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Anbar Rising
A status update on the province
The formation of the Sahawah Al Anbar, or Anbar Awakening, the grouping of Anbari tribes and former insurgents opposed to al Qaeda's Taliban like rule, traces back to last year, when al Qaeda in Iraq conducted its campaign of murder and intimidation throughout Anbar province. Sheik Abdul Sattar Al-Rishawi and his allies among the tribes and anti al Qaeda insurgent groups began forming alliances in the spring and summer of 2006. In September, the groups established the Jazeera Council in Ramadi, and began working more closely with Coalition forces to begin securing neighborhoods in Ramadi. The Sahawah Al Anbar, which followed the success of the Jazeera Council, was formed in October. The Awakening provided the disparate groups with a political platform, and began to work closely with the Coalition and establishing ties with the Iraqi government.
"Sheikh Sattar is authentic to his culture, supports the tribal system in the confines of democracy, and despises al Qaeda in Iraq," said Colonel John A. Koenig (USMC), the head of the II Marine Expeditionary Force G-5 (Governance and Economics), in a recent interview. Sheikh Sattar is also described as both a nationalist and a friend of America. "In Sattar's office, there are two flags - one is Iraqi, the other American." Sattar, according to Col Koenig and other sources in the military and intelligence establishment, wants to build a nationalist, non secular party.
This spring the Anbar Awakening decided to change name to Iraqi Awakening, Or Sahawah Al Iraq, in an effort to nationalize the movement. "The Awakening has contacts in Salahadin and other provinces," said Col Koenig. Just this week, the Diyala Awakening was formed in the eastern province to counter al Qaeda's rise. Other Awakening movements are being formed throughout Iraq.
Politics, but not as usual
An interesting dynamic is developing on the political front in Anbar province. While Sheikh Sattar's Awakening movement is gaining in popularity, the Iraqi Islamic Party is firmly entrenched politically in Anbar. The Iraqi Islamic Party gained its provincial seats during the low turnout during the January 2005 election, so they are not necessarily representative of the Anbari people. Some tribes, like the Albu Nimr in Hit, are resisting the lure of joining the Awakening. Brought to power in the provincial elections in 2005, the Iraqi Islamic Party makes up the vast majority of elected officials in the province. The technocrats - many who rose through the ranks during Saddam Hussein's rein, are largely from the Iraqi Islamic Party.
As the Awakening grows in strength, political frictions have arisen between the two parties. The members of the Awakening movement are deeply resentful of the Iraqi Islamic Party for allowing the security situation in Anbar to deteriorate, and for fleeing the province or going to ground as al Qaeda and other Salafist insurgent groups terrorized the tribes from 2004 to 2006. "The common view among the Awakening is the Iraqi Islamic Party sympathetic to Islamists," said Col Koenig. Member of the Islamic Party often refer to Sattar's group as bandits, militias and thugs.
Col Koenig expects the Iraqi Islamic Party and the Anbar Awakening will be rival political parties. But while the rhetoric between the rival parties may be heated at times, the differences have not led to political violence. The two parties are well aware of the dangers of infighting, and are cooperating in the security sphere.
"We don't want to be like the Palestinians," Col Koenig said is a common refrain among member of both parties, in reference to the fighting between the rival Fatah and Hamas groups in Gaza and the West Bank. "[The Awakening and Iraqi Islamic Party] are like two feuding brothers who ultimately want what's best for their family, and unite against outside attacks," referring to fighting al Qaeda.
A provincial meeting
The first full provincial council meeting was held on May 3. Of the 49 members on council, 40 were in attendance for the 8 hour meeting. The majority of the provincial council is made up of technocrats - lawyers, judges, engineers and educators. Most are aligned with the Iraqi Islamic Party, however an American military intelligence source informed us eight members on the council affiliated with the Iraqi Islamic Party have defected to Sattar's Awakening party. Tribal sheikhs are also on the council, and the Anbar Awakening has been allotted eight seats.
Last week's provincial council, which Sheikh Sattar attended, is viewed as a great success. "Up until one month ago, the focus of government meetings was on security and fighting al Qaeda in Iraq and extremists," said Col Koenig. "Now the council is entering a transition phase, from fighting to governing." The security situation was considered stable enough in most of Anbar the focus of the May 3 meeting was on governance and reconstruction.
As security situation is improving, representative have left hiding or self imposed exile, and are now claiming government funding and performing their functions as government employees. The economic situation is "picking up speed like a flywheel gaining momentum... as security improves," said Col Koenig.
The rise of the Provincial Security Forces
A critical aspect of the recent success in Anbar province on the security front is the ability of the Anbar Salvation Council to secure some of the most dangerous regions in the province with tribal levies. The early manifestations included groups like the Thuwara Al Anbar, small bands of tribal fighters and former insurgents that both hunted al Qaeda and worked with U.S. and Iraqi forces to identify al Qaeda cells in the cities and towns. I encountered one such unit in Khalidiya in January of 2007.
These units have been augmented by more formalized paramilitary units of tribal fighters. Originally called Emergency Response Units, or ERUs, are battalion sized formations manned by about 750 tribal volunteers each. The ERUs have since been renamed Provincial Security Forces, or PSFs [we have been able to identify 2 of the units, PSF-1 and PSF-2, in the reporting]. All together, there are over 10,000 PSF and Iraqi Police serving in Anbar. Over 2,600 additional recruits are expected this spring, with a total of 14,000 police expected on duty by the end of 2007.
The PSFs fall directly under control of the Ministry of the Interior, and are controlled by the Provincial Police Chief. While the media reporting often refers to the PSFs as "militias," they are officially sanctioned by the government of Iraq. There are currently 8 PSFs formed, with discussions of forming 2 more units, pending the approval and funding of the Ministry of Interior. Currently the PSF recruits receive five days of formal training, and receive light weapons, vests and other equipment. The goal is to push the units through more formalized training given to the Iraqi Police. Additional funds from the Interior Ministry have not been allotted to this project at this time.
Ramadi, AO Denver on the rise
The political and security developments have had a dramatic impact on the situation in Anbar. The success in Ramadi, which used to be the most deadly city in Iraq, has been well documented. Attacks, which averaged 25 a day last summer, and spiked to as much as 50 a day according to a U.S. military intelligence source, have been reduced to 4 per day. In AO Denver, the expanse of Anbar from Hit westward to Husaybah on the border, the entire region is averaging 5 attacks per day. "The quality of these attacks are generally poor," said Colonel Koenig.
The U.S. and Iraqi militaries are finding more IEDs that are being detonated against their forces. While weapons caches are being discovered, the security forces are finding few new caches, indicating the insurgency doesn't have the time or capacity to restock or create new ones.
Haditha, once one of the most violent towns in the Euphrates River Valley, is essentially quiet. The Souks are now open in Ramadi. The markets in Hit and Husaybah, which sits directly on the Syrian border and once was declared an Islamic State by al Qaeda, are thriving. "I am tempted to take off my vest & walk around," the open market of Hit and Husaybah, said Col Koenig. The government in Husaybah has been so effective that the CMOC [Civil Military Operations Center], which provided services to the civilians, has been closed. "We can sit on the roof in Ramadi and watch the sunset without fear of snipers," said Major Jeffery Pool, the lead Public Affairs Officer for Multinational Forces West.
Captain Eric Coulson, an Army officer in the Army Reserve commanding an Engineer Company in the Fallujah - Ramadi corridor, discussed the success in securing Ramadi in a posting at his blog, Badgers Forward. "When we arrived in the Fall, the entire city was sectioned off by barriers, much like the ones in Baghdad that have caused so much teeth gnashing in recent days," said Captain Coulson in Michigan. "Back then no shops were open, people hardly moved about the streets. The streets were filthy; the debris of city dwellers eking out a survival existence. The city landscape nothing but rubble, the product of the insurgents who wanted to bring sharia law to the people of Iraq."
"Today the streets are much cleaner; large amounts of rubble have been removed," Captain Coulson remarked. "What were once the remnants of buildings have been cleared and turned into vacant lots ready for a new existence."
Specialist Gordon Alanko, a blogger in Captain Coulson's company who writes at Acute Politics, agrees. "I've personally seen this," said Specialist Alanko, in an email communication. "West and Central Ramadi are alive with people and small markets in a way I haven't seen since I've been here. Eastern Ramadi is still stagnant until you reach the city outskirts."
The Fallujah Ramadi corridor was the scene of some deadly chemical suicide attacks against the Anbar Salvation Council, supporting tribes and U.S. and Iraqi forces in the winter and early spring of 2007. "Multinational Forces West truly believes the chlorine attacks are designed for maximum IO [information operations] impact," said Col Koenig. "The IPs [police] and the U.S. public are number one targets. Al Qaeda wants to frighten police and influence events in the U.S." These attacks have been largely contained for the time being, as the Iraqi government and Coalition hopes to build on the recent success in the region.
Anbar's battlegrounds
Despite the progress in large swaths of Anbar province - from Fallujah in the east to Husaybah on the Syrian border, and Rutbah to the south - the regions north, south and east of Fallujah remain a battleground. The towns and cities of Amiriya, Ferris, Zaidon and Karma are the focal points of al Qaeda and allied Sunni insurgent's power bases in Anbar province.
The Amiriya/Ferris region has been the scene of intense battles between the Anbar Salvation Council and Iraqi and U.S. forces on one side, and al Qaeda and its allies on the other. Amiriya was the scene of two major battles between opposing forces in the month of March. "The Amiriya/Ferris region is typical Iraqi farmland, bound on one side by the river, and the other side by barren desert," said Specialist Alanko. "The region has been the scene of much fighting between the Anbar Salvation Council and al Qaeda in Iraq, and is home to a recent, ongoing push by US Army and Marine troops" to secure the area.
On March 2, over 300 al Qaeda attacked the the town of Amiriya in an attempt to assassinate a prominent leader of the Anbar Salvation Council. The leader of the Anbar Salvation Council was to attend the funeral of one of those killed in the February 24 suicide bombing against a mosque in Habbaniyah, where the cleric preached against al Qaeda. The Iraqi police in Amiriya held off the attack, radioed for backup from Iraqi Army, police and the Anbar Salvation Council. U.S. air support also engaged in fighting. At least 50 al Qaeda were killed and 80 captured in the largest battle in Anbar province this year.
On March 20, in the second major battle in Amiriya in less than three weeks, a force of over 100 al Qaeda clashed with the Anbar Salvation Council, backed by Iraqi Security Forces. Thirty-nine al Qaeda were killed and 7 were captured during the battle. Again, the target is believed to be a senior leader of the Anbar Salvation Council.
Zaidon is a town where Saddam Hussein allowed Islamist extremist to thrive during his time in power. Religious leaders preach hate and jihad, and provide the ideological underpinning for the jihad, according to a senior military intelligence analyst. "Zaidon is the canal-laced farmland north of the Euphrates on the south side of Fallujah," said Specialist Alanko. "Many of the insurgents holed up in Fallujah before the Army and Marines cleared the city in November of 2004 escaped across these same canals, and the area continues to be a problem to this day."
Perhaps the most insurgent infested region is Karma, where Task Force 145 - the hunter killer teams that target al Qaeda leaders and operatives - conduct near daily raids. "Karma was a nasty town when I started working in Fallujah, and if anything, it has gone downhill since," said Specialist Alanko. "More and larger bombs appear in the roads, and the faces in town have gone from indifferent to angry. Many AQI fighters have been killed or captured in the area, but it seems that, for now at least, Karma remains one of the hottest holdouts of the AQI insurgency."
Karma was the scene of the shoot down of a Marine Ch-46 helicopter in February. Capitan Coulson's company lost three soldiers in Karma after they attempted to recovery the helo. Several al Qaeda anti aircraft teams have been destroyed in the region. JD Johannes, an embedded independent journalist, witnessed a complex suicide attack on the Army outpost at OP Omar in early April.
A process, not an event
More work needs to be done to push al Qaeda from its havens in eastern Anbar, as well as build on the gains in Fallujah, Ramadi and the western regions. Al Qaeda's havens in Karma, Amiriya, Ferris and Zaidon have a direct impact on the security situation in Baghdad, as these regions are used as suicide bomb factories and al Qaeda training camps and refuges.
The progress seen today in Anbar would have been unthinkable just one year ago, when al Qaeda began to reassert itself after taking large losses during the joint U.S. and Iraqi campaign to clear the western portions of the province. The turning of the tribes against al Qaeda is a crucial piece of the puzzle, but so was the perseverance of U.S. forces in the region. "We are standing on the hard work of the Marines and soldiers here last year who worked to build the Iraqi police," said Colonel Koenig.
READER COMMENTS: "Anbar Rising"
Posted by ECH at May 11, 2007 4:05 PM ET:
Great report Bill,
It is clear new provental elections would be a massive boon for Anbar (and Diyala as well).
Posted by GK at May 11, 2007 4:15 PM ET:
Sadly, this might be too little, too late. With even RINO Senators calling for withdrawal, the terrorists know that they just have to lay low for another 9-12 months, and then resume anew after the US is gone....
Posted by ctc at May 11, 2007 4:31 PM ET:
Heartening news. Hopefully this is more than passing. Unfortunately this is now in the political realm. Is it a day late and a dollar short for the politicos? Anyone care to speculate what it will take to get continued political support in Congress and among the public for the surge come sept?
Posted by Max at May 11, 2007 4:47 PM ET:
In spite of this hopeful news report, the only thing standing between a real victory and defeat in Iraq is the willingness of the Iraqi government to come together and move forward on the oil law and other issues like the constitution.
Even with the Awakening, if the government does not address these problems, it could end up with real civil war yet. Let's hope and pray that doesn't happen.
Posted by Todd at May 11, 2007 5:02 PM ET:
GK, I share in your frustration, but having heard Shiekh Sattar flies an American and Iraqi flag in his office, I tend to think this momentum can and will hold. Worst case scenario, these guys are a competent, US-loyal militia we can support like the northern alliance in Afghantistan, only with heavier weapons and real bucks. They seem to be awfully motivated to go after AQ seeing as how their own survival depends on it today and will continue to after we leave. Diyala operations will probably be the real indicator for more widespread tribal momentum come game-time. We definitely need to do our best to nurture any anti-AQ relationships in the Shia and Sunni communities in order to maintain stability when the political will completely crumbles here at home.
Posted by D. Ensley at May 11, 2007 5:20 PM ET:
Great article! Maybe the most important point of this discussion of Anbar, is that it proves that a combination of Iraqi cooperation, dedicated American operations, and a lot of perserverance can pacify even the worst insurgent hotbed. Al-qaeda made a big mistake when they tried to intimidate Anbar. Now we just have to work hard to keep the momentum rolling.
Posted by ECH at May 11, 2007 5:33 PM ET:
"Worst case scenario, these guys are a competent, US-loyal militia we can support like the northern alliance in Afghantistan, only with heavier weapons and real bucks."
There is by far the biggest problem. The US refuses to really equip the Iraq Salvation Council because it doesn't want to be accused of supporting a Sunni militia in Iraq so they leave it up to the Interior Ministry who gives them almost nothing, because they don't want to support a potental Sunni militia.
Bing West made clear in his last report from Iraq that the Interior Ministry doesn't want to give these guys anything whatsoever.
A pro-American Sunni militia like the Peshmerga is just what we need in Iraq. The Sunnis will never get rid of the insurgency without it as they know we are leaving within a year to a year and a half and want protection from the Shia. The Shia also won't give the Sunnis one red cent if the Sunnis don't have a militia for leverage. If Sadr and Hakim think they can give the Sunnis nothing they will do just that.
Posted by Neo-andertal at May 11, 2007 6:13 PM ET:
Thanks for laying out the history ASC and extent of movement. It helps put things in perspective.
I see are five major areas to emphasize.
1. Internal security within tribal areas and force protection.
2. Nurturing local political relationships that can eventually form the bases of regional self governance.
3. Eliminating local AQI enclaves.
4. Expanding into new areas.
5. Getting support from and working with the central government.
Finding some sort of balance between competing priorities is a huge challenge. Fielding fighters and their quality is going to be the major limiting factor on expansion. ASC fighters with little training will need a great deal of support to go after AQI strongholds. I do hope they put particular emphasis on spreading into new areas. I wish there were more time since the ideal sort of places to spread the movement are in rural low population density areas where tribal affiliations are strongest. Neither AQI or US/IA forces can be everywhere at once, so such tribal forces would be ideal for providing a security presence and undercutting AQI support in the rural areas. Problem is that sort of plan takes more time to develop than we really have.
Posted by Fight4TheRight at May 11, 2007 7:52 PM ET:
Great Report! Terrific update and astounding details of this important movement.
And I agree with Todd that the Diyala operations will be center stage - I'll be watching those developments with great hopes.
One thing I'd love to see at some point in time, is an all-encompassing work that would truly define Al Qaeda's efforts in Iraq vs. the so-called "Civil War" of sects. I'm not an expert in this field, not even more than just an interested and intrigued spectator but I find myself infuriated by the Political use of "Our U.S. troops are caught in the middle of a bloody civl war" - I guess I don't see it that way and wish I had some articulate articles to confront those that lean on that argument, time and time again.
Posted by Tom W. at May 12, 2007 5:05 AM ET:
"Sadly, this might be too little, too late. With even RINO Senators calling for withdrawal, the terrorists know that they just have to lay low for another 9-12 months, and then resume anew after the US is gone....
Tragic indeed that our best counterinsurgency expert, General Petreaus, insists that we can win, but endless numbers of bloggers, blog commenters, pundits, analysts, authors, bitter old retired generals, and politicians--none of whom have ever set foot in Iraq--refuse to believe him.
Posted by Anti-Herman at May 12, 2007 3:41 PM ET:
Tom C
Great point. The tragedy is that alot of the worst commentary is from "conservatives". It's hard to believe that this site is not required posting at every conservative website.
Posted by Rich Casebolt at May 15, 2007 11:59 PM ET:
Bill -- I'm unable to get a trackback through, but you've helped to inspire a new message for Congress from me:
"Anbar Rising" -- GOOGLE IT!
Posted by DJ Elliott at May 16, 2007 1:24 AM ET:
Even CNN is jumping on the bandwagon.


