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Eddie Stone
Special Air Service
who dares wins
British Army Elite Special Forces Unit
Role 21 SAS - Close Target Reconnaissance
22 SAS - Counter-Revolutionary Warfare/Counter-Terrorism
23 SAS - Close Target Reconnaissance
Size Three Regiments
Part of UK Special Forces
Garrison/HQ RHQ - Credenhill
21st Regiment - London
22nd Regiment - Credenhill
23rd Regiment - Wolverhampton
[ Eddie Stone ]
Eddie Stone grew up in Campbeltown, Argyllshire, Scotland where as a young boy he used to enjoy fishing, playing in the hills and around the fort north of the Loch near Summerhill.He made easy map reading in the mountains around where he grew up. He started his educated at Dalintober Primary and moved on to Campbeltown Grammar School. One of his educational achievements was a 1st Class Diploma in Business management.
In 1970 Eddie joined the Scotland's' own Regiment of Foot Guards. Scots Guardsmen are fiercely proud of their unbroken service and loyalty to the Monarch and their hard won reputation as fighting soldiers. Underpinning the highest standards of ceremonial duties in front of Buckingham Palace in the heart of London is the fact that every Guardsman is a fully trained, self-disciplined infantry soldier ready for war fighting or peacekeeping operations at short notice in arduous conditions in any part of the world. Eddie Stone served with the Scots Guards in the UK, Hong Kong, Belize, Germany, Canada and Northern Ireland where he successfully completed 8 operational tours.
Eddie applied to go on SAS selection and passed thanks to his strong willpower attitude and fittness, Stone found passing selection as a bit of an anti-climax, being a Scots Guardsman for many years he expected at least a band playing when he passed selection, not just an SAS beret skimmed across a table at you by a Rupert. He went through various phases of SAS training and served in B & G squadron 22 SAS until he eventually left the SAS in November 1989. Some of the places he served in are the Far East, Middle East, South and Central America, Falklands, Northern Ireland and Europe.
Trooper Stone specialised in Air Troop and spent some time with 'The Team' CRW Unit, which is on of the four Troops which use HAHO and HALO air insertion techniques to get to the FOBL as quickly, silently as possible without detection. As part of he general training he achieve mainly the followingqualifications, which are: -
Patrol Signaller;
Patrol Para Medic;
Advanced Demolitions;
Sniper specialist;
Close Quarter Battle instructor (CQBI);
Combat Survival Instructor;
Close Protection Course;
Close Protection Instructor see Bodyguard Page;
Arabic Language Course;
High Altitude Parachuting (HAHO/HALO);
Small Arms Instructor;
Counter Terrorist Instructor (CRW);
Abseil Instructor(CRW)
When Eddie left the SAS he suffered from many of the problems experience by all ex-sas, life and relationships are hard enough when you are in 'The Regiment' but it just gets harder to deal with when you leave. Eddie has coped well with adapting back into civilian life and has work as a Postman and as a Labourer on building site. But you can't just turn your back on such a life that he has lived. So he found himself working in Southern Africa for WWF training Anti-poaching teams for a number of years. Whilst working in South Africa Eddie had the honour of being a bodyguard (BG) for Nelson Mandela, on quite a few occasions. Eddie also joined Kangwane Parks as Training Officer again for a number of years before he moved on to be the Operations Director of Security Company in Johannesburg RSA for four years. In 2004 he was appointed to the Training and Education Board of (IBSSA) International Bodyguard and Security Services Association. In the same year he was appointed Chief Instructor to IBSSA and later to Master Instructor.
Eddie has also presented 4 Programme's for the BBC, extreme "outward bound" adventure shows based on real-life SAS recruitment/training exercises. There were three series: the first was based in the Scottish highlands, then there was SAS Jungle, filmed in Borneo, and SAS Desert made in Namibia. Certainly one of the toughest game shows ever seen on British television (in the Jungle series, contestants were being invalided out, or dropped out voluntarily, at such a rate that there weren't even any proper "evictions" until just before the final), and the "winners" didn't get anything at the end other than the respect of Staff Sergeant Eddie Stone and his serving/ex-sas buddies. Desert - SAS Are You Tough Enough? was where twenty-four super-fit members of the public go back to the roots of the SAS, taking on weeks of Special Forces training in the desert environment in which the regiment first fought and was born as a result of the persistence of David Stirling who created the whole History behind the SAS Regiment. Dermot O'Leary was once again on hand to commentate on the new recruits' progress, as Staff Sergeant Eddie Stone put them through their paces. SAS survival expert Barry Davies and Dr Mike Stroud also checked up on the volunteers during the training phases. The unforgiving terrain of Namibia's Skeleton Coast was the setting for the gruelling challenge, as the men and women learned to live, travel and fight like the military elite.
Using ex-SAS men 'SAS Survival Secrets: Sabre Squadron' is a vivid and detailed recreation of a typical mission calling upon all four Troops of the Squadron (air, boat, mobility and mountain). The Squadron capture and extract a wanted war criminal from his residence in a hostile country. Eddie Stone and his team also revealed the extraordinary qualities every SAS soldier must possess by re-enacting the rigorous Regiment selection and training regime, where more than 75 out of 100 of the British Army's best men fail
In SAS Survival Secrets - Guardians Against Terror Eddie and ex-SAS men provided a vividly detailed recreation of a typical close protection teams mission. A four man SAS team is assigned to protect an uncooperative British minister on a foreign state visit. At first the team's meticulous planning pays off, but they are overruled on security by local forces. When the Minister and foreign leaders are kidnapped and held hostage, the team must don their 'Black Kit' and launch a rescue mission. On the mission Eddie Stone is joined by John McAleese, MM, a real life veteran of the Iranian Embassy assault team (the first man on the balcony who over did the charge to blow an entry point through the window) and a man with over twenty years of experience of providing close protection services to both the British PM and members of Royalty. Together they revealed both the secrets of successful Close Protection and the SAS techniques for hostage rescue as part of 'The Team' (CRW).
Again using ex-SAS men Eddie used SAS Survival Secrets: Behind Enemy Lines, for the BBC, to portray a vivid and detailed recreation of a typical mission. Inserted by boat, a four man patrol set up an offensive OP Observation Post close to an enemy base. Their mission: to gather intelligence and to `take out` a maverick General. After a daring sniper attack, the team break for their extraction point but experience almost constant close contacts with enemy forces under various scenarios. As casualties mount, escape seems almost impossible. SAS veteran Eddie Stone explains his patrol`s weaponry, combat options, evasion and survival tactics and dealing with TQ's. From surviving interrogation to emergency battlefield medicine, Eddie provided the closest insight yet into what it`s like to be an SAS man in a fighting patrol trying to survive behind enemy lines. Eddie has also given background assistance on a number of projects including SAS the real story.
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History of the Special Forces Books & DVDs
A hand picked history of the special forces on books and DVD


