text:
Homeland Security
Master of Science
Program Requirements
The Master of Science in Homeland Security requires 33 credit hours. All students must satisfactorily complete six core courses. A total of four courses are chosen from an area of specialized concentration. The final requirement is completing a Capstone project (3 credits)
Course Requirements
The Master of Science in Homeland Security is intended to provide students with the academic capital needed for successful careers in the field. The degree also provides a sound foundation for entry into other professional endeavors and/or the opportunity to meet an intellectual interest in this very challenging field of study.
Core Courses
All students must satisfactorily complete the following core courses:
MHS 7000 Contemporary Issues in Homeland Security
MHS 7001 Sociology of Terrorism
MHS 7002 Legal Aspects and Policy of Homeland Security
MHS 7003 Risk Assessment and Management
MHS 7004 Crisis Leadership
MHS 7033 Research Methods
Information Assurance Concentration
Core Courses
Six courses as listed above
Area Specialization Courses
MHS 7020 Capstone
SEC 6010 Planning for Information Security
SEC 6025 Security Issues Concerning RFID System Technology Applications
SEC 6030 Operating System and Computer Systems Security
SEC 6040 Web Data Security
Military Leadership Concentration
To be eligible for this concentration, students must have successfully completed the Delaware Leadership Academy sponsored by the Delaware National Guard.
Core Courses
Five core courses as listed above. Students will not be required to take MHS 7004 .
Area Specialization Courses
DNG 6200 Strategic Leadership and Decision-making
DNG 6300 Military Leadership Skills
DNG 6400 Role of the Guard
DNG 6500 Joint Force Operations
DNG 6600 Leadership project
MHS 7020 Capstone
Organizational Leadership Concentration
Core Courses
Six courses as listed above
Area Specialization Courses
MGT 6501 Organizational Theory and Design
MGT 6503 Leadership Development and Change Management
MGT 7400 Analysis of Decision Making
MGT 7800 Strategy in Organizations
MHS 7020 Capstone
Safety and Security Concentration
Core Courses
Six courses as listed above
Area Specialization Courses
MHS 7005 Border and Transportation Security
MHS 7006 Topics in Intelligence
MHS 7007 Strategic Planning in Homeland Security
MHS 7008 Bio-Terrorism
MHS 7020 Capstone
Qualifications for Degree
To qualify for the Master of Science in Homeland Security degree, a student must satisfy the fully admitted requirements and complete a minimum of 33 credit hours, maintaining a grade point average of 3.0. The program must be completed within five years. Students may transfer up to six credits from accredited graduate programs completed before matriculation at Wilmington University. This may include graduate studies completed as part of the Federal Bureau of Investigation National Academy, Northwestern School of Police Staff and Command, and similar accredited programs based upon transcript review and the approval of the Program Chair.
This information applies to students who enter this degree program during the 2015-2016 Academic Year. If you entered this degree program before the Fall 2015 semester, please refer to the academic catalog for the year you began your degree program.


text:
The ANC is a national liberation movement. It was formed in 1912 to unite the African people and spearhead the struggle for fundamental political, social and economic change.
The ANC's key objective is the creation of a united, non-racial, non-sexist and democratic society.
This means the liberation of Africans in particular and black people in general from political and economic bondage. It means uplifting the quality of life of all South Africans, especially the poor.
The ANC is in an alliance with the South African Communist Party (SACP) and the Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU). Each Alliance partner is an independent organisation with its own constitution, membership and programmes. The Alliance is founded on a common commitment to the objectives of the National Democratic Revolution, and the need to unite the largest possible cross-section of South Africans behind these objectives.
Author : Mathews Phosa
25 October 2012
South Africans started designing the first draft of the black empowerment policy in 1990.
That design process started against the background of the constitutional negotiations that had just started.
It also started against the background of substantial inequalities in wealth between white and black, reflective of the previous political dispensation.
The process also took place against a global geopolitical order that has since changed with the emergence of the Asian giants as well as with transcontinental economic alliances.
The unfortunate fact is that black economic empowerment, although a work in progress, did not make any meaningful or substantial contribution towards addressing the twin ills of poverty and unemployment.
What it did do is create upper class of wealthy black investors who initially funded their wealth with debt through the acquisition of shareholding in successful white or international businesses.
It did not address a fundamental issue, namely that for economic transformation to be successful, we had to create black entrepreneurs who were not, as in the example above, the beneficiaries of wealth created by others.
It did not, also delve deep enough into critical issues such as the overhaul of our broader educational systems with a view towards ensuring that business principles as well as entrepreneurship were taught and instilled at a very early age.
What we did, therefore, was to place decision-making in the public sector in black hands, as well as to create a new layer of wealth without deepening and broadening entrepreneurship, wealth creation and retention.
The simple fact is, whether we are white or black, there is a dire need for broader participation in the wealth of this country in a way different from the current model.
Marikana taught us that our social cohesion is fragile, that our black economic empowerment model is dysfunctional, and that we need to be creative when old order models of negotiation are discarded by the disenfranchised.
If the miners at Marikana, and elsewhere, had a meaningful stake in the assets that they create, my view is that we would have had different and more positive outcomes.
Wealth is never given away, or successfully redistributed through force, but our circumstances dictate that the wealth and ownership gap needs to be addressed as a matter of priority.
If we hesitate in doing so, we will be the architects of our own demise.
To be even more brutal, our current policy drift and general public discourse on these matters do not contribute to a solution.
The time that lapses between the crisis, the policy solution and action does not contribute to social stability nor future cohesion.
To summarise: Before I attempt to project the above into the African continent, we must accept responsibility for the fact that we have not been successful enough in deepening wealth creation and promoting black entrepreneurship.
We must now hasten to address these twin matters as a matter of national priority.
It is against this background that Max Maisela must be lauded for his significant contribution to real black empowerment.
He single-handedly pioneered the principle of defined contributions to pension funds as well as the fact that workers gained representation in the structures that decided on how their, and the company`s contributions, would be managed.
After successfully reshaping this industry he went further and put his money where his mouth is by buying out NBC from it`s then mother company.
The commercial success story of NBC is a testament-in the deepest sense- to Mr Maisela and a lesson to all of us.
When he successfully changed policy by perseverance and brilliance, he went further and took the risk to become involved in the execution of it through acquiring ownership.
For those Maiselas out there, there is a lot to do here in South Africa, both through ownership as well as through participation on the factory floor.
I believe, however, that we should start casting our eyes wider than our own South African backyard.
In one of their latest Africa Attractiveness studies looking at foreign direct investment, audit and advisory firm Ernst & Young found that not only is South Africa the biggest recipient of foreign direct investment (FDI) on the continent of Africa, it is also the biggest African investor into the African continent.
That South Africa is the leading destination for FDI projects in Africa is partly due to the fact that it is the continents largest and most developed economy, but also because it is virtually without peer among global emerging markets in providing a stable investment platform, with strong democratic institutions, a world class financial and capital markets system, and an environment conducive to doing business.
In various global benchmarks measuring these kinds of factors, South Africa consistently ranks among the leading emerging markets, and generally well ahead of its BRICS peers.
At the same time, and partly because it does offer such a stable investment platform, investment from South Africa into the rest of the continent is also growing substantially. We are currently ranked 6th overall in terms of cumulative FDI project numbers in Africa since 2003, signifying that South African companies have invested into the 6th most FDI projects overall on the continent.
These are a simple statistics, but critically important in the context of creating an atmosphere of Afro-optimism, both about our own future and that of our beloved continent.
Our inward looking commercial and economic philosophies should be complemented by outward looking approaches that shape a new way of looking at ourselves and our continent.
It should be informed by creating opportunities, and by executing our vision of our empowerment, and not by waiting for others to develop policies that will create "wealth" in the hands of a few and mountains of debt for others.
It is time that we make the development of a strategy of how South Africa, and it`s major black companies, invests into Africa, a priority.
Such a strategy could help guide and assist those entrepreneurs that see profit outside our boundaries, and want to reshape their businesses to tap into additional markets on our continent.
In seeking new markets, we can develop new partnerships, not only locally, but also with international entrepreneurs looking to invest in our continent.
In short then: Mr. Maisela not only reshaped policy, he took the risk to profit from it`s execution.
His example is not only valid here, but across the whole African continent.
Let us follow his star, and allow it to pull us into a bright and profitable future for all South Africans.
I thank you.
Issued by:
African National Congress

