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Number: 0377Policy
Aetna considers dendritic cell immunotherapy experimental and investigational because the peer-reviewed medical literature does not support its clinical use at this time.
See also CPB 0641 - Adoptive Immunotherapy and Cellular Therapy, and CPB 0802 - Prostate Cancer Vaccine.Background
Dendritic cells (DCs) are the most potent type of antigen presenting cells and are vital in inducing activation and proliferation of T-lymphocytes. Their unique property has prompted their recent application to therapeutic cancer vaccines. Isolated DCs containing tumor antigen ex-vivo and administered as a cellular vaccine, have been found to induce protective and therapeutic anti-tumor immunity in experimental animals.
The clinical evaluation of DC immunotherapy in humans is in its earliest phases for the treatment of malignancies such as leukemia, lymphoma, melanoma, and certain solid tumors. Specifically, melanoma-associated antigens have been characterized at the molecular level and melanoma vaccine is currently being investigated in clinical trials. Dendritic cells immunotherapy involves isolating dendritic cells from either circulating blood or bone marrow cells from the patient (or HLA-matched donor) and then exposing them to proteins from the patient's cancer cells in order to activate T-lymphocytes. These lymphocytes are grown in bioreactors to be infused into the patient when sufficient numbers have been obtained.
Currently, no conclusions regarding the efficacy of DC immunotherapy can be made from the anecdotal reports reported in the published, peer-reviewed medical literature. Although DC immunotherapy appears to be a promising modality for the treatment of cancer, completion of randomized trials is necessary. Specifically, the appropriate antigen(s), adjuvant(s), dose, route and schedule need to be established. In a review of the evidence, Figdor et al (2004) concluded that "[a]lthough early clinical trials indicate that [dendritic cell] vaccines can induce immune responses in some cancer patients, careful study design and use of standardized clinical and immunological criteria are needed".
Ardon et al (2012) noted that DC-based tumor vaccination has rendered promising results in relapsed high-grade glioma patients. In the HGG-2006 trial (EudraCT 2006-002881-20), feasibility, toxicity, and clinical efficacy of the full integration of DC-based tumor vaccination into standard post-operative radiochemotherapy were studied in 77 patients with newly diagnosed glioblastoma. Autologous DC was generated after leukapheresis, which was performed before the start of radiochemotherapy. Four weekly induction vaccines were administered after the 6-week course of concomitant radiochemotherapy. During maintenance chemotherapy, 4 boost vaccines are given. Feasibility and progression-free survival (PFS) at 6 months (6mo-PFS) were the primary end points. Overall survival (OS) and immune profiling, rather than monitoring, as assessed in patients' blood samples, were the secondary end points. Analysis has been done on intent-to-treat basis. The treatment was feasible without major toxicity. The 6mo-PFS was 70.1 % from inclusion. Median OS was 18.3 months. Outcome improved significantly with lower EORTC RPA classification. Median OS was 39.7, 18.3, and 10.7 months for RPA classes III, IV, and V, respectively. Patients with a methylated MGMT promoter had significantly better PFS (p = 0.0027) and OS (p = 0.0082) as compared to patients with an un-methylated status. Exploratory "immunological profiles" were built to compare to clinical outcome, but no statistical significant evidence was found for these profiles to predict clinical outcome. The authors concluded that full integration of autologous DC-based tumor vaccination into standard post-operative radiochemotherapy for newly diagnosed glioblastoma seems safe and possibly beneficial. They stated that these results were used to power the currently running phase IIb randomized clinical trial.
In a systematic review, Tanyi et al (2012) stated that after decades of extensive research, epithelial ovarian cancer still remains a lethal disease. Multiple new studies have reported that the immune system plays a critical role in the growth and spread of ovarian carcinoma. These investigators summarized the development of DC vaccinations specific for ovarian cancer. So far, DC-based vaccines have induced effective anti-tumor responses in animal models, but only limited results from human clinical trials are available. Although DC-based immunotherapy has proven to be clinically safe and efficient at inducing tumor-specific immune responses, its' clear role in the therapy of ovarian cancer still needs to be clarified. The relatively disappointing low-response rates in early clinical trials point to the need for the development of more effective and personalized DC-based anti-cancer vaccines.
Bregy et al (2013) stated that glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), the most common malignant brain tumor, still has a dismal prognosis with conventional treatment. Therefore, it is necessary to explore new and/or adjuvant treatment options to improve patient outcomes. Active immunotherapy is a new area of research that may be a successful treatment option. The focus is on vaccines that consist of antigen presenting cells (APCs) loaded with tumor antigen. These researchers conducted a systematic review of prospective studies, case reports and clinical trials to examine the safety and effectiveness of active immunotherapy in terms of complications, median OS, PFS and quality of life. A PubMed search was performed to include all relevant studies that reported the characteristics, outcomes and complications of patients with GBM treated with active immunotherapy using DCs. Reported parameters were immune response, radiological findings, median PFS and median OS. Complications were categorized based on association with the craniotomy or with the vaccine itself. A total of 21 studies with 403 patients were included in this review. Vaccination with DCs loaded with autologous tumor cells resulted in increased median OS in patients with recurrent GBM (71.6 to 138.0 weeks) as well as those newly diagnosed (65.0 to 230.4 weeks) compared to average survival of 58.4 weeks. The authors concluded that active immunotherapy, specifically with autologous DCs loaded with autologous tumor cells, seems to have the potential of increasing median OS and prolonged tumor PFS with minimal complications. Moreover, they stated that larger clinical trials are needed to show the potential benefits of active immunotherapy.
|CPT Codes / HCPCS Codes / ICD-9 Codes
|There is no specific CPT code for dendritic cell immunotherapy:
|ICD-9 codes not covered for indications listed n the CPB:
|140.0 - 208.91
|Malignant neoplasm (leukemia, lymphoma, melanoma, solid tumors)


text: Cris, that's bullshit. Our "play" hasn't suffered any. And even if it had, what you say above still makes no sense because we had our best stretch of the season while we were playing in two competitions. I would actually argue that the mid-week games helped keep our guys sharp! We have two problems right now. One, we aren't having the luck we had in the first half of season. I said more than ten times we were having very good luck in the first half of the season. Two, as some of us keep saying here and on the list, right now our attackers couldn't score with a pocket full of cash in a discount brothel. Our attackers are HORRIBLE at the moment. Our overall game has not suffered much. I think the team's psyche has. They've still never really learned to fight. This was illustrated for me even more sitting in the Frankenstadion last night to watch FCN beat Frankfurt. Neither team "played" that well. That match was a battle of wills. And eventually FCN imposed its will. Our team can't do that. We thought they did, but it was just that things were going our way. Since the press has anointed us "champions-elect", we're going to get everyone's best effort. And so far, this team is handling that like a bunch of little bitches. They need to stand up, fight for three points and learn to impose their will on inferior opponents. Until they do that, we'll never be a true Euro power again.

subset: commoncrawl


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Stay at this recently refurbished, award-winning Maryborough motel, located close to the city center and within easy reach of Hervey Bay - the gateway
Only 4 minutes from the city center.
Find great deals on quality hotels & resorts in Maryborough Australia, or indulge at one of our luxury resorts. Take advantage of the many amenities that can be included with your stay such as in-room internet access, wifi, room service, fitness center, pool, hot tub, steam room, and shuttle services to and from the airport. Browse our hotels and resorts in Maryborough Australia and plan your Maryborough Australia vacation today!


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My flats are very uncomfortable, but so cute! How can I make them more bearable to walk all day in?
We have all bought cute flats only to find that they are almost more uncomfortable than high heels! Why? Your foot moves differently in flats. Flats allow your foot to fully spread out with each step. When trying on flats, make sure that you can fit the tip of your pinky between the back of the shoe and your foot while sitting. That's how much space your toes will need to "spring forward."
Also, make sure that you can actually wiggle your toes inside the shoes. If your pinky toes are smashed, get a bigger size. To absorb the shock from these fabulous(but lacking in support) shoes, add Killer Kushionz to the insole and Heavenly Heelz behind the heel to keep heels securely in place, as well as reduce friction. An Amazing Arch, also, will go a long way to creating a more supportive and comfortable step.
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J.E. Adams is the nations largest provider of air machines and air/water machines. Made completely of high quality stainless steel; our products are meant to last for decades and is a much better solution than powder coating. Whether you are providing air machines or air/water machines as a free service or as a revenue generator these units will draw attention and traffic to your location.
These units are a revenue driver for convenience stores and gas stations, and are used in municipalities, fleet companies, car rental agencies, apartment complexes, and more. Vault ready units are also available to add another layer of security.
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Just thought I'd send you a comment about the digital air machine I purchased in December. It's been 4 weeks today in operation and the revenue has been outstanding. It will pay for itself in half the time I had projected. After giving " free air" away the last 52 years at our station, it has been nice to get some income from it. My customers think this thing is great! No air gauge needed and it's very accurate! Thanks again for the great service and advice you gave me."
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- Kevin talks about his 4th of July celebrations.
- Then Mark and Kevin talk about nothing.
- Computer gaming and Mark's thoughts on electronic Tennis games.
- Then we talk about fluffy balls – see we told you it was a show about nothing.
- We discuss humanity and the future.
Kevin can be found at http://about.me/ or on Twitter with username: http://twitter.com/Big_in_VA.
Mark can be found at www.markgreentree.com and can also be found on Twitter with username: https://twitter.com/mark_greentree


text:
From the Gut: Straight Talk from Dr. Hoberman
Gastro doc, creator of EndoMune Probiotic, talks about healthy gut function and your immune system.
Monthly Archive for February, 2012
Leaky Gut Makes Way for Harmful Toxins
The healthy intestinal bacteria – like those in probiotics – help maintain the intestinal barrier by stimulating the production of tight junction proteins. [Read More]