text: Hello everybody! Playing Terraria I always kept wondering about how the maps actually are generated and as time passed I decided to take a closer look at the code (which classifies as fair use). I was surprised when I found that there was merely a single class handling all the generation and this class is still used at runtime to represent the world. It all seemed rather messy to me. Of course it is hard to tell whether a piece of code is understandable or not when you do not have the sources yourself - but in this particular case the code itself seems to be okay, the structure on the other hand is not (IMHO it is not only the WorldGen class but the whole game, e.g. having a single item class to represent all kinds of items, using lots of string comparisons to find the right item, lots of special cases [e.g. tree tops] spread all over the rendering code etc.). Nonetheless, I really like the game and so I asked myself what might be the reason for this coding style and I remembered having read that Red used to develop Flash games which usually are somewhat simpler and smaller than projects such as Terraria. Simpler projects normally work perfectly well even if their internal structure is messy; it is the natural product of growing software (instead of constructing it which is not necessary for smaller projects). Another reason, I thought, could be that it is simply impossible to write a proper map generator without throwing it all together into a single class. Please do not get my wrong, I am not trying to 'bash' Red or anything, Terraria is a great game which I really enjoy. I am offering constructive criticism. @Red: If you need someone to do a code-review do not hesitate to ask, there are lots of people out there willing to help you (for free!) . However, I felt I needed to prove that it is possible to do it properly and started a custom map generator. It is not completely finished (far from finished!) yet but until now it worked out rather well. I'm not currently feeling motivated to continue this project which is why I decided to release my current version in order to get some feedback - and maybe a reason to continue this project. I'd like to point out that I have read the forum rules and I do not see how such a project could possibly violate them. Reading the forums it seemed to me that even talking about custom map tools is a no-no but they actually don't break any of the rules: Custom map generators are not hacks as hacks normally intend to provide an unfair advantage in multiplayer games which map generators frankly do not; they do not classify as custom clients either as they are completely separate from the client and provide no way of connecting to servers. Finally, they are not mods as they do not modify content from the game, they merely create new 'input' for the game. If you feel that this thread conflicts with the forum rules, feel free to report it. Why would anyone use a custom map generator?, you might ask. Terraria already has an inbuilt map generator which creates great worlds. Yes, it does, and I never complaint about the worlds generated by the game's world generator. But custom map generators have some advantages as well: In my case the main advantage is that the user can change a lot of parameters to create a map which is suited to his needs and likings. The map generator itself also is easily expandable which allows for the addition of new content which is not present in the standard Terraria worlds. There is a disadvantage though: My map generator currently only generates surfaces. Depending on the feedback I get I will either continue the project or head off to do something else. The world is created by combining chunks of terrain which are randomized to some extent. You can control various parameters allowing you to create very different worlds: These three worlds have all been created using the tool; the first has a lot of cliffs (which doesn't actually look good or realistic but still somebody out there might like it) while the second features steep mountains and plateaus. The third picture shows a mixed map with different kind of features (though it is rather plain). You can change the generator's behavior via map definition files which are in XML-format. These files allow you to change aspects such as resource deposit placement, terrain generation and zone placement (currently only very basic work has been done on Jungle and Desert). You can download an early version of the generator here. The download includes a commented map definition file. If the generator should crash, you can always take a look into the logfile (log.txt in the same directory as the generator). The generator itself should be self-explanatory. Regards, -cope.

subset: commoncrawl


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Justin Bieber goofs off with the Victoria's Secret Angels in a new music video set to his single, "Beauty & the Beat."
In the clip, the models, including Alessandra Ambrosio, Adriana Lima and Miranda Kerr, lip-sync to the track while baring some of their, um, famous assets.
Bieber himself makes a few appearances, dancing with the beauties on an empty stage, and even getting behind the camera to film the fun.
The collaboration, which draws its inspiration from the official "Beauty & the Beat" video, was filmed last month during the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show.
Bieber's performance during the annual event will air tonight on CBS.
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Universal Pictures hopes its campaign to pump box-office life into "Cinderella Man" may benefit from a money-back guarantee being offered by AMC Theatres.
The Kansas City, Mo.-based chain is the country's second-largest. AMC announced the promotion last Friday at all of its theaters where the film was playing.
AMC executives Dick Walsh and Phil Singleton initiated the money-back guarantee. Nikki Rocco, Universal's president of distribution, told The Reporter it was a bold move.
"It's great that they want to go out on the limb for the film," said Rocco.
Moviegoers who take AMC up on its offer must present a ticket stub at the box office the same day it was purchased.
DISCUSS AND COMMENT ON THIS STORYReality TV World now offers Facebook Comments on our stories. To post a comment, log into Facebook and then 'Add' your comment. To report spam or abuse, click the 'X' in the upper right corner of the comment box.


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Chevy Touts Cruze's Airbag Engineer (Video)
As Chevrolet gets ready to roll out its 2011 Cruze, the company is focusing on all the things the Cruze has that other small economy cars lack. The latest selling point: airbags. The Cruze has 10 of them. Many other cars have that many, but they tend to be more expensive models. To give consumers a better feel for the way airbags are developed and to help give the company a human face, Chevy released a video featuring Scott Thomas, a senior safety engineer who says new safety ideas often come to him in the middle of the night. He provides a window — a keyhole, really — into the often-fascinating things that go on behind the scenes of new-car development.


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Home › Events › Zumba Party In Pink ›
Submitted by kross on Wed, 2014-08-27 11:39
Zumba Party In Pink
When: September 30, 2014 7:30 PM - 9:00 PM
Price: Tickets at $15
Price: Tickets at $15
Ocean Lawn at Fontainebleau
4441 Collins Ave
Miami FL 33140
Ocean Lawn at Fontainebleau
4441 Collins Ave
Miami FL 33140
This year's Lapis Spa Wellness Series continues on Tuesday, September 30, with the 2nd annual Zumba Party in Pink charity campaign in the fight against breast cancer. Let's exercise our right to unite as a Zumba® community worldwide for the first ever medical research grant exclusively representing Zumba.
Doors open at 6:30pm, followed by "Bleau goes Pink" Lighting Ceremony at 7pm. Fontainbleau's iconic chateau building lights up in pink for national breast cancer awarness month.
Come rock out with friends for a good cause while you help raise funds for global research that could ultimately save millions of lives around the world.
For more information, please visit http://www.fontainebleau.com/web/spa/lapis_spa/lapis_wellness_series