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Encyclopedia of Jazz Musicians
Sanchez, Antonio
Sanchez, Antonio, drums; b. Mexico City, 1 November 1971.
At age five, Sanchez discovered an irresistible attraction towards the drumset. It wasn't long before he started studying privately with some of the best teachers that Mexico had to offer. After a few years he started performing in a wide variety of musical situations ranging from rock to jazz and Latin to fusion with several bands in the city's music scene. At age seventeen he enrolled in the National Conservatory of Music in Mexico City where he pursued a degree classical piano and composition. Besides his instrumental studies he took courses on traditional harmony, counterpoint, arranging, vocal ensembles and composition while keeping busy with intensive drum practice. In 1993, after four and a half years, he earned a scholarship to pursue Jazz Studies at Berklee College of Music in Boston, where he had the chance to study jazz arranging, improvisation, jazz composition, ear training, harmony and solfege among other music related courses. During his 4-year tenure at this institution he studied with great teachers that had extensive resumes in the international jazz scene. Some of them were Kenwood Dennard, Casey Scheurell, Victor Mendoza, John Ramsay, Ed Uribe, Hal Crook, and Bill Pierce among others. Antonio always remained very active in the local Boston scene playing and recording while finishing up his studies at Berklee. He became the first call drummer for some of New England's most active recording studios where he performed for a wide variety of artists and producers. He also played with Boston-based musicians like Gary Burton, Mick Goodrick and Danilo Perez among others. After graduating Magna Cum Laude from Berklee he obtained a scholarship to study a Masters in Jazz Improvisation at the New England Conservatory in Boston. There he studied with George Garzone and Danilo Perez. When Paquito D'Rivera called Perez for advice on someone for the drum chair in the late Dizzy Gillespie's United Nation Orchestra (which D'Rivera had taken over after the great trumpet player's death) Antonio was the first recommendation that came to mind. The Orchestra embarked on a long tour and a few months later it was Perez who required Antonio's talents for the drum seat in his trio. . It was in a double bill concert in Europe that included Danilo's trio playing opposite Pat Metheny's trio where Metheny started taking notice in Antonio's drumming. After a few months of auditions he got offered the drum chair of the Pat Metheny Group for their upcoming recordings and tours. Besides playing and recording with the PMG Antonio has also toured as part of Metheny's acoustic trio. Besides playing with Metheny, D'Rivera and Perez, Antonio Sanchez has performed and recorded in several ensembles lead by atists like David Sanchez, John Patitucci's Quartet, Avishai Cohen's Group, Marcus Roberts' Trio, Dave Samuels Qtet, Claudia Acuna, Luciana Souza and Victor Mendoza among others. He has also conducted clinics and masterclases in Europe, Japan, North and Latin America.He has also been the recipient for several scholarships and awards like the Buddy Rich Memorial Scholarship, The Zildjian Award, The Boston Jazz Society Scholarship Achievement Award and Berklee's Most Outstanding Performer Award. Antonio is endorsed by Yamaha Drums, Zildjian Cymbals and Sticks, Evans Drumheads and Toca Percussion. He currently resides in New York City.
Pat Metheny Group: Speaking of Now; David Sanchez: Travesia (Grammy nominated), Melaza (Grammy nominated); Danilo Perez: Motherland (Grammy nominated); Avishai Cohen: Unity, Colors; Marcus Roberts: In Honor of Duke; Sandro Albert: Soulful People; Miguel Zenon: Looking Forward; Victor Mendoza: Black Bean Blues
Contact information:


text:
George Clooney Bans Stacy Keibler From Hanging Out With Kim Kardashian?
"Stacy Keibler won't be keeping up with Kim Kardashian if George Clooney has anything to say about it," begins a piece from Star, which alleges that Clooney has banned his girlfriend from spending time with the "Keeping Up With the Kardashians" star.
How come?
The tab claims that when Clooney found out that Keibler "was out on the town with Kim during Fashion Week in September, he became enraged and demanded that she stop hanging out with the reality star."
A supposed "tipster" for the mag explains, "George feels like the Kardashians are famous for nothing — they have no talent and are looked down on in the industry."
"He thinks Stacy being friends with Kim could hurt possible career opportunities for her."
Couple of things here.
Keibler and Kardashian have been friendly for a while.
Clooney doesn't try to dictate whom his girlfriend hangs out with, the same why he doesn't try to control her career — as Star wrongly claimed in the past.
In any case, a source close to Clooney tells Gossip Cop it's "not true" that the actor has in any way tried to interfere in Keibler's friendship with Kardashian.
Check out PHOTOS of George & Stacy boating in Italy!
Follow @GossipCop on Twitter!
Like us on Facebook!


text:
RSS Feeds
Contact Us
Operating Status
Tinker Public Affairs
Join the Air Force
ACC command chief speaks of sacrifice, strong enlisted force
Chief Master Sergeant Martin Klukas, Air Combat Command command chief, impresses upon Tinker Airmen lessons in leadership during his Nov. 4 visit to the Airman Leadership School here. The highest ranking enlisted officer of ACC spent three days on base meeting, encouraging and thanking Airmen and answering questions. Chief Klukas was hosted by the 552nd Air Control Wing and the wing command hhief, Chief Master Sgt. Scott Magoon. (Air Force photo by Margo Wright)
Download HiRes
ACC command chief speaks of sacrifice, strong enlisted force
Posted 11/12/2010 Updated 11/12/2010
Email story
Print story
by Brandice J. Armstrong
Tinker Public Affairs
11/12/2010 -
TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla.
-- Chief Master Sgt. Martin Klukas, the command chief master sergeant for Air Combat Command, visited the 552nd Air Control Wing Nov. 3-5.
The mission-focused chief said in order to accomplish the objective and stay on budget, the Air Force needs the best and brightest Airmen out there.
"Something big on our plate is to manage the churn and thrash and deal with an environment that forces us to figure out what's most important," Chief Klukas said. "Today and in the future, we have to execute the mission and continue to invest in those things that are going to make us relevant. Sounds easy, but it is a major challenge for our force and Air Combat Command."
At his post at Langley Air Force Base, Va., the chief is the sole enlisted advisory representation to the ACC commander and his staff. There are 55,000 enlisted personnel assigned to the command. They are stationed within 27 wings, 17 bases and more than 200 worldwide operating locations.
During his time at Tinker, the chief said one way to manage the budget is to confront force management, which means trimming the force down to its end strength. For every 10,000 people over the end strength, it costs the Air Force $1 billion.
"That is huge," he said. "Wouldn't it make sense if you were paying the bills to trim the force -- selectively, obviously - and get down to the end strength so we're not paying extra?"
But, that's not to say he doesn't appreciate the Airmen and their families. The chief said the Airmen are incredible, making the mission happen every day.
"Thanks for what you do in the 552nd ACW every day," Chief Klukas said. "Thanks for your sacrifices, we ride on the shoulders of your young giants. We all take the credit of being on a Super Bowl team, a winning team, in large part due to the warriors who fly in the 552nd Air Control Wing and all those who support that mission. It's a big deal."
"The ties to combat here are just inescapable," the chief said. "They are just woven together--well connected to mission accomplishment."
To continue to be the best and brightest, Chief Klukas said Airmen should strive to be courageous, humble and to advance their education.
"Simply knowing what to do is not enough, it's having the courage to do the right thing and to lead in the face of change, particularly when it's unpopular." Chief Klukas said. "Humility is another great quality. Courage can sometimes equal cockiness, but if you team up courage with humility, you have a leader that doesn't come across as over the top."
Plus, education goes a long way.
"Take care of your education. It's a gift that keeps on giving," the chief said. "You can't be overeducated. Take advantage of all that the Air Force offers both in the civilian sector and our professional education."
"I had amazing leaders in my past that led me down the right paths. Some of the paths I chose not to take and if I had one thing to do over, it would have been to listen to some of my peers and leaders and to take advantage of the many educational opportunities! " he said.
No comments yet.
Add a comment
Inside Tinker AFB
View All RSS
The Official Web Site of Tinker Air Force Base
Site Map
Contact Us
Security and Privacy notice
Suicide Prevention
Accessibility/Section 508
No FEAR Act


text:
USC Pacific Asia Museum
Established in 1971, the museum is one of few U.S. institutions dedicated to the arts and culture of Asia and the Pacific Islands. Its collection continues to grow and now numbers more than 15,000 objects, plus a variety of exhibitions throughout the year.
Visions & Voices
Celebrating its 10th anniversary, Visions & Voices initiative is USC's commitment to interdisciplinary approaches. The initiative features an array of events organized by faculty and schools. With presentations by critically acclaimed artists and distinguished speakers, the series features theatrical productions, music and dance performances, film screenings, lectures, and workshops.
SUPERHIGHWAY: StephanieDeAngelis, Suha Park & Saya Taniguchi
12/16/2013 – 2/17/2014
University Park Campus
3335 S. Figueroa St.
Los Angeles, CA 90007
On view in Superhighway from December 16th, 2013 through January 26th, 2014 is a selection of recent student work. Learn more about the Intermedia Area here.
Featured at right, top to bottom:
Saya Taniguchi, "Street Dancer", 2013
StephanieDeAngelis, "Untitled", 2013
Suha Park, "Hand", 2013
Suha Park, "Time", 2013
Superhighway is located just inside the main entrance of University Gateway apartment building, at Figueroa and Jefferson. The space is open from 10a-8p every day.


text:
Aug 24, 2011 8:40 AM
Yes, the originality of the name The Flower Dress ($76) by Unif overwhelms us, too. But what the Flower Dress lacks in name it more than makes up for in styling. With flowy sleeves, gathered shoulders, a flattering waist tie, and a dramatic v-hem in the back, this frock transitions from summer to fall as easy as you can say Outblush. And, yes, we're sure the Flower Dress by any other name would still look as sweet.
If you've got a product or service that you'd like to promote on Outblush, click here to find out about our advertising opportunities.
Outblush is a blog for girls who love to shop. Our staff digs up the best clothes, home stuff, beauty items, and more. New items are posted every day — bookmark us and check out:


