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Animal Stress Relievers
Sort By:
Mascots can be a great way to personalize your company's brand with matching signs, costumes, and animal stress balls. Perhaps you'd like to send the message that your investment bank will make wise decisions with its clients' money. Consider using an owl as your mascot. Give these unique products an even more unique shape like that of an owl to all new customers with their welcome packages. When they have their own owl item they can feel calm and assured about their investment. The gift communicates that they are in good hands with you. The image of the owl is powerful; it connotes wisdom, maturity and experience -- all important qualities in an investment bank. If you're not an investment banker, what kind of animal stress ball can improve your brand image?


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The sun-approaching Comet ISON floats against a seemingly infinite backdrop of numerous galaxies and a handful of foreground stars. The icy visitor, with its long gossamer tail, appears to be swimming like a tadpole through a deep pond of celestial wonders.
In reality, the comet is much, much closer. The nearest star to the Sun is over 60,000 times farther away, and the nearest large galaxy to the Milky Way is over thirty billion times more distant. These vast dimensions are lost in this deep space Hubble exposure that visually combines our view of the universe from the very nearby to the extraordinarily far away.
Object Name: Comet ISON
Image Type: Astronomical
Credit: NASA, ESA, and the Hubble Heritage Team (STScI/AURA)
To access available information and downloadable versions of images in this news release, click on any of the images below:

subset: commoncrawl


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"The work of Catholic Answers was instrumental in bringing me back to the Church. With the help of God's grace, I was then able to help bring my wife back too. Keep up the good work!"
~ Daniel, Harrogate, Tennessee
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"If you should acknowledge and love Christ you would give up not only all the treasures of this life, but even the glory of your crown itself to win eternal life."
~ Pope Urban II, at the Council of Benevento (A.D. 1091); explaining the boundaries of Holy Orders as set forth in Holy Scripture and in the authentic writings of the Apostolic Fathers (from the article "Subdeacon")


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Have your photo taken with the Rugby League World Cup
Posted 09 November 2012 - 09:09 AM
The Prime Minister has admired it, the Wales First Minister was impressed by it and the captain of New Zealand actually got his hands on it. Now, fans can follow in the footsteps of David Cameron, Carwyn Jones and Benji Marshall by having their photograph taken alongside the sport's most prized trophy, the Rugby League World Cup at Salford City Stadium on Sunday.
Less than a year out from the kick off of the 14-nation tournament, the famous trophy will be put on display before the final of the 2012 Autumn International Series outside the stadium's West Stand between 3.30pm and 4.45pm.
The exciting photo opportunity is just one part of a busy pre-match entertainment schedule in the build up to the enticing tournament decider between England and France at Saford's superbly appointed new home, which is hosting international Rugby League for the first time.
There will also be a chance to play the new Rugby League Live 2 computer game ahead of its worldwide launch at the end of November. Hands-on previews of the new game will take place inside the GameBeast truck, which will also be parked on the West Stand Plaza.
On the pitch, the national anthems will be played by Ottoni Bass and sung by the Salford Choral Society. Ottoni Brass will also play patriotic songs leading up to kick off.
To mark Armistice Day, the match ball will be presented to the referee by Sgt Major Martyn Gibbons MBE, who served in the 2ndBattalion The Royal Regiment of Fusiliers and Infantry in the British Army.
Fewer than 500 tickets remain (yesterday) for Sunday's Autumn International Series final between England and France, which kicks off at 5.00pm and supporters are advised to move quickly to secure their seat for England's last full international before they start their World Cup campaign on October 26 2013.
Tickets cost just £12 for adults and £6 concessions and are available by contacting the Ticket Office on 0844 856 1113 or visiting www.rugbyleaguetickets.co.uk
John Ledger
Communications Manager
(my edit in brackets)
"The purpose of life is to live it, to taste experience to the utmost, to reach out eagerly and without fear for newer and richer experience." Eleanor Roosevelt
Posted 09 November 2012 - 02:41 PM
Is it coming anywhere near Derby, Matlock even?
I held the Olympic torch at the bottom of my road - would be nice to do it again. ;-)
Edited by John Rhino, 09 November 2012 - 02:42 PM.
Derby City -Founded in 1990 and proud to be flying the flag for Rugby League in the Midlands for over 25 years.
Visit: http://www.derbycityrlfc.co.uk and see the progress being made.
Follow us on Twitter: @derbycityrlfc
Posted 09 November 2012 - 03:06 PM
"Rugby League is rugby in the simplest form in the sense that it's about great defence, great tackling technique, good handling, good passing, catching and great kicking."
Stuart Lancaster - England Rugby Union Head Coach - October 2013
Posted 09 November 2012 - 06:59 PM
Being pedantic I know, but was Nathan Cayless not the NZ Captain in 2008 rather than Benji Marshall?
Who is this with the cup?
Posted 10 November 2012 - 06:08 AM
Posted 10 November 2012 - 08:18 AM
the 8TH most successful team in british RL


