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Father, what should I do?
Having been away from the Catholic Church for about ten years at the time (but knowing fully the church's position on marriage) I think I sought out the priest's advice because I was looking more for someone to talk me out of what I was about to do.
I had purchased an airline ticket for my then-husband to fly from our home state of Virginia to Hawaii so he could spend some time with the kids and hopefully, we'd be able to settle our own affairs during his visit. Christmas (2000) was just within reach and I reasoned the perfect time to either reconcile or amicably divorce after a six month separation. December meant a lot to us: a month that celebrated our daughter's birth, our wedding anniversary and of course, Christmas; Hawaii was where we had spent our honeymoon so I had hoped that the spirit of the season combined with the warm Hawaiian breezes would be the right mixture to help us figure out "where do we go from here"? Those were my thoughts; my then-husband's thoughts were much different…
His thoughts were wrapped up in enforcing kidnapping charges that he had filed against me in Virginia; the only way he said he would "drop the charges" is if I agreed to go back home with him – and if I refused then he had a Plan B: to have me "locked away in a mental institution for so long" that I'd "never see the kids again".
I already knew from past experience that he would make good on Plan B. Three years before he had called our local psych ward to have me committed because I wouldn't/couldn't stop crying after he had hit me when I was pregnant with our son. Thankfully, the intake worker on the other end of the phone didn't think I was crazy when my then-husband said "I hit her and now she wants to leave me". (The guy hung up on him.)
Now I was looking at something altogether different: a yellow carbon copy police form that my then-husband was holding up in front of me as proof that he had indeed initiated some kind of legal action against me; it wasn't a verbal threat, it was physically real.
The next few days were a blur (figuratively and literally) but I recall being pushed to take a Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) out on my then-husband, which I frankly thought was extreme at the time. I knew - beyond a shadow of a doubt - that if I even applied for a TRO and he found out, the marriage would be O-V-E-R with absolutely no chance of resuscitation. Like most DV victims I didn't want the marriage to end; I wanted the cruelty, callousness, condemnation and contempt he had for me to end (which never did by-the-way) so in a last-ditch attempt to talk myself out of a TRO, I sought out my priest.
Father's reply to my question surprised and stunned me. He said "When God gave you those children and entrusted their care to you, they became your priority. We'll worry about your marriage vows later but for now, you and your children must be kept safe". Moreover, Father's reply was quick and without hesitation – said firmly and decisively. Safe? What was all this "safe" talk about? I wasn't safe from the father of my own children? Nope, I just couldn't see it.
Each experience we live through provides us with a "pair of glasses" with which we view things. The glasses are rose-colored when we fall in love and if depressed, the glasses we wear rob the world of its color. When I sought my priest's advice I didn't have my "DV glasses" yet (those would come later compliments of PACT's Family Peace Center) so when I recently saw something that Albert Einstein had said in 1930 during a speech to the New History Society
Peace cannot be kept by force; it can only be achieved by understanding.
family court and the many dangerous judicial court orders intended to force peace between a DV survivor and the abuser (co-parenting, cooperation, compromising, direct communication between the parties, etc.) was the first thing to come to mind thanks to my bifocaled "DV/family court glasses". And that's the whole thing with all of this: until you're wearing the glasses, you're completely blind to what other glass-wearers are seeing!
If you think about understanding as a matter of simply putting on a pair of glasses, it's an easy problem-solver, right? "Tell me what glasses to wear and I'll put 'em on" BUT what about the consequences of doing so?
Putting on the "DV glasses" makes the world an uglier, more confusing and perverse world to live in - just as putting on "sexual abuse glasses" can turn a scantily-clad young woman into a traumatized little girl who dresses the way she's been groomed or into a prostituted slave.
If glasses existed that allowed you to see the whole, ugly truth would you voluntarily choose to put them on when offered to you or would it be easier - and a happier way to live - if you remained "blind" and comfortably ignorant? Would the choice become harder if I told you that you had a moral obligation to see the truth and act accordingly?
Last year there was a movie released called "Odd Thomas" where instead of glasses, Odd had a "gift" of seeing creatures that harbinger death and doom if present. No one else could see these creatures except for Odd but just because everyone else couldn't see these creatures doesn't mean they or the danger didn't exist. (Click on the attached You Tube video to see what I mean. If you're not familiar with the story, the creatures will attack once they know you can see them so Odd is pretending he's not seeing what he's seeing.)
This scene from the movie perfectly illustrates what survivors experience when they've been handed and are now wearing their DV glasses. Those who've "successfully escaped" DV are similar to Odd Thomas because now they finally see. Stormy, Odd's girlfriend, is like the advocates and allies who support victim-survivors; they may not see the demons but they know they're out there and that they can do harm. The mom who sees nothing wrong and believes she's taken appropriate measures to protect her children is no different than anyone else without "DV glasses" but more disturbing is that too many family court-related professionals either don't have a pair of "DV glasses" or refuse to put them on and this is resulting in too many innocent lives being damaged or lost to something those professionals don't see.
We can't see the sun creating skin cancer cells and we don't see our arteries being clogged with high-cholesterol foods but we do see the end results. The primary form of domestic violence is invisible and just because you don't see it doesn't mean that it's not real. Wearing "DV glasses" does mean seeing some things you'd rather not - some scary and horrific stuff that will keep you awake at night and haunt you – but for those who accept money for doing any kind of human service work (counseling, family court, CPS, legislative, medical, etc.) you need to find a good pair of "DV glasses" and never leave home without them – lives are dependent upon it.


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Spending Review: All Very George Osborne
More a little later, on George Osborne's spending review – after I've nipped out for a sandwich and a think. (It'll never catch-on, thinking before blogging, but I'm going to give it a go just this once.)
A few early thoughts first:
1. Osborne has constructed a clear political argument – defending priorities such as health and education whilst cutting the deficit. It is aimed at protecting the coalition's left flank from suggestions that they don't care. It might not work, but it's a plan. Johnson put on a good show (see point 6) but on the substance Labour's response sounds patched together: "This is going to hurt" (of course it will) and "the government's plans might make everything worse" (and the alternative is?).
2. The measures were endlessly political, and very, very George Osborne. The Chancellor is the tactical mastermind of the government and the Cameroon project. In his speech there were all sorts of little quirks designed to outflank and outfox his opponents. Some were clever and well-judged, others could easily blow up down the line.
3. There were shades of Gordon Brown in Osborne's presentation. Masses of announcements poured out, often with too little detail provided. The real work now begins of trawling through the documents and finding the hidden gems/horrors.
4. The coalition parties were far too pleased with themselves – with MPs cheering Osborne to the rafters. The tone struck me as slightly odd, considering what was being announced. Where was the expression of concern for those who will be hit badly? Johnson made that point.
5. The growth story was missing, again. Weird that George Osborne and David Cameron don't talk about this more, even to try and help boost confidence. If they don't get growth their government is sunk.
6. We knew certain departments would be hit hard, because others were protected. But some of the sums involved are truly eye-watering in departments such as Justice and Communities.
7. If a promise was made personally by Cameron in the election campaign it survives (see winter fuel allowance etc). If someone else in the cabinet made a promise they have no such guarantee. Understandably, Osborne is protecting the Cameron brand ahead of the next election. But the reality is that many wealthy pensioners keep their winter fuel payments whilst Britain will have aircraft carriers without planes.
8. Osborne had terrible trouble with his cough. It wouldn't go away no matter how hard he tried or how much water he drank (I feared for his bladder). Nerves? I doubt it. More likely that he's absolutely knackered. Those closely involved in the negotiations have been working long hours under great pressure, and it's obviously having an impact. Expect Cameron and Osborne to start looking like they're ageing rapidly in office.
9. Alan Johnson had little material to play with, but he put in a classy performance in response to Osborne. He's so comfortable on his feet in the Commons, delivering a good joke at Clegg's expense: "He changed his mind on the deficit between the ballot boxes closing and the door of his ministerial car opening". But he will need a good deal more than jokes.
10. Er… that's it for now.

subset: commoncrawl


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I like the idea of this: Procrastination hack: "(10+2)*5".
It's called "(10+2)*5" and here's why:
- 10 – Work for ten minutes with single-minded focus on moving toward completion on a single task. Ten minutes, and that's all you're allowed to do is work, work, work. No cheating, because (DING!) you actually get a break when you're done…
- 2 – After ten minutes of sweaty, dedicated work you get a 2-minute break to do whatever you want—drink coffee, read 5ives, call your bookie, whatever. When the two minutes are up, it's back to work on the next task on your list. This is important.
- *5 – You're going to iterate this four more times for a total of one hour's working/breaking
Interesting; I'm definitely going to have to give it a try.