text:
Laying the monetary policies of the late 1970's completely at the feet of Jimmy Carter is not entirely fair. Those policies which some see as the result of removing the gold standard from our currency began in earnest with Lyndon Johnson, found no trouble in moving across the aisle when Richard Nixon became a President from the opposition party, saw a brief hiatus with the more fiscally disciplined Gerald Ford, who lost to Jimmy Carter. So while it is true that the concept of fiat money did not start with Carter, it is also true that he did nothing to stop it, and in fact took what at the time was a very manageable problem and turned it into a full blown disaster.
I know that I'm opening a can of worms with the, "Paulian Gold Hawks," and the, "Non Paulian Gold Hawks Are Conspiracy Theorists," with this one. The problem is that both sides of the currency debate see everything as an either or situation, unwilling to cede to any type of third way of doing things proposal. Constitutionally, our federal government has been granted authority to determine our currency and to regulate it as they see fit. Our check on that authority is called the ballot box. If we send irresponsible people to Washington to attend our business, that is our fault, and indeed we have and will pay a price for that. The problem with the either or thinking is that it ignores that both sides of the debate have solutions that are deeply flawed and have in fact led to their own disastrous results in the past.
The gold standard was a leading cause of the depression of 1929, and the faith based currency and the use of fiat money during the 1930's caused that depression to last a decade rather than 12 to 14 months. one places constraints upon an economy by not allowing precious capital to perform its function in the market place and the other allows the federal government to rob the citizens of their wealth with an unseen transfer of value by simply diluting the currency. The best answer lies along a different path entirely. Milton Friedman and Paul Volcker have told us the way already. Allow for a government created and controlled currency, but place some very specific constraints upon that creation by tying it to certain economic indexes, such as replacement, GDP, trade balances etc.
As for Jimmy Carter's role in the process, it was based completely on an economic fallacy, and one that was proven by Carter's experimentation that turned out to be disastrously wrong. He felt, as did all of the people who belonged to the bastardized Keynesian school, that employment and inflation were inversely related. With high unemployment numbers and a recession in full swing, Jimmy Carter believed that a purposeful economic inflation would spur economic activity and reduce unemployment. To put that into simpler terms, he believed as did all of those on the political left, that by increasing government spending, more money would end up in the hands of citizens, and that they would in turn take this money and spend it on goods and services and our economy would start to recover, by having our pump primed. This particular theory has always worked better in academia than in actual practice.
One of the reasons that the Keynesian theory, (calling the current Keynesian school Keynesian is somewhat misleading, as the current practice has gone well beyond any arguments Maynard Keynes actually made,) does not work, is that that it fails to accommodate itself to changes in human behavior. As rewards and penalties are earned or inflicted, behavior is adjusted to reap one and avoid the other. Another reason for the failure of Keynesian economics is the fact that a government has to get the money it spends from somewhere, be it from today's citizens or tomorrow's. Carter's method and that of his Fed Chairman was the take it from the latter group. This was achieved by printing more currency, which devalued the wealth already in place with the private citizens, and then to spend the newly created currency on those wonderful social programs which people had been told were free.
There is a propensity to view inflation as the increase in the prices of those things we spend our money on. This is not only a wrong interpretation of the facts, but dangerously so for those in charge. Rising prices are a symptom of inflation. Just because it may take a while for that symptom to manifest itself, sometimes as long as three years as we are today finding out, does not mean that we should take it any less seriously. On March 8, 1978, Jimmy Carter nominated G. William Miller to the Fed Chairmanship. He was the only person to serve in that capacity without a background in economics or finance. He served the President and followed his policies without fail. With the printing presses turned on, he inflated the economy with reckless abandon. Unemployment, being totally independent in fact from inflation, remained high. A new word and term had to be created to describe the economic climate for the the late 1970's. The word was stagflation, which described double digit inflation with zero or even less than zero economic growth. The term was of course misery index, which combined interest rates and inflation in some bizarre formula and was meant to predict how miserable Americans had become. By August of 1979, Jimmy Carter had received protests from business leaders, House members, Senators, many from his own party to force the resignation of Miller, who actually accepted another position as an enticement to leave. He was replaced by Paul Volcker, a man who publicly criticized Carter's fiscal policies. With Miller as Secretary of the Treasury and Carter as President, they felt as though they would be able to force Volcker into continuing their policies, which he did not.
In order to bring inflation under control, Volcker had to increase interest rates to an astounding 21.5% at the zenith in 1981. The reason of course that this was necessary was that the purposeful inflation had been in place since 1965. It took something that drastic to bring about the cure. It should be noted that at one time, there really was such a thing as a conservative Democrat, and Volcker was one of those, as were Rick Perry and Ronald Reagan.
By the time Jimmy Carter left office, inflation was considered the worst economic problem our nation had faced since the pre WWII era. At one time, before the Constitution was adopted, three states actually used tobacco as the legal tender. It did not take the good people of Virginia, North Carolina, and South Carolina long to learn that they could grow their own. To illustrate the effect of how people noticed their own wealth diminishing due to the increase in the volume of money, a law was passed in all three states which made the punishment for lighting fire to fields growing tobacco execution.
In the years since the Carter Administration we have lost somewhat the sting from those years. Fewer people are around who remember them, and time has seen fit to heal some of the wounds. Listening to John Kerry drone on about the Bush economy being the worst since the great depression was comical. Anyone who was alive during that time remembers miles long gas lines, prices rising so rapidly that people were rushing out to spend their paychecks before their value dropped, often times quicker than the trek to the bank in order to cash them, and above it all, a President who went on national television to claim that the problem was that we as Americans were wrong for trying to improve our own living standards, ("there's too much consuming going on out there.")


text:
Green Onion Tartar Sauce RecipeRead Reviews Be the first to add a review
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- 2 green onions, finely chopped
- 1 whole dill pickle, finely chopped
- 2 tablespoons sour cream
- 1 teaspoon minced fresh parsley
- 1 teaspoon cider vinegar
- 1/2 teaspoon sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon dried tarragon
- 1/8 teaspoon pepper
- In a small bowl, combine all ingredients. Refrigerate until serving. Yield: 3/4 cup.
Reviews for Green Onion Tartar Sauce
"This was really good! Easy and simple. I did not have tarragon so left it out but it was still great!"
"very, very good. But all our guests did not get to try. Portion size is way off!!!!"
"My husband IS a tartar sauce guy, and he loved this - packed with flavor! It's only serves 4 instead of 12 because it is SO GOOD! Be sure to chop the pickles finely, and it's better if left in the refrigerator for at least a couple of hours before serving.Definitely a keeper!"
"My husband is very fussy about his tartar sauce and he really liked this sauce. It's definitely not enough for 12 servings, maybe 4 small servings."
"Husband like this a lot, and that's a big compliment because he's not really a tartar sauce guy. Definitely like this better than anything in a bottle."


text:
Formal 18ths and 21sts
Parties just for youngsters will obviously have a very different atmosphere to a mixed-generation bash. Parents should try to relax and let proceedings take their course. Some of the most successful parties are those where the guests feel like they are left to their own devices, but the parents are keeping a subtly close eye on things.
- Alcohol should be available, but stick to beer and wine and provide plenty of soft drinks. If there is a bar area, then make sure an adult is monitoring what's being drunk.
- At a venue, make sure the bar staff are briefed as to what's allowed and possibly put a limit behind the bar if guests are not paying.
- Make sure there is plenty of food and if budget allows, provide some late-night snacks.
- A formal sit-down meal may be too much and can be disrupted by people moving around from table to table. Instead, a more casual meal, such as a hog roast, may be more sensible.
- Entertainment should be provided - parents should listen to what their son/daughter wants. Some may require a band, others will be happy with a home-built iPod disco.
- Agree an end time to the party when the bar will actually close. In a venue, there is a distinct end to the night. At a marquee party, stop the music and make sure all the alcohol is removed.
- If the party's been at home, then younger guests will usually expect to stay. If there's room, camping is a good option or, if the weather is fine, allow people to sleep on the marquee floor (tell them in advance to bring sleeping bags).
- For parties at home it is sensible to invest in portaloos. This prevents people from going in and out of the house and minimises disruption.


text:
A man died at a fortune cookie factory after he reportedly fell into a giant dough mixer. The employee was only 26 years of age. Police say the man was pronounced dead at the Houston cookie making factory over the weekend. The medical examiner's office said he died of "multiple blunt trauma injuries" after tumbling over and being pulled into the dough-mixing machine.
According to a report from Reuters on May 2, as carried by MSN News, the victim, Elmer Oscar Barrera, worked at the Houston branch of the Wonton Food company. The Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences, who investigated the accident, ruled that his death was an accident. No foul play or suicide was suspected in his death.
On Saturday afternoon, police said Barrera was found mangled inside of the industrial sized mixer by his fellow employees. Police were called to the Wonton factory at 2902 Caroline Street in Houston, where they witnessed the gruesome scene. "The victim, an employee of the Wonton Food Corporation at the above address, was operating an industrial dough mixer," the Houston police statement read. "A fellow employee found the man deceased in the machine."
Wonton Food is one of the biggest makers of fortune cookies in the United States. The factory rolls out approximately 4 million cookies per day and ships them worldwide. They have factories set up in Brooklyn, New York and Houston. According to the Houston Press, Wonton "is actually known as one of the leading providers of fortune cookies around the world. It also makes other Asian food under the Golden Bowl brand."
No details were available on the kind of industrial mixer potentially involved in this death, though most large scale mixers have horizontal spinning arms that heat and work the dough before lowering and dropping it into a vat. Here is a YouTube video of an industrial mixer turning and dropping out a one-ton ball of dough. The Wonton factory in Houston had no prior Occupational Safety & Health Administration injury reports that were significant, and no one had ever died in their factory before.
One of the worst food manufacturing industrial accidents was the 1991 Hamlet chicken processing plant fire in Hamlet, North Carolina. A hydraulic line at an Imperial Foods processing plant failed, starting a fire that killed 25 workers and injured 55 more. The workers became trapped behind fire doors that were locked from the outside. In the 11 years of the plant's operation at the time, the factory had never had a single safety inspection.


text:
Renting is the easy way to live these days without the upkeep and responsibility of owning your own home. Renting is also the situation many people find themselves after being hit hard by the economy. Whether you have chosen or been forced into renting, it doesn't have to be a negative experience when you own pets. Become resourceful, passionate, and determined to keep your pet and you will never be faced with giving them up. Here are a few simple, creative, and effective ways to keep your pets no matter what life delivers:
• Keep your pets up to date. Exhibit responsible pet ownership by keeping your pets up to date on shots and flea preventative. A responsible pet owner with a fully vaccinated pet is a welcomed tenant.
• If you own a dog consider basic dog obedience training and then obtain a Canine Good Citizen (CGC) certificate. Check out the Jacksonville Humane Society website for additional information on classes and fees. Many rental companies/landlords recognize the CGC status and will allow "banned" breeds of dogs (Pit Bulls, German Shepherds, Dobermans etc.) to live on property if they hold a CGC certificate.
• Pay for renters insurance with additional pet coverage. Renters insurance is good for you and your possessions. Insurance proves that you take responsibility for you and your pet's actions. It offers that extra security to the property owner. Check out the article, All Dog Breeds Covered Pet Liability Insurance, for more details about pet insurance.
• Create a resume for your pet. Provide a photo ID of your pet/s. Include up to date vet records. Supply certificates of basic dog obedience and or the CGC certificate. Provide a copy of the renter insurance coverage page explaining the pet coverage. Create an individual resume or portfolio folder for each pet (dog, cat, rabbit, bird, or reptile).
• Don't be afraid to ask the landlord or management company. Many complexes and "for rent" ads will state "no pets" or have restrictions. Don't let that stop you from inquiring. Ask for specific reasoning. Tell them you can provide a resume that includes all the positive credentials about your pet from the above list. You will be surprised how many will consider your pet when you exhibit responsible pet ownership.
Renting is easy when you do the ground work to be a successful and responsible pet owner. Be a positive example for your landlord or management company. This will make renting easier for other pet owners and be a positive change the "renting with pets" stigma needs.
When you're passionate and committed, you can do anything. Thank you for reading and thank you for sharing this article with others. Please share any comments, story, and event ideas with me at email@example.com.


