I was spotting her back hand spring, I asked my brother Paul to join me. Our enthusiasm about starting a gymnastics team and bringing something new to the community gave us excitement and a common goal. Our successes in competition whet our appetite to grow the business
The "gym" under the pharmacy was 1400 square feet. It had brick pillars in the center of two rooms and 10foot ceilings. We knew that we needed a bigger facility, so in 1976, we added a second location on Route #8 above Anderson's Car Wash. We hired Nick and Allison Hoburg to team-teach with us. Mary Jayne Sirianni was our next employee. Sue George was hired as a part-time assistant
In 1980 we built the 7000 square foot gym on Wildwood Rd. We were expecting the Olympic games to give us a lot of publicity as it had in previous Olympic years, but the US decided to boycott the Moscow Games. Fortunately, our new facility was a great drawing card and we weathered the boycott and the recession. In 1984, with the Olympic Games in Los Angeles, we added 4000 feet to the side of the gym and built the "gym house" for Paul. The strong support of gym parents helped us continue expanding the gym for the next 12 years. And as the enrollment grew we brought in Brian and Nick to round out our staff and head our developmental and boys programs
In 1990 Paul married Kathy Hart. This was a significant merger in the history of the gym because Kathy took over the job of running the office. It's hard to believe that we had survived for over 20 years without that important office position but we moved into the 90's with a real office manager, a computer and an answer machine. The gym took a significant step to become a business
The 90's brought the addition of the second generation of Jewart's to work at the gym. My sons Randy, Alex and Ben certainly added innovation and a challenge to the status quo to the business. In 1992, during the Barcelona Games we completed our next addition. We expanded the rear of the gym to set up a second vault runway and the boys" area and added the Lucky Star gym and dance room downstairs. The rockwall pit area was added in 1993 and in 1994 we moved the pre-school gym upstairs and put in our awesome cave climbing area
Scott Carslaw came aboard in 1998 as assistant boys coach. Lainy joined the staff full-time in 2001 and Kamelia Velkova began working in 2002. Tim Bonomi joined us in 2004 and most recently former Northstars, Jeff Malone, Keith Callen, Dave Robinson and Amanda Wilson joined the team. In 2009 Brittany Jones took over the Lucky Star rec program. Sharon Jackson and Dana Thomas teach our tumbling classes. Teri Choban is our pre-school director and Justin Mech is Facility Manager.
The growth and evolution of Jewart's Gymnastics was due to the commitment our family has to the kids we coach and the joy we find in developing youngsters in the sport of gymnastics. The support of the parents of the kids we have worked with, have inspired and influenced our decisions more than they will ever know. The final key has been the wonderful staff and the former gymnasts that have worked with us over the years that have been instrumental in helping us carry on our mission. Our heartfelt thanks to Michelle Lichina Packer, Michelle O'Connor, Amy Armour, Nicky Eisel, Jesse Wilson, Courtney McCauley, Kim Gillespie Smart, Louie Liguori, Candi Robbins, Brian St. Dennis, Ashley Andreone, Kinsey Basco Jamie Badali and others
Fabulous at 40! Wow! The new 14.000 sq. ft team training center and the remodeling of the original gym is the crowning jewel to many years of commitment to our gymnasts and our family. We have been honored by the University of Pittsburgh Katz School of Business as1999 Family Business of the Year. Mrs. Jewart has been a distinguished recipient of Pennsylvania's 50 Best Women in Business, a Leveling the Playing Field Award by the Women and Girls Foundation in 2007 and the top 25 Women in Pittsburgh in 2009. As a family and as friends we are proud to be a work in progress: Proud to be leaders in bringing the world of gymnastics to Pittsburgh: Proud to have the opportunity to coach such great kids. And proud to be the 2010 Level 8 State Champions. Thanks for reading about our history.


text:
Support the VMC, donate today!
Support the VMC, donate today!
BAGGAGE CLAIM CHECK. Baggage checked subject to Conditions of Contract or Tariffs, including Limitations of Liability therein contained. This is not the luggage ticket (baggage check) described in Article 4 of the War-saw Convention or the Warsaw Convention as amended by Hague Protocol 1995.
Receive occasional email notices from the VMC:


text:
USA stuns Canada to win WJC Gold
Canada stormed back from a 5-3 deficit in the final six minutes of play last night thanks to two John Eberle goals to tie the USA at five. But a wicked wrister from John Carlson in overtime gave the Americans the victory and the gold medal, all on Canadian ice in Saskatoon. If you missed the game, it'll rebroadcast tonight on the NHL Network at 6 PM. Go watch, thank us later.


text:
CHAPEL HILL — Though wise in the ways of public service and state politics, Tom Ross was still a higher education neophyte three years ago when he took over as president of Davidson College.
So to better understand the inner workings of his alma mater, Ross sat down and thumbed through its budget.
"Where the money goes is where the priorities are," Ross explained Thursday after being officially named as the fifth president of the University of North Carolina system. "I'll do that here as I did there."
The public university system that Ross will preside over starting Jan. 1 will have a smaller budget than it used to. The system has cut nearly $700 million over the past four years. Ross will be charged with limiting future cuts while continuing revenue streams for enrollment growth, student aid and other top university priorities.
But Ross, 60, doesn't appear daunted.
"Budget challenges are always difficult, but I don't think we ought to spend all of our time dwelling on it, because I think you have to continue thinking about the future," he said.
Ross's view of future budget battles is likely colored by his previous successes in the hallways of the state legislature. In the early 1990s, Ross, then a Superior Court judge, led a 23-member commission that pushed through reforms to the state's criminal sentencing laws. Those changes won wide praise and raised Ross' stature as a public servant.
"I've had a pretty good amount of time working with the legislature," he said. "I don't shy from it in the least."
'The entire package'
His experience as a judge, reformer, foundation expert and college leader swayed UNC system leaders, who chose him from a pool of about 50 applicants to succeed current President Erskine Bowles. The workaholic former White House chief of staff will step down at the end of the year.
Ross will earn $525,000 annually, slightly less than the $550,000 ceiling that university officials had previously defined.
"We were looking for a rare combination of skills," said Hannah Gage, chairwoman of the UNC system's Board of Governors, which hired Ross on Thursday. "With Tom Ross, there was no one single quality or characteristic that outshone the others. It was the entire package."
Like Bowles, Ross is a politically connected product of North Carolina, and his savvy in dealing with legislators will be tested immediately. But his varied background gives him an edge, said John Sanders, the former director of the Institute of Government at UNC-Chapel Hill. He has also directed the administrative office of the state's court system and headed the Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation, a philanthropic organization.
He's ready to go
"His whole working career has been in North Carolina," said Sanders, who also served the UNC system as its vice president for planning and as a member of its governing board. "He has a lot of familiarity with the state, so he'll bring a lot of credibility and knowledge to the job that others would have to establish."
In his first year, Ross may be dealt some legislative wild cards. Along with the annual battle for state funding, the fall elections may change the political landscape.
Still, Ross won't have a big learning curve, said Burley Mitchell, the former North Carolina chief justice who is now serving on the UNC system's governing board.
"He knows the legislature, and they know him," Mitchell said. "He can go to work this afternoon."
Although he has had to eliminate jobs, Ross concedes he hasn't had to go through what Bowles did last year in cutting more than 900 positions across the system.
"It is, I'm sure, a very difficult thing," Ross said. "I don't look forward to that being a possibility, and I'm always hopeful it won't be necessary."
From small to huge
Davidson is a small, well-regarded private institution of about 1,700 students just north of Charlotte. By comparison, the UNC system is a 17-campus goliath of 220,000 students and a budget of more than $7 billion.
Ross has led organizations large and small and sees similarities.
"What I think I've learned is that a lot of the issues, problems and strengths you face are the same," he said. "There may be a difference in scale."
A collaborative leader
At Davidson, Ross directed a long-term strategic planning process that will lead the college to expand academic programs and its international student enrollment. The process included input from all groups on campus, said Mackey McDonald, chairman of Davidson's Board of Trustees.
"One of the strengths of his leadership was the sharing of responsibility across these different groups," McDonald said.
Ross also proved an adept fundraiser. Last year, Davidson recorded its best fundraising year ever, bringing in $55 million in private donations.
He was also praised at Davidson on Thursday for wanting to be a part of the campus culture. He'd regularly invite college seniors over to his house for dinner. A "tremendous" basketball fan, he usually was one of the loudest people cheering at games.
A 1972 Davidson graduate, Ross said Thursday that the decision to leave his alma mater was "heart-wrenching."
"It is the place that nurtured me and helped me grow as a student and again as its president," he said. "It has been an emotional struggle to decide to leave."
In speeches at Davidson, Ross was known for recounting exactly how many days he had been on the job - a reminder, he'd say, of how blessed he was to be there.
His final day there will be Dec. 31 - his 1,249th day as president.
Staff writer Jane Stancill and April Bethea of The Charlotte Observer contributed to this report.
email@example.com or 919-932-2008