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Eager Australian fans will be able to wrap their ears around Last Dinosaurs' album debut "In A Million Years" in just under two weeks, but it won't be the only country that will get their Dinos fix. Soon the United Kingdom will also get a slice of Last Dinosaurs' debut with Dew Process securing a release through record label Fiction. UK Booking agents The Agency Group have also come on board, with both teams now throwing their full weight behind the Brisbane band.
Since its inception by The Cure's producer Chris Parry in 1978, Fiction has been the exclusive label to release The Cure for over 20 years. However, in 2004 a small group of music-lovers opened Fiction's doors wider to a few deserving bands. It now plays home to the likes of Crystal Castles, elbow, Ian Brown, Kaiser Chief, The Maccabees, Snow Patrol, The Naked and Famous and White Lies. Now Australian act Last Dinosaurs will count these luminaries as label mates.
The Agency Group's Natasha Bent has also put her hand up to represent the band in the UK and Europe as their booking agent. With acts like Foster the People, Gotye, Passion Pit, Darwin Deez, Unknown Mortal Orchestra and Foals under her wing, it's safe to say she'll be lining up many shows for Last Dinosaurs in the UK this year.
Single 'Zoom' has already started to make a few waves in the UK with the likes of Bloc Party tweeting the band's video and letting the world know that they are 'very much enjoying the guitar riffing'. Fans in the UK have also made their voice heard, demanding via email, facebook and twitter for the band to head over to England soon.
Back home, Australian fans have shown their support, with Last Dinsoaurs' February launch shows all now SOLD OUT. Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane are in for a treat as the band will be taking their debut album to the stage in front of packed audiences. For those who weren't lucky enough to score tickets to the launch shows there is some good news on the horizon, with hints of more coming soon.
Last Dinosaurs "In a Million Years" will be out on 2 March 2012. Pre-order the album at www.lastdinosaurspreorder.com
Having just released the first teaser 'Crazy' taken from the band's forthcoming debut LP due out mid-2015, Brisbane's Art of Sleeping announce an east coast tour of the same name. Shortly after their scheduled performances on some of the countries biggest stages over the New Year at Falls Festival, the band are set to take the stage in Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane this Summer.
Bernard Fanning offers up 'GROW AROUND YOU' lifted from his latest #1 album Departures. Berneard and his band will be stopping by the Fotty Show AFL Grand Final show on Thursday 26th September for a special televised headline-performance.
Returning in a wall of shimmering synth and hook-laden guitars, Guineafowl delivers a partnering video for new single 'Little Death (Make It Rain)' and announces details of a special EP launch night taking over Sydney's Club 77 on Thursday 10th October