text:
In this week Cartoon Network has released first original CGI movie, 'Firebreather' on 24th November, 2010. The latest animated series is packed with thrilling and complicated action sequences and based on the same name comic book by Phil Hester and Andy Kuhn. 'Peter Chung's directed movie is written by Jim Krieg. Watch out the 'Firebreather' Trailer to know the brief story about the movie.
Sponsored Links
'Firebreather' voice cast:
Sponsored Links
- Kevin Michael Richardson as Belloc
- Reed Diamond as Barnes
- Jesse Head as Duncan Rosenblatt
- Dana Delany as Margaret Rosenblatt
- Dante Basco as Kenny Rogers
- Josh Keaton as Troy
- Amy Davidson as Jenna
- Tia Texada as Isabel
Firebreather Plots:
The story of the Firebreather go behind 16-year-old Duncan Rosenblatt who connects with his extra looks, extraordinary abilities, typical girl difficulty and an alienated father, 127 foot monster named Belloc who wants an association with his son. Duncan's mother desires him to complete high school and live normal life. Through the movie, Duncan also defends his family and friends by using his fire breathing and super strength powers.
Firebreather Story:
The story of the movie starts with 16 years old Duncan has started a new school, where he makes friends with outsiders Isabel and Ken and he love-struck with the popular and stunning Jenna. But like his past school, He again struggles for making friend and also makes an enemy Jenna's ex-boyfriend, Troy. He suffers from normal teenage problems which arise when he connects with his mom irritating him to focus on his homework and also bad luck with girls. Now he fears about his orange skin, scales, and desires for coal in place of sandwiches.
Duncan's father is giant fire-breathing dragon and king of the Kaiju that's why Duncan is half Kaiju which is very old powerful human being who mislaid a vicious war against the humans before 16 years. Duncan's father desires him to go behind in his ways and also teach him to lead the next war against the humans, so he has been waiting many years to meet his sun. In contrast to this, Duncan's mother desires him to live normal life and finish study. It's time for Duncan to select either normal teenager or king firebreather.
'Firebreather' Trailer video from Youtube:


text:
Khloe Kardashian NOT Pregnant, Despite New Rumor
Khloe Kardashian is the subject of yet another pregnancy rumor — this time, courtesy of her own father-in-law.
Lamar Odom's dad Joe told an untrustworthy blog, which has practically no traffic at all, that he had "news" about the couple.
"I'm about ready to have a grandchild!" he declared, going on to blab about the supposed pregnancy only in vague, dubious terms.
Well, it turns out that's because Kardashian is not pregnant.
The webloid, which recently (and desperately) fabricated a supposed 98 Degrees reunion tour, mistakenly trusted Joe Odom for a scoop and is flat out wrong again.
A source close to the reality star tells Gossip Cop it's 100 percent false.
Unfortunately, this is far from the first time Kardashian has dealt with baseless baby speculation.
Follow @GossipCop on Twitter!
Like us on Facebook!


text:
Blogger Marcy Wheeler discusses her blog post about the "other guy" killed with Anwar al-Awlaki, "How Can Samir Khan Be 'Collateral Damage' If OLC Memo Restricted Civilian Death;" how assassinations justified by secret intelligence are replacing criminal trials based on disclosed evidence; why Obama's reluctance to take credit for Awlaki's assassination – after bragging about killing Osama bin Laden – could mean he's worried about being prosecuted; and the secret legal interpretation of the 2001 Authorization for Use of Military Force.
MP3 here. (20:04)
Blogger Marcy Wheeler, a.k.a. emptywheel, grew up bi-coastally, starting with every town in New York with an IBM. Then she moved to Poway, California, home of several participants in the Duke Cunningham scandal. Since then, she has lived in Western Massachusetts, San Francisco, Salt Lake City, Ann Arbor, and — just recently — Western Michigan.
She got a BA from Amherst College, where she spent much of her time on the rugby pitch. A PhD program in Comparative Literature brought her to Michigan; she got the PhD but decided academics was not her thing. Her research, though, was on a cool journalistic form called the "feuilleton" — a kind of conversational essay that was important to the expansion of modern newspapers in much of the rest of the world. It was pretty good preparation to become a blogger, if a PhD can ever be considered training for blogging.
After leaving academics, Marcy consulted for the auto industry, much of it in Asia. But her contract moved to Asia, along with most of Michigan's jobs, so she did what anyone else would do. Write a book, and keep blogging. (Oh, and I hear Amazon still has the book for sale.)
Marcy has been blogging full time since 2007. She's known for her live-blogging of the Scooter Libby trial, her discovery of the number of times Khalid Sheikh Mohammed was waterboarded, and generally for her weedy analysis of document dumps.
Marcy met her husband Mr. emptywheel playing Ultimate Frisbee, though she retired from the sport several years ago. Marcy, Mr. EW and their dog — McCaffrey the MilleniaLab — live in a loft in a lovely urban hellhole.