text:
In English
Radio Helsinki
You arrived here at 14:15 Helsinki time Monday 1.9.2014
Architects want polar bears on Korkeasaari
Winning entry in competition calls for imposing new entrance building to Helsinki Zoo
print this
By Markku Karumo
The winning entry in a competition arranged among landscape architects contains some major reforms for the way Helsinki Zoo - located on the island of Korkeasaari - should look in future.
The changes would be most obvious at the main entrance on the north side of the island. Here the plans are for a large structure that follows the contours of the landscape and is covered in huge glass panels, somewhat reminiscent of a flattened version of the
Buckminster Fuller
geodesic domes.
The Paris-based architectural office
of French Beckmann-N'Thepe's proposal, under the name "Beluga", would also bring polar bears back to the zoo, after a 30-year break. Polar bears were last on Korkeasaari in the 1970s.
In the French plan, the polar bears would be housed in an enclosure on the east side of the island, between Korkeasaari and the neighbouring islet of Palosaari.
Beluga draws a clear distinction
between the man-made structures and the natural enclosures for the animals.
It contains well-defined and divided entities, based on geographical landforms such as mountain, steppe, northern coniferous forest, a tropical area, and the marine environment.
The walking path around the island taking in the various loactions would for the most part be raised on bridges.
The prize committee
considered that the closed competition brought a high standard of entries.
They felt Beluga offered a radical solution to the future of the Zoo, which has been looking at changes in the residential structure of Helsinki - for instance the closure and comprehensive redevelopment of the nearby Sörnäinen Harbour - that may bring increased numbers of visitors to the island.
"The stark contrast between the very artificial nature of the main entrance building and the natural state of the remainder of the island is a surprising but also an intriguing and inspired solution", the committee wrote of Beluga.
The next step is
that Korkeasaari intends to draft a new general plan based on the winning entry. Implementation of the plan on the ground could start a couple of years from now.
Other entries, too, offered good ideas, in the view of the Zoo's Director
Seppo Turunen
The Finnish office of Maisemasuunnitelu Hemgård and the Danish firm SLA were also invited to present their proposals for the island.
"We have embarked on this in the spirit that there will be changes made", said Turunen, though the time-frame for completing the work could be of the order of ten years and more.
Another reason for the development
is that for instance the Zoo's large tropical-climate buildings become dilapidated quickly in the harsh northern climate.
The price-tag is not small. Turunen estimated that all the construction envisaged in the Beluga entry would cost more than EUR 100 million.
The plan is to do the makeover piece by piece, and in the Beluga proposal most of the building work would be concentrated on the northern end of the island.
"The new entrance would definitely be a pretty special sight in Helsinki", enthused Turunen.
All three proposals are on show at Laituri, the City Planning Department's exhibition space in Kamppi, until February 7th. Details from the link below.
Helsingin Sanomat / First published in print 24.1.2009
Beckmann-N´Thepe (site in French)
Helsinki Zoo "Korkeasaari"
MARKKU KARUMO / Helsingin Sanomat
Pastor shares pain of factory workers facing redundancy
EDITORIAL: Shortage of candidates for Presidential Election 2012
COMMENTARY: Models of regional decentralisation
DEBATE: "Finland should accept prisoners from Guantánamo"
Spa and pampering businesses thrive in spite of recession
Chief of Defence-designate worried about poor physical condition of conscripts
Architects want polar bears on Korkeasaari
Suburban youths on their way to art history
Fashion: Marimekko reveals next autumn collection
Back to Top ^


text:
Wednesday, November 05, 2008
exhibition next week
I've got an exhibition next week with some friends at a local gallery. These are a few of the paintings I have going into it.
Life is a bit hectic with the exhibition, inspections at 2 of the colleges I teach at and family health problems continue :>(
This is also a try out of the slide show Casey Toussaint told me about, that she used to show her book in the FPP exchange so effectively - I''ll use it to show you my book if this works OK. Here is a link to see Casey's gorgeous book http://caseytoussaint.wordpress.com/2008/11/04/check-out-my-slide-show/ - not to mention a great blog :>) so do take a look.
16 comments:
- Cathy Gatland said...
The slide show works really well, and the watercolours are so beautiful- sounds like you have your plate well and truly full at the moment!
- 8:00 pm
- vivien said...
Thanks Cathy :>)
I have!
- 8:14 pm
- DeeJay said...
Could you put details of the exhibition (if it is public) on the Upcoming Shows page of your website, please?
I'd love to see your work up close and personal...
- 8:28 pm
- Jeanette said...
That's quite impressive Vivien. The slideshow is very effective.
I'll keep my fingers crossed for you for the exhibition. Your paintings are fabulous as always. Just love those turquoises and blues....
- 11:49 pm
- annie said...
I love the slide shows here and over at Casey's. And good luck with the exhibition as well as with everything else.
- 6:37 am
- Cath Sheard said...
Good luck with the exhibition - the slide show's great. And chin up with the ongoing health stuff, it can be so tiring.
- 7:59 am
- Brian McGurgan said...
Your work looks great, Vivien - a very nice selection for exhibition. Best of luck and congratulations with the show. I hope the family health problems there are improving and that you are managing well with all that is going on.
Oh, and I liked the feather drawn in colored pencil as well!
- 2:00 pm
- vivien said...
deejay - I've added it as requested :>)
- 10:49 pm
- vivien said...
thanks everyone :>)
I do hope it goes well!
- 10:50 pm
- Lindsay said...
Best of luck Vivien. It was lovely to see some of my favorite paintings in your slide show. I hope you sell lots of paintings.
I have to try this as my book is back now! Just have not had the time to post.
- 9:51 am
- caseytoussaint said...
Vivien - your paintings are gorgeous! Good luck with your exhibition.
You did a wonderful job on setting up the slide show as well.
- 12:45 pm
- vivien said...
Thanks Casey :>)
I've been labelling today so I can deliver them tomorrow - isn't that part the worst - the lists, labels, packing - aaaagghhhh!!!!
- 6:05 pm
- ian gordon said...
Beautiful work throughout.
- 2:19 pm
- vivien said...
thank you Ian :>)
- 5:27 pm
- Africantapestry and Myfrenchkitchen said...
these paintings are stunning vivien!! I hope your exhibition is going well!
- 2:42 pm
- vivien said...
thanks Ronell :>)
I haven't checked yet
- 3:12 pm