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Member of the reality-based community of progressive (not anonymous) Massachusetts blogs
Here's living proof that its demise was prematurely declared.
Here's what we have learned about the interrogation of detainees, torture, and the big reason, why.
The truth is that when the CIA didn't give Cheney the info he wanted about an Iraq-al Qaeda connection, he marginalized the agency:
In the initial stages of the war on terror, Tenet's CIA was rising to prominence as the lead agency in the Afghanistan war. But when Tenet insisted in his personal meetings with the president that there was no connection between Al Qaeda and Iraq, Cheney and Rumsfeld initiated a secret program to re-examine the evidence and marginalize the agency and Tenet. Through interviews with DoD staffers who sifted through mountains of raw intelligence, FRONTLINE details how questionable intelligence was "stovepiped" to the vice president and presented to the public.
So who thinks Pelosi isn't telling the truth? Most people should believe she is in this her-versus-them moronic debate. Occam's razor demands it, given everything that we know about the situation, don't you think?
And yet, the media sheeples have once again, with rare exception, given in to the right wing bitch and moan brigade and now we have a slipping of the approval rates for the leader of the Democratic party in the US House.
Constant vigilance, people, these liars and cheaters are not done with this country yet.
Ron Suskind is known for being a heavy-hitting journalist. It's he who was told by a Bush administration official that he was part of "what we call the reality-based community" and "while you're studying that reality—judiciously, as you will—we'll act again, creating other new realities, which you can study too, and that's how things will sort out. We're history's actors…and you, all of you, will be left to just study what we do." Which is, of course, why the words "reality-based community" is proudly displayed on progressive blog sites the internet over (including this blog).
Suskind has a new book, and it's a bombshell:
Author Ron Suskind appeared on the Today show and said that Bush ordered the CIA to forge a letter after the invasion linking Saddam Husein and al-Qaeda, in an effort to justify the invasion after the fact. His new book is "The Way of the World."President Bush committed an impeachable offense by ordering the CIA to to manufacture a false pretense for the Iraq war in the form of a backdated, handwritten document linking Saddam Hussein and al-Qaeda, an explosive new book claims.
Suskind's sources are named and from the intelligence community who claim to have actually seen the letter and witnessed key discussions.
ThinkProgress; Today; Crooks and Liars has some excerpts and details.
These three videos by a native Iraqi showcase a much different point of view of Iraq today than the one espoused by Republicans and Senator McCain. Rather than seeing that the surge has worked, he sees walls - walls which now keep monoethnic neighborhoods trapped and segregated. It makes sense that the violence has gone down, with the ethnic cleansing of the last few years resulting in the uprooting of once-peaceful mixed neighborhoods.
""Baghdad is a city where one street is at war with the next … it has been transformed into a city of walls."
"There are 20 miles of walls slicing up the city into Sunni and Shia ghettos…each wall over 12 feet high. They are the main reason why the causualties have fallen…"
In part two, he talks about the ethnic killings themselves…and the chilling, desolate field of shallow graves of the unknown victims of militias.
In this last part, the reporter talks to children forced to grow up far too soon. And makes a statement about the next generation, uneducated due to lack of schools or indoctrinated at the orphanages run by the militias.
If you watch these videos and do not cringe at what our policies have done to these people, then there is no hope for your soul. The fear and anguish displayed in these interviews should rend your heart. We cannot help by leaving our military in place in Iraq, not one iota. The future must be in Iraqi hands now. We caused and are in the middle of a civil war - of our making, but for which there is no foreign solution. They want us out. And who can blame them?
(Via dkos.)
Billo the Angry One has labeled Markos of Daily Kos as "probably one of the most despicable Americans in the country" - because of a Dkos diary which never made it onto the front page or the recommended list which posted photos of Jenna Bush's wedding and juxtaposed them with gruesome pictures from the Iraq war. The first commenter on this lowly diary actually said "Poor Taste" and most of the comments on the thread are arguments about the diary's appropriateness. In fact, the diary garnered a mere 11 recommends, which for dkos is a paltry number, and there's no way this diary got anywhere near the recommended list.
But to Billo, it's Markos' fault, end of story. He reaaaaaally doesn't get the internets, does he? Oh, Billo. You need therapy, my friend. Before you blow an artery or something.
SJ, IHBO'R is short for "Sweet Jesus, I Hate Bill O'Reilly," in case you missed that.
Listen to the rant at Media Matters. It's just…awesome. In that train wreck fascination sort of way.
Another irony to this - it took a O'Reilly rant about Daily Kos for FOX Noise to put up photos of the war that depict its sad reality. Hey, if that's all this incident does, show the FOX viewers a little of what's really going on instead of the usual Bush propaganda, I guess this stupid and very tasteless diary did do something useful…
Edit: By the by, Billo compares Markos to David Duke. As someone who has herself been compared with that bigot by a media personality, I offer my sympathies to Markos in this trying and troubling time. But hey, at least you didn't get compared to NAMBLA…
Everyone online is talking about this new NY Times report on the way the Bush administration used thinly veiled bribery to get retired military officers out on the airwaves to support Bush policies. It's as big a news story as it sounds.
To the public, these men are members of a familiar fraternity, presented tens of thousands of times on television and radio as "military analysts" whose long service has equipped them to give authoritative and unfettered judgments about the most pressing issues of the post-Sept. 11 world.
Hidden behind that appearance of objectivity, though, is a Pentagon information apparatus that has used those analysts in a campaign to generate favorable news coverage of the administration's wartime performance, an examination by The New York Times has found.
The effort, which began with the buildup to the Iraq war and continues to this day, has sought to exploit ideological and military allegiances, and also a powerful financial dynamic: Most of the analysts have ties to military contractors vested in the very war policies they are asked to assess on air.
In other words, those who took full advantage of the industrial military complex's revolving door for outgoing military personnel. People who had every financial reason to support going to war and staying there, as their companies or clients were, and are, raking in millions.
This is the embodiment of what Eisenhower warned about.
[Retired military a]nalysts have been wooed in hundreds of private briefings with senior military leaders, including officials with significant influence over contracting and budget matters, records show. They have been taken on tours of Iraq and given access to classified intelligence. They have been briefed by officials from the White House, State Department and Justice Department, including Mr. Cheney, Alberto R. Gonzales and Stephen J. Hadley.
In turn, members of this group have echoed administration talking points, sometimes even when they suspected the information was false or inflated. Some analysts acknowledge they suppressed doubts because they feared jeopardizing their access.
A few expressed regret for participating in what they regarded as an effort to dupe the American public with propaganda dressed as independent military analysis.
The article is pages long, and is something every American should read. Why now? Because the information has finally come to light:
Five years into the Iraq war, most details of the architecture and execution of the Pentagon's campaign have never been disclosed. But The Times successfully sued the Defense Department to gain access to 8,000 pages of e-mail messages, transcripts and records describing years of private briefings, trips to Iraq and Guantánamo and an extensive Pentagon talking points operation.
The documents released by the Pentagon do not show any quid pro quo between commentary and contracts. But some analysts said they had used the special access as a marketing and networking opportunity or as a window into future business possibilities.
Disgusting. Those are your kids, sons, daughters, fathers, mothers, cousins…your tax dollars…and your country, your media, which have been used, abused, and cynically manipulated for years.
Many also shared with Mr. Bush's national security team a belief that pessimistic war coverage broke the nation's will to win in Vietnam, and there was a mutual resolve not to let that happen with this war.
The free press won't suit us, because they might report things that make people unhappy, so we'll just stop that little nagging inherent right of all Americans dead cold.
It goes on. Read it.
This is how our executive branch supports our troops??
If you were watching Countdown tonight, you saw Keith Olbermann in his "Bushed" segment report that at least 12 service members have been electrocuted in Iraq due to faulty wiring at facilities maintained by Halliburton spinoff company KBR. As appalling as that is, the details are even worse.
The diarist quotes a Houston Chronicle article:
At least a dozen soldiers and Marines have been electrocuted in Iraq over the five years of the war, and investigators now are trying to learn what role improper grounding of electrical wires played in those deaths.
And Houston-based KBR — which builds bases and maintains housing for U.S. troops in Iraq — is at the center of the probe, with questions being raised about its responsibility to repair known wiring problems.
On the fifth anniversary of the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq, California Democrat Henry Waxman, chairman of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, sent a letter Wednesday to Defense Secretary Robert Gates seeking details about electrocutions of military and contract workers in Iraq and about KBR's role in making electrical repairs.
KBR had been contracted to provide maintenance on the building in 2007, the memo said.
Maseth was killed, the memo said, when an electrical water pump shorted out after he had stepped into the shower and turned on the water.
An electrical current then passed through the water pipes to a metal shower hose in the shower.