text:
A meeting had been set in motion with the top generals and Lutrex as he
informed them of the recent developments and they planned their next plans
of defence and attack on the Decepticons empire to end this war once and for
after several joors the meeting finaly ended and Lutrex emerged from the
room. several of the generals saluted him as they left to go about their dutys.
a young mech then came running up to Lutrex interrupting his conversation
with the current stand in second in comand. "Sir the ship has been prepared
for your departure." he saluted.
When Lutrex came down to the hanger, he'd find a craft waiting - Small, fast,
designed to get from A to B as quickly as possible.
A pilot stood at attention near the boarding ramp.
Lutrex looked to the pilot and staff in charge of loading the ship with medical
suplies and energon. "Has Crosswire and Patch arrived yet?"he looked tot he
"Just loaded on, sir."
Lutrex noded. "Good, then if everythings in order lets move out we have a
long flight ahead of us." Lutrex pat a hand on the Pilots shoulder as they
walked ontot he ship. "Thanks for voulenteering for this mission Zero. I know
the weather out there isnt going to be prety to nav though." they walked up the
"Hey, theirs a reason they call this the Give-Em-Hell-icoptor."
Zero swaggered up to his cockpit and slotted his arms into the ports. The
boarding ramp drew up and the gravimetric rotors spun. It lifted off, carrying
the Guardian to Helex.
Lutrex smiled heading back into the main pasanger cabin. he looked aorund
but Crosswire and Patch seemed to be in the medical facility on the aircraft.
probably prepping for the patients they would hopefuly soon be taking. with
any luck the peaceful collony would alow them entry and they could convince
they were on friendly terms with medical suplied and fresh energon.
Lutrex took a seat watching as the ship took off.
He closed his optics sighing reveling inthe short time of peace and quiet.
"You're really going to take in the entire colony?" Cirrus asked.
Lutrex optics shot open and he sighed.. "I should have known..." He
whispered and sat up a little looking at Cirrus who was now ocupying the seat
infront of him. "I am a Guardian Cirrus its what i do... Protect... I will offer
them refuge if they wish it but i will not force them to do anything they do not
wish." He replied evenly.
"Good." Cirrus answered evenly. "Doubt they'll want to stick in that hole
"Why are you hear Cirrus... I never knew you to come along on charity
trips..." Lutrex looked out the window.
"Because, for one, I know who we're looking for. Two, its not just a charity
mission. Three, NOTHING goes uneventfully when we're involved. Four,
how did the last time I let you out of my sight work out?"
Lutrex glanced at him at that not compleetely convinced.
"Besides, your taking care of one of the Last Things To Do Before You Kill
Lutrex sighed he had expected that reaction. "I am not suicidal Cirrus..." He
goraned pinching the bridge of his nose.
"Oh, right. You just play one on the vids."
Lutrex shook his helm and was silent at that.
Cirrus folded his arms. "So what? You're just going to do whatever that old
bastard tells you?"
"hey watch it!" Lutrex looked at him glaring at him insulting his mentor. "All
of Cybertron owes more to him then any of us will ever truly comprehend!
And i am not his pupet i have my own path that i must follow just as you do!"
Lutrex replied firmly but his voice lowerd back into a even register.
"Your path being to slit your own throat once you've outlived your
usefulness." Cirrus shot back.
"I didnt expected you to understand... But i never thought you would make
this even harder for me then it already has to be!" Cirrus could see Lutrex
wings were now shaking with held back emotion as his hands griped the seat
tight trying to hold back something.
"Making it harder?" Cirrus rose a skeptical optic ridge. "Seeing how I havent
gotten in your way, and your not really acting on what I'm saying, I dont see
how this is getting harder."
Lutrex shot up at this. "You know what i mean!!" "How do you think i feel
HUH!" he pointed a finger into Cirrus armor. "I'm not perfect slag it you of all
mechs now that! I'm scared like any sparkling would be but i cannot aford to
let it controll me theres to much at steak!!" His wings were quivering now his
whole frame tense and he turned away to
look out a window.
"Primus forbid you do the sensible thing." Cirrus wasnt fazed. "Oh right. He
does. Literally."
Lutrex wings shot high in frustration as he turned aorund. " Take a look
Cirrus! THIS IS WHO YOU WANTED CIRRUS!" Energy burned form his
optics briefely but it was not born of anger. "or do you not remember what
you told me back in polyhex!" he looked the other square in the optics. "If i do
not do this then i have failed you and countless more!
"I will not sacrifice myself for nothing!! dont you understand I fight like every
aubot and soldier that ever believed in a free cybertron died for! Look at
Prime! I do this not becasue i have been comanded to i could turn away
anytime it has happened! But i will not! becasue i believe Cirrus!"
"I will gladly give my one meisly spark for hundreds more to live on! have
you not made that same comitment every time you pick up that sword and
fight!!" Lutrex held the others shoulders staring him in the optics.
Cirrus' optics met Lutrex's and, for a moment, the other might have had to
wonder why he had the face altered when the mask had been just as
"You don't need to die and you're an idiot for not even LOOKING for a third
option." Was all he said.
Lutrex wings wilted at this and he let go of his firends shoulders and sat down.
"If there was another option i would have... but i know for certian there is
not..." He replied before he looke dup at the emotionless visage fo the green
mech. "Why did you even get a face if your not even gana use it..." Lutrex
sighed looking tired again.
Cirrus rotated the jaw slowly. "Maybe I'm just not used to it."
"Or maybe I use it for something you're not aware of."
Lutrex gave him a look at that. "for what?" he asked halfheartedly.
Cirrus rubbed the bridge of his nose, concealing his lower face. "Private
Lutrex quirked an optic ridge... "Oh no... you been asking me private
questions nonstop! your turn, spill it!" Lutrex crossed his arms.
"No." Cirrus denied point blank. "Otherwise, it wouldn't be a private matter."
"what are you afraid of Cirrus, I'm your friend! for crying out loud i told you
im going to die! have you ever known me to squeal on anything!?" He looked
a bit hurt that his close friend didnt trust him in return.
"Speaking of squealing." Cirrus shifted. "You and Crosswire. Whats your
It was fairly obvious he was trying to change the subject.
Lutrex otpics widened at this as a blush suddenly came over his wings. "Y
you! Stop trying to change the subject... Our relationship is meerely a
profesional.. w wait a minute..." Lutrex blush faded as realization hit. "Thats it
isnt it.." Lutrex smiled at Cirrus and brought his hands up interlocking his
fingers as
he held his chin up.
"What's it?"
"Dont play dumb... You met somone didnt you... why else would somone
normaly so reserved even need a face... need a mouth..." Lutrex gave sly
knowing smile having pieced it together.
Cirrus's hands balled and splayed.
"Okay, I met a femme who was around before Cybertronians even had
exostructures. She has a penchant for oversized firearms, shadow controlling
powers and might be a bit crazy."
Lutrex caught sight of his hands used to reading his body language for how
the other was feeling. at his responce the Guardian gave a hearty lagh. "I cant
believe it! HAHA! well congradulations Cirrus you sly mech! She sounds
perfect for you!" Lutrex was unperturbed by any of the descriptions more
so amused.
He raised an optic ridge. "You don't think I'm pulling your leg?"
"I can read your bodylanguage a mile away by now my friend... besides you
been particularly carful to hid your facial expressions wich leads me to believe
that no your not lying hahaha!" Lutrex continued to laugh.
"Probably helps its one of the more believable things you've heard lately."
Lutrex sobered up a bit at this "Heh yea... well whats her name?" Lutrex
Cirrus paused, jaw stiffening. "Reflex."
"huh unique... and fitting ide say by what you describe." Lutrex smiled. "If
you dont mind love if you introduced me sometime... like to meet the fem that
fell for your hardaft heh." Lutrex verbaly jabed his firend in good humor. "In
all seriousness tho... Im happy for you brother." he nodded.
Cirrus' hands flexed awkwardly, as if unsure what to do.
"So what part of a professional relationship entails you turning red every time
you two make optic contact?"
even at that coment Lutrex wings fluttered back and his face blushed. damnit
he thought that had caught him off guard. he always did that when he got
defencive he should have known!
"Hate to see what happens when she gives you a physical."
Lutrex sputtered at that. "Look its nothing ok!" he looked away almost like a
impish sparkling caught his his hand in the energongoodie jar.
"Like its nothing the way she takes her time looking you over?"
Lutrex turned back the blush had gotten more prominant. "Would you stop it!"
Lutrex got out of his seat and moved to the other side of it trying to get away
from the other or at least hide his reactions.
"What are you going to do?" Cirrus asked, unperturbed. "Because we both
know you'll have to deal with it eventually."
on the other end of the seat both wings could still be visable to his firend they
wilted at that coment. if Cirrus had been on the other side to see his face he
would have notes his optics had dimmed and he wore and sad depressed look
as he stared at the floor. "thats... why it cannever be anything..." Lutrex
replied in a sad voice.
"Whats why?" Cirrus stood, folding his arms and walking to Lutrex's side.
"I dont want to put her through ..." He looked away as he replied in a bearly
audable whisper not finishing.
"Or you both could go for what little happiness you can get hold of."
Lutrex looked up at that. "but.. she doesnt know..." he replied.
"That can change." Cirrus countered. "Trust me - When it comes down to it,
theirs a reason going to them feels like the right thing to do."
Lutrex looked down thoughtful at this. "I just dont want to hurt her... look
how you took it Cirrus, I don't even know what your going to do when i
actualy have too..." He trailed off and put his head in his hands. "I may knoy
my duty and purpose but i am far form knowing what it is i should do." his
voice wavered like his wings.
"Do the right thing." Cirrus advised. "And don't overthink what that is. Yeah,
theirs a storm on the horizon, but you deal with that when you get their. Do
what feels right now, or you never may."
Lutrex brought his head out of his hands and looked up at Cirrus. "Your alot
wiser then you let yourself apear to be Cirrus.." he replied a little suprised but
refreshed by the others reasuring coments. "You... You are right..." He said
after several moment went by. "I should not live life with only my end in sight
but find
meaning int he time ive been given.." he replied looking up at his firend
Cirrus shrugged. "Just heard too many whine that nothing has meaning unless
it lasts forever. Got boring after awhile."
Lutrex nodded. "Thank you... I will... give it a chance but... she will have to
know." His otpics brightened but his face also wore a blush once more as he
thought of his crush. his mod had seemed to improve at the hopeful prospect.
"If I'd thought of all the reasons it COULD have gone bad, I'd have never
gone back to her."
"Heh you have a point... I just hope im not making a mistake by telling her...
Hi would you like to be my girlfirend oh yea by the way im going to die!"
Lutrex for once actualy seemed to make a joke out of it he laughed nervously
fidgeting with his beard.
"Worst case, she'll kick you."
"and ill deserve it.." He meerely stated.
"actualy... more likely she will hurl her wrench at my forehelm..." he chuckled
"She leads to the right, by the way." Cirrus added.
"thanks ill keep that in mind..." he replied again evenly almost in a comical
Cirrus galnced out the nearby window. "We're in Helex."
Outside, plainly visible, the sky had turned a sickly brown-black. Lightning
flashed ominously in the clouds and rain washed down the screen.
Lutrex looked out. "huh that was suprisingly fast and the weather seemd to be
in our favor..." He replied. "Perhaps things are looking up for us."
"Don't worry. We'll go back to the usual soon enough." Cirrus said, walking
away. "I'll make sure the pilot finds the place."
he said this just when lighting flashed and the ship suddenly lurched.
Lutrex stared out into the horrid atmosphere and thundering rain of Helix.
"Primus...Guide us..." He whispered.
LoC Second Dawn: Log 29 by LaserbotWatch
©2010-2016 Laserbot
This fiction is created form the ongoing RPG form Legacyofcybertron.net
for more information see the first Log.
for more information see the first Log.


text:
The Rattlesnake strikes again. This time its the holiday season, and what is there other to do than party? Party in MASKS, of course. This was a Masquerade Ball of a different kind. Let the pictures speak for themselves... The Misshapes legacy is probably drooling right now.
Happy Holidays, all!


text:
Effective June 6-9, 2013
Starting on Thursday,
June 6th at 12:00 p.m.and continuing through Sunday, June 9th, the buses
on the above routes will be on detour because of Taste of Charlotte
During Taste of
Charlotte 2013, these bus routes will begin outbound at the
Charlotte Transportation Center and detour via College between Trade
and 12th Street. Customers can board these buses at
the bus stops on College during this detour. Inbound buses will
operate inbound on Brevard Street.
Passengers can board
& deboard at any bus stop or temporary bus stop on the detour
route. Uptown traffic congestion is expected to be heavier than usual.
Your patience is appreciated.


text:
Mother Nature sure has a way with the winds. The sun's been shining, but winter isn't over just yet. Mild temperatures followed by snow in a week's proximity is becoming such a tease. Slightly annoying, but that's ok. Flipeez hats for kids brighten any day.
You know how kids hate wearing layers? And try to reason with you on why they don't need to when the sun's out? Well, Flipeez makes layering up kind of cool - rain, shine, sleet or snow. Even in the house under that makeshift tent. They're interactive hats by Stompeez that flip and flap at the squeeze of a puff ball tassel. The fun in the hats divert attention away from mother nature's bipolar game.
Flipeez are one-size-fits-all and come in a couple of unique styles for boys and girls. They're suitable for the big kid in adults, too. There's s the blue "Playful Puppy," the green "Peek-a-boo Monster," "Huggy the Monkey" is brown, and "Twitchy the Kitty" is purple.
Spring is a little less than a month away, but Flipeez are nonetheless an entertaining accessory all year around. The soft, fleece-lined hats can be found in your local Walmart, Walgreens and other retailers for $19.99.
Follow @AliyaFaust for Twitter for more updates.