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Rutland real estate market picks upAlbert J. Marro / Staff Photo
Debbie Catherman, right, goes through her Proctor home with Re/Max Realtor Bonnie Chandler.
Single-family home sales in Rutland County posted an 11 percent increase last year with the median sale price up more than 10 percent, according to the Northern New England Real Estate Network, a multiple listing service in Vermont.
Statewide, home sales were up 15 percent while the median price was $205,500, a decline of 1.7 percent from 2011.
In Rutland County, 453 homes were sold last year compared to 407 homes the year before. The median sale price was $159,900 compared to $153,900 in 2011.
Homes in the county were on the market longer last year, 191 days compared to 183 days in 2011.
Bonnie Chandler of Re/Max Winning Advantage said 2013 should be a year of moderate to slow growth with prices likely to increase slightly over last year.
Looking out to the five-year picture, things are going to get better each year as long as the overall economy continues on a positive trend, Chandler said.
She said the bump up in sales last year reflected more confidence in the economy and low interest rates. Chandler also said she has the sense that consumers are adjusting to the financial logjam in Washington.
My personal opinion is people are really starting to function within the new fiscal reality, she said.
Statewide, the Northern New England Real Estate Network reported 1,070 condominiums sales last year, up 17 percent from 2011. The median sale price was $180,000 compared to $185,000 the prior year.
In Rutland County, condo sales totaled 84, the same as the prior year. The median sale price was $145,000 compared to $131,500 in 2011, an increase of more than 10 percent. From the perspective of Rutland appraiser Sean Sargeant, the local housing market continues to recover with monthly sales gains over the last 18 months. He said prices for many properties have stopped falling.
Certainly, prices in the under $200,000 range have stabilized, Sargeant said. Im starting to see prices above $200,000 starting to stabilize as well.
He said if demand continues to pick up homeowners should see the value of their homes appreciate over the next couple of years.
Sargeant said homes priced above $500,000 are the exception because there are few buyers.
He said there are 90 listings in the Rutland area (excluding Killington) for homes in the $500,000 and above market and only two sales a month translating into almost four years of inventory.
He said while buyers in that upper end price range dont lack the financial wherewithal, it also means they can afford to build a home to their liking rather than buy an existing home.
In Killington, Sargeant said business in the resort community has picked up as well over the last two years with the average sale price trending up over the last 18 months.
Whats amazing about Killington is that almost 80 percent of the deals in Killington right now are all cash, he said.
Heidi Momengen of Prestige Real Estate said theres no question the Killington market has picked up.
Momengen said the an improved economy and pent up demand have contributed to the rebound.
I think its a combination of that and the fact people had been waiting and feeling like prices would continue to drop, she said, and I think theres more of a sense or a perception that its hit bottom.
Sales of condominiums, with the exception of some higher priced units, remain sluggish, she said.
Momengen said there are about 100 condos on the market, which has stayed fairly consistent over the last year.
She said financing remains tight for both condos and second homes.
We have to tell everyone that if they are going to go for financing they have to put a minimum of 25 percent down and that applies to both houses and condos, she said.