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What we prayed for, one more oil boom
CORPUS CHRISTI - In the 1980s, when the price of oil had collapsed and the good times of the oil patch seemed like history, a bumper sticker adorned many autos. "Dear God, just give me one more oil boom. I promise not to blow it next time." Well, the good Lord seems to have answered that prayer with the Eagle Ford Shale formation.
On a map of Texas, the Eagle Ford Shale formation looks like a slice of cantaloupe, about 50 miles wide and 400 miles long, stretching from the Mexican border around Webb and Maverick counties with the slice curving northeast. It covers 24 counties, including Live Oak, McMullen and Bee. The Eagle Ford could potentially be one of the most productive oil and gas formations in Texas and thus one of the richest.
Two years ago, there were fewer than 100 permits issued to drill in the Eagle Ford area; now there are more than a thousand. The Texas Railroad Commission says that since 2009 when the first well was drilled in the Eagle Ford, jobs associated with it have produced some $500 million in salaries. There has been $3 billion in total revenue. By 2020, the drilling bonanza could produce up to 70,000 jobs.
The key to the opening of the Eagle Ford and other shale deposits has been a technological drilling breakthrough for extracting oil and gas which was previously not thought possible.
No doubt about it, the Eagle Ford could be one of the area's blessings. How will we deal with this second chance at widespread prosperity?
The first oil boom, which began in the 20th century, made Texas rich. It created great personal fortunes but also was marked by conspicuous excess and waste. This was the age of Jett Rink. Rink was Edna Ferber's fictional Texas ranch hand who struck a gusher and found himself awash in oil, money and unrestrained ego. Ferber was not far from the fact. Just as the first oil boom also gave us great philanthropy, created the basis for world-class universities and stunning art collections, it also gave us polluted groundwater, scarred landscapes and a culture that saw the Earth as a commodity to be taken.
I think Jett Rink is dead. The oil and gas industry is different. It lives in the age of the Clean Water Act and the Clean Air Act and it must deal with a new culture that, even in Texas, takes land stewardship seriously. The BP oil spill notwithstanding, the exploration for oil and gas has a smaller footprint and the search for oil and gas has become smarter and less wasteful. Drillers must at least give lip service to the environment.
We are different, too, I think. We know about the legacy of thousands of unplugged, abandoned wells. We can look out as we fly over parts of Texas that look like a moonscape crisscrossed by well service roads. We, unlike, say our California brethren, know that if you want fuel to run our vehicles, electricity to light our homes and businesses and gas to keep us warm, we must drill. Yes, drill, baby, drill, but do it responsibly, keep it clean and do it with the humility that comes from realizing we're getting a second chance from Providence.
We expect regulators to regulate rather than be promoters of the industries they oversee. Recently, Texas Railroad Commissioner David Porter told a local luncheon crowd that the real threat to the potential economic boom from the Eagle Ford shale came from over-regulation from the federal government. He dismissed any fears of contaminated water tables, pollution or adverse environmental impact from the shale drilling, which uses millions of gallons of water and chemicals to extract oil and gas from the "tight" formation. I hope Porter is right, but I'd feel better if Porter and the rest of the Railroad Commission brought a healthy skepticism to their jobs.
This boom may last a hundred years. It could generate wealth that would benefit every Texan. We just have to remember that this boom will end, too. We have to make the best of it. We can't blow this one.
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Beef prices are finally starting to drop in the state. But, as Arizona Public Radio's Howard Fischer reports, they're still no bargain.
Food costs have spiked in the state as a result of drought. Arizona Public Radio's Howard Fischer explains.
That traditional breakfast of bacon and eggs is costing consumers more. Arizona Public Radio's Howard Fischer explains why.
Trying to save money at the grocery store? You might want to look at what's been called the other white meat.
Got a freezer? It might be a good time to stock up on meat.
The survey by the Arizona Farm Bureau Federation found the cost of a typical market basket of 16 popular items last quarter was $51.39.
That's up 68 cents from the three months prior -- and nearly $6 more than the same time a year earlier. The organization's Julie Murphree said the findings reflect "what has been going on in 2011, which is this steady increase in food inflation. I do believe it's going to level off a little bit better in 2012 than it did this last year," she said.
If you're planning to have the family over for Thanksgiving, be prepared to spend a bit more this year.
The latest annual survey by the Arizona Farm Bureau finds the cost of a typical Thanksgiving dinner this year will exceed $50. That's up by more than $6 from last year alone. The big jump is in the price of the centerpiece: a 16-pound frozen turkey. The organization's Peggy Jo Goodfellow said demand for the birds is up across the nation. But farmers were conservative in how many turkeys they decided to raise in the hope of boosting prices.


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Blakemason happily welcomes back the very cute bailey, after more than two years away he's as hot as ever - and even more up for some fat cock! Previously we only filmed him in a duo once, as he got himself a boyfriend... But now he's single and more than willing to make up for it! As it has been a while since we had the pleasure of seeing leroy in action i thought these two would make a great pairing and boy, i wasn't wrong ;-) steaming hot for cock, these guys loved every minute of their sex session together! Bailey really loves to take cock up his pert little ass and leroy couldn't resist the offer of giving him a good and proper fuck! But first they needed to explore each other bodies to get their cock's rock hard and twitching - of course they did in the best way by sucking, licking and devouring each other to the hilt! They swallowed down as much as they could and in no time at all the guys were sporting big healthy boners... However, leroy's fat, veiny uncut dick was eager to ge
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This keratin hair product helps eliminate frizz, unlock shine and leave your locks gorgeously salon-smooth.
Keratin Infusing Smoothing Serum
- Start with Keratin Infusing Shampoo and Keratin Infusing Conditioner
- Start by dispensing one pump of serum into palm of hand and rub hands together. You can always add more if necessary
- Apply this keratin hair product from the mid lengths of wet hair through to the ends
- You can also apply a small amount on the ends of dry hair to restore smoothness


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This undated file photo provided by the Summit County Sheriff Department in Ohio shows Richard J. Beasley, 53. Beasley is the second defendant headed to trial Tuesday, Feb. 19, 2013 on murder charges in the shooting deaths of three men and wounding of a fourth man lured with phony Craigslist job offers. (AP Photo/Summit County Sheriff Department, File)
AKRON, Ohio (AP) — Jury selection has begun in the Ohio trial of the alleged mastermind of a deadly plot to lure robbery victims with phony Craigslist job offers, killing three men and wounding a fourth.
More than 200 prospective jurors gathered Tuesday in the ornate Akron Civic Theater because there was no courthouse room big enough.
Judge Lynne Callahan told prospective jurors that jury selection in the murder trial of 53-year-old Richard Beasley could extend into next week and the trial could last six weeks. He could face the death penalty.
Prosecutors have portrayed Beasley as an ex-con street preacher in Akron and mentor to a teenager convicted in the plot.
Co-defendant Brogan Rafferty, who was then 17, was sentenced to life in prison in November after being found guilty in the plot.
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Student Spotlight: Brian Powers
Brian Powers
Major: Photography
Brian Powers took a photography class in high school because he needed to fill a space in his schedule.
"I thought it would just be an easy class, but fell in love immediately," he said. "Right out of high school, I didn't know what exactly I wanted to do. I knew I liked taking photos but didn't know if that would lead to a career. Money and distance led me to College of DuPage, where I was able to figure out my next steps and really hone my skills."
Through COD's Photography program, Powers met students and instructors with the same passion and found a supportive network. It was through Professor Terry Vitacco that he found a job at the Naperville Sun, where he discovered a love for community journalism.
After graduating with his associate's degree in Photography, he attended Western Kentucky University. But while there, he was offered a full-time job as staff photographer at the Aurora Beacon-News, which he took and then held for three years. His work has been recognized by the national, Illinois and Kentucky Press Photographer's associations, and in 2009 he was named the Illinois Student Photographer of the Year.
When the Sun-Times Media Group decided to eliminate all photographers, Powers decided to finish his bachelor's degree in Photojournalism and New Media at WKU while working as a freelance photographer. He would like to be back at a newspaper working as a staff photographer, because he considers the energy of a newsroom to be intoxicating.
Wherever his career takes him, Powers cannot say enough good things about College of DuPage's Photography program and its faculty.
"The Photography program at COD is truly a blessing to the school," he said. "Without passionate teachers like Terry Vitacco, Glenn Hanson and Jeff Curto, I would not be where I am at right now. As a photographer, you have to know who you are as a person before you can photograph others, and they helped me grow into that and be more confident."
College of DuPage
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2015 College of DuPage