This is just gut-wrenching. We have got to halt all contracts to this Halliburton subsidiary. Or any other Bush crony corporation which is war profiteering in Iraq or Afghanistan.
Today is the date on which we mark a fifth year of a war that never should have happened to begin with, that was badly run from its outset, and where we have lost nearly 4,000 troops in an escalation that has done little to fix the political situation there, but only prolongs the inevitable.
At 5pm, you can join Greater Lowell for Peace and Justice at a vigil at the corner of Market and Central streets (sign up and details here) to remember those who have given their lives, and to call for an end to this war.
You can also sign onto a comprehensive foreign policy plan from some impressive Congressional candidates. Says AMERICAblog:
From a policy standpoint, it is clear, comprehensive, and reality-based. Implementing this platform would do a great deal to improve our nation's security, as well as its military and intelligence structures. It also has plenty of endorsements (and input) from credible military and foreign policy professionals.
The plan, which is impressively detailed, boils down to a handful of major points:
- End US Military Action in Iraq
- Use US diplomatic power
- Address humanitarian concerns
- Restore our Constitution
- Restore our military
- Create a new, US-centered energy policy
These Democratic candidates, including Washington's Darcy Burner, Donna Edwards of Maryland, and Eric Massa of New York, have taken the time to create a coalition like this while running for Congress. I find that impressive, and potentially highly effective. These candidates represent the future of the Democratic party, and you can read their full plan and sign on to support their plan.
Representative Niki Tsongas is hosting her first Town Hall meeting in the district. She will be discussing her recent trip to Iraq, her newly filed withdrawal bill, and other issues that people would like to talk to her about. It will be held on Wednesday, February 20th, 6:30 P.M. at the Acton-Boxborough High School Auditorium.
If you go, you could also ask her about Net Neutrality, or the House's fight to hold the line against giving big telecom retroactive immunity for illegal spying.
If you are a subscriber to Comcast on Demand, I would strongly suggest that you watch the 1966 (Italian produced) film, The Battle of Algiers, which is now available at no charge on cable television. It is rarely shown on television and difficult to find at your local video store.
This is the film that was screened at the Pentagon a few months after the U.S. invaded Iraq. After the Pentagon viewing became public, there was a lot of discussion in the press as to why the Pentagon would show this somewhat obscure film.
At the time some suggested that the Pentagon was using this film to help their staff understand "the earlier efforts of a Western power to deal with terrorism in an Arab capital." Apparently, former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger thought there were similarities and a lesson to be learned from the French-Algerian War. He offered George Bush his copy of a newly published book, "A Savage War of Peace: Algeria 1954-1962" written by historian Alistair Horne. Kissinger even highlighted passages for the President to read.
Those of you who want to try to understand French national psyche at it relates to their former "colonies" and the immigrants from those countries, this is a great film to watch.
Warning, the film is in black and white; documentary (cinéma-vérité) style, in Arabic and French with English subtitles and needless to say, lefty. If you are a film buff, this is a must see.
So many people are focusing on Rep. Obey's proposal (along with our own Rep. McGovern) for a tax surcharge to pay for the war, and how this poison pill had the best chance of throwing the "support for the troops=support for the president" crowd off. But skymutt points out that this little tidbit in yesterday's announcement, which was shot down by Pelosi and Reid within hours, is worth nothing compared to the other point of the announcement.
David Obey, chairman of the Appropriations Committee, today announced that he will not report the Iraq War Supplemental out of committee, and basically told the President that the ball is in his court, that he needs to submit a supplemental that meets several criteria, or there will be no supplemental funding bill.
How many times have you heard some variation of "We don't have the votes"? Well, today, for the first time, a legislator with the power to back up his words has pledged to take an approach that does not require a floor vote in order to push this war toward an end. Chairman Obey has taken ownership of the issue and said that he will not report an Iraq War supplemental bill out of his committee unless it meets his criteria. Contrast this with other "plans" which have really just been bills that have required majority or supermajority votes for success. Votes that, to date, have not materialized or really even come close.
And Pelosi and Reid have not said a word about this aspect of Obey's statement. So, there's hope yet that the wishes of the majority of Americans - that of cutting the funding to this war - will come to pass before Bush is out the door.
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text:
Leaked Dutch report says schools can ban gay teachers
Post your comment
Comments on this article are now closed.
Reader comments
Give the Dutch Minister for Education your feedback on this disgusting law:
The link is below. I hope it works
"Achternaam" means surname
"Onderwerp" means subject
"Vraag/reactie" means question/reaction
..and they are also allowed to teach homosexuality is a sin, too. Another complete cop-out by Plasterk.
The Christian Democrats and ChristenUnie who are also in the government have enabled all sorts of concessions for the Christian communities, who mainly come from the Calvinist bible belt there: Christian marriage registrars can opt out of performing same sex marriages, schools can teach creationism etc. The CDA have also gone on a war against coffee shops and banned mushrooms, and tightened up sunday trading laws.
The elections are next year, so hopefully the extremist ChristenUnie will get flushed out.
Tell them to stop it or close. I didn't expect the Dutch to be such slouches over such discrimination.
And let us not forget the third party in this, aiding an abetting or local Taliban Light: our own Socialist Party, which seems to have lost some of its convictions and ideals, playing hanky panky with Christian and Muslim fundies trying to turn our clock back for a century to two. And they still wonder why a guy like Wilders gets so many votes.
Schools are employers too – and as such should not be allowed to discriminate. If they can discriminate against gay teachers they can get away with discriminating against gay students also.
In short such places would become (or already are) breeding grounds for bigotry, prejudice and all that is wrong with the world today.
Personally I cannot condone the establishment and the continued entertainment of "Christian" schools anyway – religion is supposed to be a personal choice which should not influence a persons education – which after all, is supposed to deal with FACT and not fallacy.
'…in conflict with the school's mission.'! Excuse me. What is the 'mission' of education if not to liberate the students from the chains of narrow-mindedness?
In Holland? Home of the most liberal-thinking christian theologians? What the hell is happening in Europe?
1. Why would a gay teacher want to work in an homophobic environment; 2. Christina Engela is right on: christian schools is an oxymoron in today's world.
Why not? Life is meaningless. Everything is permissible.
Life is meaningless? Give moi a break. Have you read the Universal Declaration of Human Rights lately? Ever hear of 'global ethics'?
If youse is depressed, don't despair. Ask you MD for Prozac. I've seen it work miracles…well no, not exactly walking on the water type of miracle, but, you know, cheerio and all that. Then there Valium. and what's that one, oh yes …Viagra!
The Dutch are really very conservative parts of Amsterdam are the only exceptions.
This is no surprise but I would of thought it breaches the EU convention on human rights. It will in time be challenged but until then they will get away with it.
Sure – let them discrimiate. That's ok. As long as they don't get one Euro of the publics money. And that includes that they pay full market value on anything else they get for free, be it use of buildings and land etc.
Make them the pariah in the secular world. See how they like their own treatment.
i'm dutch and i was shocked. i think it's ridiculous.
If that's the way that they want to play it, then gays should be allowed to make sure that their taxes etc don't go towards the institutions etc that are homophobic or preach anti gay propaganda. I'm really surprised that Holland is like this, have always admired the Dutch for their openess and acceptance of a wide range of society. It is time that religion was pulle dinto line with modern laws and not allowed to discriminate and spread hatred.
It is the openes and acceptance of the Dutch that allows this policy. Religoos schools are so few that this policy will not deprive anyone of jobs. So, what is the problem? They have not said Gay peoploe should no tteach. Live and let Live
[If that's the way that they want to play it, then gays should be allowed to make sure that their taxes etc don't go towards the institutions etc that are homophobic or preach anti gay propaganda.]
I guess that would go for christians who don't want to pay taxes for movements that preach anti christian propoganda.
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The 860-acre Canyons Fire, burning one mile west of Wenatchee, appears to be in close proximity to the Twin Peaks fire to the west, although low visibility hampers efforts to provide more details at this time. The fires are a result of the Saturday night lightning storm.
There are dozens if not hundreds of evacuations of various levels in place along Number One Canyon Road, Surry Road and Sage Hills Drive.
Due to fires burning in the Twin Peaks evacuation notices were issuedfor residents of Number Two Canyon Road and Sties Canyon Road.
Level 1, 2, and 3 Evacuation Status is like a "Ready, Set, Go" level of evacuation notices with Level 1 asking residents to be ready to evacuate if conditions change, Level 2 means residents should be set to go at a moment's notice, Level 3 means authorities are advising residents to evacuate because their homes are in imminent danger.
Approximately 160 firefighters from local agencies and around the state are fighting this fire. Structure protection remains a key fire management objective. Local law enforcement personnel are staffing roadblocks and giving residents evacuation notices as needed.
A Red Cross shelter remains open at the Seventh Day Adventist Churchlocated at 5th Street and Western Avenue in Wenatchee.
The Canyons Fire information phone number is 667-6636.