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Naturally, it's marked as "compatible" with Windows 7 so it shouldn't require any third-party drivers, but 3M will offer software for XP, Vista, and Linux users. Connectivity options include DVI and VGA, audio inputs, and USB ports (the display relies on USB for the touchscreen functionality).
Unfortunately, 3M hasn't discussed pricing or availability, but hopefully more details will emerge as CES progresses.


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A coach you would follow into battle
bill beck
side lines
Anyone who doesn't believe in real-life heroes has never heard Tom Kurth address a football team.
The man can hold an audience.
There are days in my working world where I simply get lucky, when timing was everything.
I ventured to Central for some interviews at Rice Field Thursday and arrived just as practice ended. Perfect.
As the team gathered at midfield and took a knee, a familiar face with a crew cut and a Blue Blazer football shirt stood off to the side.
Kurth, the Elkhart icon and legendary Blazer coach, was invited by head coach Levon Johnson to give the Thursday night pep talk.
It's been more than a decade since Kurth stalked northern Indiana sidelines, but he hasn't lost his touch.
He had the Blazers — and me — in the palm of his hands.
Kurth talked about coming to the "City with a Heart" and massive Elkhart High in 1966, six years before the "The Split" into two schools. He noted how current ECHS assistant and former Blazer All-American Garvin Roberson was all of 15 years old.
He chided Johnson, a man who Kurth referred to as "like my second son" and how he taught the current coach how to drive.
Kurth then turned to "Blazer tradition."
"Every time we went on the field, we expected to win,'' Kurth said, his voice jumping a few octaves. "And when we didn't, we wanted to play the next day so we could get that bad taste out of our mouths."
With Goshen coming to Rice Field tonight and Central coming off a 48-point win over rival Memorial, Kurth took a moment to storytell.
He recalled a 1969 game in Goshen when Elkhart's dominant defense hadn't allowed a point or any team across the 50-yardline in the first five games.
"We're up 56-to-nothing and I've got the third string in with eight minutes to go in the third quarter and they get across the 50," Kurth bellowed. "They called a timeout and celebrated! My guys were mad at me because we had the third string in.
"I could tell you story after story about how I love being a Blue Blazer and we'd be here until 9 o'clock. Not everybody can be a Blue Blazer."
If I didn't have bad knees and a deadline to make, I would have grabbed a helmet myself.
When Tom Kurth looks you squarely in the eye and tells you something, you believe it without hesitation.
"For the first time in 10 years, guys, I feel like I'm a Blue Blazer again," Kurth said. "Can you do better?"
A hearty "yes, sir!" came from the team.
"Darned right you can,'' Kurth said. "Believe in your coaches, believe in yourselves, but most of all, believe in being a Blue Blazer."
Put me in, Coach. I'm ready to play.
Now just a Minute(men)
Concord was forced to struggle before knocking off pesky South Bend Washington last Friday. Tonight, coach Tim Dawson's club welcomes Memorial to "The Jake."
Dawson warned his club about letting its guard down.
"This is a conference game and there are seven other schools gunning for us. Everyone is rooting against you," he said of his two-time defending NLC champs. "Memorial will be giving us their best effort. When you don't keep improving, that's when you get beat," Dawson said. "You have to stay hungry."
Concord flashed moments of quality play in all phases of the game, but its win over the Panthers was hardly a work of art.
The Minutemen are expected to be good. The Crimson Chargers are rebuilding.
Let's see if that Week 1-to-Week 2 improvement which coaches pray for comes true for everybody tonight.
The rust should be gone.
Game on.
Bill Beck is The Truth's sports editor. Contact him at email@example.com


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Today's cartoons: Pressing forward for Obama
Also: Obama's rocky 'Forward' campaign;Obama's Afghan campaign stop
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Much like Obi Wan Kenobi telling the Storm Troopers those "weren't the droids you're looking for", the Presidio Trust has informed San Francisco that these weren't the Mid-Crissy Field proposals they were looking for and that none of the three proposals would be accepted.
High on the disappointed list is Star Wars creator, George Lucas, who had proposed the Lucas Cultural Art Museum (LCAM), to be housed in a spectacularly hideous Beaux Arts building. High on the thrilled list are San Franciscans who were aghast that such a project could be considered on some of the most cherished waterfront space in San Francisco.
After two years of painstaking process, the Presidio Trust made the announcement yesterday that Lucas and the other two proposals (the Presidio Exchange and the Bridge/Sustainability Institute) would be tabled. Just to be fair all around, the Trust said they'd help all three proposal teams find other suitable sites in the Presidio, although where in the Presidio those sites might be is up to speculation.
Only a week ago, the Trust heard a packed room of 500+ public commenters offering opinions on the whole development. That session saw a large contingent of support for the Presidio Exchange (proposed by the National Parks Conservancy and architect EHDD). A sizable and vocal number of commenters also espoused doing nothing and letting the site revert to a natural state.
It was Mr. Lucas, however, who brought in the big guns in the form of endorsements from Senator Diane Feinstein, Representative Nancy Pelosi, San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee, former Mayor Willie Brown, and just for good measure, rap artist M.C. Hammer. Ostensibly, the heavy political support threw a monkey wrench into the Trust's deliberations and caused some public backlash; in the social equity atmosphere of San Francisco, suspicions arose over a well-heeled entertainment mogul calling in his political chits.
So what were the dynamics that, after two years, led to an outcome of…nothing?
Apart from the extremely objectionable architectural design, the LCAM lacked any specific connection to the historical, cultural, or natural setting of the Presidio. The project was simply an ego-driven home for what Mr. Lucas claimed was a one-of-a-kind collection. On that basis alone, it should have been eliminated after the first round of reviews. But the Trust was correct in not allowing the LCAM to proceed any further.
Likewise, endorsements of the LCAM from prominent politicians was misguided and smacked of the buddy-buddy arrangement between elite and political classes of which Americans are justifiably suspicious. The Trust, the body charged by law to manage the Presidio, deserved the ability to make a decision solely on the merits of the proposals without political interference. The Trust was put in the unenviable position of either doing what Mr. Lucas wanted or bucking some mighty potent powerbrokers.
The other two proposers have been left with a bad taste in their mouths. Unlike Lucas, the Presidio Exchange and the Bridge/Sustainability Institute did not have vast sums of money to invest in their proposals; conceivably their elaborate proposals cost several hundreds of thousands of dollars to produce. The architects who led those teams, EHDD and WRNS, had to produce their work on their own nickel without a wealthy backer to bankroll them. In the future, will developers and designers think twice about submitting projects in response to Presidio RFP's?
The Lucas project didn't deserve to see the light of day. In that regard, it is positive that no action was taken at Mid-Crissy Field. But the unfortunate reality is that due to Darth Vader-like political machinations, the passionate and sincere efforts from the Presidio Exchange and Bridge teams went for naught.
Update: The Presidio Trust announced on February 5, 2014 that Lucas would be offered an alternative site adjoining the Letterman Digital Arts Center.


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I had so much fun with this card, I made another! This one uses Prima washi tape and some Prima flowers (from the Laraine, Perles and Charme Rose packs) and I used the same stamp set, Grand Sentiments. I adhered the washi tape near the top like my first card and then turned the paper around by accident and decided I liked it better. So I went with it! Happy accident I guess.
Pin It


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Field Marshal Tantawi receives Prince Saud Al-Faisal
March 2, 2011
Field Marshal Mohammed Hussein Tantawi, Commander in Chief and Chairman of the Supreme Council of the Egyptian Armed Forces, received Foreign Minister Prince Saud Al-Faisal in Cairo today. During their meeting, bilateral relations were discussed, specifically ways in which the Kingdom can contribute to political and economic stability in Egypt. In a statement afterwards, Prince Saud expressed the appreciation of the Saudi government and people for the performance of the Egyptian Armed Forces in managing their country's crisis, wishing them success in the coming period.
Earlier in the day, Prince Saud led the Kingdom's delegation to the 135th session of the Arab Foreign Ministerial Council. During a closed-door meeting, the ministers discussed the current situation in the Arab world. The Council decided to postpone until mid-May the Arab summit meeting previously scheduled to take place in Baghdad by the end of March. The delay was attributed to regional developments, particularly the situation in Libya, the outgoing holder of the rotating presidency of the Arab League. In a statement, the Arab Foreign Ministers rejected foreign military interference in Libya, confirmed Libya's territorial integrity and called upon Arab countries to extend humanitarian and medical assistance to the Libyan people.