email@example.com IN World/National BusinessWASHINGTON Long-term U.S. Full StoryNEW YORK Its not just the musical Hairspray that will air live on NBC tonight. Full StoryOXON HILL, Md. Far from the Las Vegas Strip, MGM Resorts International opens its $1. Full Story
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INGREDIENTS:1 cup sliced mushrooms ½ cup chopped onion 1 garlic clove, minced 1 Tbsp. soybean oil 12 oz. frozen soy crumbles 2 cans (14.5 oz. ea.) cut tomatoes 2 cups zucchini, cut into ½ inch x ½ inch x 2 inch strips ¼ cup dry red wine 1 tsp. Italian seasoning Salt to taste ¼ tsp. ground red pepper 12 oz. soy or regular pasta 2 Tbsps. parsley, minced Parmesan cheese to taste (optional)DIRECTIONS:1. In a large saucepan, sauté onion, mushrooms and garlic in oil until onion is tender. 2. Add ...
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Archos 43 Avail for £157 in Uk
Not sure if anyone looking out an Archos 43 16gb in the uk has noticed it's currently £157 at Dixons.
It was £153 but as the vats gone up so has the price, it's still way cheaper than other places.
I was unsure if they really had any as it disappeared from the site for a while, but appeared again and bought one on Sunday night. It arrived today. :D
What do you think of it? Anything you got to compare it to?
Still playing, no wifi at the moment so cannot really play with browsing and apps.
Updated firmware via usb just fine.
Took a couple of calibrations before the touch screen was working correctly, but that was probably because I did it really quick the 1st time.
Added music, videos and photos just fine, used a microsd card.
Takes a while to update the library and thumbnails, but you can still use the device.
On problem I've found so far is I cannot tether to my Blackberry 9700 :-(
Looking at archosfans forum I think I'm not alone.
I've owned a Sansa e260 for many years with both the original os and rockbox. I listen to mainly music and audio podcasts.
I've borrowed both itouch 1st gen and iphone 4.
I think the touch screen is better on those, but multi touch is not important to me and the archos touchscreen is fine for my needs.
The music player is missing a couple of features (unless I've not found them yet) like bookmarking in audio podcasts and last.fm logs, but I'm certain those are will be available in other android apps.
Basically these features made me pick the archos
so far only the last one has let me down, but it's not major and is the sort of thing that might get figured out in the future.
Other things I've noticed Microsd card swapping is a bit fiddly as you need to use a nail to push it in well otherwise it pops out again. Also it has to update the library if you swap cards. However it's still way faster than my old e260
Still early days but so far happy with my purchase.
I've now cranked up my Wifi and have now played with the browser, downloaded some apps.
I could not connect at 802.11n, but I've sure I read this is a know issue. Hopefully it'll be fixed in the next firmware.
Check this great summary of setting up archos internet tablets
This shows you how to do many things including setting up Flash, Android Market and Youtube.
It's a little annoying that the market isn't installed as standard as there are so many useful apps here and some may not want to install a workaround.
All these work well and I've also now got access to the bbc iplayer.
I like the browser, it's far better than other mobile browsers I've used with the exception of the iphone, but is on a par with that one.
Other browsers like opera mini are also available.
Being new to android I'm almost overwhelmed by the things I can now do with my media player. Got games, gmail, maps, pdf viewer, podcast manager, internet radio etc etc etc.
I was a bit sceptical about getting a 43 when the 1st round of user reviews and comments came out as they seemed to suggest that this was a dud product. I'm not sure why though as I've been nothing but impressed.
It's far exceeded my expectations for a media player. I love it!!! :D
|All times are GMT -5. The time now is 03:48 PM.