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Striped V-Neck Sweater: This lightweight sweater is so fresh and pretty in pastel stripes! You'll love this casual top with our dyed-to-match pastel denim or with you favorite blue jeans.
Modern Fit Cuffed Straight Leg Jeans: These colorful denim jeans come cuffed and cropped but can also be unrolled and worn long! Modern fit sits below the natural waist and features a straight fit through the hips and thighs.
Thong Sandals by Boston Design Studio™: Easy to dress up or down, this versatile slide sandal looks great with swimsuits, dresses, shorts and more!
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*Buy-2 Deal not available on markdown colors
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I am a retired lithographer (color separator).. I have a BS degree in industrial education, and have taught part-time, while working in the litho trade. One of my finest teaching experiences was that of having taught a course in color theory and application, at AZ State University for 4 years. I've been painting in oils for about 25 years, and in watercolor for a bit less time. I belong to an art club, here in Glendale, AZ, as well as several other art forums. I am presently teaching an adult class in oil painting at a local recreation center.
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ARE YOU LOOKING TO BUY MOVIE POSTERS OR RELATED ITEMS? We are the world's leading auctioneer of movie posters and related items. You are currently on one of our non-auction pages. We auction 2,000 to 3,000 items every WEEK in our Auction Galleries. To learn more about our auctions, click here. To register to bid on our auctions, click here.
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p082 BIG BLUE one-sheet movie poster '88 Luc Besson, cool dolphin image!Date Sold 1/23/2007
Sold For: $78.00
An Original Vintage Theatrical Folded One-Sheet Movie Poster (measures 27" x 41") (Learn More)
Le Grand Bleu (released in the U.S. as "The Big Blue"), the 1988 Luc Besson French/U.S./Italian romantic fantasy melodrama ("The Sea Has a Secret"; "Between what you know and what you wish, lies the secret of... The Big Blue") starring Rosanna Arquette, Jean-Marc Barr, Jean Reno, Paul Shenar, Sergio Castellitto, Marc Duret, Andreas Voutsinas, Valentina Vargas, and Griffin Dunne. Note that this movie was originally 132 minutes long when it was first released in France. It was released in the U.S. at 118 minutes, and there was a 168 minute "director's cut" released in France (it is called the "long version" on the French posters for that 168 minute version).
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The Replay: Andrew Luck, Jeff Gordon, and Tom Brady
Meow Edition
Andrew Luck makes a feline stand.Read more
Live Updates from Gen Con
Follow along the fun as our roving reporter Anne Halliwell takes on Gen Con.
Shields or tables? Only a question at #GenCon.Read more
John Mellencamp's Most Popular Clips
Heard so good.
Couldn't make it to all of John Mellencamp's greatest concerts? We've got you covered.Read more
10 Things to Expect from Spark: Monument Circle
New initiative invites you to eat, stretch, chat, and play at the city's center.
When the events conclude in October, the city will consider permanent changes based on Spark's success.Read more
Calling Tom Brady's Bluff
Contents of Patriots QB cell phone revealed! Maybe.
What was Tom Brady hiding on his mobile phone? Probably a lot.Read more
Pop-Up Shops Arrive with Gen Con
Geek Chic and Retro101 to open in Circle Centre
Custom gaming furniture and chic local finds fill temporary stores this week.Read more
Hot List 7.27.15
Stylish Stuff We're Loving Right Now
French flatware, Sriracha fashion, sweet notecards, bad-karaoke coasters, and more.Read more
Indy's Best New Bars
The top 10 coolest spots to drink now.
A rundown of the top ten coolest places to drink right now.Read more
Eat Sheet: Michael Symon, St. Elmo, and More
This Week's Trends in Indy Dining
Celebrity chef Michael Symon stopped by his new 86th street restaurant B Spot Burgers, Love Handle (softly) opened, and St Elmo's is among the best.Read more
Swoon List 7.28.15
Five Dishes We Adore Right Now
The five dishes you must try this week, including Milktooth's sweet-and-savory grilled cheese.Read more


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To the Editor:
There is a criminal element in Malvern, Minerva, Carrollton and Carroll County: an element of corruption, bribery, cronyism, drugs, etc. that have gone on too long.
Those who know the exact details of this element need to report it to the FBI in Canton and let them take care of it.
Like the Occupy Wall Street movement, it's time to make changes in Carroll County and get rid of the clique, crap and lies.
Joe B. Columbo
Malvern, OH
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Prime Property
Blogging Houston real estate with Nancy Sarnoff and the Houston Chronicle real estate team.
Posts filtered on Tag
Memorial Hermann to expand in Sugar Land
Memorial Hermann Health System is planning a $93 million expansion of its Sugar Land hospital that will include new towers and equipment to serve the area's expanding population. "One of our highest priorities is to prepare for the growing market in Fort Bend County," Dan Wolterman, president and CEO, said in a statement. When complete, the […] [Read More]
Tropical Smoothie Cafe set to expand in Houston
The first local Tropical Smoothie Cafe has opened in Fort Bend County, and the company has targeted Houston as a market for expansion. "We believe there is a high quality of life index in Houston, and the 'Eat Better, Feel Better' concept of Tropical Smoothie Cafe is a great match for the Houston community," said […] [Read More]
The Caesar's Palace of movie theaters
The new Palladium AVX theater opening next month in Fort Bend County will take movie-going to a new level. "It's more Caesar's than a movie theater," said Chris Prichard, director of marketing for San Antonio-based Santikos Theatres, which also owns a theater in Tomball and others in its home town. The new Greek-themed facility is […] [Read More]
Bottled water maker builds in Fort Bend
Niagara Bottling says it will build a 365,000-square-foot manufacturing and distribution center in Fort Bend County, bringing hundreds of jobs to the area over the next decade. The deal represents a $57 million investment, according the Greater Houston Partnership. The Ontario, Calif.-based company will develop the facility in the 168-acre Lakeview Business Park in Missouri […] [Read More]
A new high school for Fort Bend
Fort Bend Independent School District has purchased 65 acres in Telfair for a new high school. The site is at University Boulevard and Chatham Avenue, bounded on the north by Bullpen Bayou and the west by land slated for an 80-acre public park. The future school property was in the news last year because residents […] [Read More]
Investors take prominent real estate developer to court
A lawsuit over two residential developments in Katy has pitted investors in the projects against a prominent Houston developer. About six years ago, Charles Simmons and Ken Barrett partnered with Dan Moody Jr., co-founder and president of Houston-based real estate firm Moody Rambin Interests, and others to develop two neighborhoods in Fort Bend County. The […] [Read More]


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Residential weight loss retreat in Spain. Our guests are mostly professionalls, stressed and overworked, searching for a solution, to a stress-free, healthier life. We have helped 100's of guests, we can help you too
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Big Gay Ice Cream Will Open East Village Space Mid-June
Pretty soon you won't have to follow the Big Gay Ice Cream truck's tweets for their rolling whereabouts (though, you should, since their tweets are usually pretty entertaining). In mid-June, Bryan Petroff and Doug Quint will open a brick-and-mortar shop on the East 7th Street block between First Avenue and Avenue A, what's already been nicknamed one of the tastiest blocks in the city. More


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Food, unglorious food...Part 2
Addiction: the best definition I've seen is:
An irresistible compulsion to commit an irrational act.
On the ladder of addiction, each step upwards has an addiction listed, rising in the order of the difficulty of quitting. I saw an illustration one time of this but at the moment I can't locate it.
The lower rungs were street drugs in their variants.
Next were the highly addictive pharmaceutical drugs, the percocets, the bennies, the oxycontins, etc.
Then there was alcohol in all its forms.
Up another rung to nicotine.
And the highest rung of all was food. The most difficult addiction of all to quit.
With all other substances, one can quit cold turkey as I have, or go to rehab, or a treatment centre or find a support group, turn one's back on the addiction and not have to deal with it again, except with a 'no thank you' or an 'I'm outta here' if the going gets rough.
With food, of course, one is faced with decisions around ingesting this particular drug of choice three times a day. Moreover, food is served at nearly all social gatherings and calling relentlessly while in the car driving by the winking signs of convenience stores and fast food joints.
While the bombardment of food advertisements and promotions assault from one side, the other side has the fabulous bodies of models swanning about in magazines and television without an excess ounce of fat on them to taunt and tease.
It all can feel so bloody hopeless.
And knowing all the time that there is less than a 5% (some say even less than that) success ratio in Weight Watchers, in Jenny Craig, in all of the so-called Diet Clubs. They refuse to divulge their statistics as they are so dismal. They are in it for the money, of course - all made on the sad backs of the most wretched and hopeless. It is all about the numbers, the weight, the measurements, the calories in, the calories out, the cash leaving your pocket and hopping into theirs, and can we sell you some food while we're at it? Weight Watchers is owned by the Heinz Corporation, an agri-business, pimping frankenfoods of all kinds.
I've tried it all of course. And had the dizzying 'successes' for a while. Even down to seeing a medical obesity specialist who subsisted me on a protein drink taken 3 times a day and a shot (horse urine, I believe) in my bum every day from his nurse. Tough going, but I graduated in 6 weeks with a 42lb weight loss and a size 9 dress. Of course in 6 months it was all packed on again and then some. Much to my bafflement. Meanwhile, I tried to find Dr. H., the magic diet doctor once more but he had run out of town to California with at least two deaths to his credit and was a person of interest to the local police department. I should add that even knowing this, I would have gone back to him. Rather a skinny corpse in a casket than a fat one any day.
So I had to move back to bennies which had me cleaning floors at midnight but never eating, losing the entire weight gain but also my mind from lack of sleep.
I'm not much into surgery, the gastric bands, the balloon, the shortening of the bowel, but I seriously considered them all. All stop gap measures as I know now, none dealing with the real underlying issues.
I was bounding from one diet to another, gobbling up the weight loss books, the magazines, the tapes, Richard Simmons, et al. One particular favourite, Woman's World, always features a picture on the cover of a 'weight loss winner' holding her old size 54 jeans wrapped twice around her, while inside has the recipes for 10,000 calorie desserts. Yum and barf.
Every morning for years and years and years I woke up thinking today is the day I take charge, today I will fast, eat 300 calories and lose 50lbs by the end of September (or for the wedding, or for the trip).
Every night I went to bed thinking what a loser, what a pig. You just couldn't do it, could you, eating 4 plates at that buffet and then getting the munchies later. It is obscene what you eat. If only people knew.
An intelligent person like me defeated by a bag of chips, a chocolate bar, a birthday cake?
I couldn't make sense of it: I had let go of my bennies, my alcohol and my nicotine. Why in the name of all that was holy, could I not let go of food?
To be continued.
Labels: food addiction