subset: commoncrawl


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Nearly half, or 43%, of workers said they would opt for a lower salary in exchange for a larger employer contribution to their 401(k) plan, a Fidelity Investments survey of more than 1,000 working retirement savers found.
Related: 5 big retirement mistakes
"Employer contributions play a vital role in helping Americans reach their retirement savings goals -- these contributions represent more than 35 percent of the total contributions on average to an employee's workplace savings account," said Doug Fisher, senior vice president of workplace initiatives at Fidelity.
Fidelity noted that many working Americans are only able to save the suggested 10% to 15% of their salary with the help of their employer's contributions.
According to Fidelity's data, 79% of workplace retirement plans offer some sort of employer contribution, whether it be a 401(k) match or profit sharing.
Related: Will you have enough to retire?
Employers pitch in an average of $3,540 (or 4.3% of salary) into worker retirement accounts each year, according to Fidelity.
Over 10 years of saving, that match alone can grow to almost $50,000, assuming 5% annual returns.


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January 26, 2015
January 26, 2015
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January 20, 2015
Catholic Schools Week
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January 20, 2015
Speech & Debate
Damien's Speech and Debate team is off to a great start this year! At last month's Punahou tournament Damien took 1st (Ian Bento), 3rd (Ronnie Vacca-Farley), and 6th (Patrick Moloney) in Congressional debate. Also Senior Varsity Debaters Matteo Muehlhauser, Kenneth Go, Riley Mattison and Nicholas Miller were all recognized for superior performances. This past weekend, at the first State Qualifying tournament at Parker School, Varsity Debaters Matteo Muehlhauser and Kenneth Go took 2nd place in Varsity Debate becoming the first Damien Debate pairing to qualify for the 2015 State Tournament. Patrick Moloney also qualified for the 2015 State Tournament in Impromptu Speaking with a solid 1st place finish. Congratulations Damien debaters and let's continue to support the team's success in the future!


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Nov 14, 2012 1:09 PM by Caroline Lowe
The deadline for candidates to apply online for Santa Maria police chief is 5 p.m. Wednesday.
On Tuesday, Interim Chief Ralph Martin told KSBY he was seriously considering applying for the permanent position.
Martin was appointed to the temporary position after Chief Danny Macagni retired in August.
Martin retired after serving 35 years with the Los Angeles County Sheriff's department.
Candidates who make the cut will appear before a panel for interviews. The date for the interviews is tentatively set for November 29th.
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32 minutes ago


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The plundering escalated during the Cultural Revolution. By the seventies, Tibet was like a "giant garage sale," in the words of Jasper Becker, a Beijing-based journalist who has covered the region for decades. "Entire lots would sell for millions of dollars at a time," he recalls. "The Chinese organized peasants to go around and dig up old treasure to melt down. It was all pretty mad." Back then, dealers would move handicrafts and porcelain across the mountains to Kathmandu, or by plane to Beijing. The goods ended up in Europe or America, rising in price tenfold or more along the way. One dealer says he traded old T-shirts for woven rugs worth hundreds of dollars. "Nobody knew the value of anything," he recalls. "Tibet was a gold mine."
Nowadays, Nick tells me when we land in Lhasa, the country is more threadbare but the dealers' routes are pretty much the same. We met by accident on the day of our flight, in Chengdu, capital of China's Sichuan province. Permits are required to enter Tibet, but it's simple to skirt the rules in Chengdu, home to China's spiciest food and most rampant corruption. Nick and I both booked the same bogus group trip with the same black-market agent. We both planned to skip the bus tours of Lhasa and disappear into the labyrinth of alleys that dart in and out of the medieval architecture. I asked him to be my Virgil in the underworld of art smuggling, on condition of anonymity. Eventually, he overcame his impulse to do me violence and agreed.
Nick didn't start out as a smuggler. In the seventies, he was just another long-haired Dutch traveler on Asia's hippie trail, buying small pieces to sell as a lark. At that time Tibetan art was still marginally valued; the buyers were casual collectors and owners of specialty shops in Europe and North America. "None of us knew anything about art in the beginning, but we learned," he says.
He shows off his expertise as we stroll the Barkhor, the sacred circuit around the seventh-century Jokhang, Tibet's most important temple. Wrapped in crimson and maroon fabric, Buddhists from across the plateau crowd the cobbled path, spinning prayer wheels, repeating mantras as they circle the Barkhor in a clockwise direction. Soon, we are swept up by the procession. I watch pilgrims slip their hands inside their robes before passing Nick some object to sell, a chunk of silver or statue. Nick closes his fist and, just as quickly, gives the trinket back. He rarely stops for a good look. Rolling it around in his hand, feeling the weight and shape, is usually sufficient. "It's mostly junk these days," he explains.
Nearly everyone has something for sale. Back in town, we're besieged at each corner, then led down dead-end alleys, into old courtyards, up and down stairs, past howling dogs, into dark basements. Deals are sealed slowly, with much haggling. In a house adorned with gold-trimmed thangkas, our host reverently unwraps a scrap of ornately decorated metal. Nick turns it over carefully, admiring the carving. "It's clearly been pulled from a temple," he says, "but it's broken. Whole, it would be valuable. Like this, it's hard to sell."
Later, in another dingy back room, we're shown a pair of carved leather plates so old that the lacquer glaze has chipped away. "Smell them," Nick advises. A quick whiff sends me reeling, amid much laughter. The odor spans generations. (In Tibet, a colorful but smelly place, cleaning is relegated to the once-a-year Bathing Festival.) The sellers want $100. Nick reckons that the better piece might fetch that much in Nepal. Without too much effort, he buys both for $10, planning to give them to a friend. Nick visits Tibet four or five times a year, but isn't really after trifles. "Usually, I try to make enough with just one or two pieces to pay for my trip," he says. Thus far, his best find is a dorje, a small bronze scepter that monks roll in their hands during religious ceremonies. Reproductions go for $5 to $50 in the markets. "But this one is real," he says assuredly. "I figure it's worth eight thousand."