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Sonya from stüsh recently sent over the link to her freshly redesigned website – which showcases her hip home accessories, original magnetic greetings line, and new line of contemporary, eco-friendly cards, dubbed "in[framed] greetings". The envelope doubles as a standing "frame" for the message sheet! (see 2nd pic below, bottom left) How clever :) Click here to check them out for yourself.
Comments 1
- December 1, 2006 by jennifer
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what a cool idea!


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Prep: Lettered in track for four years and played two years of varsity basketball. A four-time academic all-district selection who won the district championship in the triple jump three times. Earned third place in the regional championship with a school record triple jump of 39 feet, two inches. Named her school's Female Athlete of the Year as a senior.
Personal: Christina Olufunmike Tegbe. Born January 21, 1985 in Houston. The daughter of Helen and Anthony Tegbe. The third of four children. Plans to major in business at Tulane.


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Circle Family Healthcare Network files for bankruptcy
Health agency's debt problems date to 2000
Circle Family Healthcare Network, a faith-based community health center that has operated on the West Side for 36 years, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy earlier this month. The non-profit listed assets of about $783,000 and more than $3 million in liabilities in its Feb. 8 petition to the U.S. Bankruptcy Court's Northern District of Illinois in Chicago.
Circle CEO Andre Hines said the financial reorganization would allow the non-profit to continue to provide services to Austin and other West Side residents.
"We had to have a new start, and that meant restructuring," Hines said.
Circle, which provides medical, behavioral health and human services in Austin, Humboldt Park, East and West Garfield Park, and North Lawndale, saw about 12,000 patients with about 71,000 office visits last year, Hines said.
The nonprofit has been burdened with "a lot of debt for a long time," coupled with slow state payments and reduced grant funding for behavioral health services, she added. On Friday, Circle officially shut down its Humboldt Park behavioral health center, 1633 N. Hamlin Ave.
"We just couldn't continue to provide services because of the slow state payments," Hines said. Some of Circle's behavioral health grants have been "totally cut out" and others have been reduced, she noted.
Humboldt Park's closed clinic brings Circle down to five West Side centers. Two federally-qualified community health centers are located in Austin.
The nonprofit had to scale back employment at all of its centers, including at the Humboldt Park location, starting about six months ago, going from 125 total employees to 70. Hines is not sure how many of the 125 employees were laid off or transferred from the Humboldt Park center. Some of the Humboldt Park employees left voluntarily. Circle offered employees different positions at other locations if they were available, she said, adding that the closing would allow Circle to provide more behavioral health services in Austin than available before.
Hines, who became CEO of Circle in 2010, said she inherited the organization's bad debt, specifically two lines of credit taken out in 2000 and 2004 that have turned into long-term loans.
Those loans total about $313,000, according to public records filed with the bankruptcy court.
The debt was a lot higher three years ago when she came on board, according to Hines.
"I have been paying on that since I've been here," she said. "Understand that I have not had any loans or lines of credit available to me for the last three years. I've only been paying on debt that's [as] old as 2000."
Most of Circle's debt payments have come out of its operational budget, which is a little more than $6 million, said Hines, who doesn't know why Circle initially needed the lines of credit because they were taken out before she became CEO.
Employees not paid in over a month
She stressed that Circle is not proud of the fact that it had to file Chapter 11 bankruptcy.
"We're Christian, and we want to be able to pay our debt," she said.
Some of Circle's current 70 employees haven't been paid for more than a month.
"We've had major issues making payroll," Hines said.
The largest debt owed to employees is for senior management, who are "the last to get paid," and that's how it's been for some months now during the restructuring process, she added.
State payments for primary care services, including immunizations and vaccinations, family practice, and obstetrics and gynecology, among others, have been timely, she said, and the nonprofit has been able to secure government grant funding for primary care.
Back in August 2011, for example, Circle received $500,000 from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to build two school-based health centers at John Marshall and Proviso West high schools.
In 2010, Circle also received $200,000 in state funds to administer a one-year violence-prevention initiative in Austin, as reported by AustinTalks.
The clinics provide services to many individuals who are "medically indigent," i.e. without Medicaid or another source of health insurance.
"We provide services to so many individuals who are homeless and who don't have a source of income, so we put them on a sliding-fee scale," Hines said. "The sliding-fee scale goes down to $20, but we typically are not able to collect even that."
The nonprofit writes off a large portion of that, she said, because "we just can't collect it."
Although Circle is not a free clinic, it doesn't turn patients away if they can't pay.
But Circle won't leave Austin, Hines stressed.
"We've suffered a long time financially trying to deal with old debt, so this restructuring gives us an opportunity to recommit to providing the services in Austin and surrounding communities," Hines said.
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Video: It's a bird... It's a plane... It's a U-M jetpack!
Here's something you don't see every day: A Michigan football fan, decked out in a full dress suit, straps on a U-M jetpack and takes off into the air and right out of the Big House. What better way to entertain 100,00-plus people during a halftime show, right? No, there's no word on where this spirited Wolverine fan finally landed.


text:
More New and Used
from Private Sellers
Note: Supplemental materials are not guaranteed with Rental or Used book purchases.
The Cherokee Removal: A Brief History with Documents
ISBN13:by Perdue, Theda; Green, Michael D.
Bedford/St. Martin's
Questions About This Book?
Why should I rent this book?
Renting is easy, fast, and cheap! Renting from eCampus.com can save you hundreds of dollars compared to the cost of new or used books each semester. At the end of the semester, simply ship the book back to us with a free UPS shipping label! No need to worry about selling it back.
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Returning books is as easy as possible. As your rental due date approaches, we will email you several courtesy reminders. When you are ready to return, you can print a free UPS shipping label from our website at any time. Then, just return the book to your UPS driver or any staffed UPS location. You can even use the same box we shipped it in!
What version or edition is this?
This is the 2nd edition with a publication date of 8/18/2004.
What is included with this book?
- The Used copy of this book is not guaranteed to include any supplemental materials. Typically, only the book itself is included.
- The Rental copy of this book is not guaranteed to include any supplemental materials. You may receive a brand new copy, but typically, only the book itself.
The Cherokee Removal of 18381839 unfolded against a complex backdrop of competing ideologies, self-interest, party politics, altruism, and ambition. Using documents that convey Cherokee voices, government policy, and white citizens' views, Theda Perdue and Michael D. Green present a multifaceted account of this complicated moment in American history. The second edition of this successful, class-tested volume contains four new sources, including the Cherokee Constitution of 1827 and a modern Cherokee's perspective on the removal. The introduction provides students with succinct historical background. Document headnotes contextualize the selections and draw attention to historical methodology. To aid students' investigation of this compelling topic, suggestions for further reading, photographs, and a chronology of the Cherokee removal are also included.
Author Biography
Michael D. Green is Professor of History and American Studies at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where his field of research is the history of the Creeks.
Table of Contents
|Introduction : the Cherokees and U. S. Indian policy
|p. 1
|Cherokee "civilization"
|p. 25
|Georgia policy
|p. 71
|United States policy
|p. 101
|The Cherokee debate
|p. 129
|The Trail of Tears
|p. 167
|Chronology of the Cherokee removal (c. 1700-2003)
|p. 187
|Table of Contents provided by Blackwell. All Rights Reserved.


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June 13, 2013 12:11 pm
First appearing on Twitter, then Instagram and soon Facebook, the hashtag is quickly becoming the most popular kid in social media. One hashtag which stands out to us in particular is the ever-so-popular "#TBT" (aka Throwback Thursday) a tag allowing users to reminisce, look back and remember.
Ford pays homage to #TBT by introducing it to our blog, featuring a new model every Thursday; where they walked, magazines they covered and campaigns they were the face of.
To introduce our very first #FORDTBT (which is how you will see it on Twitter and Instagram) is Ford Men's Ben Hunter, a blue-eyed southerner you may recognize from the cover of Hercules Universal Issue IV.


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Despite some last minute drop out and substitutions, there was plenty of drama in the Absolute divisions, and the round robin format with ADCC style rules ensured everyone got plenty of time on the mat.
Thanks to Andrew "Goatfury" Smith of www.BJJnews.com for the written report
(Editor's note Once again, going back to the vault and finally getting around to uploading some more video, this time from February's NE Grappling Challenge III event, held by Joseph Cunliffe and Ryan Ciotoli. This was an excellent day of grappling which saw tons of great competition across the board, especially in the Absolute Divison. Once again thanks to Andrew "GoatFury" Smith from www.BJJnews.com for the great and timely report as usual.
In addition to having my luggage lost on both ways from the airport and assorted mishaps, it looks like one of the tapes I shot was fried (actually a first). The inlcuded video showcases much of the action from the day, but I am unsure on some names, so if you see yourself or someone you know in the video, please let me know and I'll be sure to give you the credit!)
Northeast Grappling Challenge- Popovich and Monson win The Northeast Grappling Challenge in Ithaca, New York featured two eight-man pro divisions (under 175 and 175 and above). Pablo Popovich and Jeff Monson represented American Top Team, closing out their respective divisions, while talented up-and-comers Rick Macauley, Glover Texeira, and old-school MMA veteran Edson Carvalho squared off.
Each pro division featured two round-robin divisions, with the winners of each bracket meeting in the finals. The matches were divided into two five-minute rounds, with the first round being submission-only (no scoring) and the last five minutes the points would count (similar to ADCC scoring).
Lightweight Division (under 175)
The lightweight division saw heavy favorite Pablo Popovich (ADCC veteran, overall grappling stud) on one side of the bracket with me (Andrew Smith) and Len Sonia (Tai Kai).
Popovich and Len Sonia faced off first.
After some stalking, Popovich took Sonia down and passed to half-guard.
It became apparent that Popovich was waiting for the scoring period to begin. As time ran out and the fighters restarted, Popovich aggressively took Sonia down, passing guard, and eventually getting the mount.
Sonia held his own very well, escaping, and even nearly getting Popovich's back as time ran out. Popovich, however, dominated on points.
Next up I had the opportunity to roll with Pablo. Once again, the first five minutes were tentative, with Popovich pulling guard, and me working for a "goathook" unsuccessfully. About 4 minutes in Popovich got a sweep, and we spent the rest of the time in my open guard.
As the second round began, Pablo immediately took me down with a smooth double-leg, ending up in half-guard.
About three minutes in, Pablo executed his trademark kimura from half-guard, stepping over the head for the finish. Very technical and efficient.
Len Sonia could not continue due to injury (and intimidation due to my big hair or something) so I got a match against a collegiate wrestler with the last name of Urban.
Urban took me down, worked to pass, and I caught him with a kneebar from half-guard.
Popovich went on to dominate in the finals, taking his opponent down, passing guard, and finishing once again with a picture-perfect Kimura:
Heavyweight Pro Division
While the lightweight pros featured some up-and-comers, the heavyweight division featured established big names in the grappling community. Jeff Monson, Edson Carvalho, Rick Macauley, Jay White, Glover Texeira and Nick Caggia were among the big names.
Rick Macauley (Balance) got a rematch against heavy favorite Jeff Monson (ATT). The two fought earlier this year at the Bud World Cup and both fighters went all out, with Monson getting the points win. This match was very similar in outcome, as Monson was able to pass guard to secure the points victory.
Next up, Macauley faced grappling and MMA veteran Glover Texeira. Macauley worked from his half-guard, transitioning into a tight reverse heel-hook.
Jeff Monson and Glover Texeira had a war next, with Monson pulling half-guard unexpectedly (Pablo Popovich yelled at him for doing this) then pulling off a nice sweep, before Texeira almost got Monson's back.
When the second scoring period began, it was all Monson, as he was able to get the half-guard sweep and the pass to secure the points win.
Rick Macauley made quick work of his last opponent.
Macauley looking for the armbar
So Monson advanced to the finals, having beaten his three opponents.
Meanwhile, Edson Carvalho took Nick Caggia's back, getting the rear naked choke on the big man, then caught Jay White with a front choke. Carvalho advanced to fight Monson in the finals.
This fight showcased Monson's strategy, as he was able to take Carvalho down and methodically pass the guard in the scoring round. Both fighters looked sharp, but Monson's experience prevailed. Monson had a dominant back position as time ran out and was looking for the finish.