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By 1847, experience had clearly taught the Latter-day Saints the importance
of obtaining more political autonomy and protection than was offered by a territorial
government, whose federally appointed officials would have little sympathy for
the LDS way of life (see Politics: Political History). Therefore, from the time
the Mormon pioneers arrived in the Great Basin, they fervently sought statehood
and self-government. In 1850, 1856, 1862, 1867, 1872, and 1882, LDS representatives
made appeals for statehood to the U.S. Congress, all to no avail. In fact, statehood
seemed to become more elusive as time went on, because those opposed to Utah
statehood could generate emotional opposition through the issue of plural marriage.
In 1865, Schuyler Colfax, Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, visited
Utah and pointedly warned Brigham Young that his territory could never become
a state so long as the Church upheld polygamy. Latter-day Saints persisted in
the practice, which for another generation blocked Utah´s admission as a state.
After the U.S. Supreme Court ruled decisively against plural marriage in 1879
(see Reynolds v. United States), federal officials began to enforce laws more
firmly during what became known as the antipolygamy raid (see Antipolygamy Legislation).
The Edmunds-Tucker Act of 1887, intended to bar polygamists from voting, was
still pending in Congress when LDS agents secured approval from President Grover
Cleveland´s administration and from President of the Church John Taylor for
a strategy of seeking statehood by accepting a Utah Constitution prohibiting
plural marriage. President Taylor´s belief in plural marriage remained unaltered,
but he recognized that elected state officials would likely enforce marriage
laws more leniently than appointed federal officials had done. In mid-1887 such
a Constitution was framed and ratified in Utah. Despite these efforts, congressional
Democrats balked at delivering statehood until the Church gave up polygamy.
Soon thereafter, the First Presidency of the Church, acting as a committee
on statehood, began working with members of the Republican party. Some Republicans
had been hostile to the Church and its marriage practices; others recognized
the value of the Mormon vote throughout the West. With the assistance of friendly
Republican party leaders, George Q. Cannon, counselor in the First Presidency,
and others thwarted a proposed law that would have disfranchised all LDS voters,
not just the polygamists. Yet, the threat of such legislation persisted, along
with the even more ominous peril that the four Utah temples stood in danger
of being confiscated under provisions of the Edmunds-Tucker Act.
Church leaders early faced the irony that the statehood and home rule desired
as an additional protection for the Church and its institutions could seemingly
be obtained only by yielding a part of the religious life they wished to protect.
With ever harsher legislation, they now faced the necessity of bending on less
central matters in order to protect the core mission and essential ordinances
of the Church. In these circumstances, Church President Wilford Woodruff fervently
sought and received divine direction. Accordingly, he publicly announced in
his 1890 Manifesto that he would no longer permit plural marriages in opposition
to the laws of the United States, thus removing the main obstacle to Utah statehood
and protecting the temples and other matters central to the faith.
Perhaps the most important remaining problem to be resolved before Utah could
gain statehood was normalizing political affairs within the territory. Up to
that time, non-LDS voters had mainly backed the so-called Liberal party, while
Church members belonged to the People´s party, primarily associated in national
affairs with the Democrats. LDS leaders recognized the necessity of convincing
party members in Congress that Utah voters were not irretrievably aligned with
the Democrats. It was time for Utah politics to mirror the federal, with the
Democratic and Republican parties both being strong. This took place with impressive
dispatch through determined efforts by John Henry Smith, an apostle, and others.
At their urging, local LDS leadersand in some cases entire congregationswere
divided along national party lines.
However, as Republican party members became more convinced that admission of
Utah as a state might give them two more U.S. senators in the closely balanced
upper house, Democratic lawmakers became less committed to the cause of statehood,
necessitating complex and intense behind-the-scenes lobbying efforts. The chief
agents in these negotiations were Bishop Hiram B. Clawson and his relative Colonel
Isaac Trumbo, a close friend of President Wilford Woodruff, whose effective
lobbying with Republican lawmakers was of critical importance. Through a series
of discussions and agreements, Trumbo and Clawson finally regained the cooperation
of key Democratic leaders, partly by agreeing that actual admission of the state
would not take place until 1896, after Democrats had an opportunity to complete
their congressional agenda without the possible opposition of Republican senators
from Utah.
The enabling act for admission was passed in July 1894, allowing a state constitutional
convention to meet in early 1895. Once the Constitution was approved by the
U.S. Congress, it was submitted to Utah citizens for ratification at the same
time that they elected their first state officers. Finally, on January 4, 1896,
President Grover Cleveland proclaimed Utah a state, the forty-fifth, and the
new government went into effect two days later.
Larson, Gustave O. The "Americanization" of Utah for Statehood. San
Marino, Calif., 1971.
Lyman, Edward Leo. Political Deliverance: The Mormon Quest for Utah Statehood.
Urbana, Ill., 1986.
Wolfinger, Henry J. "A Reexamination of the Woodruff Manifesto in the Light
of Utah Constitutional History." Utah Historical Quarterly 39 (Fall 1971):32849.


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Gurgaon: Attractions and more...
Sheetala Devi Temple
The Sheetala Devi Temple is located on the border of Gurgaon. It is dedicated to Goddess Sheetala Devi, who is the goddess of small-pox. People from all over the country worship the goddess.
Damdama Lake
The Damdama Lake is located off the Alwar Road, a few kilometers from Gurgaon in the southern region. Tourists can enjoy many facilities like boating, adventure activities, camping site, hovercraft, motel wing, conference hall, bar and restaurant.
Sultanpur Bird Sanctuary
The Sultanpur Bird Sanctuary is located at a distane of 16 kilometers from Gurgaon. Dr. Salim Ali founded this sanctuary and currently more than hundred types of birds are preserved here like rosy pelicans, ruddy duck, Saras, spot bill and crane. Tourists can make use of hide outs and watch towers to view the birds. There is also a museum in the premises of the sanctuary.
About 45 kilometers from Gurgaon lies the town of Nuh. One can visit the tomb of Sheikh Musa, the constructions is a mix of the Rajput and Muslim architectural style.
Latest reviews Gurgaon
Related Contents
Other Attractions India:
Manesar (About 9 mi) - Delhi (About 17.4 mi) - Mathura-Sikandra (About 17.4 mi) - Bhiwadi (About 20.1 mi) - Noida (About 20.7 mi) - Ghaziabad (About 28.3 mi)
|Manesar - 8.8 mi
Nuh is a town located 45 kilometers from Gurgaon. Here, one can see the tomb of Sheikh Musa that is a combination of Rajput and Muslim architecture and is well known for the...
|Delhi - 17.3 mi
Humayun's Tomb is a noteworthy example of the Mughal architecture in India. It is a beautiful construction topped by a huge dome and surrounded by lush gardens. This building...


text: No recent wiki edits to this page. OverviewYomotsu-Shikome were eight demons in Japanese mythology that live in Yomi, the netherworld. Izanami sent them in pursuit of Izanagi in an effort to prevent his escape from the netherworld.In Video GamesYomotsu-Shikome has made numerous appearances in the Megami Tensei franchise in roles such as a demon in Shin Megami Tensei: Nocturne and as a Persona in Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 3 and Persona 4.


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January 29th, 2008
Spaceports: Blasting Off Around the World
For most people, the idea of space travel is limited exclusively to either astronauts or fictitious movies and tele
vision shows. It's true that many popular movies, such as Star Wars or Star Trek, have depicted space travel as a mode of transportation that is strictly made for science fiction movies – but the reality is that it's not. Space travel, or the so-called space tourism industry, is a very real thing, and it will allow "regular" people the chance to travel through space.
The whole idea of space tourism is exciting for most people to think about, and the idea that space travel may soon be on the same level as commercial air travel in terms of accessibility and popularity, is even more exciting to think about (certainly more exciting than emptying vacuum cleaner bags). Today there are already companies out there that are basically "space travel agencies", and with their services, you can book your flight to outer space. One of the largest companies of this kind was founded in 1998 and based in Virginia called Space Adventures.
Before you run out to book one of these one-of-a-kind private space travel experiences, you had better have some money in the bank to finance the space trip, because they're not 1z0-051 cheap! The first official space tourist was Dennis Tito who reportedly payed $20 million for the ticket. Tito was blasted to outer space aboard the Soyuz spacecraft en route to the International Space Station. His flight left in May of 2001 with the Russian Space Agency providing the transportation approximately 189 – 248 statute miles up into space.70-680 These days, that same trip costs about $30 million to climb aboard the 3 person spacecraft, and it's booked solid through 2009.
Spacecrafts for these flights into space are being designed and built as we speak. Here's a short list of some of the innovative spacecraft designed for commercial space travel: Soyuz spacecraft, SpaceShipOne, SpaceShipTwo, WhiteKnightTwo, Cosmopolis XXI. On average, these spacecraft will reach speeds of Mach 3, they'll fly 360,000ft, or 68.18 miles high, and the entire flight will last between 1 – 3 hours with seating for only 5 or 6 people.
As space tourism continues to become ever more affordable, so demand and accessibility grows, and thus, we are seeing spaceports popping-up around the world. In many ways, these new spaceports are like typical airports, except for the fact that they are launchpads to outer-space. ManyRobe de bal verte spaceports being constructed today are privately owned and financed, while some will be sponsored by the government of their respective countries. Many new spaceports are planning to begin launching travellers into outer space within the next year or two. Costs for these flights are estimated to be in the $200,000 range, and in most cases the flight will last about 1 hour. So is there a spaceport near you? Lets find out!