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Document Type Master's Dissertation Author Nyanjom, Michael email@example.com URN etd-02032008-090948 Document Title Corporate entrepreneurship orientation in Botswana : pursuing innovating opportunities Degree MPhil Department Business Management Supervisor
Advisor Name Title Dr M Botha Committee Chair Keywords
- corporate entrepreneurship
- creativity
- corporate entrepreneurship orientation
- innovation
Date 2007-08-29 Availability unrestricted Abstract This research dissertation presents a study which increases the understanding of how corporate firms in Botswana can develop and enhance entrepreneurial innovations and encourage entrepreneurial activity within their organisational boundaries. By so doing such organisations create an entrepreneurial oriented firm where pursuit for innovating opportunities thrive, thereby increasing their competitiveness as well as performance. This study aims to determine how such organisations culture a dynamic link between the pursuit of innovation and the essence of Corporate Entrepreneurship (CE) Orientation as a conduit to building the entrepreneurial organisation.Existing studies carried out in the area of entrepreneurship in Botswana mirror on the areas of financing entrepreneurial firms and types of ownership. A search conducted on internet sources, University of Botswana data base as well as literature journals revealed no evidence of CE studies in Botswana. Therefore, there exists a literature gap in the area of CE studies on Botswana which this study seeks to bridge. Models established by studies in the area of CE elsewhere are used instrumentally in this study.
The study addresses the research problem by examining how existing firms in Botswana represent the concept of an entrepreneurial organisation within the sphere of corporate entrepreneurship. The intention is to identify and seek the knowledge, attitude and belief of the individual's potential as corporate entrepreneurs, their ability to be innovative and how such innovation is brought to fruition in such settings. The study adopted a cross sectional, formal study approach using primary data sources. It targeted a sample of 100 individuals operating within the sample frame of a corporate organisation in Botswana which employs over 100 employees. A research instrument in form of a questionnaire was used to obtain data. Simple random sampling was employed. The resulting data set was analysed and presented by means of descriptive and quantitative statistics using SAS package software of the University of Pretoria.
The study proves the inextricable link between CE orientation and the pursuit of innovation as a conduit to enhancing entrepreneurial activities in companies in Botswana. The findings however show that the level of innovation is affected by the perception of the innovation process comprising opportunity identification, generation and exploitation.
The findings of the study helps large corporate companies in Botswana to appreciate and develop entrepreneurial organisations. In such organisations, Corporate Entrepreneurial Orientations are an essential base which leads to the pursuit of innovation within corporate borders. In essence, the corporate entrepreneurial activity inherent within corporate borders raises immunity against complacency and bureaucracy. It affords the organisation the impetus for coping with a variety of simulated strategies and options in the competitive arena in which the organisation finds itself. Breeding entrepreneurial activity within corporate borders also leads the organisation to new and innovative ways of responding to the windows of opportunities that enhances potential for growth as well as contributing to the organisations performance through maximising utilisation of the inherent internal capacities and deriving a strategic fit therefrom.
© University of Pretoria 2007
Please cite as follows:
Nyanjom, MDO 2007, Corporate entrepreneurship orientation in Botswana : pursuing innovating opportunities, MPhil dissertation, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, viewed yymmdd < http://upetd.up.ac.za/thesis/available/etd-02032008-090948 >
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In the past couple years, Illinois communities and households have been leaving behind Com Ed. The Citizens Utility Board, or CUB, says last year Illinois led the nation with a 562 percent increase in switching to alternative suppliers, selling cheaper electricity. But CUB's Jim Chilsen say this summer ComEd and Ameren will be freed from long-term contracts that kept their prices higher.
Gov. Pat Quinn today signed four consumer-protection laws banning false phone charges known as "cramming," lowering utility costs, and helping resolve billing and credit issues.
"When everyday people work together for the common good, we can improve our state," Quinn said. "We need to keep fighting for consumer rights in Illinois and ensure those rights are protected from those who would take advantage of them."


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J.H. Williams III: A multiple award winning creator in both illustration, design, and writing.
The Story So Far…
J.H. grew up in the Bay Area of California where his obsession with comics began. His love for Micronauts toys prompted him to check out the comic by Bill Mantlo and Michael Golden. An addict was born, first he was drawn in by the stories and then the art of the books he was picking up. He started noticing names attached to these books and realized people actually did this for a living. Then, at the ripe old age of 8 he decided comics would be his life..err..career.
Drawing every day and getting critiques at conventions from working professionals he honed his craft, and eventually, with a helpful nudge from Howard Chaykin, started getting work.
J.H. has been a professional comic book creator since 1991. The bulk of his career has been with DC Comics, the great and powerful. Among some of his earliest work includes a mini-series, Deathwish for the Milestone imprint, Batman, Starman, the Elseworlds graphic novel Justice Riders, to name a few. Also part of his early career was a very personal project, Chase which he co-created and co-wrote in addition to his art chores.
This was followed by The Son Of Superman graphic novel with writer Howard Chaykin. But ultimately, it was Chase that brought a career defining offer he couldn't refuse, Promethea with Alan Moore. The 32 issues of Promethea were at times daunting, but J.H. enjoys a challenge and was very grateful for the experience. Promethea earned numerous nominations and awards for all involved including an Eisner win for J.H. and company for Best Single Issue in 2001 and a Best Artist win at the 2006 Harveys.
Other notable works are Desolation Jones with Warren Ellis, Batman: Snow that he co-wrote with his writing partner on Chase, D. Curtis Johnson, as well as Seven Soldiers Of Victory and Batman: The Black Glove with Grant Morrison.
More recently Williams teamed with the immensely talented Greg Rucka on Batwoman: Elegy. This endeavor became a remarkable run for both J.H. and Mr. Rucka. Highlighting the success of the series were multiple nominations and awards, most notably a GLAAD award win in 2010 for Outstanding Comic Book and Eisner wins for J.H. in both the Best Cover Artist and Best Penciler/Inker categories. Over the pond, J.H. garnered 3 Eagle Award wins for his work. Yeah, we know, we're tooting horns.
Currently Williams is the co-writer and artist on the Batwoman ongoing series with his writing partner Haden Blackman. He took on the challenge of continuing the story out of devotion to this compelling character and it's fans. His work on the series has garnered additional awards, such as The Inkwell, The National Cartoonist Society Award (The Rueben), another GLAAD award, along with various other nominations to date.
As an artist of broad conceptual thinking and the ability to use several mediums, over time, J.H. has been able to craft unique images using a variety of techniques and methods stemming from influences of comics to fine arts.
J.H. will also be working with the illustrious Neil Gaiman as the artist for the upcoming Sandman: Zero project due out sometime in 2013.
But no longer settling for doing well crafted comics work, J.H. is now working on projects outside of the industry. Such as designing a limited edition suit lining for Artful Gentlemen out of San Francisco, all of packaging and cover art for rock band The Sword on their Apocryphon album. He also will be doing the next album cover design for legendary music icon, Blondie.
J.H. lives is Central California with his adoring wife, a houseful of cats and an ever expanding comic book collection.
8 Comments so far
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Wow … so cool ! You finally updated this link!!
Comment by Pam 09.04.12 @ 7:49 am[...] (S.H.I.E.L.D., The Manhattan Projects), Frank Quitely (The Authority, WE3, All-Star Superman), J.H. Williams III (Promethea, Wild Girl, Batwoman) and Chris Burnham (Officer Downe, Batman Inc. [...]
Pingback by Metapocalypse now | 10.10.12 @ 10:58 amWould love a painting tutorial from you in the future!
Comment by Threadbare 06.12.14 @ 11:20 amJH3,
Your work is so unique; the way you blend different mediums and styles among pages. It's my favorite art in comics. What mediums do you use in your comic art? Do you have any videos of your process online? Im curious to know how you work.
Comment by dpops 10.05.14 @ 9:28 amHey dpops
Thank you. I'm glad you enjoy what I do. The mediums I use are various. But tend to be a lot of ink, ink wash, copic marker (greytones), black color pencil, white color pencil, white ink. Sometimes I use colored inks, gouache paint, watercolors.
Just have to say, I sure do miss you on Batwoman.
You are a very gifted artist who brought Kate Kane to life. In my (imaginary) universe, Kate and Maggie are living happily ever after thanks to you and Mr. Blackman's incredible vision.
You are an awesome dude.
Kat 00/
Comment by Kat 12.19.14 @ 12:45 pmHello Kat
Thank you! We miss Kate Kane as well. It was a wonderful time living with her for awhile.
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Star Wars gag gifts have been around since the beginning of the ultra popular franchise. Space geeks have marveled at the sci-fi phenomenon for what seems like ages and its popularity is only expanding with its introduction to younger generations.
The feature film series created by George Lucas is one of the most successful money-making franchises around with an endless array of products, parodies and tributes.
From sci-fi gaming gear to transformative apparel, Star Wars is never losing its winning streak among fans. With countless gag gifts available for purchase and with many more to come, fans will never be disappointed. Whether searching for intergalactic condiment containers, storm trooper breath mints or even intergalactic baby slings, the ever-growing fame of the infamous film series has a variety of gag gifts to choose from, pleasing fans of any age.