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This is a useful way of preserving quality when creating the small images needed for zoomed out views in openzoom.
all links
A selection of our social bookmarks sorted by category which we believe to be of general interest. If you prefer to look at the complete list, they are available from Delicious.
High quality, high performance thumbnails in Flash - Jacob Wright – Flex, AIR, PHP, etc.
Human Life-Table Database
The Human Life-Table Database maintained by the Max Plank Institute, Rostok and others.
Human Life-Table Database
UK England and Wales lifetables
Improving data visualisation for the public sector
Case studies of improved data visualisations for public services in the UK
Improving data visualisation for the public sector
Good data visualisation can help users explore and understand the patterns and trends in data, and also communicate that understanding to others to help them make robust decisions based on the data being presented. This site supports public sector researchers improve the way that they visualise data, by providing good practice examples and case studies, practical and step-by-step guides on how to visualise data, and links to more detailed resources.
information aesthetics: infovis Archives
A collection of information visualizations
IngentaConnect A simulation model for football championships
paper on a football league simulation model
Institute of Hazard, Risk and Resilience Blog
Mostly geographical/geological/climate related stories. Published by Durham University Dept of Geography.
James' Empty Blog: Probability, uncertainty, models and climate
discussion of Bayesian arguments at conference
JuiceKit for Visual Analytics - JuiceKit™ SDK
A new Flex visualisation library that appears to incorporate Flare. JuiceKit™ is a Software Development Kit (SDK) for building Information Experience™ applications. JuiceKit integrates with Adobe Flex to create components that are easy to implement and aesthetically pleasing. JuiceKit components include controls, visualizations, and utility classes.
Know Breast Cancer.Org : Tamoxifen
Includes Tamoxifen 10 year data
LateX Equation Editor v2.5 Installation
PHP LaTeX maths rendering as a web service.
Long-term use of cellular phones and brain tumours: increased risk associated with use for >=10 years -- Hardell et al. 64 (9): 626 -- Occupational and Environmental Medicine
article claiming increased cancer risk with long-term mobile phone use
Main Page - ChanceWiki
2 Articles updated monthly on statistics in the news
Mathagony Aunt
statistical education tools using ESP cards as game
Mathematics and Crime (DS & Chris Budd) Harold Shipman
2 Videos
Maths Online
lottery simulation sites in which you specify numbers and then see how they work
Metropolitan Police Service - Crime mapping
Crime map of London: areas appear to be classified as high crime rate if they are more than 2 standard deviations above the mean. The 'help' does not make clear how this is done with different sized areas. This grading system would be expected to classify around the top 2.5% of areas as 'high crime'.
Milestones in the History of Thematic Cartography, Statistical Graphics, and Data Visualization
wonderful resource - title speaks for itself
Mondrian - Interactive Statistical Data Visualization in JAVA
A java visualisation library


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County Line®
Baby Swiss
County Line® Baby Swiss cheese adds big taste to everything from appetizers to desserts. Baby Swiss has smaller holes along with a milder taste to match. Its creamy texture makes it ideal for melting over French onion soup or over mushroom and onion crostini. It's also perfect as a base for fondue.
- Cube for snacking
- Add to hot and cold sandwiches and wraps
- Melt for fondue and serve with cubed bread
- Viognier
- Sauvignon Blanc
- Riesling
- Pinot Grigio
- Merlot
- Chardonnay
- Champagne
- Beaujolais
- Asti Spumanti
Available in these Sizes
County Line® Baby Swiss Wheel | 5 lb. (random weight)
County Line® Baby Swiss Wheel | 4.5 lb. (random weight)


text: Now that I've finished up Old ben I've been contemplating which star wars model to do next after I finish up some non-star wars models I've been working on. I'm really only interested in the more "main" characters in the movies not the ones you would need a character guide just to know the names of. Unfortunatly most of those have already been done. I wouldn't mind doing a character that's already been done but may not be as accurate as it could be, I'd like to try to make whoever I do next really look like the person it's suppose to be. I was curious as to which main characters you guys would most want.


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Looking for simple pleasures? Bunnies and Kitties: A Cuddly Collection of Fur and Friendship is just that. A great gift for Easter or any time, Bunnies and Kitties offers over 100 amazingly expressive photos of kitties and bunnies with captions that will make you smile.
All of the photos- which variously include baby bunnies, grown bunnies, kittens and cats – are a wonderful expression of love and friendship between two different creatures – and fine examples for the rest of us.
Even the clever introduction conveys the sense that author Cate Holly knows that not all books must be Tolstoy; sometimes we just need a little pleasant diversion from the stress of everyday life. Per the intro: 'Some books are depositories of timeless wisdom. Some concern themselves with the loftiest aspects of the human condition. Clearly, this is not one of those books. If you're seeking enlightenment or yearning for answers to life's big questions, quietly close the cover and run away. But if you're looking for the kind of unrelenting and shameless sweetness that takes you to the very brink of sucrose poisoning, the kind of cuteness that threatens to fix your mouth in a permanent state of smiling, this is the book for you.'
Bunnies and Kitties is a book that can be appreciated by all ages. A celebration of love and friendship, the photos pair up a variety of ridiculously adorable fluffy bunnies and pretty kitties and will be enjoyed by pretty much everyone. It's difficult to argue with over-the-top cuteness. The photos are also ideal for showing to babies and toddlers and the compact size makes it perfect for tucking into a purse or backpack.
Bunnies and Kitties: A Cuddly Collection of Fur and Friendship was just published by Running Press as of March 11, 2014 and is available from numerous booksellers, including Amazon.
To receive email notifications when my new articles post to the Dayton Small Pets Examiner page, please use the "Subscribe to Email" link (under the headline, above), or follow me on Twitter to receive notification of all of my articles.


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ITS Services Status / Javamail + FTPMail prod host migration
Mainframe Email
Tuesday, January 29, 2013 7:00 AM - 7:30 AM
The second of three Javamail/FTPMail servers will be migrated from Solaris (jmail2) to RHELinux (jmail-p02.its.utexas.edu). No service interruption is expected as the other two servers (jmail1, jmail-p03) will keep running.
For further information, contact Rabindra (Robin) Kar.
Download an ICS file for this event
Information last updated: 5:03 PM, September 9, 2013


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The Stratum is a mid-sized 4-door station wagon seen in Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas and Grand Theft Auto IV. The Stratum has a more streamlined design than other station wagons in the series.
GTA San Andreas
The Stratum's design, performance, and its likely V6 engine suggest that it is derived from the fifth generation (1994–1997) Honda Accord wagon; however D-pillars have been added. The car's real-life counterpart fails to fit in the game's time setting (1992).
Acceleration and speed are surprisingly good, considering the Stratum's size. The engine is most likely a powerful V6, and the drivetrain is rear-drive, making the Stratum a good selection as a drive-by vehicle. The body is weak, however, making the car susceptible to intense damage from high-speed impacts and heavy gunfire.
- Spawns in the Wang Cars showroom in San Fierro after completing the asset missions.
- Spawns near the Four Dragons Casino in Las Venturas
- In the compound of a plastic factory during the mission You've Had Your Chips.
The Stratum is considered a tuner, and can be upgraded at Wheel Arch Angels in Ocean Flats, San Fierro.
In GTA IV, the Zirconium Stratum 2.6GT still takes its primary inspiration from the fifth generation Honda Accord station wagon (with the same added pillars as the previous rendition), albeit with a front end derived from the R32 Nissan Skyline, a modernized rear end design, and C-pillars which may be derived from the 1996-2001 Toyota Camry wagon. The game's Stratum may appear in two forms, the standard model or the "Twin Turbo" variant, which features an additional spoiler over the rear windscreen and a "Twin Turbo" badge in the rear. The GTA IV rendition also features an optional sunroof or luggage rails.
The Stratum appears to be powered by a V6, or a high-torque inline-4 or inline-6 (hence the Skyline front end), coupled to a 5 speed gearbox in a RWD configuration. Acceleration is inferior, and its top speed (277km/h) is limited by its weight and poor aerodynamic coefficient.
The Stratum's handling is quite good, though oversteer can be dramatic at times, and its suspension evens out bumps without being excessively soft. Braking is acceptable, and ABS is standard on all Stratum wagons. Crash deformation is very good, with the Stratum keeping most of its shape in a collision; engine build quality, however, is less desirable, with the Stratum often left disabled after only a few impacts.
The Stratum has no known specific parking spots but it spawns commonly throughout Liberty City.
- In GTA San Andreas, it is one of the gang cars used by the San Fierro Triads, the other two being the Elegy and the Sultan; it heavily increases CJ's sex appeal.
- In GTA IV, after completing Stevie's text message car thefts, the Stratum may be sold in his garage for $1,800.
- The Stratum plays the following radio stations by default when entered:
- Bounce FM in GTA San Andreas.
- Integrity 2.0, WKTT Radio or PLR in GTA IV.
- In the beta version of GTA San Andreas, the Stratum had an emblem on the hood.[1]


text:
Can you demonstrate?
- a consistent, stable work ethic
- clear, critical thinking
- maturity
- professionalism
Are you likable?
- friendliness
- relevance to the profession
- empathy
- being real
Do you have a game plan?
- Create a brand. Sell yourself on paper and in social media. Digital portfolios like this one are easy to make and upkeep.
- Network by reaching out to everyone you know.
- Create a personal narrative to clearly define your values and goals.
- Focus on fitting your strengths into the industry you're applying to.
- Find a mentor in the field who can provide resources and contacts.
- Stay positive and confident that you can show and tell how you are marketable and worthy of being employed.
Can you survive a job interview?
- Practice holding conversations about your skill set and knowledge in the context of the field you're entering. If you are a student, visit your college career center to get feedback on your interviewing skills.
- Be prepared, pleasant, and prompt.
- Believe in yourself.