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Fibromyalgia can be difficult to diagnose. Many of the symptoms are similar to other disorders. A history and physical exam will be done. Your doctor will discuss your pain symptoms and check for tender (trigger) points. Tender points are areas of pain throughout your body. Symptoms of chronic and widespread pain must be present for more than 3 months. The doctor will also discuss how much fatigue, waking unrefreshed, and thinking problems you are having.
Testing for Tender (Trigger) Points —According to criteria established by the American College of Rheumatology, there are 18 specific tender points around the body that are potentially painful when palpated in people with fibromyalgia. These points are located around the neck, shoulder, chest, hip, knee, and elbow regions. Most healthy people have only a few tender points.
A diagnosis of fibromyalgia is usually made if 11 of these 18 points result in pain when palpated.
Blood Tests —Blood tests cannot identify fibromyalgia. However, your doctor may order these tests to rule out other illnesses that have similar symptoms, such as systemic lupus erythematosus, Lyme disease, rheumatoid arthritis, and other musculoskeletal disorders.
Revision Information
- Reviewer: Michael Woods, MD
- Review Date: 09/2015 -
- Update Date: 09/17/2014 -


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19-Dec-2010 - 20-Dec-2010
1st Annual Meeting of the World Heritage Related Category 2 Centres and of Relevant UNESCO Chairs and other Higher Education and Research Institutions
The "Bahrain Report" is the outcome of the First annual meeting of World Heritage related Category 2 Centres and of relevant UNESCO Chairs and ...
15-Dec-2010 - 17-Dec-2010
Expert meeting on the decision-making procedures of the statutory organs of the World Heritage Convention
Within the framework of the approaching 40th Anniversary of the World Heritage Convention in 2012 and the on-going reflection on the future of ...
08-Dec-2010 - 10-Dec-2010
Conference on The Significance of World Heritage: Origins, Management, Consequences.
The Significance of World Heritage: Origins, Management, Consequences is to be the first international conference arranged by The World ...
08-Dec-2010 - 10-Dec-2010
Follow-up Meeting on World Heritage Periodic Reporting for Western Europe Sub-region
This workshop was organized as a follow-up to the meeting in Dublin, Ireland, in 2009. The meeting was hosted by the Dutch authorities and ...
07-Dec-2010 - 01-Dec-2010
Periodic Reproting LAC: 2nd Cycle - South America, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
The first day was devoted to Retrospective Statements of Outstanding Value, with the managers of the Brazilian sites. The following days were ...
04-Dec-2010 - 06-Dec-2010
Third HERITY International Conference - Observing Cultural Heritage
Within the framework of the international conferences which HERITY organizes every two years, the first (2006) was on Quality in Cultural ...
02-Dec-2010 - 12-Dec-2010
World Heritage Nomination Training Course for Arabic-speaking African countries
The African World Heritage Fund, a Category II Center in South Africa under the auspices of UNESCO, is pleased to announce the launch of the ...
01-Dec-2010 - 03-Dec-2010
World Heritage Marine Site Managers Meeting, Honolulu, Hawai'i (United States of America)
For the first time, all 43 marine World Heritage Site Managers will come together to discuss their common conservation challenges and management ...
19-Nov-2010 - 20-Nov-2010
Int'l Symposium on Heritage Recording & Information Management in the Digital Age (SMARTDoc Heritage)
The Graduate Program in Historic Preservation/School of Design at the University of Pennsylvania in collaboration with the R. ...
15-Nov-2010 - 19-Nov-2010
2010 International Tourism Conference on Global Sustainable Tourism
Mbombela Local Municipality and the Tshwane University of Technology's Department of Tourism Management are pleased to announce the 2010 ...
08-Nov-2010 - 14-Nov-2010
[in French only] Le Roi s'en va-t-en guerre, Exposition gratuite aux Palais Royaux d'Abomey
[in French only] Après l'opération « les mercredis c'est gratuit » en partenariat avec le site des Palais ...
01-Nov-2010 - 11-Nov-2010
Advanced Course on Conservation and Restoration Techniques of Traditional Architecture for the Asia-Pacific Region
This Advanced Course is offered by the World Heritage Institute of Training and Research for the Asia and the Pacific Region (WHITR-AP), Suzhou ...
23-Oct-2010 - 26-Oct-2010
2nd International Meeting "World Heritage of Portuguese Origin"
The 2nd International Meeting "World Heritage of Portuguese Origin" (WHPO) will gather experts and decision-makers from 23 countries to formalize ...
20-Oct-2010 - 23-Oct-2010
VSMM 2010: Transdisciplinary Creativity – TransMedia in Art, Science, and Heritage in 21C
The 16th International Conference on Virtual Systems and Multimedia will bring information technology and multimedia specialist together with ...
04-Oct-2010 - 06-Oct-2010
Nordic-Baltic region Focal Point workshop on preparation of draft Retrospective Statements of Outstanding Universal Value
This workshop was organized as a follow-up to the meetings for Nordic and Baltic sub-region in Helsinki, Finland, 2007, and in Stockholm, Sweden, ...
02-Oct-2010 - 03-Oct-2010
Scientific Committee to meet on safeguarding New Gourna Village, part of Ancient Thebes World Heritage site
UNESCO, in cooperation with the Egyptian Ministry of Culture and the Governorate of Luxor, will organize the first Scientific Committee meeting ...
17-Sep-2010 - 19-Sep-2010
2nd Yale - UNITAR Global Conference on Environmental Governance and Democracy
The 2nd Yale-UNITAR Global Conference on Environmental Governance and Democracy will take place at Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, USA ...
15-Sep-2010 - 17-Sep-2010
Caribbean Sub-regional workshop on the implementation of the World Heritage Convention
The workshop, which is jointly organized by the UNESCO Havana and Kingston offices, aims at strengthening capacities in the Caribbean to ...
13-Sep-2010 - 24-Sep-2010
Course Announcement 'Management Planning for Cultural Heritage'
WHITRAP (Shanghai) and ICCROM are pleased to announce the second training course on Management Planning for Cultural Heritage.The course responds ...
13-Sep-2010 - 26-Sep-2010
International Training Course on Disaster Risk Management of Cultural Heritage 2010
UNESCO Chair on Cultural Heritage and Risk ManagementInternational Training Course on Disaster Risk Management of Cultural Heritage 20105th ...