text:
Strikeforce made a big play today by signing Fedor. But what did they get, and at what long term cost? Fedor Emelianenko is a superstar among MMA fans, but the costs of using him have also sunk numerous promotions he's worked with since Pride collapsed. His PPV record is mediocre at best; his best sales performance against Andrei Arlovski would be a complete and utter disaster for even the worst UFC show.
Currently, there are no big fights for Fedor in Strikeforce. By big fights, I mean fights that will grab mainstream interest and attract a lot of fan attention. Alistair Overeem means nothing to American fans, and neither does Fabricio Werdum. Brett Rogers could eventually be a big fight if they build him up well, but it would still be a small fight in comparison to the average UFC European main event.
I think the bigger concern for Strikeforce is the UFC's response. They will take this as a declaration of war, and their strategy will be oriented around driving Strikeforce into the ground by bidding their costs to the moon. Forget Fedor's costs for a second, what do the people at Strikeforce expect to happen when Jake Shields, Brett Rogers, and Nick Diaz finish up their current deals? The UFC has the revenue to offer far more than Strikeforce, and they can effectively undo a year of star-creation by taking these fighters. Rumor has it that Gina Carano has signed on for three or four fights, what will the UFC offer her to leave at the end of that deal?
Showtime wants to get MMA on PPV. Strikeforce is their tool to get there, and they've hitched their wagon to Fedor Emelianenko. They can only make money on PPV, they have to go that route now, and avoiding it has been the key so far to Strikeforce's survival.
The UFC may also open up a legal front in this battle against Strikeforce. It's unclear what rights they have under the "collaboration" deal with Affliction, but I expect them to assert those rights to the fullest extent that they can. It's another way to start draining money out of their opposition.
Photo via sherdog.com


text:
- About
- Programs
- Companies
- Students
- Request an Intern
- Alumni
Scott Weiss Alumni Scholarship
Congratulations to the 2013 Scott Weiss Scholarship recipients!
The T. Howard Foundation congratulates the recipients of a 2013 Scott Weiss Scholarship:
- Cristina Recino (Penn State University '14), THF '13, Viacom
- Elizabeth Tillman (Hofstra University '15), THF '13, HBO
- My (Roxy) Dinh (SUNY Binghamton '14), THF '12 and '13, AMC Networks, Fox Entertainment Group
- Tamara Hall (Penn State University '14), THF '13, Comcast Corp.
- Breania Smith (Georgetown University '14), THF '12, HBO
- Kristen Smith (Penn State University '14), THF '12 and '13, AMC Networks, Turner Network Sales
- Brandon Putnam (Georgetown University '14), THF '12, ESPN
- Rene Payan (Georgetown University '14), THF '12, Viacom
- Amina Smith (University of Miami '14), THF '12, DirecTV
- Annie Wilson (Purdue University '15), THF '08, A&E Networks
- Susan Mei (Fordham University '14), THF '13, Showtime Networks
About the Scholarship
The purpose of the Scott Weiss Scholarship is to provide T. Howard alumni with financial assistance for their academic and career pursuits. The scholarship is awarded on the basis of merit as defined by the Foundation. It is intended to provide assistance with tuition, required text books, and/or expenses related to career development, including conferences sponsored by professional organizations and/or professional development workshops, that help prepare recipients for a career in the multimedia and entertainment industry. Scholarship awards vary but can range up to $2,750.
The scholarships are open to all alumni of the T. Howard internship program regardless of interning year who have completed their internships with a favorable evaluation from their Host Company supervisor. A favorable evaluation is one that is void of any rating of "Poor" or "Very Poor" and no record of reprimand or dismissal during their summer internship.
Applicants must be: (1) undergraduate students who are sophomores through seniors or (2) graduate students currently enrolled at an accredited college or university. Students who will complete credits required for graduation in December of the application year are eligible.
Alumni who have previously applied for and/or been awarded a Scott Weiss Scholarship can apply again.
Scholarships are awarded on the basis of academic merit, internship performance, and demonstrated commitment to pursuing a career in the multimedia and entertainment industry. Factors for consideration will include:
- Minimum GPA of 3.2 overall or in academic major
- Extracurricular activities related to alumni's major or career interests
- Two (2) Recommendation forms
- Resume
- Additional criteria, if necessary, established by the Scholarship Subcommittee
Submission and Deadline
The application process begins in early Fall. THF informs all interns in September.
- Applications can be submitted via regular U.S. mail and overnight/express mail.
- Applications cannot be faxed or sent via electronic mail.
- Late and/or incomplete applications will not be considered.


text:
Men's soccer falls to Campbell rally, 2-1
Related Links
For the first 60 minutes of Saturday's match, the JU men's soccer team seemed to be in control in its rematch of the 2007 Atlantic Sun Conference tournament final against Campbell.
But the final 30 minutes went to the Camels (6-5, 4-0 A-Sun), as Campbell put up two goals and controlled the action during that span for a 2-1 win and broke a tie for first place in the A-Sun standings.
Having just tied the game nine minutes earlier, Richard Jata's shot across the face of the goal off a Bryan Dornseif pass found the back of the net – sending the Camels bench into celebration with just over 12 minutes left in regulation.
"This was a tough loss to a very good Campbell team," said JU head coach Mike Johnson. "We let our guard down in the final third of the game and you can't do that against a team that is as dangerous as they are."
The Dolphins (6-7, 3-1 A-Sun) were outshot by Campbell 16-11, with the Camels holding a 10-6 edge in the second half. JU goalkeeper Joey Sanchez (6-3) saw his three-match winning streak come to an end after making nine saves.
Campbell goalkeeper Aaron Johnson (6-5) got the win, making four saves with two in each half.
JU got on the board first, just eight minutes into the match when Stefan Runeman nailed a shot into upper left hand corner on a penalty kick from 22 yards out.
The match stayed that way until halftime and 24 minutes into the second half before the Camels tied the match. Josue Soto booted home a direct kick from 20 yards out off a JU penalty to tie the game with just over 20 minutes remaining in regulation.
Jacksonville's physical play came back to bite them as the Dolphins committed 24 fouls to Campbell's 13.
"We made a lot of mistakes at crucial times, especially on fouls," Johnson said. "We were fortunate to dodge some bullets in the first half, but you can't give teams like Campbell a direct kick that close to the box."
The Dolphins are off until Friday when they travel to face Stetson. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.


text:
REVIEW SNAPSHOT®by PowerReviews
Reviewed by 1 customer
Efficient and easy to use
By Kate
from Texas
About Me Budget Shopper
Best Uses
Comments about Offistamp® Pre-inked Message Stamp; COPY:
for efficient notes on paperwork status.
Bottom Line Yes, I would recommend this to a friend
Was this review helpful? Yes / No
- You may also flag this review
Can't find what you need? Contact Us
©Quill Lincolnshire, Inc. 2014, All Rights Reserved.
This Web site is intended only for use by U.S. residents.