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King James Version (KJV) | New International Version (NIV) |
10 But Amasa took no heed to the sword that was in Joab's hand: so he smote him therewith in the fifth rib, and shed out his bowels to the ground, and struck him not again ; and he died . So Joab and Abishai his brother pursued after Sheba the son of Bichri. | 10 Amasa was not on his guard against the dagger in Joab's hand, and Joab plunged it into his belly, and his intestines spilled out on the ground. Without being stabbed again, Amasa died. Then Joab and his brother Abishai pursued Sheba son of Bicri. |
The King James Version is in the public domain. (The King James Bible Version Online) | Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by Biblica. All rights reserved worldwide. (New International Version Bible Online) |


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This sequel to Oliver Stone's 1987 "Wall Street" is one of the best sequels that has been produced in quite a while. Actor's Shia La Beouf, Josh Brolin, Carey Mulligan and Michael Douglas, in his reprise of his role as Gordon Gekko, are sure to draw in viewers of all ages.
Back in the day, when the 1987 film was shot, Wall Street was relegated to the unread portions of the newspaper. There were lots of deals, trading, and millions of dollars changed hands. Wall Street was a bit of a mystery to everyday citizens.
Wall Street today is flashed all over the news: unemployment, corporate downsizing, the bank bailout, big Wall Street tycoons still raking in the big money.
Writers Allan Loeb and Stephen Schiff as well as Stone have traded on the knowledge of viewers today and gotten a little revenge on Wall Street excesses by producing a film about a couple of young people with good intentions who want to invest in green energy while the black and ugly deals of Wall Street swirl around them.
This fast paced movie about the new Wall Street is sure to be a big movies box office draw this summer.