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The biggest myth about "Big Data" users of the entire nation's health information is that personal health data was acquired legally and ethically.
Just ask anyone you know if they ever agreed to the hidden use and sale of sensitive personal information about their minds and bodies by corporations or "research" businesses for analytics, sales, research or any other use. The answer is "no."
Americans have very strong individual rights to health information privacy, i.e., to control the use of their most sensitive personal information. If US citizens have any "right to privacy," that right has always applied to sensitive personal health information. This was very clear for our paper medical records and is embodied in the Hippocratic Oath as the requirement to obtain informed consent before disclosing patient information (with rare exceptions).
The IPO filing by IMS Health Holdings at the SEC exposed the vast number of hidden health data sellers and buyers. Buying, aggregating, and selling the nation's health data is an "unfair and deceptive" trade practice. (Read more of Dr. Peel's comments on the IMS filing here.)
Does the public know or expect that IMS (and the 100's of thousands of other hidden health data mining companies) buys and aggregates sensitive "prescription and promotional" records, "electronic medical records," "claims data," and "social media" to create "comprehensive," "longitudinal" health records on "400 million" patients? Or that IMS buys "proprietary data sourced from over 100,000 data suppliers covering over 780,000 data feeds globally"? Again, the answer is "no."
Given the massive hidden theft, sale, and misuse of the nation's health information how can any physician, hospital, or health data holder represent that our personal health data is private, secure, or confidential?


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A new effort is underway to restore Whaleback Lighthouse off Portsmouth Harbor in New Hampshire and open it to the public. One man plans to swim in the cold harbor to help raise money.
Man plans swim in cold Atlantic Ocean of New Hampshire to save lighthouse
Published On: Nov 22 2013 07:18:32 AM HST Updated On: Apr 30 2014 08:53:25 AM HST
The views expressed are not those of this site, this station or its affiliated companies. By posting your comments you agree to accept our terms of use.blog comments powered by Disqus


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Director's Fest 2012
Sat, 1 Dec 2012 2:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Studio Theatre
A festival of 10-minute plays directed by JMU theatre students. Attend both Block A and Block B performances to see all of the plays. Contains adult language and themes.
Block A performances: Thursday, November 29 and Saturday, December 1 @ 8 p.m.
Block B performances: Friday, November 30 @ 8 p.m. and Saturday, December 1 @ 2 p.m.
The JMU School of Theatre and Dance provides students with pre-professional training opportunities as directors, playwrights, designers, actors, technicians and managers. In the Studio Theatre at the Forbes Center, student-produced works comprise the Experimental Theatre Series. In contrast to the faculty and guest-directed shows in the Forbes Center's larger Mainstage Theatre, the Studio Theatre offers students a flexible, state-of-the-art theatre "laboratory" in which to develop their own work. In these student directed, designed, and acted performances, students explore the possibilities of staging and, occasionally, non-traditional approaches and scripts. Audiences are invited to come and experience the new and often thought-provoking work of tomorrow's theatre professionals.
Learn more at http://www.jmu.edu/jmuarts/events/112912-directors-fest.shtml or call (540) 568-7000.
- Oct 22: - Dec 7: Sawhill Gallery Exhibition
- Oct 23: - Dec 1: New Image Gallery Exhibition
- Nov 16: - Jan 5: College for Kids


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Hahaha I was looking forward to a thread like this! Balkman impressed tonight for sure but I can't see him getting anything other than garbage minutes when the season starts.
MAYBE he can backup Melo for 8-10 minutes a night. But I've witnessed Jefferies score more 3's in a game than Balkman did tonight so I wouldn't bank on it
Nice game though was fun to see him going for it.