text:
Download Coda Codec Packin category Codec Packs, viewed 1933 times
Includes the AC3 filter, MPEG2 decoder, DivX, DivX Pro, MS-MPEG4 and XviD codecs.
Download coda_v33.exe
(Windows (all))
File size: 1,733,246 bytes, version: 3.3
External downloads
Coda Codec Pack was added to MovieCodec.com by Bjarne (07-26-2007).
Type: Freeware
Updated: 04-08-2010
Author: John Doe


text:
Welcome to Kyero in Indonesian (Selamat datang di Kyero)
December 27th, 2012
Kyero.com is now available in Indonesian
Indonesian is the official language of Indonesia, the fourth most populous nation in the world.
Indonesian (and Malay) is one of the most widely spoken languages in the world.
Most Indonesians, aside from speaking the national language, are often fluent in another regional language (Javanese, Sundanese and Madurese for example).
Indonesian is recognised as one of the two working languages (the other being English), alongside the official languages of Tetum and Portuguese.
This machine translated version of Kyero will be less than perfect. We'll be tidying up with professional translation soon.
Kyero is now available in 31 languages. Next up: Vietnamese


text:
Crimson Quotations
"You could play four years and not be good enough to cost the University of Alabama thirty yards boy!"
Paul W. "Bear" Bryant
An irate Coach to a player who had just received his second fifteen yard penalty of the game.
Recent News
- Kevin Norwood sidelined by foot injury at Seattle Seahawks' training camp
- What does an official Alabama football scholarship offer look like?
- Former Alabama RB Dee Hart officially joins Colorado State, excited to play for Jim McElwain
- R250 LB DeBerry names top eight
- What does Andy Dalton's six-year contract extension mean for AJ McCarron?


text:
We're a resourceful company who deliver web design solutions that are current, brand-focused, engaging and future-proof. Our services encompass web design, website development, open-source CMS, Flash Animation Designs, games, presentations, web application development, branding, Emarketing, SEO, SEM, SMO and Google Analytics.
For more detail please call us.
2 Years Advance Hosting.
1 Year Hosting.
Web Site/Logo
50% Discount
2 Years Hosting+Domain.
1 Year Hosting+Domain.


text:
Lauren Bacall exits stage left.Legendary actress Lauren Bacall has passed away from a stroke. She was 89.
Mork has gone back to Ork :(Robin Williams was found dead. He was 63.
Former WH press secretary James Brady is dead.Gun control advocate and former Reagan press secretary died Monday at the age of 73.
Johnny Winter DeadZURICH - Blues musician Johnny Winter is dead at age 70, according to Zurich police. Although no foul…
Maverick Rockford has passed on :(Mope gets points for being the first to send news.
Hubble's 23rd Birthday!!
And we get the present!
NASA's Hubble Space Telescope has snapped a spectacular new image of an iconic nebula to celebrate its 23 years of peering deep into the heavens.
The Hubble observatory, which launched on April 24, 1990, captured the Horsehead Nebula in infrared light, peering through obscuring veils of dust to reveal the object's hidden features.
I don't know….doesn't look like a horse's head to me. Looks like a man with his back turned towards me, his arms out, and head looking down. Like a Calvin Klein astronomy ad.
Hope y'all have a great Sunday!!
Your Daily Irony Supplement
Actually, this "tweet" is from July 12th, but it's so funny, I had to go mine it and take a screenshot for posterity.
In other news, Curiosity landed on Mars!! I had no doubts it would. I do find it galling that the Prez is praising the work of an agency whose budget he cut and whose mission he changed:
Tonight's success, delivered by NASA, parallels our major steps forward towards a vision for a new partnership with American companies to send American astronauts into space on American spacecraft. That partnership will save taxpayer dollars while allowing NASA to do what it has always done best – push the very boundaries of human knowledge. And tonight's success reminds us that our preeminence – not just in space, but here on Earth – depends on continuing to invest wisely in the innovation, technology, and basic research that has always made our economy the envy of the world.
I laughed at the "our preeminence", but totally lost it when I read "our economy" is the envy of the world. It may be the envy of Greece and Spain, but not India or China. I would not be surprised if he attributed the success of the landing to Muslim Outreach Solutions™.
It's crap like this that makes me wish I had strychnine in my coffee.
Starry, Starry Night
It has been quite a while since I did an astronomy picture at H&B. There are so many to choose from, but I always turn to the classics.
This is a close up of the light echo from V838 Monocerotis taken in September, 2006. A gorgeous pic of Monocerotis can be found here.
Have a great weekend, and don't forget, tonight is a full moon. Enjoy the heavens
A Rose by Any Other Name
As is my Jones, I go check HubbleSite every morning. Yes, they have an app for that. I imagine they track you from space, too. Anyway, I was over there checking out their newer additions, when one stirred the romantic in me.
That is Arp 273, a pair of interacting galaxies. The smaller one, the "stem" is thought to have passed through the larger one, the "flower".
When I was young"er", I never fully appreciated roses. It just seemed to me that they were so over-commercialized. I mean, every single holiday pushes one to buy roses, even Christmas. Consequently, I was never a fan until in later years, when I grew my own, and learned to appreciate the lushness and beauty of the unfolding petals, the fragrance of romance, and the thorns telling me to back the hell off. Still, though not my favorite flower, they still stir the romantic in me.
And it's nice to see romance out among the stars
Some of you may know, I am a big fan of the Last Frontier. No, not Alaska, though I'm sure Alaska is nice and all. I mean outer space. Stars, planets, asteroids, all that. I've been lucky to have met several astronauts and Mission Control specialists. And I have suffered with the rest of us as NASA became a political football, an AGW advocate, and finally, a muslim outreach center. When the decision to ground the Shuttle program came, I was a bit heartbroken, but with that came the reality that the Shuttles were getting past their prime.
To us mere mortals, that means it's time to substitute that program with another. One that's Better, Faster, Stronger™. But no…. that isn't in the cards at this time. The Constellation Project has been severely scaled back, and the future of the Orion spacecraft is in serious doubt. Then when you read stuff like this, it makes you wonder if NASA is making a bully move to take someone else's work.
But the bitter pill I can't swallow has to be the snubbing of Johnson Space Center. Four STS spacecraft needing homes for display: Atlantis will go to Cape Canaveral (I refuse to use KSC), Discovery will go to the Smithsonian, Endeavour will retire to the California Science Center in L.A.
And the Enterprise will go to… New York City, to be displayed on board the U.S.S. Intrepid, because New York City has such a long history of space exploration….
Yes, I was upset. I was actually seething when I heard the announcements. And I also saw the confusion among some of the Canaveral employees when NYC was rewarded. And I called my dad, asking him if this was protocol, or a snub, or a joke. His answer was, this was not the NASA from my childhood. And he is right. It isn't. Back then we wanted to explore the heavens and reach the stars. Now, NASA is more concerned with climate change and making people feel good. Maybe I'm harsh, or just jaded, because every kid I ever babysat always wanted to be an astronaut, and I seldom hear that from kids nowadays. And it makes me sad.
But Karma has a way of having the last laugh. And as my friend Dick pointed out, our state has more pressing issues as well as better places to allocate the huge financial burden that would have come with displaying a Shuttle. And knowing that California and New York are in dire financial straits….well, let's just say there's plenty of popcorn to pass around
Random Crap on a Saturday
Sun for Rent
Ok, it has been a very frustrating day for me. WordPress has decided I am to be banned at every turn, foiling my evil plans morning blogging habits. Frustrating as hell, but then again, I still have my sanity, unlike people of Spain. I read about this earlier, and thought maybe C Monster at Soylent Green had covered it, and maybe he did. I don't recall. But still, this just goes to show the absolute stupidity of some people:
After billions of years the Sun finally has an owner — a woman from Spain's soggy region of Galicia said Friday she had registered the star at a local notary public as being her property.
Yes, you read that right. A woman with a serious lack of nookie hobbies got the idea of claiming the Sun after she read about the American moron who claimed the Moon and some of the planets. And what does she plan to do now that she "owns" the Sun? Glad you asked!!
[Angeles] Duran, who lives in the town of Salvaterra do Mino, said she now wants to slap a fee on everyone who uses the sun and give half of the proceeds to the Spanish government and 20 percent to the nation's pension fund.
She would dedicate another 10 percent to research, another 10 percent to ending world hunger — and would keep the remaining 10 percent herself.
WTF is she going to do? Ask the guy who owns the Moon to eclipse the Sun until payment is rendered??
You know the sad part about this stunning froth of stupidity?? Some of the socialist morons in Spain will actually pay!!!!
Ol' Blue Eye
The Glowing Eye of NGC 6751. This image is being released to commemorate the tenth anniversary of the Hubble Telescope. The nebula is found in the Aquila Constellation, and shows a star that has ejected a cloud of gas. Beautiful….wondrous….mysterious…and totally hot.
Good News, Randomly Generated
As events unfold around the World Wide Web, I can't help but notice some happenings that --dare I type it-- bring a grin to my visage, by virtue of the implosion of hitherto unknown secrets being divulged through this capricious instrument.
The Daily Caller has been slowly, deliciously breaking the news about Journolist, a listserv of liberal-leaning so-called journalists, bloggers, political pundits, and academicians. The leaking of the e-mails about killing off the Jeremiah Wright story and trying to shut down a news network puts a freaking spike in the coffin of what was the MSM. The hatred for Rush Limbaugh was just icing. Searching back in the internet, her capriciousness delivers a scrumptious coup: turns out several members are policy makers, like Paul Krugman and Peter Orszag.
UPDATE: Journolist is not dead….it has risen from it's putrescence as Cabalist.
Al Gore's troubles, like his methane, just keep rising. Aside the Portland, Oregon investigation, not one, but TWO massage therapists have come forward. One accuser is from Beverly Hills, the other from Tokyo. The only thing that would have made this better was if one had been from Kyoto.
The Obamacare bill had a surprise: a sooper-sekrit gold coin tax. Why is this good news, you may ask? Because people are seeing this for what it is: a massive tax designed to crush small business and entrepreneurship, and enslave the middle class:
This provision [Section 9006 of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act], intended to mine what the IRS deems a vast reservoir of uncollected income tax, was included in the health care legislation ostensibly as a way to pay for it.
Scary, no? Interestingly, the government is going after GoldLine, a company who sponsors Glenn Beck. Investors are not happy.
The GOP may be having a tough time trying to search for a solid conservative candidate for 2012, but this should bring a spark to their collective eye: Americans would vote for ANY Republican over Prez Obama. I can't WAIT to see Gibby spin this.
This star doesn't need a teleprompter, just adoration from afar.
And finally, for when frustrations start getting to you, hit the button.
Have a good one!!!
Celestial Fireworks
Like a July 4 fireworks display, a young, glittering collection of stars looks like an aerial burst. The cluster is surrounded by clouds of interstellar gas and dust—the raw material for new star formation. The nebula, located 20,000 light-years away in the constellation Carina, contains a central cluster of huge, hot stars, called NGC 3603.
See? Even the Universe celebrated our Day of Independence
And I highly recommend going over to Michelle Malkin, just for this: (more…)