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She was delivered on Friday. At first she wouldn't come out of the carrier. When she did she spent the night behind the couch. Saturday afternoon she discovered the basement. She was in bed with me Sunday morning at 6 a.m. and she is living up to her name. She disappeared after that and I couldn't find her anywhere. When she was missing for over ten hours I enlisted my son to help me search for her. He found her in the basement window behind the curtain. This morning she was in bed with me again. When I left for work she was still in my bedroom.
Bear's sister, Boa, just ignores her, but McLoving doesn't ignore Boa. She growls and hisses at her. I know it's going to take some time, but she is just the cutest little cat. She likes to "love nip" your wrists when you pet her. I think she has adjusted well to the change. She is eating and using the litter box. She has a few of Bear's habits, but she has her own personality. Before I left for work this morning I went to say good-bye to her and couldn't find her. When I called her she came out from behind the curtain two feet away from where I was standing. She is a little vanishing expert. She is still camera shy. Will post pics as soon as she will let me. Note to self: next time check behind curtains before you panic. Jenny |
Here is a link that might be useful: McLoving needs a home
Follow-Up Postings:
- Posted by sleeplessinftwayne z4-5 IND (My Page) on Mon, Aug 4, 08 at 11:01
Congratulations on your new addition. Isn't it a delight how quickly they try to adapt to new situations? Is she behind the curtains to hide or maybe mount a sneak attack or just to check out the outside? Maybe she would like her own cave. I bought Ginger a bed that can pop up into a cave and she loves it. You can put catnip in a removable bag to make it better if McLoving likes catnip. I'm so glad you could take her. Sandy |
Thanks Sandy: You just reminded me I bought three soft cloth pop-up houses at Marc's a few years ago. They are in my upstairs closet. Bear and Boa never used them. Will have to dig them out tonight. Now watch Boa will want to use them if McLoving does. You know how cats are. Jenny |
Congrats Jenny! I think that while a new pet can never replace one lost, it's amazing how many good memories they bring back. McLoving is very lucky to have you! Sarah |
- Posted by goodkarma_ 5b (My Page) on Mon, Aug 4, 08 at 21:55
Jenny, Thank you again so much for giving McLoving a wonderful home. You have been an Angel of Mercy for her and for Juanita. I am going to pray tonight that McLoving stops being afraid of Boa and gives her some companionship. Is Boa still crying for Bear? She is such a beautiful Cat. I just can't thank you enough and I know she will become so spoiled in a short time. Is she watching Kitty TV yet? lol Warmest Regards, |
- Posted by chickadeedeedee z 6-7 ish Ohio (My Page) on Tue, Aug 5, 08 at 8:05
I'm soooo glad McLoving has a new loving home! What a fantastic happy begining for her ! :-) Please post a pic when you get a moment. C3D |
What a wonderful story, with a happy ending, to boot! Please keep us updated with McLoving stories (can't wait to hear what she thinks of the pop-up "cave"!) and pics, when you can, Jenny. :) Our thoughts will be with Boa, too, in the hopes her little heart will heal, and she can be a great roll model to her new little sister. Brenda |
While we are waiting for pictures, can we have a description of McLoving. What color is McLoving? What does she look like? Glenda |
Glenda: Click on the link above in my first post and you will see pics of her. She is just beautiful. She is all black with huge green eyes. She is a real lover. Brenda: She just loved the pop-up house. As soon as I put it down she went into it. Lisa: Isn't it amazing how God works in strange ways. I said a prayer or two that they would get along before getting out of bed this morning. McLoving followed me into the bathroom and Boa heard me getting up and walked around the corner. McLoving stood her ground this time. They were four feet away from each other and having hissing fits, but neither one would back down. After hissing at each other for a few minutes they both walked away. They are too funny. That is the closest they have been to each other since McLoving arrived. I tried to bribe her out of the carrier Friday night with the Cat Sitter DVD. She wanted to run up to the TV but watched it from her carrier like she was at a drive-in. Boa hasn't caterwauled since McLoving arrived. I know McLoving will fill the void it's just going to take time. I tried calling Juanita last night but got her voice mail so I left her a message. I think she told me she is working on Mondays? She is much more affectionate than Bear was. She nose dives me all over when she's in bed with me. Last night she kept licking my face. I guess it must have looked dirty to her. That rough tongue on the cheek tickles. Maybe she was showering me with kisses for giving her a new home. She hasn't explored the upstairs yet. I think she is overwhelmed with just the first floor, sunroom and basement. She is in for a big surprise! Jenny |
I'm so glad to hear you got McLoving, what a storybook tale! My kitties, Smokey and (the) Bandit have a love/hate relationship. When there is only one human lap available they fight, when there are two, they glare at each other from across the room. WHen there are none, they sleep with each other! Smokey came first and is the more aggresive of the two but somehow Bandit became Alpha kitty - you just never know with cats :^) |
Here are two shots I was able to snap last night. Unfortunately you can't see her face. Here eyes are yellow not green. my bad. She is just so affectionate you can't get her picture. She loves to be held and petted. it seems like every time she would sit down she wasn't looking at the camera. Then when I called her to look at me she got up and wanted to be petted. I tried for a long time last night, but this was all I could capture. I promise more will be coming as soon as I can get her to sit still. lol Jenny |
And it doesn't appear that she is getting spoiled at all. My cat will attack my feet under the cover about 5 or 6 in the morning, I think because she's trying to wake me to let her outside. She does not use a litter box. One night I got hot and stuck my feet out from under the covers and she decided to pounce....Ouch, me and her when she hit the ceiling. Just kidding... But I did wake up abruptly. Glenda |
- Posted by chickadeedeedee z 6-7 ish Ohio (My Page) on Thu, Aug 7, 08 at 8:26
No kitty toy shortage at your home, that's for sure! :-) Welcome home, McLoving. |
My daughter was over yesterday, and it was my son's day off so they played with McLoving till she was exhausted. So I was able to snap a few good pics of her face. It was too funny to see two adults fighting over who was going to play with her. My daughter wants to take her home. NO WAY!!!!! I just love this little kitty. Boa was laying in the hallway yesterday and McLoving just walked right past her. They are slowly getting used to each other. Jenny |
If that isn't a Halloween kitty, then I don't know what is! :D Those eyes are gorgeous!! Brenda |
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A Future Perfect
Presented by SpeakEasy Stage Company at Calderwood Pavilion at the BCA, Boston
January 9 - February 7, 2015
Claire and Max find their values put to the test when best friends Alex and Elena announce they are having a baby. Claire is climbing the corporate ladder in advertising, while her husband Max is a puppeteer for PBS. With friends entering into parenthood, they ask: What happened to the indie-rock kids that hated everything their parents believed in? A Future Perfect is a dark comedy about friendship, ...more
Captain BoycottPresented by Bread and Puppet Theater and Boston Center for the Arts (BCA) at BCA Cyclorama, Boston January 28 - February 1, 2015 In keeping with their long-standing tradition of "sublime arsekicking puppetry," the award-winning Vermont-based Bread and Puppet ...more |
Virginia Woolf's OrlandoPresented by Wellesley Summer Theatre Company at Ruth Nagel Jones Theatre, Wellesley January 8 - February 2, 2015 In this blithe and passionate adaptation of the 1928 gender flipping Virginia Woolf novel, transformation and identity is magically explored. Ruhl ...more |
Winter Panto 2015: KerPlop! The Tale of the Frog PrincePresented by imaginary beasts and Boston Center for the Arts (BCA) at BCA Plaza Black Box, Boston January 17 - February 7, 2015 imaginary beasts bound into town this January with a ribbiting tale of wonder when they refashion another classic fairy tale into ...more |
Breath & ImaginationPresented by ArtsEmerson at Paramount Center, Boston January 27 - February 8, 2015 Before there was Marian Anderson and Paul Robeson, there was Roland Hayes – the first world-renowned African-American classical vocalist. ...more |
Israeli Stage presents Never Ever EverPresented by Jewish Community Centers of Greater Boston at Leventhal-Sidman JCC, Newton February 9, 2015 This touching portrayal of a teenage boy dealing with dyslexia was the winner of four Israeli Assitej Awards in 2013. Yoni runs away from school, ...more |
Defending the CavemanPresented by Spectacle Management at Regent Theatre, Arlington February 13 - February 15, 2015 Valentine's Day 2015 brings Defending the Caveman, which holds the record as the longest-running solo play in Broadway history! The ...more |
Green Porno, Live on StagePresented by ArtsEmerson and World Music/CRASHarts at Cutler Majestic Theatre, Boston February 13 - February 15, 2015 Iconic actress and art-house luminary Isabella Rossellini (Blue Velvet, Death Becomes Her) teams up with legendary French ...more |
Stuart Little The MusicalPresented by Boston Children's Theatre at Cambridge YMCA Theatre, Cambridge January 31 - February 8, 2015 It's the story of the little mouse with a big personality and a big sense of adventure! Experience this classic tale based on the book by E.B. White on stage at BCT in this fun and engaging...more |
Men are from Mars, Women are from VenusPresented by Spectacle Management at Larcom Theatre, Beverly February 12 - February 15, 2015 When Mars and Venus collide, the adventures are earth-shatteringly hysterical! Join our favorite Martian and discover how to get a little "piece" on Earth. |
Motown The MusicalPresented by Lexus Broadway In Boston at Boston Opera House, Boston January 27 - February 15, 2015 Please use promo code: ARTSBOSTON It began as one man's story… became everyone's music… and is now...more |
Lollipops for BreakfastPresented by Puppet Showplace Theater at Puppet Showplace Theater, Brookline January 31 - February 16, 2015 A World Premiere by Bonnie Duncan of They Gotta Be Secret Agents |
Ooey Gooey!Presented by Puppet Showplace Theater at Puppet Showplace Theater, Brookline February 17 - February 19, 2015 A Boston Premiere by Barefoot Puppets |
The Second GirlPresented by Huntington Theatre Company at Calderwood Pavilion at the BCA, Boston January 16 - February 21, 2015 With Eugene O'Neill's classic Long Day's Journey into Night as a backdrop, The Second Girl is set in the downstairs world of the Tyrone family kitchen in August 1912. Two...more |
PinocchioPresented by Wheelock Family Theatre at Wheelock Family Theatre, Boston January 30 - February 22, 2015 An original adaptation influenced by Japanese traditions of Kabuki, Noh, and Bunraku puppetry, Pinocchio will surprise and delight audiences of all ages. Mystical creatures, live musicians,...more |
Dreamtime: Tales from Down UnderPresented by Puppet Showplace Theater at Puppet Showplace Theater, Brookline February 20 - February 22, 2015 By Barefoot Puppets |
Pinkalicious The MusicalPresented by Boston Children's Theatre at Cambridge YMCA Theatre, Cambridge February 14 - February 22, 2015 One of the biggest hits with BCT audiences, Pinkalicious returns for a limited run in our 2015 season. This pinktastic musical features everyone's favorite pink princess,...more |
Wrestling JerusalemPresented by Jewish Community Centers of Greater Boston at Leventhal-Sidman JCC, Newton February 21 - February 22, 2015 Written and performed by Aaron Davidman |
Shear MadnessPresented by Shear Madness at Charles Playhouse, Boston September 19, 2014 - February 28, 2015 Discover for yourself why over 8 million people around the world have seen Shear Madness, the uproarious whodunit where the audience gets to solve the crime. A mixture of improvisation...more |
WitPresented by Boston Center for American Performance at Calderwood Pavilion at the BCA, Boston February 20 - February 28, 2015 Boston Center for American Performance, the professional extension of the Boston University College of Fine Arts School of Theatre, presents Margaret Edson's Pulitzer Prize winning drama,...more |
Father Comes Home From The Wars (Parts 1, 2 & 3)Presented by American Repertory Theater at Loeb Drama Center, Cambridge January 23 - March 1, 2015 Set during the Civil War, this explosively powerful new drama by Pulitzer Prize winner Suzan-Lori Parks follows a slave, Hero, from West Texas to the Confederate battlefield. Inspired in part by...more |
King of the SchnorrersPresented by New Repertory Theatre at Arsenal Center for the Arts Charles Mosesian Theater, Watertown February 7 - March 1, 2015 Based on a famous Israel Zangwill play, Robert Brustein's King of the Schnorrers is a comedy with music, set on Manhattan's Second Avenue. A wily Sephardic actor named Da Costa,...more |