text:
Sad news.
Interestingly enough, I spent most of the day writing a proposal for a panel session on the cultural cold war… :-/
Where are our petabyte drives? Brian Hayes takes us through the reasons storage is "stuck" in the low terabytes. The tl;dr is that we got such exceptional capacity growth in the late 90s and early 00s we don't need much more right now, so the focus since then has been on SSDs, networking, interfaces, etc, […]
Amélie Lamont, a former staffer at website-hosting startup Squarespace, writes that she often found herself disregarded and disrespected by her colleagues. One comment in particular, though, set her reeling — and came to exemplify her experiences there.
In this episode of the Flash Forward podcast we travel to a future where humans have decided to eradicate the most dangerous animal on the planet: mosquitos. How would we do it? Is it even possible? And what are the consequences? Flash Forward: RSS | iTunes | Twitter | Facebook | Web | Patreon We […]
If you want a quality vaping experience, it's usually going to cost you. Vaporizers that deliver a fast, controlled burn will set you back up to $300, which is why the FEZ Vaporizer (now just $99) is an absolute steal.The FEZ dry herb pen does everything that more expensive models handle at a reduced price. It heats up […]
Taking pictures can be challenging. There are a million factors that can influence each shot you take – and unless you're a trained photographer, you often just focus, click…and cross your fingers.Of course, you can take some of the ambiguity out of your picture-taking with this Hollywood Art Institute Photography Course & Certification package, now […]
Experienced shutterbugs with DSLR cameras have boatloads of lens options for capturing the moment. Unfortunately, smartphone photographers often get stuck with their one crummy lens, which means limited zoom and focus for their final image.Step up your smartphone's photographic power with the Acesori 5-Piece Smartphone Camera Lens Kit, now just $9.99 in the Boing Boing Store.Magnetic rings easily […]
Sad news.
Interestingly enough, I spent most of the day writing a proposal for a panel session on the cultural cold war… :-/
A Texas comedian called Bob Murphey used to do a bit about Van Cliburn. From http://weatherforddemocrat.com/community/x1155997038/Classics-in-Cowtown/stripped?device=mobile
Bob Murphey, a speaker friend whose stories warmed even the coldest cockles, loved to tell a story about being from the country.
"Folks from New York City think Chicago folks are from the country," he'd droll. "And people from Chicago think the same thing about folks from Dallas, and Dallas citizens feel like Kilgore folks are rural." …
One day, his story goes, a Kilgore native bristled when a visitor suggested (albeit in error) that Kilgore had never produced any truly famous person.
The local sputtered and fumed, but failed to challenge the visitor. Later, he kicked himself that he hadn't thought to mention Van Cliburn, the musical prodigy who attended elementary school there.
His mental wheels spinning, he figured that maybe the community hadn't really done enough to "show off" their star on the local stage. ….
He sprang into action. He rented the high school auditorium, had multi-colored signs printed for barbershop windows, and wrote a "come one, come all" piece for the newspaper.
Alas, winter took a strangle hold on Kilgore on the very day Van Cliburn was to perform. Highways were iced over, and the event organizer claimed to be able to keep his old pick-up on the road only because he had the forethought to throw 300 pounds of chicken feed into the truck for better traction.
Still, a couple of dozen citizens showed up, adults "paying a dollar, and children 12 and under, 50 cents," Murphey emphasized. …
The organizer thanked the meager crowd for showing up, then turned to the youthful Van Cliburn, who already held international renown.
"I'm just so sorry about the unforeseen circumstances, Mr. Cliburn," he apologized. "Given such bad weather and with such a sparse crowd, we certainly don't expect a full program."
A tear rolled down his face as he made a mournful plea: "But, since a few of us did brave the elements to come out, could you sang us just one song?"…
Well, he was no Eliot Gould, but he sure could play.
Maybe the Gould you're looking for is Glenn Gould? They had very different styles, but were both remarkable for bringing new life to old composers' works — Tchaikovsky with Cliburn, Bach with Gould — and for being amazing performers. (And so, something else they had in common was that many peers looked down on them for being rock stars…and for the unspoken sin of simply being better.)
Well, he was no Eliot Gould either. : )
No, I was thinking of Eliot Gould. Glen Gould is nothing like Eliot Gould.
Did you catch the retrospec on NPR this afternoon? I've listened to most of his recordings, and I remember hearing him interviewed during the mid-'60s, but I'd not heard his fully matured speaking voice until this afternoon — dead ringer for W.S. Burroughs. (At the link above, start listening at 0:50; this gives you about 5 seconds to prepare to pick your jaw up off the floor….)
if you grew up in the north East Texas area (as I did) you knew who he was, what he played, and how internationally traveled he was. RIP to a brilliant artist.
Comments are closed.


text:
Sister Rice embarrassed officials by breaking into the high-security plant and spraying human blood on a bunker holding uranium.
08:15, UK, Wednesday 19 February 2014
An 84-year-old nun who broke into a US nuclear plant and defaced a bunker holding bomb-grade uranium has been jailed for three years.
Sister Megan Rice, along with two men, cut through three fences and hung banners, painted slogans and splattered human blood on the building.
The incident on July 28, 2012, was highly embarrassing for officials running the Y-12 National Security Complex in Oak Ridge, Tennessee.
The facility plays a role in making, maintaining and dismantling parts of every weapon in the US nuclear arsenal.
However, officials said there was never any danger of the group getting their hands on nuclear materials.
The other two activists, Greg Boertje-Obed and Michael Walli, received sentences of more than five years.
The trio spent two hours inside the complex before being caught.
A jury decided last May that they were all guilty of a charge of interfering with national security and a second charge of damaging federal property.
They had faced potential sentences of up to 30 years.
"The shortcomings in security at one of the most dangerous places on the planet have embarrassed a lot of people," lawyer Francis Lloyd told the trial.
Rice said in her closing statement her only regret was that she waited so long to do it.
"Please have no leniency with me. To remain in prison for the rest of my life would be the greatest gift you could give me," she added.
:: Watch Sky News live on television, on Sky channel 501, Virgin Media channel 602, Freeview channel 82 and Freesat channel 202.
- Related Stories
- Nun, 83, Guilty Of Vandalism At Nuclear Site
By posting a comment you are agreeing to abide by our Terms & Conditions. See our House Rules and FAQs.


text:
WACO (May 15, 2013)—The 1st Court Of Appeals, based in Houston, on Tuesday upheld the murder conviction of Joyce McMillin Sturdivant, who was found guilty in December 2011 of killing her husband.
Joe Sturdivant, Jr., a long-time Waco auto shop owner and well known stock car driver, was killed in October 2008.
Joyce Sturdivant was convicted of his shooting death in December 2011 and of an earlier attempt to have him killed.
In its decision published Tuesday the Houston court said of the six issues Joyce Sturdivant''s attorney listed as error, none of them rose to the level of requiring the verdict being overturned.
The basis of the appeal held that Waco attorneys Guy Cox and Allen Bennett, who acted as special prosecutors, failed to present sufficient evidence to support the jury's berdicts.
The court also ordered that all other issues involved in the appeal were dismissed as moot.
Joyce Sturdivant is serving sentences of 30 and 15 years concurrently in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice.
She could be eligible for parole in 2026.
Evidence presented in her trial showed that she murdered her husband of 40 years after first trying to hire someone to kill him.
Joe Sturdivant was shot in the head and back while asleep in his bed, police said.
Joyce Sturdivant called police just after 5:20 p.m. on Oct. 8, 2008 to report that she had found her husband dead at the couple's residence in the 3100 block of Highway 77 South in Robinson.
The Sturdivant Family owned and operated Sturdivant's Automatic Transmission, located near South 18th Street and Clay Avenue since the late 1960s.
In addition to being a business owner, Joe Sturdivant was also a champion stock car racer, who frequently competed on the local race circuit.


text:
Mar 10, 2011 11:15 AM
See the battle unfold in your own house with the Ninja vs Pirate Mobile ($33) by Salty and Sweet. Probably made for a kid's bedroom, we're not so sure it'll end up there. Think of all the debates it will facilitate with dinner and party guests! In fact, we advise holding a special ninja vs. pirates party asap!
sharks vs. grizzly bears! that would be a mobile i could get behind!
and out of nowhere comes the VIKINGS to defeat them all!
If you've got a product or service that you'd like to promote on Outblush, click here to find out about our advertising opportunities.
Outblush is a blog for girls who love to shop. Our staff digs up the best clothes, home stuff, beauty items, and more. New items are posted every day — bookmark us and check out:


text:
I'm trying to install APC (Alternative PHP Cache) on a CentOs dedicated server. I've everything done apart from configuring phpize. Running
:yum -y install php-devel gives me the following error:
file /usr/share/mysql/charsets/Index.xml from install of mysql-libs-5.1.57-1.el5.art.x86_64 conflicts with file from package mysql-5.0.77-4.el5_5.3.i386
etc for other languages
So, i think the MySQL version I have is too old & I more than likely need to upgrade mysql to version 5.1. Im reluctant to do this as a) its a live server (although only 3/4 domains) b) I've read I'll read to recompile PHP if I upgrade.
To add to this I have Plesk installed for managing domains & might need reinstalling/reconfiguring also.
Sorry for the long intro but it's my first post & best to give as much info as possible, so my question is basically,
Is there any way I can run
:yum -y install php-devel to get phpize working to complete installation of APC for the version of MySQL I currently have installed? ie 5.0.77.