text:
UNIONDALE, N.Y. – The Pittsburgh Penguins' special teams have been just that so far in their Eastern Conference Quarterfinal series against the New York Islanders.
Through the first three games of the best-of-7 series, the Penguins' power play has looked every bit like the dynamic unit that finished second in the NHL during the regular season. Pittsburgh's man advantage unit has produced six goals in 13 tries, including three in five attempts in 5-4 overtime victory at Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum on Sunday. Two came in a 19-second span of the first period and got the Penguins even after the Islanders grabbed a quick 2-0 lead; the third one, off the stick of Chris Kunitz, won the game in overtime.
The Islanders will have to cool off the Penguins' power play if they hope to even the series by winning Game 4 on Tuesday (7 p.m. ET; NBCSN, TDS, RDS).


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September 17, 2013, Corpus Christi, Texas --- "Donaire and Darchinyan hit Corpus Christi" --- (L-R) 2012 Fighter of the Year and former world champion Nonito "Filipino Flash" Donaire and former two-division world champion Vic "Raging Bull" Darchinyan arrived in Corpus Christi, Texas for a press conference this Wednesday at the American Bank Center to announce their upcoming grudge rematch as part of an exciting world championship tripleheader on Saturday, November 9. Joining them will be Hall of Fame promoter Bob Arum and former two-time heavyweight champion George Foreman.
Promoted by Top Rank®, in association with Foreman Boys Promotions, PR Best Boxing, Arthur Pelullo's Banner Promotions, Joe DeGuardia's Star Boxing and Tecate, this world championship tripleheader will also feature undefeated former WBO featherweight champion Mikey Garcia and two-time WBO junior lightweight champion Roman "Rocky" Martinez , plus a clash of undefeated former U.S. Olympians -- Vanes "The Nightmare" Martirosyan and Demetrius "Boo Boo" Andrade. All three fights will be televised live on HBO Boxing After Dark®, beginning at 9:30 p.m. ET/PT from the American Bank Center in Corpus Christi, Texas. --- Photo Credit : Chris Farina - Top Rank
Who will win the Sergey Kovalev vs Andre Ward fight?


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John and Barbara sharing a coke
As most of you know the "Hagerstown Magazine" did a feature article about me for their March April issue. The photographer Mahlon Yeager sent me some of the pictures. Check out his site. www.mahlonyeager.com. Yes....He is from our famous WV family of Chuck Yeager.
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Feb 17, 2013 8:40 AM
What if Tim Burton and Dr. Seuss farmed an orchard together in Equestria? The view would look a little like this Heart Tree Valentine's Pendant ($10) from Riverwalk Designs. Available in copper, brass, black, and either shiny or antiqued silver.
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Click here for the CakePHP 1.2.x version of the manual
Welcome to the Cookbook, the CakePHP documentation. The Cookbook is a wiki-like system allowing contributions from the public. With an open system, we hope to maintain a high level of quality, validity, and accuracy for the CakePHP documentation. The Cookbook also makes it easy for anybody to contribute.
A huge thank you to AD7six, who championed the Cookbook by putting in endless hours developing, testing and improving this application.
If you notice an error, something that is incomplete, something that hasn't been covered at all, or something that just isn't worded to your liking, here's how you can help:
Email the docs team (docs at cakephp dot org) or hop on IRC (#cakephp on freenode) to discuss any translation efforts you would like to participate in.
Translator tips:
We're committed to making the documentation for CakePHP better than it has ever been. We hope you'll join us by using the Cookbook and giving back to a project that we've all benefited so much from.


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Connected and knowledgeable, Lucas Group Marketing recruiters work with companies and firms across all major industries. From mid-market advertising jobs to PR jobs with global corporations, we help fill the New York marketing jobs that move and drive the industry.
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Brand is a critical element of business that can be quick to build yet even quicker to fall. In today's hyper-mobile and ever-connected marketplace, businesses need marketing and advertising talent who can build and maintain strong, stable, successful brands. Lucas Group knows where and how to find that talent, and we consistently and reliably fill marketing jobs with proven, experienced professionals.
In addition to our demonstrated New York marketing recruiters, Lucas Group has teams of search consultants around the country who can provide national- and even global – insight and connections when seeking the very best and top talent for your marketing, public relations or advertising jobs in New York. Trust the experts who know the market and excel in it. Trust Lucas Group.


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Charlie Strong becomes the fifth Texas Longhorn head coach since the legendary Darrell Royal, who died in 2012. Due to the racial history of the school's football program and the Longhorns' longstanding winning tradition, Strong's hiring by itself is a significant point in the progress of African American college head coaches. It is a step to the next level. When Charlie Strong was born; August 2, 1960 in Batesville, Arkansas, Darrell Royal was beginning his fourth of what would be a legendary twenty seasons as the Longhorns' coach and they were contenders in the all-white Southwest Conference. None of the seven conference teams had African-American players, including the University of Arkansas from Strong's home state. Due to racially discriminatory state laws and policies, Coach Royal was prohibited from connecting with the talent rich pool of African American players in Texas high schools. It would be 1970, when Charlie Strong is ten years old, before an African American (Julius Whittier) wears a Longhorn football jersey. For one of the most highly visible past representations of college athletic racial segregation to hire an African American head football coach is noticeable progress. Unlike the University of Louisville where Strong was head coach the last 4 years, football is the number one sport at Texas and the school has a winning tradition against which Strong will be measured. Darrell Royal's Longhorn teams won eleven Southwest Conference championships and were three times National Champion. Under Strong's predecessor, Mack Brown, the Longhorns won two Big 12 championships and were 2005 BCS champion. The tradition has created a high winning expectation from supporters that evidently Mack Brown, who helped to perpetuate it, could not meet. Although Tyrone Willingham's hiring at the Notre Dame in 1991 was a landmark for African American college head coaches, Strong's is more significant. Charlie Strong is the head coach at the top state university, of the second most populous state that is politically "red", and where football is a religion. If Strong can duplicate his success achieved at Louisville, it will be another milestone for African American college football head coaches and truly a significant accomplishment. Will the school's previous racial attitudes and the program's high winning expectations give him the time needed to succeed? That is the debatable question.
By itself, Charlie Strong's hiring is a milestone
Use your key for the next article


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Mike Eric Buck
Position: QB
Height: 6-3 Weight: 227 lbs.
Born: April 22, 1967 in Long Island, NY
High School: Sayville
College: Maine (school history)
Drafted by the New Orleans Saints in the 6th round (156th overall) of the 1990 NFL Draft.
Weighted Career AV (100-95-...): 2 (11632nd overall since 1950)


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Aug 14, 2009 9:30 AM
Wherever our travels may take us, we like to keep a journal to document the memories we have made along the way. This Tree of Life Refillable Leather Journal ($37) is made of gorgeous emerald green leather and has a such beautifully crafted look about it that we love to keep it as prominent on our bookshelves as possible. This journal is not only stunning, it also reminds us of an old world library book out of a movie that we love to carry and secretly (or not so secretly) show off. Time and time again we find ourselves reading from it, and the wear and tear just makes this journal look better with time.
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Aug. 8, 2010
Follow UCLA Athletics on Twitter
UCLA Athletics on Facebook
The Bruin football team in now in camp.
The newcomers, including 18 scholarship players and 13 walk-ons, arrived on campus on Saturday afternoon and had a dinner with their families and coaches on Saturday evening.
The returnees arrived on Sunday while the newcomers particpated in meetings and also were fitted for equipment.
On Monday, the players will participate in Media Day and then at 3 pm, they will practice for the first time.
To watch the video, click here.