The Singing TurtlePresented by Puppet Showplace Theater at Puppet Showplace Theater, Brookline February 26 - March 1, 2015 by Paul Vincent Davis, performed by Resident Artist Brad Shur |
Uncle JackPresented by Boston Center for American Performance and Boston Playwrights' Theatre at Boston University Theatre, Lane-Comley Studio 210, Boston February 12 - March 1, 2015 Boston Center for American Performance and Boston Playwrights' Theatre present this Boston University New Play Initiative production, a comedy of Chekhovian proportions! In this...more |
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The Big MealPresented by Zeitgeist Stage Company at BCA Plaza Black Box, Boston February 13 - March 7, 2015 Set in a quintessential American restaurant, entire lives whiz by for a modern family whose life and loves are short-order fare. From birth to that inevitable last course – and every...more |
OceansidePresented by Merrimack Repertory Theatre at Nancy L. Donahue Theatre at Liberty Hall, Lowell February 12 - March 8, 2015 The past never lets go. Gwen thought she had successfully walked away from her troubled past. But then her ex-husband returns with news of their grown daughter's disappearance and with him...more |
Raccoon TalesPresented by Puppet Showplace Theater at Puppet Showplace Theater, Brookline March 5 - March 8, 2015 by Paul Vincent Davis, performed by Resident Artist Brad Shur |
The Pajama GamePresented by The Boston Conservatory at The Boston Conservatory Theater, Boston March 5 - March 8, 2015 The dangers of a workplace romance are explored to hysterical effect in this 1954 romantic comedy. Conditions at the Sleep-Tite Pajama Factory are anything but peaceful, as sparks fly between new...more |
Where I Live/Là où j'habitePresented by Puppet Showplace Theater at Puppet Showplace Theater, Brookline March 11 - March 13, 2015 by Des mots d'la dynamite |
Intimate ApparelPresented by The Lyric Stage Company of Boston at The Lyric Stage Company, Boston February 13 - March 14, 2015 From the author of By the Way, Meet Vera Stark, Intimate Apparel is a loving and evocative portrait of Esther, an independent but lonely African American seamstress in...more |
The Way of WaterPresented by Brandeis Theater Company at Spingold Theater Center, Waltham March 12 - March 15, 2015 By Caridad Svich While the headlines have faded, the effects of the 2010 BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico still run deep. Explore this crisis through the...more |
Tristan & YseultPresented by ArtsEmerson at Cutler Majestic Theatre, Boston March 5 - March 15, 2015 Kneehigh's Tristan & Yseult elevates this classic love triangle to epic proportions – complete with forbidden desires, broken hearts and tender truths. This innovative tale...more |
RumplestiltskinPresented by Puppet Showplace Theater at Puppet Showplace Theater, Brookline March 14 - March 15, 2015 by Dream Tale Puppets |
The Hopey Changey ThingPresented by Stoneham Theatre at Stoneham Theatre, Stoneham February 26 - March 15, 2015 It's Election Day 2010, and the Apple family gathers for dinner in their childhood home in upstate New York. On the menu is a discussion of everything from Sarah Palin to the best way to...more |
Golden Dragon AcrobatsPresented by World Music/CRASHarts at Cutler Majestic Theatre, Boston March 21, 2015 Cirque Zíva is sure to entertain, delight, and keep audiences of all ages on the edge of their seats. Performed by the internationally celebrated Golden Dragon Acrobats from Hebei...more |
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Katya KabanovaPresented by Boston Lyric Opera (BLO) at Citi Shubert Theatre, Boston March 13 - March 22, 2015 Music by Leoš Janácek | Libretto by Francesco Vincenc Cervinka Performed for the first time in BLO's history,...more |
The Donkey ShowPresented by American Repertory Theater at OBERON, Cambridge June 18, 2010 - March 28, 2015 Tony Award-winner Diane Paulus's celebrated smash hit The Donkey Show brings you the ultimate disco experience - a crazy circus of mirror balls and feathered divas, of roller...more |
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How To Reconcile With Family Or Friends
Gotta love family. They help make us who we are. Sure they're quirky, annoying and frustrating at times – if only everyone was as perfect as we are, right? Disagreements are a normal part of the family dynamic. I don't think you can have that many people interacting, each with their own personalities, values and experiences and get along 100% of the time.
What is really harmful to families, and any relationship for that matter, is the inability to see past these differences, these unique ways and reconcile. It's our pride that gets in the way most of the time. The feeling to prove that we were right and they were wrong. But when you both dig your heals in and decide not to budge no one ever wins. As I've said before life is various shades of gray.
When family feuds or disagreements between friends are left unresolved they often turn into years of bitterness, resentment and unhappiness. You may think you're fine with your decision to cut these people out of your life but what happens when you see them again?
Does your heart race? Do you get anxious and nervous? Do you think about what you'll say or if you'll just ignore them completely?
If you answered yes to any of these questions you're not okay with the current situation.
There is a small part of you that remains unhappy or hurt, but for what? For the ability to stay true to the fact that you think you're right? Or is it because if you back down you'll be telling the other person "okay you win you were right"?
I'll tell you now either way it's ridiculous.
Reconciliation is not easy, but it's worth it and so long as the person is still living and breathing, it's never too late.
It's important to understand why you want to reconcile, what are your motives behind wanting to contact your friend or family member? If it's to rehash old hurts and carry on fighting then it's best to leave it for a while. If it's to forgive, reestablish a connection and make your mind, heart and soul happy, I believe these are good reasons and you should go ahead.
Here are a few questions to ask yourself before you decide to reconcile.
1. What were we arguing over? If you can't remember it likely wasn't worth ruining your relationship over and it's definitely time to make amends. If you do remember …
2. Was it worth it? Was the argument worth ruining your relationship over? Look at all that you have missed out on, holidays, birthdays, special events, summer BBQs, graduations, marriages, new babies, support from your family or friends etc …
3. Can you honestly let it go? Lying to yourself here will only hurt you, so be really honest. If you are still hanging on to old grudges and can't see beyond the "yeah but what she did was wrong" it's not the best time to approach the other person. Work on trying to reduce your pride or subdue you ego a bit before moving forward. Move beyond establishing blame and drawing lines in the sand and focus on caring about the person. They are someone you once had a relationship with, you obviously cared about them and enjoyed being around them before. Focus on the good from that time.
How to facilitate reconciliation
1. Start small. Once you decided to move forward and start the reconciliation process start with a simple contact. It can be as small as sending a handwritten note or picking up the phone. This initial contact will set the tone for how this whole thing will play out so be sure you've thought it through and that you don't go in hostile, defensive or aggressive. Start with why you're contacting them and what you hope to get out of it.
2. Own your part. You have to be able to see that even though you think you haven't done anything wrong and it's all their fault – they are thinking the exact same thing. Be objective. Try to see how any of your actions or words may have been misconstrued. If you in all honesty can't see anything wrong with how you've behaved or can't see how anything you've done could have been taken the wrong way, ask. Yes it's that simple. Tell them you are willing to take ownership of your part in this but you are really at a loss for what it is you've done. Be sincere. Be receptive and let them speak.
3. Be specific. If you know what part of this you need to own up to say so and be specific. An apology of "I'm sorry for what happened 3 years ago" doesn't cut it. Lay it all out there get it out in the open. If you do you'll open the lines of communication and really get it going. You've likely changed as a person since your altercation, maybe you've matured, learned to manage your anger, or have become more accepting of people and they quirky ways. It's okay to admit in hindsight you were a little rude, aggressive, hurtful, stubborn etc … and express remorse for having let it go on for so long.
4. This is about you. Remember that this is about you. Not everyone is at the same point on the path to forgiveness, so while you're ready to let it go and move on with things the other person may still be feeling "I'm right and he's wrong". If that's the situation you're facing keep focusing on you. Do what you have to do to be true to yourself. If you can walk away feeling that you've done what you can to mend things but the other person isn't interested then I'm afraid you're going to have to leave it. For now. There really is only so much you can do and you can't control anyone else no matter how hard you want it to work out.
5. Rebuild. Once you have everything out on the table and have heard and acknowledged the other persons feelings, perspectives, and hurts it's time to start rebuilding that relationship. This may be awkward at first and require a lot of hard work. Regaining trust can be tough and may take a long time. Start small and keep moving forward – do not revisit the past. If you're at this point, the past should be resolved. Meet for a coffee, invite them over for lunch or out to dinner. Go to a movie or relax at home. If they've missed out on a lot take some time to fill them in. Talk about what's been going on in your life and get interested in what's going on in theirs.
The hardest part of reconciliation is finding a place to start. If you can visualize the future and imagine what your relationship could potentially look like (no anxiety, stress, wondering what to say when you eventually cross paths) it could be the motivation you need to get going. Don't wait for the other person to make the first move. They may never have the courage to approach you and they may feel that you'll never forgive them anyway so what's the point.
Of course there are those relationships where reconciliation may be completely out of the question. If you are faced with one of these then work on yourself. Forgiveness is a choice not some feeling that will one day wash over you – even when it comes to forgiving yourself. Work through what you are responsible for being careful not to take on blame for things that were out of your control or that were clearly the choices or actions of someone else.
It's not easy admitting you were wrong and apologizing for what hurt you've caused but it's worth it. With the holidays fast approaching consider reaching out to someone you've been at odds with for whatever reason and try to make amends. It could make the new year all that more enjoyable.
Today on Zen Family Habits: How to be a fantastic grandparent.
See also:
Secrets of the Perpetually Unhappy
Keeping Perspective Through The Tough Times
Photo courtesy of: orangeacid
9 Responses to "How To Reconcile With Family Or Friends"
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Love this post! Sometimes it can be really, really hard to reconcile with family and friends when you've had a falling out, but you've offered some really inspiring advice here that should help anyone facing this difficult situation.
Positively Present´s last blog ..oh, what fun!: the benefits of being festive -
Very timely post during the holidays, all relationships comes under magnifying glass, making little problem even bigger.
Zengirl´s last blog ..Screw productivity : at least for a day -
But it is important to know that you can forgive without picking a relationship back up. There are TOXIC relationships that not only we as adults deal with…but that spill over on our kids. Sometimes the kids need to be kept safe from toxic people. That's not wrong, even though it is hard.
autumnesf´s last blog ..Day 8: Gingerbread -
Very timely post. The holidays are a great time to reconcile. As you point out, sometimes the hardest part is just starting.
Kaushik´s last blog ..Acceptance is not something we do; it is something we stop doing -
Thank you for this post. I don't know who you are or anything about you, but you have spoken to me, and that is something special. What you have said is just what I needed to hear, I hope you feel that you have achieved something good by encouraging and inspiring good things. I wish you well, and thank you again. Blessed be. x
Thank you for this message. Sometimes you even take the courage and chance to travel all the way to these family members just to reconcile but only to find out that they are not even touched by your thoughts and trip. They rather still keep a cold shoulder with you which doesn't even motivate you to go on. It is very difficult reconciling when you don't have the strength of God to hold you.