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She never said she didn't have a schlong.
ok...so its not a tranny , but it'll have to do for you guys
She never said she didn't have a schlong.
theres another video after that one about a woman...that is pretty dykey looking but apparently still pretty feminine that Ford signed as a male model...
so weird to me!
Now you're confusing the shiite out of me.
LOL...in another vid they were interviewing a woman, that was born a woman..i have no idea what her sexual orientation is..Ford Modeling agency signed her as a male model..she models male clothing
shes also 6' 2" and has a pretty chiseled jaw
So stoned! I was lucky enuff to get my hands on a 1/2 of this. Isn't she sexy!
Frosted" Purple Gorilla -28%
"Frosted" Purple Gorilla -28%
THC:27.9% -CBD 9.2% -CBN 0.9% -Genetics- Purple Thai x Unknown Haze x Unknown Strain 100% Pure Purple Indica. Widely popular -- even rampant -- in the Bay Area club seen, Purple Gorilla is great medication for those with chronic pain, insomnia, migraines, arthritis, anorexia, nausea and many more. This bud tastes extremely well through a vaporizer. The color is PURE PURPLE its almost black with white frost. Amazing Indica power. This bud literally makes your mouth water with flavors of cherry, grape, citrus, spice and dank. This bud begins with a cerebral head high for the first 5 or 10 minutes before becoming a more powerful ULTIMATE body high.
looks like a dish rag...
oh buddy, but it doesn't taste like rag weed. Better than fruit loops.
Just for that took another bong rip.
Wasn't this thread about trannies?
Right again IronAddict... this is a beautiful female..
EVERY person who clicked on this thread, no matter they commented or not did so expecting to see a guys cock........tells us alot about AG huh
Nothing is so common as the wish to be remarkable.... ~ Shakespeare
She was on RuPaul's Drag Race and models for Victoria's Secret. My boyfriend makes a very convincing lady...not every girl you're seeing online has a vagina
Can we not use the words "super model" to describe this guy? Let's not take away from the accomplishments of Christie Brinkley (who at 60 is still way better looking than what this guy brings to the camera), Kathy Ireland, Cindy Crawford, Rachel Hunter, and Tyra Banks. Super model is reserved for the elite, hall of fame, generational beauties. This guy at best makes a decent looking chick in a dark room. Normal, everyday women we meet on the streets are way better looking, and would be better at being a model if given the teams of photographers, and make up artists models work with today.
Fucking Determined!
Fucking Determined!
Fucking Determined!
Just because a woman is pretty in person doesn't mean she is model-worthy. People look entirely different on camera or under studio lighting than they do in person, and more often the most awkward looking girls make the best models because they have defined bone structure. But I will agree that she is not of super model status yet, but give her time. Open your mind and gain some understanding of social acceptance of gender identity and sexuality before you knock what you don't understand
A supermodel (also spelled super-model[3][4][5][6][7] and super model[8][9][10][11]) is a highly paid fashion model who usually has a worldwide reputation and often a background in haute couture and commercial modeling. The term supermodel became prominent in the popular culture of the 1980s.[12] Supermodels usually work for top fashion designers and famous clothing brands. They have multi-million dollar contracts, endorsements and campaigns. They have branded themselves as household names and worldwide recognition is associated with their modeling careers.[13][14][15][16] They have been on the covers of prestigious magazines such as French, British and Italian Vogue. Claudia Schiffer stated, "In order to become a supermodel one must be on all the covers all over the world at the same time so that people can recognise the girls."[17][18]
This dude, doesn't even come close to that.
Every one of those women i've named have pics of them without makeup on.