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by Cliff Walker
Introductory Note: A loyal but free-thinking Narcotics Anonymous member examines the popular use of The Lord's Prayer to close allegedly non-sectarian NA meetings. Notice that the editorial makes no direct statements, but merely asks challenging questions. This little piece caused quite a stir after being published in Portland's local NA lewsletter. As a direct result of writing this article, the author received several threats of physical violence from NA members -- one as late as four years after publication. After this, the author was summarily dismissed and discredited by people who (the author had initially been told) would "love you until you can love yourself." Reprecussions from this article and similar actions by others can still be felt in Portland NA today. The most important change: In 1989, many people felt very awkward when an NA meeting was closed with anything but the Lord's Prayer; today, it feels just as awkward to hear a meeting closed with the Lord's Prayer. The title is a reference to the popular practice of leading the Lord's Prayer by asking "Whose Father?" The group then responds by chanting, "Our Father..."
Update: Ten years to the month after writing this the United States Supreme Court reiterated a Circuit Court's ruling that Alcoholics Anonymous' use of the Lord's Prayer renders as "factually misleading" the claim that AA is nonsectarian, and is thus immune to the Establishment Clause of the United States Constitution. Justice Leval, of the 2nd Circuit Court explains: "The County argues further that the nonsectarian nature of the A.A. experience immunizes its use of religious symbolism and practices from Establishment Clause scrutiny. The argument is at the very least factually misleading, for the evidence showed that every meeting included at least one explicitly Christian Prayer. Furthermore, the claim that nonsectarian religious exercise falls outside the First Amendment's scrutiny has been repeatedly rejected by the Supreme Court."
Whose Father?
December, 1989
Recently, our Area Service Committee voted
on a motion to stop closing the business meetings with the Lord's Prayer.
I found it amazing that this issue needs to be discussed. I found the outcome
of the vote (*) even more amazing. I decided to
reexamine my views on this matter.
When I first came to NA, I felt funny that we said this prayer at the end. They used to say the Lord's Prayer in Church. The NA members assured me that this program is spiritual, not religious. My initial skepticism soon gave way to a form of acceptance.
I surrendered to this quirk in the NA program, and the Lord's Prayer began to grow on me. When we form a circle and recite this prayer together, I get struck with a sense of history that I can almost feel in my genes. This is the prayer that my race has chanted day after day for hundreds and hundreds of years.
As my recovery progressed, I became more acutely aware of some important aspects of the NA program. Our Third Tradition (**) makes our Fellowship accessible to all addicts who want recovery. I noticed that some people don't say the prayer with the rest of us. Some won't even stand in the circle with us. I began to ask some questions.
That funny feeling returned when I discovered where the Lord's Prayer comes from. It is a direct quote from the Christian Bible, called, "The New Testament of Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ." The passage is from Matthew 6:9-13, and is part of "The Sermon on the Mount." This struck me as very different from the "policy of non-affiliation" that our NA Trustees claim we practice.
My next discovery caused that funny feeling to come to a head. In our quest for God, some of us join non-Christian religions. This makes little difference to most people. Many appear to be loyal to the Lord's Prayer. A minority is painfully aware that the Lord's Prayer is the prayer of a specific religion.
People in the minority are generally the most appreciative of the protection offered by our Third Tradition. This includes equal access and treatment in NA, despite such things as creed, religion, or lack of religion. For some, recovery is possible only because NA does not endorse or associate with any religion. Few things impair our ability to surrender like a reason to stop taking the NA program seriously.
It is very easy, through selfishness or ignorance, to offend a suffering addict right out the door. Our Fellowship developed the present interpretation of our Twelve Traditions through countless mistakes. Individual members cultivate a working knowledge of these principles -- often by trial and error. Our understanding is more fully completed as we become involved in service work.
When the World Convention came to Portland, many of us received a crash course in "the NA way of doing things." We were told, among other things, how important it is to use language that is not "drug specific" in NA. Many also learned, some for the first time, why using the AA Big Book in our meetings is a violation of the Traditions. The Basic Text of NA addresses this issue in its discussion of Tradition Six.
Does this mean that using the Lord's Prayer in our meetings is a compromise or a violation of the Traditions? This is not as simple to answer as the question of the AA Big Book. Our Basic Text clearly describes the "use of literature" from "other Twelve Step Fellowships" as "an implied endorsement" of those Fellowships. It is difficult to argue against such clear wording.
A motion listed in our service manual, Temporary Working Guide to Our Service Structure, is subject to a broader interpretation. In May, 1980, our Conference recommended "that any meeting using outside literature (***) that is not WSC approved be dropped from any NA directories." This definition is clear; the Big Book, the Bible, a Hazelden book -- anything "not WSC approved."
One difficult question is, what do we mean by "using" outside literature in our meetings? Does this only mean reading it? What about group-sanctioned use? Am I surrendering to the Traditions if I recite passage after passage of, say, the Big Book? I'm not reading it.
If we use a disclaimer, would that place us in unity with the rest of the Fellowship? If all the groups, and the ASC, and the other fellowships are doing it, doesn't that mean it's right? Besides, aren't the groups autonomous? Can't they end their meetings how they choose to?
I have heard these reasons, and I don't believe they address the issue. Getting back to the original question, the ASC is a committee, not a group. Groups are autonomous, committees are directly responsible to those they serve. One main point of an Area Service Committee is to set an example. This body needs to follow the letter and the spirit of the Traditions.
These are some questions I feel we should be asking ourselves: What is the primary purpose of Narcotics Anonymous? Does our practice of reciting the Lord's Prayer hurt anyone? What are the reasons our Area refuses to let go of this prayer?
Why do most areas and regions, and the World Services, use only the Serenity Prayer or the NA Third-Step Prayer in their meetings? Why do these two prayers have NA Conference approval while the Lord's Prayer does not? What if our prayer of choice was the official prayer of a religion that I felt was antagonistic toward the one I belong to? Would I feel safe in NA meetings?
* The Committed voted not to stop using the prayer, but to allow, for the first time, the use of alternate prayers. (return to reference)
** Third Tradition: "The only requirement for membership
is a desire to stop using." (return to reference)
*** This motion was carried in 1980 anticipating (or, more likely, urging) the 1982 approval of NA's book Narcotics Anonymous (also called the Basic Text), and was designed specifically to ban the use of Alcoholics Anonymous literaure -- especially the AA Big Book. (return to reference)


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More New and Used
from Private Sellers
Note: Supplemental materials are not guaranteed with Rental or Used book purchases.
Leading and Managing People in Education
ISBN13:by Bush, Tony; Middlewood, David
Sage Pubns
Questions About This Book?
What version or edition is this?
This is the 3rd edition with a publication date of 6/26/2013.
What is included with this book?
- The New copy of this book will include any supplemental materials advertised. Please check the title of the book to determine if it should include any CDs, lab manuals, study guides, etc.
- The eBook copy of this book is not guaranteed to include any supplemental materials. Typically only the book itself is included.
The Third Edition of this successful and respected book covers leadership and management of people at all levels in educational organisations. It contains up-to-date research and literature in the area, covering the entire spectrum of educational institutions. This new and revised edition - reflects UK and international changes - has an enhanced focus on international trends, drawing examples from many countries, using research in those areas - deals with issues such as succession planning, leadership development, and diversity, which have grown in importance since the second edition - acknowledges the changing English context, including the shift to system leadership, academies and free schools, as well as changes in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland The book will be of great interest to Postgraduate students in educational leadership, management and administration, and those embarking on professional leadership qualifications; also middle and senior managers, aspiring leaders in schools and colleges, and academics and researchers in educational management and the curriculum.