text:
Cleaning Appliances
If there's a smarter way to enjoy a clean, healthy environment, you'll find it in our cleaning appliances and sanitization products. Brookstone products purify air...sterilize personal items...tidy up messes wet or dry...and keep your possessions gleaming. All without scrubbing, scraping or elbow grease! So the only work left is picking up our products.
SAVE Virus Zero Air Sterilizer - Portable
(3 reviews)
Was $199.99 Now $158.00
Shark Navigator Lift-Away Pro Upright Vacuum
(2 reviews)
Alen BreatheSmart Intelligent Air Purifier
(4 reviews)
From $599.00
PureGuardian 3-in-1 Digital Air Cleaning System with Pet Pure Filter
(2 reviews)
SAVE ZAPI LUXE UV Toothbrush Sanitizer
Was From $34.99 Now From $33.77
SAVE Koblenz Portable Washing Machine
Was $249.99 Now $189.19
SAVE DeLonghi AC230 Air Purifier
Was $399.95 Now $359.99
Zapi UV Toothbrush Sanitizer
(40 reviews)
SAVE SteriPEN Traveler UV Water Purifier
Was $49.95 Now $47.47


text:
Weep not for the willow that will fall,
it, and many before, cannot last forever.
Like the many kings both great and small,
it will be dethroned by its own endeavor.
So do not waste your life in your sorrow,
the great willow's crown must burn.
for not even a moment after tomorrow,
another will soon get its own turn.
Recent PostRead more


text:
South Pasadena residents will soon have easier access to parking permits and police records as the police station looks to improve customer service and streamline operations.
While the station's records department, including the front lobby, will now be open for shorter hours, police records will be available online in the next few days and parking permits within two months.
"The goal was to moderate counter hours without changing service," said Sergeant Mike Neff. "We want to keep the dispatch where they belong. If they miss a snippet of information on a call, it can have some really dire consequences."
With all area 911 calls now going directly to the South Pas Police Station, Neff says the station received a total of 64,598 calls in 2010— up from 15,804 in 1985—despite having a similar population.
So with the records department open 24/7 and one position frozen due to budget cuts, dispatch employees frequently found themselves tending to services other than answering 911 calls.
"This will streamline operations and make things safer for residents," said Neff. "Ultimately giving residents a direct, online resource."
The new hours of operation will be Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Curious about the evolution of the South Pasadena Police Station? Check THIS out.


text:
While Lyne was delivering all the action from the Great White North during the Tour de Beauce, Team Type 1's blog was chock-full of behind-the-scenes content from the Nature Valley Grand Prix. Billed as the "Minnesota Bicycle Festival," this National Racing Calendar event annually draws huge crowds to the Minneapolis area.
This year was no different. The action was compelling on both the men's and women's sides – right down to the final minutes of racing. Kristin Armstrong made it four straight, but not without a fight. And defending champion Rory Sutherland (OUCH) pulled off a stunning upset over Bissell's Tom Zirbel on the final stage.
Check out Team Type 1's blog for some interesting video. And don't forget the official race site, either.


text:
Calista Caradine
AFM 2013: New Teaser Trailer and Poster for Hitchhiker Massacre
AFM 2013 came to a close yesterday, but we still have a few tales to tell from the huge event... such as the latest on Hitchhiker Massacre, which debuted a new trailer and poster art at the show, both of which we have right here!
Would You Pick Up this Trailer and Stills from Hitchhiker Massacre?
Hitchhiking is always risky, for both the driver and the hitchhiker; and in James L. Bills' Hitchhiker Massacre, the stakes are raised even higher... a murderer has dinner orders to fill, and those thumbing rides are on the top of the menu!


text:
Pedro 'Pete' L. Gonzales
Born on July 15, 1932
YORKTOWN - Pedro "Pete" L. Gonzales, 80, of Yorktown, died on Sunday, June 16, 2013. He was born July 15, 1932, in Yorktown to the late Jose Angel Gonzales and Margarita Lozano Gonzales.
Pete is survived by his wife of 58 years, Petra Vela Gonzales; daughters, Elda Gonzales and Mary Gonzales; sons, Israel, Rene, and Orlando Gonzales; grandchildren: Daniel, Joseph, and Cassie Gonzales; Patrick, Santana, and Austin Fonseca; Candi, Adrian, Crystal, Abraham Castillo; and Chyann Sammons; great-grandchildren: Ivan Gonzales; Jose Miguel, Marcus, Brianna, and Trenton Jace Castillo; Isabel Elaine Salinas; Nekuira and Wesley Polk, Jr; Aubrey Davis; Kiesean, Kieandre, and Byron Johnson; Keigan and Kane Wiggins; Noah Longoria; Dason Lott; and Azelia Fonseca; and sister, Virginia Espinoza.
He was a member of the First Baptist Church and worked as a maintenance foreman for the city of Yorktown until his retirement.
Visitation will be 5 - 8 pm, Wednesday, June 19, 2013, at Finch Funeral Chapel, Yorktown.
You are invited to sign the on-line guest book at www.finchfuneralchapels.com.