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Wess is the President Emeritus of Compassion. He served as President and Chief Executive Officer from 1993-2013.
About Compassion, Employees and Culture, Multimedia
ambassadors / future / What are you going to do?
[quote comment="6798″]I won't be far behind you Mike – I'll be 63![/quote]
and I will be 63 as well, same age my Gma is now 🙂
i got goosebumps! wow.
I just watched this video, again. I treasure the visionary thinking of Wess Stafford at others at the helm of this great organization. Always planning for the future!
However, I'm thinking the same thing I thought when I first heard about the ambassadors: I don't think the responsibility should be theirs, alone, and I don't think the question should wait 50 years. Actually, I first thought that Wess should choose an additional couple of kids, maybe a few years younger than the first two. Then I thought some more….
What if children, on reaching the age of, say, 12 or 13, could apply to an ambassador-training program within Compassion? They would need to describe their activities on behalf of children and the poor (which would probably not be great, at that age, but could reveal their hearts), have parental permission and support as well as letters of recommendation, and show that they have been corresponding with one or more sponsored children for some specified period of time. Maybe only five or six children would be accepted every year or two, with computer-based, interactive training sessions. And maybe once every couple of years they could come together, either regionally or nationally, to meet with members of Compassion's executive staff and whoever else would be involved in Compassion's Ambassadors Network ministry.
And as they grow into and through adulthood, any of them, individually or in groups, could go to see whoever is leading Compassion at any time to ask, "Is it still all about Jesus?"
Every advocate should also be able to do that, especially if it seems that Compassion is starting to lose its way (God forbid!)
Well, I was jes' thinkin'.
I'm with you, Dave. And that's what sets this ministry apart from all the rest, IMO.
I'M GONNA BE THERE (*Juli, will you please wheel me in).
For the record, if Jesus was not the Rock that this ministry sat, I would not be a part of it–I am not about making people more comfortable until they arrive in hell.
Yes, this is so central to Compassion. I have a video of that 50th year event. I saw this on there. It's an amazing thing! It's all about Jesus.
Thank you so much for taking that stand!!!
Yet another AMAZING thing about Compassion is there is such a wide spectrum of people that support them!!! We Esther's, Elijah's, Shammah's, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego's but just like was mentioned above we have JESUS!!! I was not at the 50th so all the more to make sure I am at the 100th!!! What better place than the Galapagos!!! It straddles the equator and even though I have never been it MAGNIFIES our God's AWESOME CREATION!!! My dive gear is ready to go as am I 😉 I will dive first to make sure the current is not too strong!!! hahahaha!!!
I was there for the 50th anniversary, and this message was so touching for me then, as it is now. "Is it still all about Jesus?" That's truly what it's all about, and that's why I appreciate Compassion so much.
I won't be far behind you Mike – I'll be 63!
From my quick research sometime September 2052. See you their Amy!!! Maybe it will be a destination anniversary celebration like in Ecuador at the Galopagos!!! The theme could be see how Compassion has flourished, just like the surrounding environment!!! Wherever it is what an AMAZING day that will be!!!
I'll be nearly 70!!! If I am still alive!!! I think el Presidente is going to get quite a few people asking if it is still all about Jesus!!! Great to know some of the future plans!!!
I Peter 5:7 "Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for YOU!!!"
I have full confidence that Compassion will not lose sight of Jesus and His mission.
I plan on being here for Compassion's 100th birthday 🙂
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© 2016 Compassion International. Compassion and Compassion International are registered trademarks in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. All Rights Reserved.


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Tue, 26 Feb 2013 7:00 PM - 8:30 PM
7-8:30 p.m.
Festival Conference and Student Center
Nancy Ross Hugo, author of "Remarkable Trees of Virginia" and author of "Seeing Trees," will speak about her experience creating a book that shares her passion for trees. Launching the Remarkable Trees of Virginia Project in 2004 with Jeff Kerwin, their adventure took them over 20,000 miles visiting Virginia's giant and remarkable trees, to fulfill a lifelong dream to experience Virginia's greatest trees in their habitats. No registration need. For information, visit http://www.jmu.edu/arboretum/


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Recently, Google released a new Beta version of its browser Chrome.
Well, my installed version of Chrome didn't detect automatically the update, so I downloaded the latest version from:
Then, when I tried to drag and drop the application into the Applications folder (this will require you to quit from Chrome, if open), Snow Leopard complained about:
The operation can't be completed because you don't have permission to access some of the items.
Well, just open the Applications folder in Finder. Move to Trash the old Google Chrome application (it will prompt you with the Admin password). Then, drag and drop the new Chrome on it.
Now, you can enjoy your new Google Chrome Beta version and its extensions.