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Javier E. Arenas (twitter: @JavierArenas21)
Position: DB
Height: 5-9 Weight: 195 lbs.
Born: October 28, 1987 in Tampa, FL
High School: T.R. Robinson
College: Alabama (school history) (Arenas college stats)
Drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs in the 2nd round (50th overall) of the 2010 NFL Draft.
Weighted Career AV (100-95-...): 8 (7842nd overall since 1950)
Other SR Links: College Football at Sports-Reference.com
Output includes all passing, rushing, and receiving plays.See all Javier Arenas Super Bowl plays using the Super Bowl Play Finder


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Political Perceptions: Why Obama's Popularity Makes Us Suspicious
If there's one concern that conservatives will capitalize on with American voters about Sen. Barack Obama's trip abroad, it's this: "The more support a candidate inspires abroad, the less Americans can trust him to defend their own national interests," writes National Journal's Ronald Brownstein. "This reprises an argument that Republicans deployed against Democratic nominee John Kerry in 2004. At the GOP National Convention, former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani mocked Kerry's claim that he had more support from foreign leaders than Bush did. 'To me,' Giuliani insisted, 'that raises the risk that he might well accommodate his position to their viewpoint.'"
CLICK HERE for more of today's political analysis from the Web.
And don't forget to take a look at Peter Brown's newest column, "How McCain Could Win Over Undecided Voters."


text: Forthright Magazine http://www.forthright.net Straight to the Cross Many, wonderful writers and websites, all in one location. http://xtnhub.com/ COLUMN: FINAL PHASE How Long Have You Got? by J. Randal Matheny, editor The Galapagos land tortoise can live, under optimal conditions, up to 193 years, the bowhead whale, up to 200. The hardy carp can reach 100. Then, some lowly bugs and insects count their lifespans in days. Man was meant to be eternal. After the Fall, his lifespan began falling, from what the biblical record tells us. Methusalah made it the furtherest, but it was all downhill from there. So much that Moses tells us the average is 70, at most 80 (Psalm 90:10), this from a man who reached 120. Today, Japan has the longest life expectancy at 82.6 years. But in much of the world, people live, on average, 39-40 years. In the U.S., it's 78; in Brazil, 72. Man has always searched for the fountain of youth. Prolonging one's time on earth is considered a boon, and even Scripture provides motivation for it (see, for example, Deuteronomy 6:2; Proverbs 10:27). We often think of eternal life in terms of quantity, although Scripture defines it as knowing God and his Son (John 17:3). Hell will also be eternal (Matthew 25:46), so it's not merely the eternality but the nature of that life that makes the difference. Hezekiah discovered that adding years to your life wasn't necessarily a blessing. In the extra time he'd been granted, he lost the kingdom for his descendants. So what can we conclude from a life expectancy of 70 to 80 years? * Life expectancies are averages. Nobody's guaranteed any time at all. * Porn publisher Hugh Hefner has beat the odds, but that doesn't mean he's had a good life. A man's life does not consist in number of years he's able to live. * Planning for the future is good, but planning for eternity is better. * Christians live best in the present because they live in the knowledge of the brevity of life. "Teach us to realize the brevity of life, so that we may grow in wisdom" (Psalm 90:12, NLT). ---- Read this article online, write your reaction, and read others' comments as well. Click here: http://tinyurl.com/66rrv6h You can help get the word out. Here's how: http://www.forthright.net/editorial/lend_a_hand.html


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Yesterday the United States Supreme Court ruled that Hobby Lobby and other closely held corporations are not required to provide cost-free contraception under mandate of the Affordable Care Act. The 5-4 decision was certainly controversial, with many conservatives lauding the decision as a victory for religious freedom and many liberals deriding the decision as a blow to women's rights. However, as reported by Business Insider, when New Jersey Governor Chris Christie was asked about the decision this morning he refused to give an opinion.
When asked for his thoughts about the Hobby Lobby decision on CNBC's "Squawk Box" this morning Christie blandly said "Who knows?" Christie went on to claim that as an executive he should not really be concerned with what the Supreme Court decides,
The fact is that when you're an executive, your Supreme Court makes a ruling and you've got to live with it unless you can get the legislative body to change the law or change the Constitution. The point is: Why should I give an opinion as to whether they were right or wrong? At the end of the day, they did what they did. That's now the law of the land."
While it is true that an executive cannot overrule a Supreme Court decision directly, a president does have the power to appoint new Supreme Court justices when a vacancy opens up. Indeed, the five justices who ruled for Hobby Lobby were all appointed by either Reagan, George H.W. Bush, or George W. Bush. The four justices who ruled against Hobby Lobby were all appointed by Clinton or Obama.
Christie is seen as one of the favorites to win the Republican Party nomination for president in 2016. Should he win the presidency, Christie could have the power to effectively reverse the Hobby Lobby decision should he replace one of the five in the majority with a justice who was less friendly to Hobby Lobby's argument.
In reality, Christie's dodge of the question may be a signal that he is, in fact, running in 2016. If Christie had criticized the decision he would risk angering the conservative base, which he ultimately needs to win the Republican Party nomination. If Christie had approved of the decision he would risk angering independent women voters, who he will ultimately need to win the general election.


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John Goulds Extinct and Endangered Birds of Australia
written by Sue Taylor
National Library of Australia | ISBN 9780642277657
Hardback – 252 pages
Member's price: $44.96
Usually ships within 2–11 business days.
In 1838, John Gould, the father of Australian ornithology, visited Australia with the intention of gathering material for his great work on Australian birds. In the resulting publication, The Birds of Australia: In Seven Volumes (1848), and the accompanying Supplement (1869), Gould named, for the first time, no fewer than 32 Australian bird species. Gould's words about the Norfolk Island Kaka were prophetic - the last bird of its kind died in a cage in London in 1851. Since then, a number of other species illustrated in The Birds of Australia have become extinct and others are now facing extinction. John Gould's Extinct and Endangered Birds of Australia features 59 plates of birds from Gould's eight-volume work, birds that today are threatened or that no longer exist. Featuring exquisite full-colour lithographs reproduced from the National Library of Australia's copy of The Birds of Australia, this book gives an insight into the history of each bird's European discovery, as well as its subsequent fortunes or misfortunes.


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Mark Hallberg
2005 Highlights: Batted .354 with three homers and 42 RBI, including 84 hits, which is good for second in UIC history for a single season...2005 All-Horizon League First Team selection and a member of the 2005 Horizon League All-Newcomer Team...named a `Louisville Slugger' Freshman All-American by Collegiate Baseball newspaper...had a team-season best 23-game hitting streak, spanning from April 16th to May 15th...reached base safely in 52 out of 60 games...named to the College Baseball Honor Roll for the period ending May 8th after batting .453 (10-for-23) with seven runs scored, five RBI and a homer in five victories...ranked in the top 10 in the Horizon League in several offensive categories, including: hits (84, 1st), runs scored (54, 1st), total bases (112, 2nd), doubles (15, t-5th) and RBI (42, 5th)...recorded a base hit in 49 out of 60 contests...his 54 runs were the fourth-most in school-history for a single-season...set a single-season, school-record with 237 at-bats...was the fourth-hardest batter in the nation to strike out, only fanning one time per every 21.5 at-bats...opened his collegiate career with three hits against Evansville on Feb. 18th...went 3-for-6 with three RBI, including a double and triple in a 13-10 win over Saint Louis on Mar. 12th...collected three hits, two RBI, two runs scored and two doubles against Chicago State in the opening game of their doubleheader on March 27th...keyed UIC to the 12-8 win over Western Michigan, going 3-for-5 with four RBI and three runs scored on Apr. 12th...cracked his first career-homer in a 14-11 win over UW-Milwaukee on Apr. 17th...batted .421 (8-for-19) with four RBI and four runs scored in a four-game series against Butler from Apr. 29th-May 1st...went 3-for-5 with three RBI, two runs scored and a homer in a 14-3 win over Youngstown State on May 14th.
Prep/Personal: Competed for the Eau Claire Cavaliers following his high school career...named the team MVP and the team's best First-Year player...also selected as the team's Most Popular Player by the fans...hit .356 and drove in 26 runs, while successful on 14 of 15 stolen base attempts for Eau Claire...propelled the Barron Golden Bears to three Regional championships, two sectional championships, two state tournament appearances and two Heart of the North conference championships...garnered 2004 Northwest Wisconsin Player of the Year honors...three-time All-State, All-District and All-Conference selection...did not strike out during his junior and senior years...set school records for doubles in a season (16) and career (33); hits for a season (41) and career (112); career batting average (.455); consecutive games without a strikeout (48) and consecutive at-bats without a strikeout (195) and career triples (9)...as a junior, led Golden Bears in batting average (.493), hits (35) and triples (3)...as a senior led Barron in doubles (16), triples (3), hits (41), batting average (.471) and runs (42)...was undefeated on the mound as a senior, going 5-0 with three saves, an ERA of 0.80 and 20 K's in 26 innings of work...as a sophomore, led Barron in hitting (.437) and was an All-State Honorable Mention selection, First-Team All-District, and Most Valuable Defensive Player, leading the Golden Bears to a berth in the state finals...served as a two-year captain and two-time team MVP for Barron soccer team...led the state in scoring with 45 goals as a senior...selected to play in the Wisconsin Soccer Coaches Association Shriners All-Star game...two-year captain for Barron basketball team...selected as team MVP as a junior...was a All-Heart of the North First Team selection as a senior...selected to play in the Western Wis., Senior All-Star Basketball Classic...four-time Athlete of the Year and one-time, Scholar-Athlete of the Year (2003-04)...earned 12 varsity letters during high school...was a national USTA qualifier in tennis and won gold and silver medals in the U.S. State Games in 2000...born on December 9, 1985...son of Monti and Julie Hallberg...major is undecided.
#14 Mark Hallberg's Career Bests:


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Current members of the United States Lifesaving Association (USLA) who are full-time, year-round open water lifeguards may renew for individual pro purchase accounts. Please submit the following documentation:
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According to the Census Bureau report released Tuesday, the number of poor people in America has increased to 46.2 million in 2010, which is the highest in last two decades.
This means that now one out of every six Americans is living in poverty.
Rising poverty
The overall poverty rate is now at 15.1 percent which is considerably higher than the last year's rate of 14.3 percent.
The poverty rate grew rapidly between 2007 and 2010 and it was only in the early 1980s that the poverty rate increased at the similar pace because of the energy crises which in turn led to rise in unemployment, inflation and high interest rate.
The Census report also points that the gap between the rich and the poor Americans has widened during the last year.
While 5 percent households with highest income suffered income of 1.2 percent, the bottom 20 percent households experienced 4 percent drop in income.
Decline in health coverage
The data also reported that the number of citizens without health insurance has increased to 16.3 percent compare to the last year's figure of 16.1 percent. This is the highest since 1987 when the government started keeping record of the people with health insurance.
The rise in people without health insurance was mainly due to continuous fall in employer provided health insurance due to the economic slowdown.
Further, poverty has risen among all ethnic and racial groups except the Asians. Hispanics saw the poverty rate rise from 25.3 percent to 26.6 percent and the blacks saw it rise from 25.8 percent to touch 27.4 percent.
The rate remained unchanged at 12.1 percent for the Asians while among the whites it grew to 9.9 percent from the earlier 9.4 percent.
Census report could support jobs bill
The census report findings could help the Obama administration which is gearing up to pass a $447 billion plan which is aimed at creating more jobs and stimulate the economy.
The plan envisages an extension in the unemployment benefits and proposed cut in taxes.
A professor of public policy at the Chicago University Bruce Meyer warned that the poverty situation could get worse in future.
He said the 6 million people presently in the category of long term unemployed could fall into poverty, increasing the numbers considerably in coming months.


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interesting stuff.
re Albion boxes and clutches, they were often used with JAP engines in the 50s ( partly because there was a fashion around that time for using the Royal Enfield swing-arm frame for grass-track bikes, a very light and strong frame by the standards of the day ). Strong but heavy, and largely superseded by the lighter and more robust AMC units in the 60s.
I suspect the slipping issues are related to different styles of track preparation and generally very different machinery. Speedway bikes are extremely light by the standards of US machines, it is common to have a clutch adjusted almost at the point of slipping; the theory is that if your front wheel is JUST off the ground as you leave the line, you are transmitting all the power you can use. Given that even a 50s speedway JAP will only weigh 88kg or so ( modern bikes a re restricted to a minimum weight of 77kg ) and speedway tyres are a trials-type with a lot more grip than a US flat-track tyre ( especially the 22" ones used in the 50s ) then this is necessary.
Track preparation differs, too. US style "blue groove" tracks are not seen, it is usual to dress the track with fresh shale for every meeting and grade the track several times in the course of the meeting. A track curator allowing a US style "blue groove" to develop would be considered hopelessly negligent! Having a clutch which breaks away at a crucial point so that if you find some grip, you have a buffer between you and abruptly looping the loop is both safer and faster.


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Junior shortstop Adam Frazier (Bishop, Ga.), sophomore pitcher Jonathan Holder (Gulfport, Miss.) and junior outfielder Hunter Renfroe (Crystal Springs, Miss.) are among 20 Southeastern Conference standouts named to the Tucson-based publication's first, second or third-team honor squads.
Frazier is a second unit honoree after leading MSU and ranking third in the SEC with 91 hits and a .371 batting average. Holder notched two wins and nine saves while carding a remarkable 0.32 earned run average and joined Renfroe on the Louisville Slugger third team. Renfroe hit .252 and drove in 25 runs as a sophomore in 2012 and is coming off an eye-opening 19-home run summer league season with Bethesda, Md., in the Cal Ripken Collegiate League.
It's the second preseason all-America team honor for Frazier and Holder, both included in the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA) listing earlier this month.
Mississippi State launches its 123rd season of baseball Feb. 15-17 when State hosts Portland to open a 37-game home slate with a campaign-opening 19-game homestand.


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Italian National Team Head Coach Cesare Prandelli has renewed his contract for a further two years.
In an interview with ANSA Prandelli stated, "At this moment I feel a great satisfaction"
"I'm proud of the fact that the Italian Football Association has proposed a two-year renewal to me, regardless of the outcome of the World Cup.
"For this reason I have given my full availability."


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Published: September 15, 2010
Cameron Merritt, 16, of Birds in Flight Sanctuary of Howland holds a gerfalcon for fourth-graders from two Warren public schools Tuesday during the annual Community Waters Festival in Perkins Park. The sanctuary nurses about 900 injured birds back to health per year from an 11-county area.
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(BlackDoctor.org) — November's unemployment rate edged up to 9.8 percent, up from 9.7 percent in October. However, the unemployment rate for African-Americans is nearly double that rate, at just under 17 percent, the highest of any ethnic group in the country, based on recent reports.
While many may speculate why this number remains so high, the fact of the matter is that regardless of race, if you are one of the 15 million Americans who are unemployed, it matters not what the obstacle is. Losing your job can be a traumatic and unsettling event, especially in tough economic times when the prospect of finding new work seems slim.
With unemployment rates rising and stories about layoffs, downsizing, and cutbacks in the news every day, the stress from losing a job may build to the point where your mental health suffers and you experience depression.
A job loss means a major change in your daily routine, losing contact with people from work, and perhaps a change in how you see yourself. For some people, losing a job may be as devastating as losing a loved one or going through a divorce, and you might even experience the same type of feelings, including anger, denial, and depression. Depression can be the result of many contributing factors that can sometimes be difficult to distinguish, but if you are unemployed and living with financial insecurity, your situation may be serious enough to bring about depression.


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This island state is the southernmost of the Windward Islands, the southern islands of the Lesser Antilles.
The Windward Islands lie between 15°N and the coast of the South American continent. The largest islands of this group are Barbados, Martinique, St Lucia, Grenada, and St Vincent.
Although still small, these larger islands of the Windward group are hilly or mountainous, and this tends to increase the rainfall above that of the small, flat islands in this group. As the tables show, Barbados is less wet around the year than Martinique and St Lucia, both of which have higher mountains.
All months receive appreciable rain, but the heaviest rain is more likely to occur from July to November. This is the hurricane season and, although the most violent of these tropical storms may only strike a particular island every few years, less severe ones cause appreciable rainfall over quite a wide area.
Temperature, humidity, and sunshine throughout the year are typical of the Caribbean area. The climatic tables for Barbados, Martinique, and St Lucia reflect conditions on the west coasts of the islands which are more sheltered from the prevailing winds.
© Copyright RM, 2007. All rights reserved. Helicon Publishing is a division of RM.


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Duquesne in Dublin
Duquesne University's commitment to academic excellence, cultural richness and service to students carries to Dublin, Ireland.
The Spiritan Order, founders and owners of Duquesne University, have graciously made one of their historic properties in Dublin, Ireland, available to Duquesne University students. St. Michael's House, a grand mansion built in 1860, is situated only one mile from University College Dublin. This will be your home-away-from-home in the lively and culturally rich city of Dublin, Ireland. Up to 20 Duquesne students can live each semester in the St. Michael's House while enrolling in University College Dublin, Ireland's prestigious flagship university.
Special Features
- Tailored support services by excellent on-site staff comprised of both a Resident Director and Assistant Resident Director
- Beautiful accommodations at St. Micahel's House with other Duquesne Students that are a short walk to the UCD Campus
- An on-site History course taught by a local Irish faculty member which focuses on Irish culture and history
- Spiritual life programming facilitated by the Irish Spiritan priests
- Cultural excursions to Galway and Western Ireland in addition to a day-trip to Belfast
- Close proximity to Dublin's international airport with easy access to much of Europe
University College Dublin Provides
- A wide range of courses in most majors, largest university in Ireland
- The opportunity to integrate into Irish Culture and to meet your Irish classmates
- An academic calendar closely aligned with Duquesne's calendar
- Wonderful support for students: orientations & over 200 university clubs and societies