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Dog Friendly Beaches in ConnecticutDog friendly beaches are heaven on earth for Fido. And since sandy paws equal happy dogs, we've sniffed out the best beaches in Connecticut where dogs can run, swim, and frolic in the sand. Use the links/map below to find a dog-friendly beach in Connecticut.
Top 10 Dog Friendly Beaches in Connecticut
Jennings Dog BeachJennings Dog Beach is the only off-leash beach in the area from October 1st to March 31st. Dogs are allowed on the sand, but not on the boardwalks, pavillions, or playgrounds.
Compo Beach Off Leash Dog AreaCompo Beach off-leash dog area is located at Compo Beach and Yacht Club and welcomes dogs from October 1 through March 30. Be aware that the area is not fenced.
Penfield BeachThis is an on-leash beach open to canines between after October 1st to March 31st, as long as you pick up after them.
Hammonasset Beach State ParkPets are allowed on the beach only from November 1 - April 1. Unfortunately, pets are not allowed during the summer beach season.
Browse all Beaches in Connecticut by City
Fido's Favorite Destinations in Connecticut
Search Attractions
Connecticut Quick Links


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Wooden Sudoku Games
Wooden Sudoku games are a charming version of the game that has challenged the people of nations across the world. Sudoku has enjoyed a brilliant rise to popularity that really took off in 2005. These games make players think dimensionally and help players develop mental acuity. Expert Sudoku games offer more of a challenge for players with experience. Wooden Sudoku games are elegant additions to your libraries or front rooms. Sudoku offers hours of education and entertainment. Amuse guests, your children and even yourself with these simple yet challenging little games. If you are shopping for a new game, consider wooden Sudoku games, and help your family gain mental agility.
Browse Wooden Sudoku Games
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Seasonal jobs widely available, though many aren't being filled
(KMOV.com) -- Seasonal jobs are popping up everywhere, but no one is taking them. Some say they don't want to forfeit their unemployment, but after a little research News 4 learned residents can actually work part time and continue to collect some of those benefits. Combine that with a positive financial outlook on the holidays and your holiday season could turn into a lucrative one. For local seasonal job opportunities, click here and here.


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Sept. 14, 2009
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. --- New Mexico (0-2, 0-0 MWC) begins Mountain West Conference play Saturday, entertaining Air Force (1-1, 0-0 MWC) at University Stadium. Kickoff is 5:34 p.m. The game will be televised nationally in High Definition on CBS College Sports, which is channel 274 on Comcast Cable in Albuquerque and channel 613 on DirecTV. The radio broadcast is also available on Sirius 157.
The Lobos are 0-2 on the season after losing their home opener to Tulsa 44-10. The Golden Hurricane limited UNM to six first downs and 171 yards of total offense, while forcing four turnovers. New Mexico was on the short end of total plays (55 to 80) and time of possession (24:50 to 35:10).
Air Force fell to 1-1 following a 20-13 loss at Minnesota. The Falcons led 10-3 at the start of the fourth quarter.
Last year, the Lobos finished 4-8 overall and 2-6 in the MWC, tying UNLV for 6th place. Air Force was 8-5 in all games, 5-3 in the MWC (4th place). The Falcons lost to Houston 34-28 in the Armed Forces Bowl in Fort Worth. Air Force was picked to finish 4th in the MWC in the 2009 preseason poll.
New Mexico has not started a season 0-3 since 2000
UNM has lost 6 straight games, the longest drought since a 6-game slide in 1998-99: the last 4 games of `98 and first 2 games of `99...the Lobos have not lost 7 in a row since 10 straight in 1990-91, the final 6 games of 1990 and first 4 games of 1991...the Lobos have also dropped 5 in a row on the road
The Lobos' offensive struggles mirror the current 6-game losing streak...UNM has not registered an offensive TD in more than 14 quarters, since Rodney Ferguson scored on a 5-yard run with 11:47 left in the 2nd quarter at UNLV on Nov. 8, 2008...since beating San Diego State 70-7 last year in Albuquerque, UNM has averaged just 9.8 points and 286.3 yards of offense the past 6 games
The 16 points scored is the fewest by New Mexico in the first 2 games of the season since posting 14 in 1955: a 14-7 win over New Mexico State and a 25-0 loss at Colorado State
The Lobos have a 4-game losing streak in MWC games, the longest since the league formed in 1999...it's the longest since 1998 when UNM lost its last 4 games in the Western Athletic Conference...the last 5-game skid in conference play was the final 6 games of 1990
New Mexico is 3-7 in MWC openers, 2-4 at home and 1-3 on the road...the record is also 3-7 in MWC home openers
27th meeting and the Falcons have a 16-10 lead
Last year: 23-10 Air Force at the Academy
2007 in ABQ: UNM won 34-31 to halt a 3-game series losing streak
Lately: Falcons have won 4 of the past 5
Tied 5-5 in MWC competition
Albuquerque: Tied 7-7, but Lobos have won 4 of last 5
Team with the time of possession advantage has won 9 of the past 10
The last 2 games b/w the 2 teams have been played on Thursday
UNM LB Clint McPeek had a career-high 15 tackles last year
AIR FORCE HEAD COACH TROY CALHOUN - Former cadet Troy Calhoun (Air Force `89) is 18-10 in his 3rd year as a collegiate head coach. He is 1-1 against the Lobos.
LAST YEAR AT THE ACADEMY - The Air Force defense was frazzled and fatigued -- not that safety Aaron Kirchoff minded rumbling 96 yards on a fumble return that helped the Falcons beat New Mexico 23-10.
The Lobos forced three first-quarter turnovers and were about to jump out to a 17-0 lead when Kirchoff scooped up quarterback Brad Gruner's fumble at the Falcons 4 and sped down the Lobos' sideline for the second-longest fumble return in school history, cutting New Mexico's lead to 10-7 at the end of the 1st quarter.
Nobody was more relieved than Falcons freshman quarterback Tim Jefferson, who had fumbled away the ball and thrown an interception on consecutive snaps that led to 10 Lobos points and watched fullback Ryan Southworth cough it up at midfield moments before Kirchoff's game-saver on the final play of the first quarter.
Ryan Harrison's 31-yard field goal just before halftime tied it at 10, and the Falcons took the lead for good early in the third quarter following Glover Quin's fumbled kickoff. Running a play that was installed just this week, Jefferson faked a keeper, pulled up and tossed a 1-yard touchdown pass over the pile to tight end Travis Dekker.
The Lobos, who twice were stuffed on 4th-and-1 inside the Air Force 10-yard line, converted the Falcons' first two turnovers into a 2-yard TD by Ferguson and a 45-yard field goal by James Aho.
Air Force had 1 pass completion in 3 attempts, good for 1 yard and it went for a TD...it's the fewest passing yards by a Lobo opponent since Rice had 0 in 1997
Entering the game, New Mexico had not allowed any points off turnovers in its previous 4 games; that changed when Air Force returned a fumble 96 yards for a touchdown at the end of the 1st quarter...the Falcons scored 17 points following 4 Lobo turnovers
New Mexico entered the red zone 4 times and scored just once...the results were a TD, a fumble that Air Force returned 96 yards for a TD and twice failing to convert on 4th and 1, one time at the Falcons' 9, and the other at the 10
UNM held Air Force to 228 yards of total offense - 164 yards below its average - and caused 3 turnovers...UNM scored 10 points after turnovers
The Lobos ran 22 plays for 149 yards in the 1st quarter; the last 3 quarters, UNM only had 154 yards on 43 plays
2007 IN ALBUQUERQUE - Rodney Ferguson ran for 146 yards and John Sullivan kicked four field goals, leading New Mexico to a 34-31 victory. The Lobos capitalized on five lost fumbles by the Falcons - three in the fourth quarter.
Sullivan set a school record by hitting his 18th straight field goal, a 36-yarder that put New Mexico ahead 34-31 with 10:10 remaining.
The Falcons got a big break when Sullivan finally missed, sailing wide right on a 32-yard try with 2:18 remaining. But Air Force's Mark Root fumbled and Herbert Felder recovered for the Lobos, who ran out the clock.
Air Force standout Chad Hall had 97 yards rushing on 21 carries and had 247 total yards. Sullivan, meanwhile, connected from 43, 20, 32 and 36 yards to break the school mark of 16 consecutive field goals by Vladimir Borombozin from 2000-01.
A key swing came in the second quarter when New Mexico scored 11 points in 15 seconds. Sullivan's 20-yarder cut Air Force's lead to 21-13, and Tyson Ditmore recovered Ty Paffett's fumble on the ensuing kickoff at the 12. On the next play, Donovan Porterie threw a 12-yard TD strike to TE Chris Mark, then found Mark on the successful 2-point conversion to tie it at 21 late in the first half.
Ferguson scored on a 3-yard plunge on fourth-and-1, putting New Mexico ahead 28-24 in the third. It was set up when Air Force's Garrett Rybak had a New Mexico punt bounce off his leg and Ian Clark recovered for the Lobos. The Falcons answered with a 65-yard drive, capped by an 8-yard TD run by Jim Ollis to give Air Force a 31-28 lead late in the third.
Head coach Mike Locksley has assembled a coaching staff that possesses a wealth of accomplishments. A look at the numbers, including graduate assistants, entering the 2009 season:
128 - Years of collegiate and/or professional coaching experience: Darrell Dickey 24, Doug Mallory 21, Rubin Carter 20, George Barlow 18, Mike Locksley 17, Toby Neinas 14, Cheston Blackshear 6, J.B. Gerald 4, Mike Degory 2, Tee Martin 1, Mike Mendenhall 1.
25 - Bowl games coached: Mike Locksley 6, Doug Mallory 6, Darrell Dickey 5, Cheston Blackshear 3, J.B. Gerald 3, Toby Neinas 1, Mike Degory 1.
19 - Bowl games as a player: Cheston Blackshear 4 (Florida), Mike Degory 4 (Florida), Tee Martin 4 (Tennessee), Doug Mallory 4 (Michigan), Aaron Moorehead 2 (Illinois), Darrell Dickey 1 (Kansas State).
3 - Super Bowl appearances as a player: Rubin Carter 2 (Denver), Aaron Moorehead 1 (Indianapolis).
2 - National championships as a player: Cheston Blackshear 1 (Florida 1996) and Tee Martin 1 (Tennessee 1998).
2 - Former college head coaches on staff: Darrell Dickey (North Texas) and Rubin Carter (Florida A&M).
1 - BCS national championship as a coach: Doug Mallory (LSU 2007).
2009 PERSONNEL PICTURE - The Lobos return 41 lettermen, including 11 position starters, eight on offense and three on defense. UNM returns 21 lettermen on offense, 17 on defense and three specialists.
TULSA REVIEW - G.J. Kinne threw for 310 yards and four touchdowns to help Tulsa defeat New Mexico 44-10. The Golden Hurricane (2-0) took advantage of early mistakes by the Lobos, then got their offense in high gear in the second half.
Kinne threw two touchdown passes to Slick Shelley and one each to Damaris Johnson and Jamad Williams before being removed in the fourth quarter. Tulsa scored in the first following a fumble by Lobos punt returner Frankie Solomon at the 16. Four plays later, Charles Clay went over the middle from the 1-yard line five minutes into the game.
The Golden Hurricane were unable to find the end zone again until Kinne found Johnson from 2 yards out with 38 seconds remaining in the first half.
The Lobos got their first touchdown of the season in the fourth when linebacker Tray Hardaway returned a fumble 92 yards.
New Mexico had 81 yards of total offense in the 1st quarter, but just 90 the rest of the game...the Lobos (171 yards) were held under 200 yards of total offense for the first time since gaining 186 in last year's home and season-opener vs. TCU
Senior LB Tray Hardaway
8 tackles and he returned a fumble 92 yards for a TD in the 4th quarter
the last Lobo to return a fumble for a score was DE Jaymar Latchison (28 yards) last year against San Diego State
the longest fumble return in UNM history is 97 yards by Pete McDavid vs. Northern Arizona in 1936
Sophomore K James Aho
made his only FG attempt, connecting from 48 yards, which tied a career-high for the 2nd straight game
21-27 FGs in 14 career games at New Mexico
Sophomore DE Jaymar Latchison
Career-high 2.0 sacks and forced a fumble
Sophomore DE Johnathan Rainey
4 tackles, another sack and 2.0 tackles for loss
11 tackles, 3.0 sacks and 4.0 tackles for loss in 2 games, both off the bench
Sophomore MLB Carmen Messina
Career-high 14 tackles, giving him 23 in the first two games...had 35 in 12 games last year
Senior DT Kendall Briscoe
Career-high 3.0 tackles for loss (4 tackles total)...sack and forced the fumble that resulted in the Lobos only TD
Senior FS Frankie Baca
Career-high 7 tackles - all solo - in his first career start (40 career games)
Junior WR Nick Wilhelm
Walk-on led the team with a career-high 3 catches for 33 yards...4 grabs for 46 yards in his first season of regular gameday action
Junior OT Maurice Mears
Made his first career start as a Lobo at right tackle in place of injured Ivan Hernandez