text:
Monday, April 2, 2012
'Tales Told out of School' comes to FLCC
"Tales Told out of School," a Readers Theater program, will be presented by Stephanie Olsen and Becky Bloomquist Holder at Finger Lakes Community College Wednesday, April 11.
The presentation will begin at 7 p.m. at the FLCC Honors House, 4340 Lakeshore Drive in Canandaigua.
"Tales Told out of School" is made up of teachers' stories about teaching: the moments that made them glad they had chosen the profession and the moments they wished they had become florists. It's funny, thought-provoking and we hope inspirational," says Olsen, FLCC Geneva Campus Center specialist and psychology adjunct instructor.
Memories of Charlotte Grady Fitzpatrick, their speech and drama teacher at Penn Yan Academy, drew Olsen and Holder to the project. While the pair were putting together the program, their friend and Penn Yan teacher Elliott Vorce died. "Mrs. Fitz" and Vorce were devoted teachers known for mentoring and discovering the best in students, Olsen said.
Olsen and Holder thought about today's teachers in relation to their predecessors. Do they strive to inspire and change students' lives? Are they dedicated to education and students or is teaching just a job? To answer those and other questions, they interviewed 10 veteran teachers about students, classroom experiences and the expectations placed on teachers today. The result was "Tales Told out of School," a compilation of the teachers' stories.
"Tales Told out of School" premiered in Penn Yan in 2010. Since then, Olsen and Holder have presented the piece to several teachers' associations.
Holder, a retired teacher and storyteller, grew up in Penn Yan and lived and taught in Saratoga County for many years before moving back to the Penn Yan area in 2004.
Olsen also grew up in Penn Yan, moved away and returned to her hometown where she has lived for the past 20 years.
For more information, contact Curt Nehring Bliss, Honors House director, at (585) 785-1367 or firstname.lastname@example.com. Visit the Honors House on Facebook www.facebook.com/HonorsHouse.
Posted by FLCC Connects at 8:00 AM
Labels: FLCC, Honors House, Tales Told out of School
Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)


text:
my Nutrition
my Fitness
Other Goals
my SparkPoints
Web Search
Articles & Videos Home
Health & Wellness
Health A-Z
Cold & Flu
GERD (Heartburn)
Healthy Heart
High Blood Pressure
High Cholesterol
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
Pain Management
Seasonal Allergies
Weight Loss
Healthy Family
Pregnancy & Postpartum
Instant Inspiration
Lifestyle Centers
Beauty & Style
Brides To-Be
Family Wellness
Healthy Home
Pet Health
Senior Health
The SparkPeople Blog
Community Home
Message Boards
Challenge Central
Secrets of Success
Member Blogs
Friend Feed
Advertisement --
Learn more
about ads on this site.
Sunday, November 03, 2013
I suffer with chronic pain in most of my body. I don't take pain meds. So I search for other alternatives. Today, I ran across this Sparkpeople article. Some of these I practice and some are new for me to try. I thought I would share it with those of you who suffer with pain.
Health & Wellness Articles � Mind & Body
29 Proven Methods to Manage Aches & Pains
Self-Care Tips from Chronic Pain Sufferers That Really Work
-- By SparkPeople Staff
Many people struggle with pain. Whether it's short term from an injury or chronic due to disc issues, neuropathy or Fibromyalgia, we all want to find relief. Pain clinics and medical interventions are great places to begin, but some pain sufferers look for additional ways to find relief that don't always involve drugs, appointments or doctor visits.
We recently asked members of SparkPeople.com, the largest healthy living and fitness website in America, how they deal with chronic pain. Here are some products, strategies and insights into what our members rely on that could help you, too.
29 Ways We Ease Pain (that Can Help You, Too!)
1. "A positive attitude, although it is extremely hard to have, is a good start. Having a negative attitude certainly doesn't get us anywhere."
2. "I like to give myself an ice massage. I use a small paper cup to make it easy to hold ice and then apply it with a light pressure for 15 minutes on then 15 minutes off."
3. "When I listen to my body more closely, I know when it's time to rest or time to push. This helps me prevent overdoing it, which keeps pain at bay."
4. "Try to take it one day at a time, asking for help when you need it. Each day is different from the next so don't assume today will be bad until it proves to be."
5. "I like to walk laps in a pool as a form of aqua/water therapy and exercise that's easy on the joints."
6. "Listening to relaxation tapes helps me relax and takes my mind off the pain."
7. "Soaking in a hot bath in a whirlpool tub or even a hot tub does wonders. I like to add Epsom, sea salt or ginger to a hot bath as well."
8. "I regularly use my TENS (Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation) unit. It's a pocket size, battery-operated device that sends mild electrical impulses to certain parts of the body to block pain signals. Some say it can even raise the level of endorphins (natural pain killers) in the body. It does wonders for me!" Note: TENS units should only be used under the direction of a qualified healthcare provider.
9. "Join a chronic pain group for support and ideas. Being able to vent or talk to people who know what you're going through can really help."
10. "Try acupuncture or acupressure treatments. These alternative forms of therapy are becoming more widely used. I was skeptical at first, but found they helped me relax, removed tension and reduced pain."
11. "I like to use a heating pad on sore muscles for 20 minutes at a time. This is especially useful before bed."
12. "Move more instead of lying around. I've realized that the more I move, the better I am able to move. The more I lay around, the more pain medicine I take because I become stiff and sore."
13. "I was having trouble standing up straight so I started using a massager with infrared heat and it really worked!"
14. "I started working with a psychologist on biofeedback. It's helped me control and reduce pain without drugs."
15. "Pain relieving patches that you put right on a painful spot provide relief. Check with your healthcare provider or pharmacist before using these products.
16. "Pilates has really helped me stretch and strengthen my body and prevent back pain."
17. "It's often overlooked, but a restful night's sleep of 8 or so hours really helps reduce my over pain and discomfort levels."
18. "Limiting chocolate, cheese and wine really helped reduce my migraines."
19. "There are a variety of homeopathic tinctures (Belladonna, Solomon Seal and Teasel) that can help reduce the severity of my daily headaches as well as ligament pain." Please talk with a licensed naturopathic doctor or herbalist about what might be best for you and if there are any concerns when taking other prescription medications.
20. "I rub a small drop of peppermint oil behind my ears. It really has provided a natural option for my headaches and migraines."
21. "Reducing sugars in my diet helped me relieve joint pain."
22. "Remember that everyday 'irritants' can make chronic pain problems worse. Be sure you are wearing properly fitting shoes and bras. Carry a purse that is ideal and doesn't cause pressure on the shoulders (Ameribag is good) and pay attention to what you are sleeping on at night. A Sleep Number bed has worked for me but others say a TempurPedic works well, too."
23. "Making sure my diet had enough micronutrients like vitamin B-12,vitamin D omega-3's and magnesium has been really helpful to my pain control."
24. "Exercising in the morning helps warm my body up and relieves overnight pain and stiffness."
25. "Practicing yoga and tai chi addresses exercise and stress reduction and helps me move in a gentle way to reduce my pain."
26. "Learning meditation techniques like walking meditation and practicing them daily has really improved my pain and discomfort."
27. "Make laughter a daily goal. Laughter can help reduce the body's ability to feel pain. ."
28. "Regular stretching increases flexibility and helps relieve pain."
29. "I've worked to avoid bending down (to tie a shoe, load the dryer, pick things off the floor, etc.) and it's helped me reduce the amount of back pain I experience (due to herniated discs) immensely. Bending from the spine puts a lot of pressure on the discs and can aggravate the back. Instead I make a conscious choice to squat or lunge instead of bending forward."
Share This Post With Others
Report Inappropriate Blog
Member Comments About This Blog Post
Report Inappropriate Comment
My SparkPage
Dr. Oz Show Fans Leader,
967 days ago
Report Inappropriate Comment
Great blog! A lot of wonderful ideas. Limiting white flour, preservatives and sodium has alleviated almost all of my knee pain. Moving has helped tons ... the more I move the less pain. Thank you for posting!
967 days ago
Report Inappropriate Comment
My SparkPage
Bless you for posting this. I read the article awhile back, but I"ve forgotten about it. I live with chronic pain daily. And today is a bad one. Sometimes I get stuck in my own misery and fail to try a bath, heat or ice. I know I have to get that pain level down so I can get in my cardio today.
967 days ago
Report Inappropriate Comment
My SparkPage
I love taking baths. I love the TENS idea. I will look for one and try it. I think my chiropractor uses them or something similar and it feels great. I was in a car accident a few months ago and it has made my pain worst. Thanks for the post.
968 days ago
Report Inappropriate Comment
My SparkPage
I don't often take baths, but I did today to ease some discomfort that I'm having. Felt good.
968 days ago
Report Inappropriate Comment
My SparkPage
I love acupuncture and also soaking in epsom salt.
I hope you figure something out so you aren't hurting.
968 days ago
Report Inappropriate Comment
My SparkPage
some good things here, some I do now but will start doing more of these. Thank you
968 days ago
Add Your Comment to the Blog Post
Log in to post a comment
Disclaimer: Weight loss results will vary from person to person. No individual result should be seen as a typical result of following the SparkPeople program.
Advertisement --
Learn more
about ads on this site.
Get An Email Alert Each Time
BJPENNY70 Posts
See Today's Featured Member Blog Posts
More Blogs by BJPENNY70
- 10/2/2014
Take A Breath
- 8/22/2014
My Healthy Choices Reward System Starts Today!
- 8/8/2014
Standing Up Again! Ready To Fight Again!
- 8/7/2014
View All ›
close ×