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The Midlands Business News reports that Birmingham's Central Mosque has collected 2.5 tonnes of food, donated by Muslims in the city, for a local charity working with needy and vulnerable people.
From the local paper:
"Generous worshippers at a Birmingham mosque have donated 2.5 tonnes of food to a leading Midlands charity to help people in need.
"The Central Food Bank, based at Birmingham Central Mosque, has been collecting food donated by the local community and given the massive stock of provisions to Trident Reach the People Charity.
"The items…will be added to Trident Reach's own food bank, which distributes relief parcels to those in need of help and support.
"Trident Reach supports vulnerable people across the region, including those at risk of homelessness, older people, young people, women fleeing domestic abuse and people with learning disabilities.
The article states that the initiative was set up "after a group of friends hit upon the idea of building up the Central Food Bank"
The coordinator of the food bank told the paper that "There is increasing poverty around the city and we want to help feed those people, while raising awareness of this growing problem.
"Members of our community are very giving and have been very generous, and we plan to continue donating food to Trident Reach on a regular basis."
The Head of Tenancy Support at Trident Reach, Rajbir Shergill expressed gratitude for the initiative and emphasised the difference that the donations make to their work saying, "A lot of our customers come to us with nothing but, thanks to donations such as this, we can give them a vital helping hand while they get settled and get any benefits sorted out that they may be entitled to."
BBC News recently reported on a similar initiative set up by the Discover Islam centre in Luton. With reports on the way the economic crisis is affecting ordinary people so often dominating the news, it is good to see local communities work together to alleviate some of the hardships faced by their neighbours. Moreover, media reports highlighting these initiatives will go some way towards countering the large volume of negative stories on Muslims in the press and help dispel the harmful stereotypes and caricatures they can give rise to.
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Some aftermarket Porsche 924 body kit products include replacements for a couple of exterior parts, front & back bumpers and side add ons. These are the places of a vehicle that are most typically damaged from regular driving, but they aren't the only parts that could be easily replaced. Other custom parts can be used to upgrade a vehicle's appearance, so Porsche 924 body kit can often be tailored to a driver's specific requirement. For an improved appearance that takes off the poor looks created from years of driving, a high quality body kit can make you smile.


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This video is from waiting line for "TWSBDII" showing fans talking about their feelings about the end of the "Twilight" franchise.
The people featured in this clip are fans that have followed the books and films for years. They aren't little 'tweens anymore. These fans are full-grown women.
It's not hard to identify with these woman as I have a daughter who started reading the "Harry Potter" series when she was really young. She is now full-grown and expecting a child of her own. "Harry Potter" ended last year after many years of entertainment.
Fans are living in a tent city having the time of their lives. There will be screenings of some of the past "Twilight" films but, the best part of waiting for a movie to start is making new friends in line. Comparing stories and star sightings is a huge part of the fun.
There are well over 2,000 fans waiting to see the red carpet that is on Monday. Watch all the fun at the red carpet here. The fun starts at 4:30 p.m. PST.
If you're in LA waiting for the red carpet to start, leave a comment below and I will share your comments all over the web.
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It's springtime in the country of Afghanistan and the Taliban are starting an offensive that has already killed 21 people. This time around though the security forces of Afghanistan are pretty much on their own. Most of the international combat forces are packing up and moving and that includes the United States. Each spring the Taliban climb out of their caves, burrows, or wherever they were hiding in the snowy winter and begin fighting all over the country. The spring thaw allows the Taliban to come down from the mountains of Afghanistan and Pakistan so that the offensives can begin. This years offensives will allow the world to see if Afghan forces are ready to handle the challenge.
Years past the United States and NATO have been there to help or take on the responsibility of fighting the Taliban, not so this year.
The Taliban had months ago stated that they would start the offensives on Monday and they weren't lying. Yesterday several rocket attacks took place across the country. The NATO base at Bagram was attacked and the airport in Kabul was shelled but both attacks seemed to be more symbolic rather than to aimed at devastation. The justice ministry building in Jalalabad was taken over for about four hours and a gunfight ensued until all insurgents were killed. Several civilians were also killed in the cross fire. It was Afghan security forces who did the fighting.
Outgoing President Hamid Karzai has repeatedly asked that all foreign troops leave his country, and now he has his wish. His security forces will be the ones laying down their lives protecting their country rather than foreigners. Will they be up for the challenge? Only time will tell. With merely some 30,000 troops left in the country the United States will only get involved if they are truly needed otherwise Afghanistan your on your own.


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1 May 08:03 2003
TARBALLS DUE: GNOME 2.3.1 Development Desktop Release
Jeff Waugh <jdub <at> perkypants.org>
Goooooood morning GNOME hackers, It is time again to make distcheck and install-module, and get all the new GNOME goodies out to testers everywhere! Tarballs are due on Monday, May 5th for release on the 7th. If your module is on the 2.2 list, then you need to make a release! http://developer.gnome.org/dotplan/modules/ If your module is in the 2.3.x proposed modules list, then you too need to make a release! Here's the summary: battfink - Energy saving and battery status utility. drwright - Enforces keyboard/computer breaks to avoid RSI/radiation sickness. epiphany - A GNOME web browser based on Gecko. galeon - A GNOME web browser based on Gecko. fontilus - Font management and information tools (will most likely be added to the control-center module). gcalctool - A full-featured calculator. gnome-mag - Desktop magnification tool. gnome-meeting - Standards-based audio and video conferencing.(Continue reading)


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The book Images, by lk photography, is a book dedicated to the love of photography. Laura Waitze Zuckerman has captured different moments in time over a year.
Being a photographer, I have the honor of capturing moments in time. Getting that special look, smile or even a tear. The world around is captivating and special. The lens is this amazing tool for viewing the beauty that surrounds us. Thank you!
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Let's Play Ball! Publicado 14 de diciembre de 2011


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Pick a pumpkin during Pomeroy Living History Farm's annual Pumpkin Lane. Featuring a milelong hay ride past scenes of "pumpkin people" with a stop at the pumpkin patch.
When: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 6, 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 7.
Where: Pomeroy Living History Farm, 20902 N.E. Lucia Falls Road, Yacolt.
Admission: $6, $4 for children ages 3-11, free for ages 2 and younger.
Telephone: 360-686-3537.
Pumpkin Lane is one of many options for getting out and about this weekend. Others include Crush Fest and a symphony concert.
It's a hard-knock night
Metropolitan Performing Arts Academy presents "Annie," the story of orphan Annie and her dog, Sandy, who are taken in by millionaire Oliver Warbucks as part of a publicity campaign.
When: 2 and 7 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 6.
Where: Washburn Performing Arts Center, 1201 39th St., Washougal.
Admission: $15, $12 for seniors and students 12 and younger.
Telephone: 360-975-1585.
Web: http://mpaaannie.eventbrite.com.
Crushing glorious grapes
You can celebrate the process of making wine during Crush Fest at Heisen House Vineyards, featuring a tour of the winemaking process, with grape crushing beginning at 2 p.m. along with musical performances, demonstrations, arts and crafts, vintage car show, wine tastings, and children's activities throughout the day.
When: Noon to 6 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 6.
Where: Heisen House Vineyards, 28005 N.E. 172nd, Battle Ground.
Admission: free, suggested donation $5, $3 for children.
Web: http://heisenhousevineyards.com.
The power of music
The Vancouver Symphony Orchestra opens its 34th season with special guest performances by Portland organist Jonas Nordwall, violinist Nitai Zori and his brother cellist Hillel Zori. The performance will be recorded, with the performance being shown on big screens surrounding the stage for close-ups of the musicians.
When: 3 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 6 and 7 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 7.
Where: Crossroads Sanctuary, 7708 N.E. 78th St., Vancouver.
Admission: $35-$50, $30 for seniors, $10 for students.
Telephone: 360-735-7278.
Web: vancouversymphony.org.


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Charged with murder, Yoselyn Ortega remains hospitalised recovering from self-inflicted stab wounds
21:14, UK, Wednesday 14 November 2012
A Manhattan nanny accused of stabbing to death two small children in her care before attempting suicide has been indicted for murder.
The grand jury indictment filed on Tuesday in New York State Supreme Court accuses Yoselyn Ortega of first and second degree murder.
If convicted she could face life in prison without parole.
Ortega, 50, has admitted to "hurting" six-year-old Lucia Krim and her two-year-old brother Leo, according to media reports, but has not acknowledged killing them.
The children's mother, Marina Krim, had been out with another daughter on October 25, and returned home to find Lucia and Leo mortally wounded.
Ortega suffered a self-inflicted knife wound to her neck.
Ortega has been hospitalised since the attack and her arraignment in criminal court, expected soon, is expected to take place by video link.
The indictment against Ortega includes four counts of murder.
New York media reports cite investigators saying the nanny had been suffering financial difficulties and stress related to her move to New York from the Dominican Republic.
Other reports suggest she was unhappy that her employers had asked her to do extra work.
Ortega had worked for the Krims for two years.