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18-wheeler crashes on I-35 in San Antonio, loses load of soda
Tractor trailer was transporting 40,000 pounds of Mexican soda
SAN ANTONIO - An 18-wheeler transporting 40,000 pounds of Mexican soda crashed on Interstate 35 near downtown early Friday morning, causing a massive liquid spill that forced the freeway to be closed.
Police said the big rig hit some barriers that divide the upper and lower levels of the northbound lanes of the interstate near the Laredo exit just after midnight. The 18-wheeler buckled and flipped onto its side.
The crash and spill prompted police to close the upper and lower levels of the freeway. The lower level was opened to traffic between 5:30 a.m. and 6 a.m.
The upper level of the freeway was expected to open after the morning rush hour.
The driver wasn't hurt.
Copyright 2013 by KSAT.com All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.


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Cinva Ram
Rémi Kaupp
This Cinva RAM is a machine which is used to create compressed earth blocks. It is one of the most popular manual Earth brick presses available in the world today. It is particularly widespread in developing countries and areas such as South America.
To build the Cinva RAM there are a couple things you need. First you need the designs for the Cinva RAM. You need to correct measurements and designs so that when you build the manual brick press everything aligns and a perfectly measured brick is produced. Next you need to get the correct tools and materials ready.
The Cinva RAM is made from steel, this is because high amounts of pressure are applied to the earth to form the brick when the lever of the Cinva RAM is pulled. Because steel is used as a building material, it is necessary for the builder of the Cinva RAM to be familiar with the cutting and joining or welding of steel. To cut the steel, an angle grinder will usually suffice and these can be bought fairly cheaply from a local hardware store. However, to join steel together requires you to do some welding which requires the use of some safety equipment and a little bit of training plus not to mention the use of the welding equipment itself.
Compressed Earth Block Machine
Once you have built the Cinva RAM there are many different uses for the compressed earth blocks:
Housing, compressed bricks are most commonly used in the construction of houses in developing countries. It allows the production of houses at very cheap prices and also with the correct techniques, these can be used to produce first-class quality homes. Increasingly, compressed earth bricks are also being used in first world countries to create eco-friendly houses.
Walls, earth blocks are in use to create sturdy and durable outdoor walls that can be used to separate the boundaries around the house.
Roads, stabilised compressed bricks can be used in construction of durable pathways, roads and indoor flooring.
Ovens and stoves, when using the correct earth mix, compressed earth blocks can even be used in the construction of an outdoor oven or bakery stove.
Farm buildings and sheds, because they are so cheap to construct and they can be rapidly built, farm buildings and outhouses such as sheds have been built using compressed earth bricks.
Nowadays there are more people using compressed earth bricks in the construction of houses, however it is no longer just done manually. Instead, fully automatic and mechanized methods of compressed earth brick production have been created and are now in use produce up to 10,000 bricks in a single day. However, the Cinva Ram still is a very useful tool for those who are looking for a cheaper way to produce compressed earth blocks.


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The Geek Girl BarCamp is part of the ditact Summer school. All men and women involved in IT and computer science as well as men and women supporting them are cordially invited to participate!
Barcamps arised out of the need to compare notes, share information and gain new perceptions. Each participant is asked to prepare a self-chosen theme which is characteristic for a barcamp. The participants choose the presentations being held at the barcamp. Small snacks and drinks allow reflecting and socializing in a relaxed atmosphere.
We are looking forward to interesting and exciting speeches, equal panel discussions and most of all of your participation at the Geek Girl BarCamp 2012!
For further information, please take a look at http://www.barcamp.at/Ditact_BarCamp_2012 or http://www.ditact.ac.at/course/1126


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Most agree that the Texans' J. J. Watt delivered the greatest all-around season ever by a defensive end last season. But don't think for a moment that Watt is satisfied.
"Sure, I'm going to be better," he said. "Just watch. I think I'm more explosive, more agile. I'm a year older, so I'm a year smarter. I understand more and have more experience, and I'll be able to use that."
But what, realistically, constitutes a worthy encore to a season in which you have participated in 21 quarterback sacks, deflected 16 passes – a record for defensive linemen – and made 23 tackles behind the line of scrimmage?
"There's so much more to be better at," he said. "I watched the film from last year over and over and over again, and there are sacks I missed here and there. There are a couple plays in the run game I missed here and there. There are some balls that could have been batted that weren't batted. Little things, you know.
"I'm always looking at the little things. You have to be your harshest critic and I'm by far my harshest critic. I have by far the highest expectations out of anyone in the entire world."