text:
Monday, March 18, 2013
While reading this weekend's Wall Street Journal, I laughed a little over a story called, "The One That Got Away," about shopping for past-season, but not-officially-vintage fashion on Yoox, eBay, and a number of recently launched pre-owned clothing sites. In particular, these two sentences amused me:
"Buying clothes in this way, however, requires a change in perspective. It's about judging a piece solely by how much you love it, not by how current it is."
I was like, "O RLY?" because that seems a bit obvious. Imagine! Buying things because you love them regardless of what's in the stores right now! As if I had ever bought anything that I hadn't loved (whether or not the item in question was deserving of that love is another story, of course). But then I got off my high horse because I realized that there's another angle to the Wall Street Journal's point: Not only should you buy clothes this way, but you should keep them this way too. And that's something I learned only after I had the opportunity to start shopping previous-season sample sales and vintage and consignment stores in the early 1990s. As soon as I started buying old clothes, it dawned on me that it was foolish to get rid of any interesting, few-years-old clothes that I already owned, lest I wind up buying them back later as "vintage." So, instead, I tossed that tedious closet-purging rule that says you should get rid of anything — no matter how fabulous — that hasn't been worn in a mere 12 months. I wrote about this in a 2010 post called, "Grow Your Own Vintage by Breaking the Rules," in which I said that there's no need to banish:
"…beautifully made and still-flattering (key qualifier!) clothes that have the misfortune of being 'last season' — that no-woman's land between 'new' and 'vintage.' I never think 'last season.' I think 'future vintage.'"
And that's how I ended up keeping my ruffled baseball vest from Byron Lars's headline-making collection after it went unworn for 12 years. It's now back in rotation.
It took me even longer to learn to buy the most distinctive pieces from a collection. For years, I bought the basic, black version of any design, because of the theory that if you wear all black everything, no one can tell how old anything is and how often you wear it. You also end up with a very bland wardrobe that way. My first, cautious purchase of my favorite vintage designer, Ossie Clark, was a black halter dress; now I won't buy any Ossies without a signature Celia Birtwell print. I realized that there was no point in wearing an Ossie at all if it wasn't the Ossie-est piece I could get.
Sure, I've got the essential LBDs and black t-shirts galore. Some basics are essential, but nothing but basics is boring. And after a couple of years, is anyone besides a Conde Nast editor going to remember which season this magazine-covering striped Prada dress is from? Why would anyone's memory matter to me anyway?
One dress that I might have once gotten rid of for being both too distinctive and unworn too long is my leopard-print Diane von Furstenberg dress. I wore it to my sister's pre-wedding dinner in 2002.
I put it aside for at least five years, but now it's my go-to dress for all sorts of occasions, including the 2010 debut of my jewelry on the big screen in Sex and the City 2.
Last night, I wore it again to a dinner for an non-profit organization that MrB works with.
What Wendy Wore:
Dress: DVF (2002)
Shoes: Prada (2010)
Purse: Louis Vuitton (2001)
Jewelry: All my own designs
Much more fun than a BBD (boring black dress), right?
Check out the WSJ article, which I linked to above, for a list of non-eBay sources for past-season shopping. I've been seeing articles like this everywhere, which I attribute to Vaunte.com. Two of the co-founders of Vaunte were part of the original Gilt Groupe team, and the press is absolutely drooling over their new venture. Wipe your mouths, press people! Your saliva is getting all over my vintage wardrobe.
UPDATED TO ADD: Linked this up to Not Dead Yet Style's Visible Monday post. Check out all the other ladies there!
28 Responses to "What Wendy Wore: Leopard-Print DVF From 2002"
Oh Wendy, that DVF dress is gorgeous and fits you perfectly. Never get rid of it!
I've never seen the logic of buying only in-season items as if it's disgusting to wear items from past seasons. Ironically, these vultures would pay through their noses for vintage pieces.
Since I can't afford designer items, I just wait for must-haves from past seasons that I absolutely love to pop up on eBay. My latest acquisition is the Miu Miu clutch with the swallow prints at a steal (which I haven't blogged about)
Holy Cow! I do not know what I love more – that leopard dress or the ossie clark maxi. They are both so fantastic.
That Ossie Clark is wonderful on you. I love the DVF as well – you're a little Hoarder! But you make it a GOOD thing! My captcha was Booze – so gratifying.
I like all these pieces – you look fab in print – I interviewed Celia Birtwell not so long ago, she was absolutely lovely.
Rawr! That DVF dress fits you perfectly. And a good fit never goes out of style. Keep rockin' your style, Wendy.
Grow your own vintage! Hah! Love it! I'm sure I have quite a few things passing into vintage now, I hang on to things for that long!
Loved this post – buy things because you love it – some of us have always shopped like that! And coincidentally I just posted on how I like hunting out collections I loved in sample sales because of just that – who really cares if it is current or not if it is something beautiful and makes you feel great time and time again wearing it.
You have a drool worthy vintage wardrobe. That DVF shift is awesome and looks as fabulous today as in 2002! Love the Celia Birtwell/Ossie Clark number too.
Two things: First, that gorgeous OC maxi is an extra-long puffy shirt! You should have included it with your puffy shirt post–it shows how deep and ancient your puffy-shirt love runs!
Second, this interests me: "…after I had the opportunity to start shopping previous-season sample sales and vintage and consignment stores in the early 1990s." This reader would like to know more about what opened up that opportunity for you.
Yes! I'm experiencing this right now, with a gorgeous pirate-y frock coat! I only wear it maybe once a year, but there's no way I'm ever getting rid of it!
You look smashing in that leopard, Wendy! I'm itching to break out my leopard dress again! Hmmm…maybe it's time for another Leopard Week??
What a fabulous dress! You look stunning! It's funny how leopard print is just everywhere now, but has it ever really gone out of style?
I love that dress, and you wear it so well. I don't care what anyone says, Leopard is a neutral, it goes with every colour, and always looks hot! Like you, I keep what I absolutely love regardless of how long ago its been worn. And I do find myself pulling out things that having been worn in decades! Suddenly they're fresh to me again. (Although I will admit my figure has changed in the past 10 years with the appearance of breasts! I tried taking a picture of myself in one of my old designs — it will never see the light of day, its practically obscene with these gazangas! It was leopard too, boohoo!) I do have some regrets from when I sold vintage. I wish I had kept a snakeskin coat (I think I asked you about it, maybe it was an Ossie?), I loved it so and now it would fit perfect! You live and learn. XXX
Am relatively new to your blog but I want to say that I love your style, and you've already been a big influence on the way I shop. I used to buy current season only, but found myself getting bored with the same trends, as well as unable to afford many of the pieces I wanted, at full retail price.
I am now dipping my toes into the Ebay vintage world…and it has really been a revelation. Not just in the variety and affordability, but also in the idea that "it's okay" if my aesthetic does not conform strictly to current fashion standards! Don't know why it took me so long to realize this, but thank you. 🙂
Damn, you look amazing in that dress, then and now!
And I am so jealous that you have that Byron Lars vest from his early years. He is so amazingly talented.
By the way, thanks for visiting my blog. You commented that you would give an eyetooth for a vintage Krizia sweater. If you do that, will you please use it to make one of your amazing pieces of jewelry for me? 😉
I so regret giving away pieces from the 1980s when I thought I was done with them. But somehow I kept one: a JP Gaultier silk wrap vest–pale Chinoiserie on the front, men's wear stripes on the back. And I still have an image of Phoebe Cates wearing it in Vogue!
Love the DVF dress on you. So far the extent of my leopard print purchases have been limited to a belt and a small clutch. Baby steps…
You look GREAT in leopard, but OMG that Byron Lars vest is genius.
Good lord woman, do you just keep looking hotter and hotter as each year passes? NOT FAIR. But I do love that you hang on to good stuffs and re-wear them, and let me just say you make a great posterchild for the "shop secondhand first" pledge because on of the first places we should shop, is our own closets!
Great dress! You're looking so pretty!


text:
President Obama's recent executive action on immigration reform leaves many searching for answers to this complicated and controversial topic.
To put it in context we are running throughout this Thanksgiving holiday a series of recently published El Diario editorials written by C. Mario Russell, Catholic Charities Senior Attorney and Director of Immigrant and Refugee Services.
Welcoming and Integrating Immigrants and Refugees
By C. Mario Russell
For El Diario
For over 30 years, Catholic Charities Community Services (CCCS) has welcomed immigrants and refugees to the United States and has helped them integrate in New York. CCCS helps newcomers of all races, nationality, and religion to reunite legally with their families, obtain work authorization, learn English and civics, and prepare to pass citizenship exams. We help immigrants avoid legal exploitation by providing good information and realistic advice about immigration status. We also help immigrants who are victims of persecution, violence, and abuse in their home countries to find safety here; today, this especially involves the thousands of unaccompanied children who have made their way to New York to be with their families.
With this bi-weekly column, CCCS will report important news and developments on immigration and will try to give you the best information and tools to assist you on your path to citizenship and legalization. We will also share stories of people just like you who have struggled and have achieved their dreams.
Each year, CCCS provides legal advice and representation to thousands of documented and undocumented immigrants in New York City and the Lower Hudson Valley. Our staff of lawyers and paralegals handles matters that include family reunification visa petitions, work authorization, naturalization/citizenship, special juvenile petitions, asylum, and deportation defense in the immigration court. Migration counselors with our New York State Hotline (1-800-566-7636 from 9AM to 8PM weekdays) each year answer 23,000 calls and give referrals on immigration in 9 languages and can cover up to 200 languages if necessary. All calls are anonymous and confidential.
To help respond to the needs of recently arrived unaccompanied children, CCCS's legal team has created the Children's Call Center (1-800-996-3848, 9AM to 8PM weekdays) which gives parents and custodians of children basic information about law and gives them a referral for an in-person group orientation. We also offer group presentations to parents at the immigration court every morning, which we encourage you to attend if your child has a court appointment–they are safe and confidential. Our legal team also gives orientations and consultations to children in a dozen shelters in the New York City region and provides many of them with deportation defense assistance.
CCCS also helps vulnerable people with their basic resettlement needs in the United States. Those who have refugee status—from any country in the world—can receive help to prepare them for the workplace, help with learning English, help finding a job, and help navigating new needs, such as Social Security, school enrollment, driver's license. Others, such as children or victims of trafficking or abuse, who are still applying for status, can receive family reunification assistance and other case-management follow-up services.
More recently, CCCS brought into its family the International Center, which offers dynamic classes on English instruction and pairs learners with a "conversation partner"–one of over 200 volunteers at the Center. The Center's yearlong Immigrant Support Program for low-income immigrants, refugees, and asylees offers access to all Center programs, including classes, conversation partnerships and consultations without charge.
Since its beginning, the United States has been built and shaped by immigrants. Our city, our state, and our nation are enriched and made stronger by the work, the families, and the faith of immigrants. Catholic Charities believes that immigrants are to be welcomed with dignity and care, and it is our mission to provide help and create hope wherever possible and whenever possible to each individual. And so we invite you to contact us and see how we can be of assistance.
Mario Russell is Senior Attorney and Director of Immigrant and Refugee Services at Catholic Charities, 80 Maiden Lane, NY, NY 10038; he also teaches immigration law at St. John's University School of Law.
Read the full editorial in Spanish in El Diario.