text:
Life is a stage and we all are performers whether in our bedrooms, clandestine places, or rendezvous. One thing is certain lust and sex go hand in hand. The visual sex appeal and eroticism are paramount to the ultimate orgasm. Words stimulate both the mind and the body.
Getting that sexy back sometimes just requires some candles, incense, love jams and a weekend getaway. If you've ever been in love, get back the fire, tear your clothes off, can't wait got to have it now sex episodes. Real love...real sex, not going through the motions to get it over. Getting hard before the clothes come off means the fire is still there. Being able to just touch you and it's on...it's still there. Whispering sweet n nasty nothings just because you're turned on...it's still there.
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Men Of Color v11 Published October 14, 2013
Sex Appeal V2 Published May 03, 2013
Man About My Love Vol 19 Published November 30, 2012
Men of Color Vol 10 Published November 12, 2011
Man About My Love Vol17 Published September 11, 2011
MOCV9: Published July 11, 2011
MOCV8 Published February 14, 2011


text:
Rich brought along a few iterations of the Hack-E-Bot, a low-cost educational robot he's developing. Cool laser-cut pieces!
Marina enlisted Xandon to assist in her project to make interactive stairs, the goal being to make taking the stairs more fun. Xandon has a Kinect and has written software to play musical tones as people walk through specific areas, so with any luck they'll have everything installed in time for the Inscape Open House in March.
Xandon also had a virtual drum kit program that Rich tried out.
In the screenshot you can just make out the colored cubes indicating the "drums".
If you want to get involved with Marina's project, come to the next Project Night (Tuesday) or SCRoW (Wednesday).


text:
Gasoline prices have climbed every day for 33 consecutive days, rising more than 40 cents to flirt with the $4 mark for a gallon of regular unleaded on Tuesday in Vancouver.
And if filling your tank has emptied your wallet, just wait until spring, when some experts expect fuel will become even more costly.
Surging crude oil prices, which stabilized at just over $100 per barrel this week, have pushed gasoline prices up to a national average of $3.72 per gallon. But drivers in the Pacific Northwest are paying much more, thanks to a fire and explosion that shut down Washington's largest refinery earlier this month. California's switch to more expensive summer blends of fuel has also pushed up West Coast pricing. In Vancouver on Tuesday, regular unleaded gasoline averaged $3.95 a gallon, and at many stations it topped $4, according to surveys by AAA and GasBuddy.com.
That's spurring some local drivers to curse, and forcing people on fixed budgets to change their habits.
David Adams, a Portland resident taking classes at Clark College, said he's carpooling to class and taking the bus to get around because he can't afford to fill his tank.
"I've missed class when I can't get a ride," Adams said from a downtown Vancouver Chevron station, where he waited for his driver to pay $4.13 per gallon Tuesday morning.
Expensive spring
Historically, Americans' appetite for fuel has contributed to high gasoline prices. This year, however, U.S. oil consumption has been anemic, while speculators and Middle East unrest have pushed prices up, according to a report by AAA Oregon/Idaho, which also serves Southwest Washington.
As snow thaws and the U.S. driving season gets going, AAA forecasters expect fuel prices will climb further still, possibly reaching $4.35 for a gallon of regular unleaded by spring. That would tie Vancouver's highest-ever average price, set on June 28, 2008.
Vancouver's $3.95 Tuesday average was three pennies more than the average Portland gas station charged. A year ago, regular unleaded averaged $3.48 in Vancouver and $3.46 in Portland.


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M&M Favorites
Sweet Potato Gnocchi
This may be the last pasta post for a little while, as I'm going to try to be a little healthier for as long as I can stand it. Sweet potatoes are a favorite around the apartment, and they make light and fluffy gnocchi with more depth of flavor than regular gnocchi. Combine them with some crisp sage and pecorino, and they become truly delicious little clouds.
Sweet Potato Gnocchi
1 1/2 pound sweet potato (1 large sweet potato), pricked with a fork
8 ounce container of fresh ricotta, preferably local
3 ounces grated parmesan
2 teaspoons salt
1 tablespoon brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
2 cups flour
Roast the sweet potato in a 400 degree oven for 30-40 minutes or microwave on high for 4 minutes a side until soft. Let cool. Meanwhile, let the ricotta drain in a sieve or coffee filter for two hours to remove some of the extra liquid.
Scrape the flesh from the potato skin and mash, it should be about 2 cups. Add the ricotta and combine. Add the salt, brown sugar, nutmeg, and half the flour. Combine well. Add the rest of the flour in parts until the dough becomes a ball. You may not need it all.
Dump it onto a board and form a ball. Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate for an hour up to a couple days.
Cut pieces off the ball and roll into ropes about a half inch thick with plenty of extra flour. Slice into inch long pieces. They can be kept in a single layer and frozen, store in some flour.
Bay Scallop Crudo with Tangerine
These tiny, sweet bay scallops are perfect as a quick bite to start a special meal. I paired them with a small glass of my shrimp bisque in this duo of seafood appetizers, and they were both among my favorites. The scallops have a tangerine juice reduction drizzled over the top, along with some wonderful extra … Continue reading
Delicata Squash Ravioli
I love making homemade ravioli because the process is so relaxing. It's also fun to do with other people, and if you're just getting into cooking, it's very gratifying to see the final product that YOU made. It's a time commitment, but you can make any kind of ravioli you feel like. I once made … Continue reading
My Favorite Breakfast: Avocado Toast
I found a recipe for avocado toast in a Bon Appetit cleanse a while ago, and it quickly became my favorite snack, breakfast, or lunch. I adjusted the recipe a little to balance the tartness of the lemon with some honey. Make sure to allow your avocados to ripen, they should be just a little … Continue reading
Roasted Thyme Tomatoes
I love heirloom cherry tomatoes from the farmer's market. They are so sweet and flavorful, and I love to make a big batch of these slow-roasted tomatoes and keep them in the fridge to toss in everything. They're also fabulous on their own, just on a couple slices of toasted baguette. The olive oil mixes … Continue reading
Squash Blossom Risotto
I haven't made risotto in a while, and I had almost forgotten how wonderful it is. Risotto should be loose and a little runny, not a tight little ball when scooped onto a plate. I finished this one with a handful of grated cheese and a little butter to give it a richness. The term … Continue reading
Lemon Bars
Lemon bars are a favorite of mine during the summer. I love the tart freshness, especially when it's hot outside. This recipe from the Flour Bakery cookbook is a pretty decadent version, with lots of eggs and butter, but it's worth it. Fortunately, I brought these to a barbeque, so I wasn't tempted to eat … Continue reading
Capellini with Tomato and Basil
Capellini (angel hair) is not used very often because it quickly becomes a gluey mess. The trick is to pull it directly out of the pot into this olive oil sauce and toss. I only use it in situations like this with a fresh, uncooked sauce because you don't want to be messing around with … Continue reading