text:
Lori Loughlin
Lori Louglin
Lori starred for 7 years as Becky Donaldson, the sexy girlfriend of the character played by John Stamos. Later in the show, they married and had kids, making Lori one of the sexiest moms on TV.
Her character was very sweet and gentle, and heck, so was the whole show. However, she did get to show off her body a little in tight, although not necessarily risquť, outfits on the show. Plenty of pictures of Lori in these types of outfits are available on this site.
Lori's movie career began in the seldom seen teen-flick "Secret Admirer", starring as the girl next door to C. Thomas Howell's character. As in all these teen-flicks, she eventually gets the guy. The movie had plenty of nude scenes for Kelly Preston, who later went on to become Mrs. John Travolta, but alas the best Lori could muster was an underwear scene, showing off her great legs and some of her buns in tight panties. Of course, we've got pics of this inside.
Since the demise of "Full House", Lori hasn't been too busy. She guest starred on HBO's "The Larry Sanders Show" and wore are very low cut blouse. Pictures of this moment are available on this site. However, she really hasn't appeared in much else since then.
Will Lori ever do a true nude scene? It's hard to tell. She has never shown a willingness to take off her clothes, so I doubt it. Who knows what the gods of celebrity nudity will bring, though. On this site there are a total of
shots of Lor Loughlin, including
shots in her underwear (bra, panties, etc.),
bathing suit pictures, and


text:
Imagine getting ill and having to drive several hours to see your doctor. It's a reality that many small town people face and it's one thing that U.S. Senator John Cornyn is determined to change. Senator Cornyn along with area health officials discussed a variety of issues on Saturday morning. The hot topic, attracting more nurses and doctors to rural communities.
"Big money and big cities aren't all they're cracked up to be," says Senator Cornyn.
It's where a majority of students are headed after graduation though, but Senator Cornyn believes tapping into a rural communities resources could be the key.
"Number one is finding people who already live in some of those rural communities and encouraging them to get involved in nursing. Come to Texas Tech and get their education," says Senator Cornyn.
|get more>> Web Enhanced
Contact a Texas Lawmaker
Feel the need to contact an area lawmaker? Here are the address and phone numbers to send them your input.
The next step would of course be return to the community they grew up in. Already more than 20 percent of practicing physicians in West Texas are either graduates of the Texas Tech Health Sciences Center or one of its residence programs. Some current Tech students have one thing to say to that statistic - incentives. Meet Chad Greenfield, a pre med student at Tech who was born and raised in Monahans, a rural community of about 6,000. Greenfield says if offered the right incentives moving back home would be considered.
"I think if they were going to pay for medical school you can't ask for really much more than that," says Greenfield.
For Marissa Martinez a nursing student at Tech. The big city has always been more appealing.
"I've always wanted to go to a bigger city just because Lubbock is the biggest city that I've ever lived in," says Martinez.
Still Martinez says she would consider small town life under one circumstance.
"I would definitely consider if I could get my education paid for. Then I would consider taking a couple of years out of my life and living in a small town," says Martinez.
Although it's already offered in some communities, Senator Cornyn hopes to make this practice along with other incentives more widespread.
5600 Avenue A
All content © Copyright 2000 - 2014 Worldnow and KCBD. All Rights Reserved.
For more information on this site, please read our Privacy Policy and Terms of Service.


text:
The Score: Gucci Mane, "The Appeal: Georgia's Most Wanted"
Tuesday, Sep 28, 2010 12:00PM
|Buy Now
|Hip-Hop DX
|Rolling Stone
|The Daily Iowan
|Planet III
|Mishka Blogin
Since his release from prison, the Atlanta rapper has been working intently to give fans the album they have been waiting for, the follow-up to 2009's The State vs. Radric Davis.
Gucci Mane is now a superstar. And of course, with the onset of the trappings of success, there comes the inevitable period wherein someone unfamiliar with these gifts possibly makes mistakes in their utilization. Thus is the tale of Gucci's sophomore studio release, The Appeal: Georgia's Most Wanted. In adjusting to having the celebrities of hip hop on speed dial, there were steps made that were of a successful nature. However, there were some as well that failed miserably, as we now begin to delve deeper into the progressive trend of Gucci Mane as a mainstream heavyweight hip hop artist, and how exactly that concept is going to take shape. This album answers that question well, but not to the positive development of the album as a top performance piece on par with the fantastic The State v. Radric Davis. However, in baking a cake, you have to break a few eggs along the way, and it is clear that we are settling in for a serious journey. (TGRI Online)
The guest features on Gucci's third effort may appeal to fans of varied musical genres.
Also popping up on The Appeal are Ray J and Bun B. Wyclef Jean helps out on "O' Dog" while Nicki Minaj and Pharrell add something special to "Haterade." We're especially excited to see what Gucci does with Estelle on a cut titled "Grown Man."(S2S Magazine).
Hip-hop's producers du jour lend their signature touches to Gucci's effort.
Where the album deviates are his collaborations, particularly his collaborations with Swizz Beatz. "It's Alive" begins with grand synths and those patented Swizz handclaps. The song lacks the force that makes Gucci Mane's music what it is. Swizz's pedestrian raps don't help any. Their other collaboration, "Gucci Time" has that southern rhythm but there is too much ambient noise going on and more club pandering. The Pharrell-produced Nicki Minaj featured "Haterade" finds Pharrell singing over a construction that's really too complex Gucci. There are too many concurrent rhythms and Gucci's vocal style is just not built to really take advantage of this. Minaj however jumps all over the track with her presence and assertively handles it in a way that Gucci couldn't. The Ray J collaboration "Remember When" features elementary lyricism, even for Gucci, and feels like it was written in crayon. Guccis attempt at a faux double time flow fails and Ray-J's delivery of R. Kelly-type lyrics with a late 80s R&B delivery fails. (Planet Ill)
Last July, the Southern rapper discussed his expectations of his new project.
"I feel good about this new project," he said in an interview. "I think this one's going to be bigger because the last album, I put a lot into it, I put my heart into it, and this one right here, I think it's a good representation of where I'm at now musically, mentally. It's just where I'm at. I've grown a lot, and I think I expressed it really good musically and I just want everybody to hear it and see what everybody think about it." (The Boom Box)
While some critics believe that the album serves as proof of Gucci's consistency, others didn't find the album appealing to their hip-hop palate.
The Appeal doesn't go too far left to make Gucci Mane's detractors change their minds, and it doesn't go too far right to make his fans love him anymore than they already do. When he stays in his lane and makes his producers stay with him, Mayor Gucci can serve his faithful constituents with the anthems that fuel their every day lives (or at least weekends). But when he doesn't have all his cylinders running, the results are disappointing at best and catastrophic at worst. Either way, he begins and ends the disc as Georgia's Most Wanted: for the career electric chair by his detractors, and for hood mayor by his disciples. (HipHopDX)
The Appeal: Georgia's Most Wanted lacks the witty unapologetic street appeal along with the commercial splendor that made Gucci Mane's previous efforts so worthwhile. The bottom line is that his actual lyrical delivery and wordplay hasn't evolved. That doesn't show up until the album closer, "Grown Man" featuring Estelle. In fact, this leads to the biggest problem with The Appeal. It's like a disappointing big-budget summer blockbuster meaning that everything is bigger and better but lacks the soul that made its predecessors so great. Even production by the likes of The Neptunes, Swizz Beatz, Timbaland and featured verses from Bun B, Nicki Minaj, Wyclef Jean and more can't save this project. Think of The Appeal as having a bucked load of C4 but causing no casualties with the explosion. It had the potential to be "the" album that officially sent Gucci over the top seeing that his first star moment was seemingly tarnished with jail time but it just falls under its own weight." (On Wax Magazine)
The Appeal: Georgia's Most Wanted's Score: Planet Ill: 3/5 HipHopDX: 3/5 Rolling Stone: 3/5 The Daily Iowan: 2/5 Mishka Blogin: C
Click here to purchase Gucci Mane's The Appeal: Georgia's Most Wanted.