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DETROIT (AP) - Johnny Manziel showed off some of his fancy footwork, and the Cleveland rookie looked sharp with his arm too in his preseason debut, although the Browns lost to the Detroit Lions 13-12 on Saturday night.
Manziel entered the game as a backup in the middle of the second quarter, and although he couldn't take his team to the end zone, he did go 7 of 11 for 63 yards, completing one more pass than starting quarterback Brian Hoyer. Manziel also ran for 27 yards on six carries, including a 16-yard scramble in the third quarter.
"For me it was a good start." - Browns Quarterback Johnny Manziel on preseason debut. #LIVEonSC— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) August 10, 2014
Matthew Stafford led the Lions to a field goal on his only drive of the game. Star receiver Calvin Johnson didn't play.
Browns QB comparisons:
- Manziel: 7-11, 63 Yds; 6 rush, 27 Yds
- Hoyer: 6-14, 92 Yds pic.twitter.com/pdnmb010GE— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) August 10, 2014
Reported 2 wks ago browns players expected Hoyer to start week 1. Starting to think they were wrong. Team source says Manziel now ahead.— bob holtzman (@BobHoltzmanESPN) August 10, 2014
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A brief note on Abbottabad Commission report
July 12, 2013 § 1 Comment
In the wake of Abbottabad raid on OBL's compound back in 2011, we saw a knee-jerk reaction in the form of nation-wide anger. The anger was not directed at a terrorist who killed thousands of innocent people and yet, was comfortably residing next to some critically significant military facilities in our beloved country – no, rather, there was a sudden surge of nationalistic jargon coming from foaming mouths who wanted America to pay for having violated our sovereignty.
Naturally, there is a possibility that OBL planted his DNA, multiple fake wives and children, a fake trail, fake couriers who maintained his link with an Al-Qaeda which, by the way, doesn't really exist. Luckily, at least we are ready to admit that the raid by US Navy SEALS was real.
Discounting such patriotic notions and fairly intelligent conspiracy theories, the Commission which was tasked with probing into the May 2 raid, recently brought together its findings in the form of a report. Since the Commission didn't comprise exclusively of army personnel, it's objectivity, sanity and patriotism can be questioned. Such doubts are compounded by the fact that 'certain elements' barred the report from reaching the mainstream media until some obviously-traitorous whistleblower recently leaked it.
Now, the findings of the Commission are fairly startling, so you don't have to hold them as true. For instance, the Commission has explicitly stated multiple times in the report that the May 2 raid, and the fact that OBL was present in Pakistan, were both huge failures on the part of the military as well as the civilian government.
However, the chief body which was directly working on tackling high-value targets in Pakistan is ISI. The intelligence agency didn't share any intel on OBL with other civilian intelligence or law-enforcement agencies, which means that no one else knew what leads CIA had provided regarding the former Al-Qaeda chief. Given ISI's exceptionally vigilant performance, then, it is no surprise that OBL was able to sneak into Pakistan back in 2005 and live in Abbottabad cantonment for years, without triggering any alarms.
In light of the evidences gathered, timelines constructed and testimonies heard, the Commission noted that it was virtually impossible for the renowned terrorist to hike around Pakistan without help from someone within the security agencies. Of course, this would be far more probable if General Hamid Gul was still serving in the military. But since he's still the primary inspiration of many top army officers, the Commission's analysis isn't that far-fetched. Besides, we have seen many recent incidents where army personnel went over to the dark side over promises of Houris and cookies.
Now let's deal with them Americans. In 2005, CIA stopped sharing intel pieces regarding OBL with ISI, simply over certain well-substantiated allegations that the agency often rats out the intel, abetting certain high-value targets in escaping just before a strike. Such notoriety eventually lead to an ally which became increasingly disillusioned of our 'sincerity' in nabbing the top Al-Qaeda cadre. As a result, when the CIA finally had confirmation that OBL was comfortably lounging off his late years in a lavishly large compound in Abbottabad, the agency acted without consulting Pakistan's military or the political government.
While the anger over violation of our borders is justified (a violation which, by the way, has been committed by hundreds, if not thousands, of Taliban since 2001), the question is: shouldn't we be angrier over our inadequacies in tracking down the most wanted man in the whole wide world? Why aren't our nationalistic sensitivities hurt over the fact that at one side, we minted billions of dollars from the U.S. and at the other, OBL found a safe abode in Pakistan? The Abbottabad raid was certainly an insult to us, but it must be so only because we were not the ones who nabbed OBL first.
The Commission's report clearly points out that the greatest failure in this debacle was on the part of ISI. The agency didn't share its OBL-related intel with any other domestic agency while the political government wasn't informed any better, thus leaving the onus of responsibility on ISI. It's about time for GHQ to take note of such inadequacies, root out any and all such elements which have the slightest inclination towards religious extremism, especially within ISI, and once and for all, submit to the will of the political government.
There are many who'd love to blame the West for the whole thing. Such comical manifestations of our idiotic notions of national sovereignty are merely a reflection of an ostrich burying its head in the sand. As long as we remain in the vile shade of denial and refuse to take care of our own backyard, the international community is not going to stand by and wait for us to devise solutions for a problem that has a huge global impact. And for that, the ball is in GHQ's court.
Killed over a jug of juice
June 28, 2013 § 3 Comments
Three years ago, two brothers were beaten to death by a mob in Sialkot. The video went viral on the internet and the society, at large, was outraged at the incident. Justice, although delayed, was eventually served only because the social media took up the cause and forced the mainstream media to attend to the heinous incident.
A similar incident has taken place at Multan, except that this time, the perpetuators of the murders are powerful feudals. According to ground reports, Javed aged 9 and Jameel, aged 13, were forcefully taken from their parents in Kotla Rahm Ali Shah. Faheem Abbas Shah, the feudal overlord in the area, took the kids to his home in Multan, to act as servants. The parents wanted their kids to study but Faheem thought domestic work was far more lucrative a career.
Following their 'hiring', the kids were not allowed to meet their parents for many subsequent months. On Thursday afternoon, June 6, Jameel poured himself a glass of juice from the fridge and broke the glass pitcher in the process. Faheem's wife, Hina Gilani, was so enraged over the 'brazen' trangression of a slave that she beat him bad and then slammed the jug against his head.
Jameel started bleeding but retreated to the rooftop, which was his only refuge. In the blistering heat of Multan, he continued to hemorrhage while Hina Gilani and her family didn't provide any medical assistance. When the 9-year old brother Javed saw the critical condition of his brother, he rushed to his 'owners', crying and pleading to seek help for Jameel. Naturally irked by the 'irritating' kid, Hina beat him as well. The kid ran back and sat by his dying kid on the hot, cement rooftop.
By next morning, Jameel was dead. Hina called up her husband, Faheem, telling him of the inconvenience. Another elder brother of the two kids, Saeed, was also a personal assistant of Faheem. He was told that his brother had incurred food poisoning and they needed to go see him. On the way, Faheem told Saeed that Jameel had died. Once the duo reached Multan, Jameel's body was lugged into Faheem's car and taken back to the village. Meanwhile, the 9-year-old Javed was so traumatized and dehydrated that he fainted and was taken to the local hospital and admitted. He stayed in a very critical condition for a long time before reviving consciousness.
Back at the village, Faheem barred the local imam from viewing or washing Jameel's body, so as to keep the wounds on his body discreet. He instructed another person, Maulvi Shafi, to wash the body instead. However, when Shafi uncovered the boy, he was shocked to see the bruises on the body and the sharp shards of glass in the boy's skull. He immediately asked for an autopsy but was told to shut up. In view of the profuse bleeding from the head, it had to be dressed even just ahead of the burial.
When probed by Shafi and others, Faheem claimed that the wound was due to a head sore and that, while his body was being transported, the kids' head hit the window of the car, causing the bleeding. According to him, Jameel had already died of typhoid back at Multan. The devastated father of the two dead kids, Hameed, has filed an FIR against Hina Gilani and Faheem, under article 302 and 356. However, the DCO of Multan, Gulzar Shah as well as the Commissioner of the city are distantly related to the perpetuators. This is precisely why Hameed is currently under an immense pressure by the authorities and attempts are being made to persuade him to back off.
The big question for us, the spectating, silent nobodies is: are our sensitivies stirred only when we see at graphic videos of tortures and murders? And are the Suo Motu's limited only to hyper-sensationalized news reports? What about the mainstream media houses, many of which have shied away from even reporting the incident? Does the atrocities committed in the backwaters of our urbane playgrounds unimportant and insignificant, even when they involve the most inhumane acts?
After the Jatoi case, many jumped to the defense of the feudal system, citing how it's unfair to generalize a single instance over an entire faction. This is the second of the innumerable such incidents, many of which go unreported. And this is indeed a reflection of the feudal mindset which involves taking tenants as slaves, treating the poor as scum and disposing of them whenever the need be.
For the last five years, we dragged Senator Rehman Malik through the mud over every such case. It is time Chaudhry Nisar, the new Interior Minister of Pakistan, started doing his job and took notice of this terrible tragedy. It is also time for the Chief Justice to forego the notions of 'greater good' and ensure justice is meted out even to those who hail from the lowest rungs of the society.
Three years ago, it took a shocking video of the mob-lynching of boys in Sialkot to awaken the humanity and invoke our outrage. Will the plight of this boy be ignored in the absence of bloody pictures and graphic details?
The journey has only started for PTI
May 14, 2013 § 8 Comments
The elections are mostly over and the final verdicts are pouring in, sealing a decisive victory for PML-N and sufficient seats to put PTI down as a significant opposition player. Where lion-bearers are very joyous, vowing to bring back the glory days of Pakistan, PTI supporters look utterly saddened and dejected.
However, now is not the time to pout or be sad. Now is also not the time to deny the fact that PTI did not get a sweeping majority. Rather, it is time to gracefully admit defeat, hail the 30+ odd seats that PTI has secured and learn a few critical lessons from the voting season.
What PTI achieved?
PTI has emerged as a political force to reckon with. At the same time, Imran Khan can be given the absolute credit for prompting the youth of this nation to become an active part of the political process. I was a part of the D-chowk jalsa on May 9; I actively engaged in political discussions with others of my age group – and the sheer hope and optimism they expressed and the renewed vigor of nationalism that twinkled in their eyes and in their conversations, was absolutely awe-inspiring.
This was the first time in Pakistan's history that such a huge portion of youth has gone out on the streets, stood in lines for hours and cast their votes. This is also the first time in this country's history that expat Pakistanis have flew back in such huge numbers to stamp the ballot paper.
Finally, PTI is currently the second-largest political party in Pakistan. The struggle that started 17 years ago, at the hands of a single man with no hopes but a rock-solid ambition, has now turned into a huge force. This is the time for celebration of a really good start, not that of disappointment.
What PTI needs to work on