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Remember when the old lady spilled coffee on herself and sued McDonalds?
When it happened, I remember thinking the court system was flawed for allowing the suit, then years later I saw a documentary about how bad the woman's injuries were – and I was floored.
What does this have to do with dads and hamburgers? Nothing – except sometimes you need wait and read beyond the headlines.
If you haven't heard the news, a father in NYC was accused by his ex-wife and psychologist Marilyn Schiller of being an unfit father for not giving his son McDonalds.
Here are some additional facts:
- The former couple's 4-year-old son wanted to eat McDonalds on David Schorr's (the father) scheduled Tuesday visitation day.
- From reading a few articles on the topic, father and son had a regular destination they frequented every week, but the boy wanted to change it up with fast food (David did tell the boy he would take him anywhere else)
- David felt that his son was eating too much junk food and refused. Tantrum ensued.
- The boy was returned to his mother (Bari Yunis Schorr) that evening without dinner. Yunis-Schorr did end up taking their son to the golden arched restaurant that evening and then solicited the opinion of psychologist Marilyn Schiller about the event.
- Schiller's assessment of the situation was as follows:(Time Newsfeed):
"…Schiller, a court-appointed psychologist, told the court hearing the divorce case that because he wouldn't take the boy to McDonald's, he was "wholly incapable" of taking care of the child and asked the court to intervene, restricting the time Schorr got to spend with the boy."
This can be viewed in a few ways…
A boy wants junk food, dad says no. The boy throws tantrum and dad sticks to his guns and essentially sends the boy "to his room with no supper" (one assumes to teach a lesson).
From another perspective…a guy has his 4-year-old son for a an evening (mid-week), all he has to do is take him to dinner. The dude can't handle a temper tantrum and ends up dumping the kid back on his ex-wife and running for the hills.
This situation isn't about hamburgers and attention grabbing headlines, it is about a messy divorce and the little boy stuck in the middle. I hope these people can work things out without the need for more court appointed shrinks and reporters.
What are your thoughts on this mess? Was the father right to say no and take the boy home or does the mother have a case? Leave your thoughts in the comments section below.
Photo: sean dreilinger, flickr


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Adding plenty of girl power to the mix, both Queen Latifah and Mary J Blige have joined the cast of the forthcoming NBC live production of "The Wiz," slated to air on December 3rd.
It's a big day here in America as we celebrate our independence from British rule that occurred over two centuries ago.
And plenty of celebrities are feeling patriotic on this Fourth of July, both domestic stars and famous international folks.
She 's spoken out against domestic violence for years, but now the issue has hit home as Mary J. Blige's father was stabbed in a dispute on Thursday (January 23).
Early in the morning, police were called to Thomas Blige's apartment in Battle Creek, Michigan where they found blood in the snow near the entrance.
Taking to the stage for an exciting event, Claire Danes and Aaron Eckhart hosted the 20th Annual Nobel Peace Prize Concert on Wednesday (December 11).
The "Homeland" beauty donned a stunning floral gown as she and "The Dark Knight" hunk addressed the audience at the Oslo Spektrum in Norway.
Taking care of some media duties, a smattering of famous actors and musicians showed up for the 20th Annual Nobel Peace Prize Concert press conference in Oslo, Norway this morning (December 11).
Continuing promotions for her brand new Christmas album A Mary Christmas, Mary J Blige was selected to front the December 2013 issue of Shape magazine.
While showing off her flawless tummy in a sexy white bikini for the spread, the 42-year-old discussed her favorite workouts and her why she gave up alcohol.
Though she's pleaded for "No More Drama," it has come back to find Mary J Blige in the form of a lawsuit from Vision Entertainment Worldwide.
According to the complaint the promotional company is alleging that the 42-year-old soulful songstress dipped out of a Dallas concert on December 9th a few days before showtime.
Stepping out for a promotional appearance, Mary J Blige showed up at ABC Studios in New York City today (January 28).
The "Family Affair" songstress was joined by Angela Bassett for an interview on "Good Morning America" to talk about their new movie "Betty and Coretta."


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The only downfall we've see with the Archos tablets has been the lack of Android Marketplace on them. And even though you can side load the Android Market .apk on a lot of the devices, there were inevitably compatibility issues with Archos' Android 2.1 and 2.2.
But thanks to ArchosFan, a forum member successfully compiled a new gApps4Archos.apk that can be easily side loaded and installed to give you access to Google app and Marketplace. There are still a few issues, and you need to have the latest 1.0.70 firmware in order to successfully connect to Google's servers, but at least it's a start. What do you think about the Archos tablets and the .apk side loading apps?
[via Engadget]


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It's six months too early to crown a winner for Success Story of 2011, but bet on Cee-Lo Green to take the title. The one-time Goodie Mob and Gnarls Barkley frontman's been around for two decades, but only this decade has he become the sort of multi-platform, omnipresent icon that the term "pop star" was invented for.
How'd he do it? First, there's his voice: a dynamic tenor unlike anyone else's, able to croon and rap with equal ease. Then there's years of cred: Goodie Mob serving as backstory and legend, a few critically praised solo albums to start the hype simmering, and a grand breakthrough with Gnarls Barkley and "Crazy." Combined, they made Cee-Lo formidable, if not exactly inescapable. After this came a year of savvy moves:
- 2010-11: Releases "Fuck You" to blogs' profane glee and the vindication of anyone who's ever felt poor or stomped on or just needing to say FU to someone. The single rode two trends at once: first, the kinetic-typography trend that doubled as a built-in lyrics video, pre-empting the YouTube kids; next, a funny, bratty event video to keep people interested. From anyone else, "Fuck You" would be a one-hit novelty, but Cee-Lo's back catalogue was large enough to get the track both instant attention and gravitas. And the attached album, The Lady Killer, contains enough retro gems like the standout "Bright Lights, Bigger City" to prove Green's got a musical vocabulary beyond the four-letter.
Later on, Cee-Lo drops a clean version allowing the more family-friendly charts to experience all of the Motown fun with none of the eff. "F(uck/orget) You"'s been on the Billboard charts for more than half a year, peaking at No. 2. But how do the twain coexist? Mostly thanks to 'Lo discreetly dropping out of the chorus in concerts, letting the audience supply whichever verb they like best. (Hint: It's not "forget.")
- Late 2010: Lets Glee take a crack at "Forget You" with Gwyneth Paltrow in tow. Say whatever you want about Gleemixes of pop, but the appearance helped make "Forget You" a cultural institution. In the '10s, you know you've made it when you've been canonized by a bunch of autotuned showbiz kids.
- February 2011: Takes "Forget You" to the Grammys and steals the show through gaudy Muppetry and another Paltrow cameo–an impressive feat, considering that Lady Gaga, Nicki Minaj and the Black Eyed Peas were all in attendance and full regalia.
- April 2011: Makes his understated debut as a coach on NBC's The Voice. Amid Xtina's syrupy, Adam Levine's wise-guy wisecracking and Blake Shelton's bro-ing out, Cee-Lo stands out for just how little he has to do. He's Cee-Lo Green, damn it, and if you don't respect him for his very presence, then he's like….
- June 2011: Drops the trailer for Fuse talk show "Talking to Strangers," which you can watch below:
Judging by the (thankfully substantial) trailer, this looks to be quite the event, with every star appearance studded with exclamation points. Kelly Rowland, perhaps on the cusp of a pretty good year herself! Keri Hilson showing about 10 times more personality than usual! An always-welcome Estelle! Offbeat choices like Grace Potter and the Nocturnal and TV on the Radio! We're guessing someone out there really wanted to see Train?
And more than that, which other star could get away with this degree of puppet shenanigans and still come off as impossibly cool? No one, that's who. In Cee-Lo's wake, the rest of the world might as well be strangers.