text:
Detain or subpoena the pope for questioning in the child-rape scandal? You must be joking! All right then, try the only alternative formulation: declare the pope to be above and beyond all local and international laws, and immune when it comes to his personal and institutional responsibility for sheltering criminals. The joke there would be on us.The British author seems to be completely glossing over the fact that Benedict XVI, before he was elected pope, was the leader of the chief doctrinal office of the Catholic Church, the Congregation of the Doctrine of the Faith. Later in the column, Hitchens claimed that then-Cardinal Ratzinger "sent [a letter] to all Catholic bishops, enjoining them sternly to refer rape and molestation cases exclusively to his office. That would be bad enough in itself, since any person having knowledge of such a crime is legally obliged to report it to the police."
The case for bringing the head of the Catholic hierarchy within the orbit of law is easily enough made. All it involves is the ability to look at a naked emperor and ask the question "Why?" Mentally remove his papal vestments and imagine him in a suit, and Joseph Ratzinger becomes just a Bavarian bureaucrat who has failed in the only task he was ever set—that of damage control.
In Kentucky, the pope's lawyers have already signaled their intention to contest any such initiative by invoking "sovereign immunity," since His Holiness is also an alleged head of state. One wonders if sincere Catholics really desire to take refuge in this formulation. The so-called Vatican City, a political nonentity covering about 0.17 square miles of Rome, was created by Benito Mussolini in 1929 as part of his sweetheart deal between fascism and the papacy. It is the last survival of the political architecture of the Axis powers. Its bogus claim to statehood is now being used to give asylum to men like Cardinal Law.Where to begin with all this nonsense? Let's first address his claim that Vatican City is a "political nonentity." In a certain sense, this is true, because that city-state is not analogous to the Holy See, which conducts bi-lateral relations with 178 states around the world (according to the State Department's own background note), as well as the European Union. These ambassadors from these states are accredited to the Holy See, and not to Vatican City, and vice-versa, the nuncios (ambassadors) that the Pope sends in return to these states represent the Holy See. This framework had existed for centuries before Mussolini even came to power.
In this instance the church damns itself both ways. It invites our challenge—this is where the appeal to the European Court of Human Rights becomes relevant—to its standing as a state. And it calls attention to the repellent origins of that same state. Currently the Holy See has it both ways. For example, it is exempt from the annual State Department Human Rights Report precisely because it is not considered a state. (It maintains only observer status at the United Nations.)


text:
In my still feeble attempt to search "out there" for a Ray of Hope in pure authenticity, I once again come back limping. I don't know Ray Allen's private thoughts, and yes, he impressed me with his professionalism that keeps our world from spinning to a hell and hand basket. Now, I do not know, if it was his stated intention to demonstrate Unbuntu, but he certainly lead us to believe that is what he was about.
I harken back not to all of the Big Three comments when they first got together about shared sacrifice, but more recently as to Ray's comments about David West not accepting the assignment with Boston.
Now I was prepared to write all sorts of psychological retorts on what happen here, but owner Wyc Grouseback summed it simply as any good business person could: Ray Allen had a number (a dollar amount) ; if the Celtics hit that dollar amount and years, he would have dealt with all the other misgivings. He would have dealt with being dangled with trades; dealt with coming off the bench; dealt with issues with Rondo; dealt with basketball philosophy issues - a certain dollar amount would have dealt with ALL THAT.
I am not buying the whole, he took less money to go to Miami; if that was the case he would not have come back with a number and the whole sordid rationales that he can muster makes it all the more absurd.
Which comes back to the old adage that we as humans won't admit int he final analysis is that everyone HAS A PRICE.
Now I still have mad respect for Ray Allen as one of the best two-guards that has played; his work ethic, and his accomplishments; but at the end of the day he gave me the "letter of the law"; while Kevin Garnett give us hope too the ETHOS and the "spirit of the law"- meaning he has demonstrated (ala Tim Duncan) that lays it on the line on and off the court and "takes full responsibility for getting or not getting it DONE..
KG and Doc Rivers embrace at the end of game seven against the Heat said it all, and yes Keeps Hope Alive, that I might one day bear witness to moments of THE PRICELESS ....


text:
Posted by Web Staff - email | Facebook | Twitter
(WOIO) - They prey on your hopes and dreams and they leave town with your money!
19 Action News Investigative Reporter Danielle Serino with a warning about a clever new scam costing Cleveland residents thousands of dollars, and in some cases, their life savings!
Don't become their next victim!
Watch "Home, Swindled Home."
©2010 WOIO. All rights reserved.
844 Government
Baton Rouge, LA 70802
(225) 383-9999
EEO Report
Closed Captioning
WAFB FCC Public File
WBXH FCC Public File