However, it is also time for the party to look inwards and discern its short-comings. The chief among these is the fact that PTI has turned out to be a party that is primarily focused on the urban middle-class youth. This objection is true to a certain extent – the detachment of the party from rural pockets is what decisively turned the tables against it in Punjab. Then there's also the issue that PTI didn't really do any ground-level mobilization in Sindh or Baluchistan – both are critically important for this country and are becoming increasingly so. PTI needs to reach out to the population at large and go beyond urban dwellings.
Secondly, PTI must use the next five years to mature itself as well as its supporters. There are those amidst PTI who refuse to discern the critical importance of democracy and tend to undermine it at times. There are also such who tend to dwell on the negative, call the mandate of others a fraud or useless and similar other bold statements – PTI leadership needs to communicate to their young, hot-headed, yet politically active voters, that such ideas are terribly adverse to the democratic process in Pakistan at large.
Youth in Pakistan is here to stay and will form a majority of the population until 2052 or so. And this youth vote will become an increasingly dominant phenomenon in the coming years. Although this youth seems to have kicked into the political arena, it is undergoing disorientation. One can understand that to carry out a huge election campaign, you need to have a foe you can cite as a failure. So PTI's criticism levelled towards PMLN was an election strategy.
But elections are over – a huge populace, comprising of the youth, is waiting for Khan to show them the way now. This path must not be that of hatred, intolerance or destructive criticism. It is high time for PTI to rally the youth around someone more grand and more inclusive – namely, nationalism. I have seen the hopes in the eyes of those who have been utterly disappointed in their country; I have seen the so-called mummy daddy kids stand on streets for hours, in blistering rain and under rains. This passion, this fervor must be used to fuel a nationalism and reinstate our pride in being Pakistanis.
Valentine's Day, Birthdays, Cricket, Music, Pants And Phones Are Haram
February 16, 2013 § 10 Comments
The flawed argument in favor of reserved seats for women
December 18, 2012 § 11 Comments
Imran Khan recently kicked up yet another melee in Pakistan's media when he declared that he would have women contest elections rather than enter the National Assembly on reserved seats. Before weighing the plausibility of the argument, many were quick to jump the bandwagon of unqualified criticism simply because it was Khan who said so.
For the uninformed, women in Pakistan's National Assembly currently have 60 reserved seats. How exactly are these seats filled in? Well, since the seats are allocated to each political party based on their proportion in the legislature, the said political parties have the sole authority to figure out who will fills these seats.
The result is simply that the wives, daughters, sisters, relatives of the bigwigs of each political party smugly position themselves on these seats, clamouring out about women rights yet being utterly incompetent to launch the least effort to that end. Seats are allocated purely on political connections with nary a thought spared to any merit or qualification.
There are plenty who dished out a tab bit intelligent criticism to Khan's proposition by stating that letting women contest elections is nearly impossible in a conservative country like Pakistan. The argument is quite valid and yet it is utterly inadequate to reach the conclusion that the reserved seats shouldn't be tampered with.
In my view, yes women contesting elections still seems a remote possibility. However, things are on their way to change with ECP pushing for a greater number of party tickets given to woman candidates. Meanwhile, what we CAN do is to ensure that at least the women who find their way to NA on reserved seats merit some minimum qualification.
Just like I would never vote Hamza Shahbaz for being Shahbaz Sharif's son, I wouldn't want a woman to represent Pakistani women simply because she is the wife of an eminent politician. Is that principally wrong? No. Is that too much to ask or somehow impossible? Absolutely not. So why the mindless ruckus then?
Rather than expending their energies in rabidly attempting to defend the reserved seats, I would suggest that the women rights activists can do a far better job if they tried to coordinate with the authorities and somehow devise some kind of minimum qualifications for the women who get to be appointed on the reserved seats. A proven record of working for women, some political insight into policy-making for the said gender – anything tangible that may make sense for a person who gets to be on one of those reserved seats. And I really don't think that is too much to ask for.
PPP apologists and intellectual dishonesty
December 12, 2012 § 8 Comments
Most of the times I read an op-ed about PPP in an English daily, it's almost bilious – especially if it's meant to eulogize the party. Normally this is how the course of such articles go: high words fly, lofty ideals are cited, arbitrary versions of historic incidents are recounted with more than a tinge of bias, grand titles and appellations are quietly slipped into what is pitched as a balanced opinion piece and the masses are told, yet again, that in PPP is embodied the ultimate saviour of this nation.
I have often read such pieces and tolerated them, hoping year after year that the party that is so revered by the liberals of this country may perhaps someday live up to those expectations. But the last five years have been an abysmal disappointment, even when I know well the adage about history repeating itself.
Let's, for once, be honest. PPP is not a liberal party. It has never been a liberal party. It is a political party that is as opportunist as PML-N, ANP, MQM, PTI or JI. From Zulfiqar Bhutto's decision to render Ahmedis infidels to PPP's cowardly silence over Salman Taseer's murder, I utterly fail to see how this party is any different from others who play to the gallery and use populist rhetoric to score points. PPP has proved liberal at times, yes, but only when it was most convenient. And the same goes for all other political parties. I simply fail to see how one is any better than the other.
The liberal coterie has long lambasted PML-N for its electoral alliance with extremist organizations such as SSP. However, I don't hear no caustic words from the jayalas-in-guise over PPP's decision to form an electoral alliance with Sunni Ittehad Council. Let me remind those with poor memory retention powers that SIC is the same party which openly hailed and eulogized Salman Taseer's murderer, Mumtaz Qadri, and campaigned for him all over the country.
What is even worse is that the fiercest apologies for PPP emanate from those who profess in being rationalists and unbiased analysts. Time after time, they would defend the feudal culture that breeds in the very lap of PPP, the dynastic politics that is the hallmark of the party and the other follies that are silently glossed over with what can best be termed as intellectual dishonesty. They would tell you how PPP has passed a bill in the assembly which will finally bring deliverance to such women who are victims of domestic abuse – yet they wouldn't tell how the bill has zero practical value due to an utter lack of implementation and serves merely to earn PPP precious political points. They would tell you how PPP is committed to the elimination of all kinds of religious extremists – yet won't say as to why the party would take the likes of Maulana Fazlur Rehman under its fold every now and then.
Recently, many of these 'intellectuals' have taken to defending the up and coming 'heir' to the party's 'throne' – Bilawal Bhutto Zardari. I have nothing against Bilawal – he may be a bright, young man for all I know. But what I do know for certain is the fact that to this day, he hasn't played any political role in Pakistan, has spent little time in his homeland, and feels a lot more comfortable speaking English than Urdu. The primary, and sole, merit for a politician is the work he has done, or not done, for the people – not the family he hails from.
How does one pre-qualify Bilawal as a great politician when he doesn't have a day's worth of actual political experience? If he contests elections, enters practical politics, bags some worthy achievements, I'd be more than happy to vote a youthful leader. But until he has done that, I fail to see how can one extol him without being dishonest.
I have no grudges against PPP except that it is the one party that was not based on religious claptrap or stifling ideological premises. Yet, it has failed to deliver what many had hoped it would. And in doing so, it has stooped to the prevalent mediocrity of the political arena.
How is Abdul Qadir Gilani's win a victory for democracy?
July 21, 2012 § 2 Comments
(Cross-posted from ET Blogs)
Yesterday the by-elections on NA-151 were held in Multan. This was the very seat from which Yousaf Raza Gilani was removed as the Prime Minister. Ever since PPP was elected and Gilani was appointed as the Prime Minister, Gilani's sons, Abdul Qadir Gilani and Ali Musa Gilani have been doing exceptionally well. We found a few hints of this in the ephedrine case in which Musa Gilani is currently implicated.
But I digress.
So, in the by-elections Abdul Qadir Gilani scored a win. No surprises there – the Gilanis are a Pir family with a huge number of followers and a lot of influence in Multan.
What was surprising for me was that our very dear Twitter liberatti started cheering for PPP the instant news came in of AQ Gilani's success! They started hailing this as the victory of democracy, the voice of the masses, the apt answer to the judiciary's 'aggression' and what not. Naturally I was amused, but not so much at the hollow grandeur of these words as at the very stance taken by many friends and colleagues.
As it is, a lot from our liberal coterie tend to support PPP for some very obscure reasons. They term it the 'true face of democracy', the party which has sacrificed a lot for the sake of democracy, the only party with a liberal manifesto and the list goes on.
I personally hold most of this to be plain untrue.
Whereas PPP may have made a lot of efforts towards the restoration of democracy and for its continuity, for which I sincerely commend the party, it is still far from being a truly democratic party.
Abdul Qadir Gilani's win is case in point.
Hereditary and family politics has become a sad norm within PPP. With is shocking is that this is getting support from people rather than critique.
Log on to Twitter for a second and you'd see hoards of tweets stating how AQ Gilani has proved democracy is the true winner. Really? The son of a Pir (a religious equivalent of a typical feudal) who was able to swoop the seat of the Pir once he was disposed, is a victory of democracy? Either there's something very wrong with this argument or I've had all my definitions wrong.
My only contention in all this is that many liberals – some of whom I deeply revere and respect – have become more of a reactionary force. In trying to belittle PTI, oppose Imran Khan and somehow ridicule the party, they are trying to justify a whole lot of equally despicable evils. For instance, a gentleman on Twitter was found stating something like:
Since grapes are sour, PTI fans would now say that voters in NA-151 were illiterate.
Through such sarcastic remarks, he thus effectively discarded what is a very valid argument. You can take that from someone who has lived in Multan for the last 15 years.
AQ Gilani's vote bank indeed comprises of a lot of tenants and such people who are directly favoured, affected or controlled by his family. This has been true for feudals and for Pirs, but suddenly it's no longer true for Gilani because, well, he is opposing PTI and his win could be rubbed into the judiciary's face.
Then there is the regular argument of putting PPP's (on-paper) liberal stance against PTI, PML-N and others. My question to all of those who do this is:
Wasn't Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto the one who branded Ahmedis as non-Muslims and initiated a vicious cycle that still continues to this day?
And exactly what liberal policies have PPP been able to enact practically throughout its three governments? Merely passing bills in the parliament is barely an achievement.
Moreover, the way our present government has handled all issues, from the energy crisis to inflation, I have absolutely no love lost for this government, but yes I would really want to see it complete its term and continue the democratic process.
Having said as much, I would also want others to justify the rhetoric of PPP being the best ever political party. This is a claim which needs to be propped up on facts and achievements and not mere words.
Published originally on Express Tribune Blogs.
Image Courtesy: ET Blogs