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If you're noticing more ads on TV and the Internet from the companies that buy houses fast for cash, there's a good reason. These days business is booming in the "we-buy-houses" business.
One company promises to make a cash offer within an hour of inspecting your home. Another provides an "instant" offer online. Others target homeowners who are facing foreclosure or who owe more on their mortgages than their homes are worth. One Florida company even specializes in buying, rehabbing and reselling houses damaged by sinkholes.
The one thing all these companies have in common is that they're selling the homes they buy to real estate investors more than ever before. Behind the boomlet in fast-cash homebuying is a sea change in the business of real estate investing. Investors who were once only flipping bargain-priced foreclosures are now also turning their purchases into single-family rentals.
According to Freddie Mac, since 2006, the fastest growing form of rental housing has been single-family homes, and now accounts for 37 percent of the rental market, up from 33 percent in 2006. Some 2.8 million single-family rentals were added in the last year alone, according to John Burns, CEO of John Burns Real Estate Consulting in Irvine, California.
All-cash sales reached an all-time high during the first quarter of 2014, encompassing 43 percent of all home sales during that period, according to RealtyTrac. Cash buyers and large investors are purchasing a sizable portion of the available inventory, making things even more difficult for consumers who can't take advantage of record-low mortgage rates because they rely on financing.
Investors scrambling for more properties
Now that foreclosures have dwindled to the lowest level since the second quarter of 2006, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association, the we-buy-houses businesses are becoming an increasingly important source of supply for investors.
Dallas-based HomeVestors, best known for its caveman logo and "We Buy Ugly Houses" slogan, has been supplying investors with significant numbers of properties for years. With more than 400 franchises in 36 states, it recently added 38 more, according to David Hicks, co-president of HomeVestors. About 35 percent of the houses the company buys this year will be sold to investors after going through a process called "hoteling," where only major repairs are made and investors can finish the homes as they wish. The company plans to buy and fix up 3,000 to 3,500 houses in 2014, says Hicks.
"Our average house is 30 years old. Every year a new crop of houses fits our criteria, so there is a never ending supply. We buy houses where someone has lived in them a long time, an elderly couple that can't keep up with the repairs, or a divorced couple," says Hicks.
Smaller companies also thriving
Investor demand is even having a greater impact on smaller we-buy-houses companies. Several have set up "networks" of investors and they act as a middleman, matching investors with owners who want to sell.
Others, like Express Homebuyers in the Washington D.C. market, have completely changed its focus to match the market.
"A year ago we were selling exclusively to first-time homebuyers. Most of our houses were within the first-time homebuyer price range. Within the past 12 months we changed our business model and we are selling 70 percent to investors," say Brad Chandler, CEO of Express Homebuyers, who is ramping up his television advertising to find more homes to sell to investors.
"In 2009 and 2010 we bought a lot of REOs, but our supply went away and we had to crank back up our marketing machine," he says.
Investor demand limiting inventory for borrowers
Despite the rise in home prices, Ingo Winzer, founder of Local Market Monitor, a real estate analyst firm in Cary, North Carolina, maintains investor demand is still strong because of the opportunities that exist. "In a lot of smaller markets there are still lots of great opportunities. Home prices are still below 2007 prices and rental demand is strong."
Cash buyers and investors are certainly putting a strain on the available inventory, explains Keith Gumbinger, vice president of HSH.com. While higher home prices will prompt more homeowners to sell, cash buyers tend to get first dibs, and many former single-family homes are being turned into single-family rentals, limiting the options for the average homebuyer who depends on a mortgage to own a home.
More help from HSH.com
Metro area definitionsMetro area definitions for the 27 metropolitan areas in "The salary you must earn to buy a home in 27 metros"
Home price recovery: Which metros have improved the most, least?Have home prices in your area fully recovered from the declines suffered during the Great Recession, or are they still struggling to make it back to the peaks they reached before the crisis?
12 essential tax questions for homeownersKnowing the answers to these 12 critical tax questions will help homeowners keep their tax bill as low as possible.
8 costs to consider when buying a rental property
How to buy and finance apartment buildingsHere's a guide to what borrowers need to know about how to buy and finance apartment buildings.


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In Sci-Fi movies, there are always clever contraptions that come about to track people; keep them safe. Although most parents would not want to microchip their child like they do their dog, some may be tempted as to ensure their safety and security a bit more.
It seems like each and every school season brings the riff-raff out of the walls and puts them on the streets directly in line with our children. It also seems now that if one person cannot get the job done, then these people are now pairing up with a buddy in order to swipe kids off the street. A parent can only hope that their children have been taught enough to not fall for whatever antics the grabbers are offering!
Naperville Patch Staff Writer, Shannon Antinori submitted a recent article about this very topic. Evidently kids are smarter than even a pair of scoundrels these days.
The incident happened in Aurora right around 8:00 a.m. Friday morning when a 12-year-old Jefferson Middle School student was on her way to school. Not one, but two men in a vehicle approached the young girl and attempted to lure her in.
The girl was quick on her feet and did not let the two African-American males gain the upper edge. Instead, she remembered what had been taught and made a snap decision to turn around and run to her friend's house in the nearby area. Thankfully she got away from them.
The two men were described in the Aurora Police report as being African-American males in their 30s. The vehicle they were driving was described as an older red, four-door vehicle in "beater" condition. The passenger of the vehicle was wearing a black T-shirt at the time of the incident and had a mustache and goatee.
It was the passenger that motioned to the girl and yelled for her to come up to the car as it pulled up alongside her. Incidentally, others have seen the car in the neighborhood before this particular incident was reported.
As Aurora Police suggest to anyone with information, please phone their Investigators at 630.256.5500 or the Aurora Crime Stoppers at 630.892.1000. You can make the report anonymously and many times receive a cash reward. In this case the reward is $5,000 if the information leads to the arrest of these two men, but anytime, it is very difficult to offer a reward for what a child is truly worth!
It is certainly sad that parents – and their children – must fear the unknown child predators out there. Each year brings more of the same. Thankfully the schools – and hopefully the parents, too – are training children what to do in the event of a stranger approaching them. Keep your children safe and discuss ways that they, too, could avoid an issue such as this.


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Wednesday, April 3, 2013
Hazardous Chemical Receiving
In many cases, hazardous chemicals delivered by UPS, Fed Ex or similar companies are left in departmental administrative offices. The US Department of Transportation considers that it is important for persons who receive hazardous material shipments to have some basic training in safe handling of these items and in steps to take if there is a leak or similar problem with the package.
As a results, EH&S has prepared a very brief training module for people who may receive hazardous materials shipments. It discusses the various descriptive labels that may be present, the hazards of each, and what to do in the event of a leak or other problem. Please inform any applicable personnel of this module, located at: DOT Hazardous Materials Receiving.


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The Oregon Live website reports the strangest phone calls to the Forest Grove Police Department from December 27 to January 4. The story reports the following incidents that needed police intervention:
· A man calls the police to report someone stole his birth certificate. He later discovers his mother had it.
· A woman reported suspected organized crime members in the medical field.
· Police break up a fight over popcorn in a movie theater.
· Police respond to a man wearing only underwear, boots, and a jacket while "playing with himself."
· Woman calls police to report a blind dog.
· Teenager busted for seeking sexual pleasure from wearing a diaper.
· A woman called police to find out if her roommate could have friends help her move from the apartment.
· Police respond to call of an adult male hugging a minor. The caller had mistaken a small female adult for a minor.
· Officers called to check on a potential cannibal in the neighborhood.
· Office helps a stranded citizen. The resident's electric wheelchair ran out of electricity. Officer transported the subject to a place to recharge the wheelchair.
To read the entire article, visit the Oregon Live website.
Marc Hoover is a freelance writer and author of two books "You Need a Cellmate, Not a Soulmate" and "21 Things you Gotta Know About the NFL." Click on the links to buy his books or contact him about this story or anything else at email@example.com. Marc also has a website for family members to write messages to their deceased loved ones. Visit Letters Beyond Heaven to either share or read personal letters to beloved family members and friends.


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The Top 3 finalists for Season 12 of American Idol are Caleb Johnson, Alex Preston and Jena Irene. They continue to compete in hopes of becoming the next "American Idol" winner.
On Wednesday, May 14, the Top 3 performed three songs which were the judges choices, their hometown visit fans choice, and mentor Randy Jackson's choice.
Tonight was American Idol's 500th episode. The show had a great montage past show moments. They also have video tape message from past American Idol winners, Fantasia, Carrie Underwood,Jordin Sparks, Kris Allen, David Cook, Kris Allen, Lee Dewyze, Scotty McCreery, Phillip Phillips,and Candice Glover. As the show ended, the show had a cake cutting presentation to celebrate the 500 episode with Simon Fuller, Ryan Seacrest, Randy Jackson, the judges and the Top 13 contestants.
On the next live results show airing Thursday, May 15, one finalists will be eliminated ad our final two contestants will be announced.
Also, Season winner of American Idol, Scotty McCreery, will perform his latest single and
Check out some video footage from the cake cutting ceremony.
Check back to this page for more interviews with the finalists.
Suggested Links
- Video: Caleb Johnson talks performing for Top 4 week on 'American Idol'
- Video: Jena Irene talks game change twist and performing on 'American Idol'
- Video: Alex Preston talks performing for Top 4 week on 'American Idol'
- Video: Harry Connick Jr talks new album and judging on 'American Idol'
- Video: Keith Urban talks using the save on 'American Idol' for Sam Woolf