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Select () or exclude () categories to narrow your recipe search.
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I live in Sydney Australia with my husband and 2 lovely boys.
The kids love anything with Pasta or Noodles. I personally love fresh seafood which is usually easy to get in Australia. Can't say no to a juicy steak on the bbq either!


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Narcolepsy in Dogs
Posted: Mar 05 2009
Originally published February 20th, 2007
Dog narcolepsy? Really? That's what we said, too. But apparently, it exists. According to Play Dead, Dog Diagnosed With Narcolepsy, it is possible. The article documents Skeeter, a toy poodle that falls asleep whenever he gets excited. What a horrible condition, especially for a dog. As we all know, getting excited (squirrels, toys, whatever) is what dogs love the most! It is extremely rare, but veterinarians are treating the condition as they would with humans. Hopefully, dogs like Skeeter can get back to what they do best – sniffing, playing, and yes, getting excited!


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Wind Cave National Park Air Quality Information
• Wind Cave NP is located in a rural part of the country. Nevertheless, sources and source areas of particular concern include point and area sources in Rapid City, South Dakota, extensive oil and gas development in north west east Wyoming, and a railway line proposed to be constructed near the park (is the railway line still an issue?). The park could also be affected by more distant sources in neighboring states.
• The National Atmospheric Deposition Program/National Trends Network (NADP/NTN) site at Newcastle,Wyoming, (site #WY99; approximately 60 km west) is used to represent wet deposition at the park. Data are available for this location since 1981. The data show wet deposition of sulfate, nitrate, and ammonium are relatively low. There are decreasing trends in wet sulfate concentration and deposition; no overall trends in wet nitrate concentration, wet ammonium concentration, and wet ammonium deposition; and a slight increasing trend in wet nitrate deposition. The Newcastle NADP/NTN data indicate that Wind Cave NP is a relatively clean site and that there is no apparent threat from acidic deposition at the present time. An NADP/NTN monitor was installed at Wind Cave NP in 2002 (site #SD04).This site will provide the park with on-site baseline wet deposition data before a lot of potential new development occurs. Trend data are not yet available for the site.
• Representative dry deposition data are not available for the park.
• Surface water chemistry data have been collected in and near Wind Cave NP. These data indicate park surface waters are well buffered against acid inputs.
• Ozone has been monitored only with passive samplers in Wind Cave NP. Values indicate cumulative ozone concentrations are relatively low.
• While ozone-sensitive species occur in Wind Cave NP (e.g., Ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa)), plants in the park have not been evaluated for ozone injury.
• Historically, visibility has not been monitored in Wind Cave NP. However, to assess response to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's new Regional Haze regulations requiring improving visibility in Class I air quality areas on both the best visibility and the worst visibility days, an Interagency Monitoring of Protected Visual Environments (IMPROVE) monitoring site was installed in the park in January 2000. Trend data are not yet available for the site.
• Additional information on in-park emissions at Wind Cave NP is available in 2000 Air Emission Inventory-Wind Cave National Park (February 2003).
• Additional information relative to air quality and air quality related values at Wind Cave NP is available in D.L. Peterson, T.J. Sullivan, J.M. Eilers, S. Brace, D. Horner, K. Savig and D. Morse. 1998. Assessment of Air Quality and Air Pollutant Impacts in National Parks of the Rocky Mountains and Northern Great Plains. Technical Report NPS D-657. National Park Service. Denver, CO.


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People volunteer for a variety of reasons. Some want to give back to an organization that made a difference in their lives. Others are seeking a meaningful way to remain active and involved. Still others just enjoy helping out. People who donate their time may not ask for anything in return, but volunteering often reaps many rewards. One of the greatest rewards is the chance to develop and practice leadership skills.Volunteers often rise more quickly to take on roles as leaders than may be the experience in the workplace. A truly effective volunteer leader keeps the team members motivated and energized, doing good things in a fun way. Frequent communications using a supportive yet goal-oriented approach enable the team to keep on track and interact in a positive way. No one is perfect, and even a good leader is bound to stumble sometimes. The secret is to learn from mistakes, to listen to feedback, to be flexible and adaptable, and to make continual improvements.Leading a group of volunteers is a great way to gain experience in critical life skills. Are you already a leader at work? Then volunteer leadership allows for innovation and a new approach, or just exercising a style that has served you well in a new environment. Regardless, good deeds are made even better with the added feeling of pride gained from a team well-lead, a noble goal successfully accomplished, and the added confidence from knowing you went above and beyond to help make it happen. Are you ready to become a part of our volunteer team?
The Benefits of Volunteering
Tips on How to Use Volunteer Experience to Build a Resume
Leadership Through Volunteerism
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Protected agriculture in Mexico is growing at an annual rate of about 13%, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Foreign Agricultural Service.
Greenhouse and shade house operations are concentrated in the states of Sinaloa, Baja California and Jalisco, FAS says.
Mexico's Secretariat of Agriculture — SAGARPA — reports about 50,000 acres are under protected agriculture, with about 30,000 acres of greenhouses and 20,000 acres of shade houses and macro-tunnels.
The main horticultural products produced under this technology are tomatoes (70%), bell peppers (16%) and cucumbers (10%), the FAS says.
"The only crop we grow outside now is grape tomatoes," said Jim Cathey, general manager at Del Campo Supreme Inc., Nogales, Ariz.
The company grows 100 acres of grape tomatoes in open fields, but everything else — roma, beefsteak and specialty tomatoes, tomatoes-on-the-vine and sweet, elongated red bell peppers — are grown in shade houses or greenhouses, Cathey said.
"The reason you spend the money for protected agriculture is better yields of exportable product," said Chris Ciruli, a partner in Ciruli Bros. LLC, Rio Rico, Ariz.
The company saw a 50% increase in eggplant yields with product grown in protected agriculture, he said.
About 90% of the protected cucumber crop is exportable compared with 50% of the field-grown crop.
All of the product that Nogales, Ariz.-based Apache Produce handles is grown in greenhouses, said general manager Alberto Maldonado.
The company markets tomatoes, roma tomatoes, colored bell peppers and English cucumbers.
Improved yields
Apache Produce has been using plastic greenhouses for about 10 years, gradually increasing its volume.
The company gets the same yields or more with 300 hectares of protected agriculture as it does with 1,500 to 2,000 hectares in open fields, he said.
San Antonio-based NatureSweet Ltd. grows 1,200 acres of tomatoes in five facilities in three states in Mexico, said Kathryn Ault, marketing director.
Most of the tomatoes are grown hydroponically in a controlled environment to ensure quality and food safety, she said.
"It's all about the control and the quality," she said.
The popularity of protected agriculture has grown much more dramatically in Mexico than in the U.S. , said Mike Aiton, marketing director for Prime Time International, Coachella, Calif.
It's been spurred by the fact that a protective environment is required to shield crops from diseases, pests and bugs, which are more of a problem in Mexico than in the U.S., he said.


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It looks like the Twitter activity has picked up slightly this evening from both sides. DirecTV has been retweeting supporters saying that they aren't switching, and Viacom is encouraging people to switch and are retweeting DirecTV-bashing tweets.
I guess they both just needed a little break..
Yeah, switch to Dish. Then next year when you're in the middle of a 2 year contract and they pull this same thing with Dish, they gonna tell you to switch again, and incur the ETF? lol Switching solves NOTHING! It's just a temporary fix to a probably temporary problem.


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Digital art always attract the concentration if the artist put some extraordinary objects in his masterpiece. The grand world beneath the bottomless mysterious seas has always been a fascinating and mesmerizing fixation for human beings. Lots of anonymous laze beneath the deep seas which have immobile not been exposed entirely. Researchers still haven't been able to tell a lot about the underwater world. But fortunately this is no big problem for all the digital artists out there, as their imagination is always there to aid them. They are able to easily depict all the beautiful underwater mystical creatures, mermaids and lost cities with their creativity and talent.
Posts Tagged 'stunning computer drawings'
Gorgeous Celebrities Pictures In Vexel Art
April 22nd, 2012 Naila
Vexel Art is a method composed of manifold covered form and center on recreating descriptions by means of a raster plan. The name approach is as of a mixture of vector and pixel design. It is a completely pixel bottom raster picture that reproduce the vector graphics method and not of necessity by means of Vector series. The universal thought is that they are raster imagery that seems a great deal similar to vector and in the majority luggage is shaped using the similar techniques. It might be collected by means of vector realistic technique; though it turn out to be a vexel while the vector rudiments are raster zed and additional manipulations are complete in a raster plan. Check this cool art images.