text:
Alice Auma Lakwena – Mystic-Priestess-Visionary-Warrior-Messenger from God?
The woman who inspired thousands into Battle with mere sticks and stones…
January 1986 was a good year for many Ugandans, it was the year that the current President came into power, much of the central and western region of the country rejoiced, but in the north, in the land of the Acholis, there was a sense of doom and gloom, it looked all they had fought for and worked for had been lost.
Elements of the army that had fought against Yoweri Museveni's Resistance Army fled Kampala and blended back into their villages in northern Uganda while many others fled into South Sudan and regrouped hoping for another day.
The proud Acholi soldier warriors had been routed by Museveni's army of matooke growers (plantain banana) from central Uganda and cattle keepers from the western regions of Uganda. To the Acholi soldiers that was a simply too much to swallow.
The Acholi had lost their power in Uganda, their influence, their pride, their sense of identity. The Acholis had gained that power by being some of the best soldiers in the army of Uganda (this began in the colonial days of Uganda under the British), becoming people of influence and power…now in January of 1986; it was a dark night in land of the Acholis.
Into this masculine culture of soldiers and warriors, or a proud people, enter an insignificant woman who lacked all the credentials in the world. She was poor, un-educated, she simply lacked and yet it was this woman who would become the mother of the longest war in Uganda, an inspiration to thousands and a model for her cousin by the name of Joseph Kony.
Who was this Alice Auma, better known as Alice Lakwena?
Born in 1956 in the Acholi region of Uganda into a poor and un-educated family. She lived in the small town of Obit, a railroad town where she made a living selling flour and fish, others say she was a prostitute. She married twice, in both cases the men left her because she was barren. At one point, she became a practicing Catholic but we do not know much about her spiritual habits in those days.
In 1985, she claimed, that the spirit of the dead Italian Soldier Lakwena came to her and possessed her and she went insane. Her father took her to various witches but the condition did not improve in any way, if anything it became worse. Then she felt led by the spirit Lakwena to enter the Paraa area of Murchison Falls National Park and remained there for 40 days and a seeming clarity of mind and purpose, a sense of mission came to her as she sat along the powerful Nile River with its rapids and waterfalls. It was there that she claims to have communicated with the animals about civil war within Uganda, the condition of her Acholi people, spiritual life and more.
When she emerged from the Paraa area of Murchison Falls National Park after 40 days she became a medium, a spirit healer, a psychic claiming to heal people and a prophetess. It was then that the spirit (demon) Lakwena told her to quit healing people since it was senseless to heal while people were dying in a time of war and to lead her Acholi people into victory against the government.
Lakwena means messenger in the Acholi language and Alice certainly became that. Alice Lakwena guided by her spirit guide Lakwena began her Holy Spirit Movement and claimed to be in direct contact with him through Lakwena. This lowly woman, seller of fish and flour, barren, now gave birth of a movement that would recruit up to 15,000 men and lead them into battle against the new government's army in Kampala.
She gave them a strict spiritual code, including the renunciation of witchcraft, remain chaste, no smoking, drinking, or quarreling, to renounce all sin in their lives and dedicate themselves to the work of purifying the Acholi people and the nation of Uganda.
She promised that the bullets of the government soldiers would have no effect upon them if they lived a life of spiritual purity and anointed themselves with water and oil, that the stones they would use against the enemy would turn into grenades, and explode, that they would be victorious and cleanse Uganda of its sinful ways and turn it to God.
Alice Lakwena used a combination of myth, voodoo, and traditional beliefs with her unique brand of Christianity thrown in. (To refer to her Holy Spirit Movement as Christian or Christian fundamentalist movement is ludicrous since the real inspiration was a spirit guide by the name of Lakwena.) Alice became an inspirer of Acholi People; this priestess warrior entered her people's history at their time of need and despair and the time was just right for her vision-mission to take root and grow. Here you have a woman un-educated, unskilled in the art of war became an inspiration that mobilized thousands and led them into war without modern weapons but simply sticks and stones.
The first attack against the National Resistance Army took place near Lira in Northern Uganda. Armed with bags of stones, sticks, singing songs, sprinkling water all around, their bodies anointed with sim-sim oil to thwart the bullets they marched into war. Surprisingly to most, they inflicted great losses on the National Resistance Army that first day even though the rocks did not explode into grenades, and the bullets were not stopped by the Sim-Sim Oil, The warrior priestess soldiers prevailed.
What is amazing is that Alice Lakwena would not attack in secret. She would openly announce the impending attack of her troops. Her soldiers, armed with sticks and stones, with the shouts of war, inspired by the warrior princess, the Holy Spirit Movement prevailed victoriously against an army with lethal weapons. The movement added weapons later on and a quite a few NRA soldiers were killed in combat and even senior officers were injured, and executed.
Alice Lakwena did not lack recruits and added new bases in and near the Acholi area of Northern Uganda including in Lira where the Langi people live. It was amazing to many as to how this woman without an education could inspire so many
How could this have happened? One can only come up with the effects of a form of psychological warfare, there is the power of myth, belief of Alice Lakwena's troops that they were truly invincible.
Alice Lakwena took her troops into eastern Uganda where once again, the Holy Spirit movement prevailed and even a senior officer from the National Resistance Army was captured. Everyone was amazed including the National Resistance Army. From Soroti to Mbale, Alice Lakwena and her troops were victorious, Kampala seemed in sight. The Holy Spirit movement seemed unstoppable but then…
They had reached the Busoga Kingdom area of Uganda overrunning various elements of the Ugandan government army until they reached the area near Jinja where the NRA finally defeated her. The best troops were brought in, artillery and Katusha rocket launchers, the rebellion was over, the spirit Lakwena left Alice Auma and she fled into exile into Kenya never to return to Uganda.
The army celebrated its victory but it was short lived when it was announced that another rebel group called "Lord's Resistance Army" had declared war on the government of Uganda.
Alice died in a refugee camp in Northern Kenya in January 17 - 2007 after a prolonged illness. Alice Lakwena is still remembered in Uganda by those she inspired, those she fought and those who were in the path of her army.
Alice Lakwena barren in her natural life, gave birth to the longest war in Uganda, she was the mother to what would be the war of wars in the Pearl of Africa. Something she probably never imagined in her mind when she set out with her mission that her cousin Joseph Kony would take her ideas and turn them into violent terror, most upon his own people.
Alice Auma Lakewena is no longer with us, her father, a preacher of a small church in the area of Gulu says, she went finished her mission for God. To some she was evil, others she was an inspiration, to most a mystery.
Before her death, she encouraged her cousin or nephew Joseph Kony to give up fighting and to make peace so that the Acholi people could live in peace.
Alice Auma Lakwena will remain as someone unique in the pages of Uganda's history in that she started the longest conflict inside of Uganda and at the end of the day; it would hurt her own people, the Acholis. It was they who would pay a heavy price and lose most everything that they had and held dear, especially their children…from Kampala…jon
Excerpt from the Sudan Tribune - article by Dr. John Akec
Sunday 31 December 2006
Alice Auma (Lakwena), on the other hand, was probably the Mahadi answer for Northern Uganda, a region which was facing great challenges from the invading armies of Southern Uganda. A former spiritual healer in vicinity of Gulu, Alice Auma founded Holy Spirit Movement (HSM) at the time when Museveni NRA (National Resistance Army) had defeated Uganda Peoples Democratic Army (UPDA) and was advancing northward to tighten its grips on Acholiland . Claiming inspiration by the Holy Spirit through Lakwena (a name of a dead Italian soldier that means 'messenger), Alice Auma (came to call herself Alice Lakwena) wrote to missionaries to explain the reason for forming Holy Spirit Movement (HSM):
"The good Lord who had sent the Lakwena decided to change his work from that of a doctor to that of a military commander for one simple reason: it is useless to cure a man today only that he be killed the next. So it became an obligation on his part to stop the bloodshed before continuing his work as a doctor."
Notice the implication of that letter: Lakwena is a spirit of a man inside a woman (Alice Auma). Holy Spirit Movement (initially made up of Acholi fighters) scored military victories in Northern Uganda against NRA. Her forces advanced towards Kampala where the Movement won the support of members of other tribes. Some of her military tactics included attacking and running towards the enemy while singing hymns. The tactic was very effective at first. However, when HSM was about to capture Kampala, many of fighters were mercilessly slain by a raining shells of artillery of NRA. HSM suffered devastating military losses and defeat. Alice Auma fled to Kenya claiming that the spirit of Lakwena had left her. To this day she lived as a refugee in Kenya. But her story is an extraordinary tale of heroism, nationalism, and spiritualism all blended together. Alice Auma Lakwena was and is an extraordinary woman by any standard!
To some as you can see from the above article, Alice Auma Lakwena is a kind of Acholi "Joan of Arc." Westerners usually tie her together with Kony, but there is a difference, Kony practices violence for violence sake, even and especially against his own people. Alice Lakwena was quite different in that regard and she and Kony did not see the issues facing the Acholi people through the similar eyes...though Kony at times claimed that he was now the carrier of the spirit.
Ugandans are divided on Alice Lakwena and it depends on where in Uganda one is from. Those from the south, the west of Uganda see her as a evil woman whereas many northerners see her as Dr. Akec above.
President Museveni in a radio interview reported in the New Vision Newspaper.
Uganda's President Museveni's commenting on the death
of Alice Lakwena, Museveni said the government had facilitated the
return of her body from Kenya, where she died recently.
Invisible Children is using Uganda for its own gain
US troops arrive to 'kill or capture' Kony
Sponsor a child in Northern Uganda at the Pader Orphan Caring Project or just read the amazing story of each young person.
Daily Uganda Life-Travel Tips-Cultural Insights-Updates on Facebook.
Sign up for the monthly African Insights Blog - Newsletter here
Last updated: 24 November 2010
Alice Auma Lakwena - to some a fool, to others "Joan of Arc of Acholi Land"
Copyright © 1996-2011 by Kabiza Wilderness Safaris. Copyright © 1996-2011 by Kabiza Wilderness Safaris. All material on this "Kabiza.com" site is the exclusive property of Kabiza Wilderness Safaris. E-mail for permission to use material on this site.