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The other day I confused the words "elicit" and "illicit" while letting my Facebook fans know about something unlawful I did. (Or provoked? Shit, now I'm not sure.) Naturally, when this error was pointed out to me, I flipped completely the fuck out. "You shut your dirty poop mouth!" I bellowed. "It's the words that are wrong, not me!" I pointed out, before thoughtfully adding, "AAIAIAIIAIAIEIEIIEIAIAIIII!" Over the remainder of the day, there was nary an object or abstract concept within sight that I didn't blame at least somewhat for this mistake, many of them earning sturdy kicks for their ineptitude.
The main target of my ire was of course the English language itself, my tormenting mistress, who has seemingly betrayed me yet again. How could a language beautiful enough to allow the creation of the phrase "ass spelunker" be so cruel as to allow different words to be pronounced the same? Doesn't she know how dumb I am?
And so, much as I do every day, I set to work proving why everyone but me was wrong. Surprisingly, this time I actually found at least a little evidence supporting my case: It turns out that, indeed, the English language is seriously fucked up. Here's why:
4English Is a Mutt of a Language
Throughout its history, the people of England, bless them, have been a little ... completely ... slutty ... about the variety and sheer number of words they've allowed to pass through their lips. What we now understand as modern English is concocted from a secret blend of herbs and languages, most notably German, French, Latin and Greek. And once England got into the habit of sending boats with guns to parts of the world with fewer guns, they began borrowing words from basically every other language on the planet.
"You there! Savage! Bring us a selection of your spices, vocabulary and venereal diseases!"
And seeing as German, French, Latin and Greek all have some pretty different ideas about how things should be done, the end result has left English spelling consistency more torn apart than a sackful of cats. Heck, there are massive spelling inconsistencies between words derived from the same root. For example, "discrete" and "discreet" are two different words that mean totally different things, which I don't think I've ever used correctly. The definition of each one is literally "the opposite of what Chris Bucholz intended." All because the fuckers both came from the same root, the Latin word "discretus," having taken different meandering paths to the present day, purely to wreck my day.
3English Pronunciation Is Full of Ambiguous Rules
How would you pronounce the word "ghoti"? Did you say something like "goaty"? Like some kind of adjective describing an action performed in the manner of a goat?
Goaty: [adj] (-ier, -iest) 1. In the manner of a goat 2. In a manner that ruins everything. 3. While endlessly pooping a series of pellet-like turds, ruining everything.
But did you consider that "ghoti" could also be pronounced basically the same as "fish"? For example, if we:
Pronounce the "gh" the same as we do when we pronounce it in "tough"
Pronounce the "o" the same as we do when we pronounce it in "women"
Pronounce the "ti" the same as we do when we pronounce it in "nation"
If that seems contrived, try flipping the problem around. Look at an actual word, something like "scissors." Based on the way most people pronounce it, "scissors" has about 80 million valid spellings -- of which "scissors" is the most ridiculous.
You see, for every rule or guideline we have for how words are spelled or pronounced -- "'I' before 'E'" -- there are exceptions -- "except after 'C'" -- and exceptions to those exceptions -- "except in cases like 'weighing' your 'neighbor'." The rules can't be relied on at all, really, and spelling accurately becomes mostly a matter of experience, or more commonly, right-clicking red squiggly lines. When trying to spell a word, unless you've written it regularly and/or recently, you're shit out of luck without a dictionary. Even with one, you can get tripped up by homophones, real words that sound identical but mean different things -- see my "elicit"/"illicit" confusion.


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8-19-10 PNC Park
Before heading to PNC Park, I stopped off at a baseball field near my house to take some swings.
Panoramic of the field:
Game: 4 balls ( 3 hit, 1 thrown )
Season: 458 balls (231 hit, 99 thrown, 61 device, 61 found)
Balls in the month of August: 107
Games: 70 games
Average: 6.54 balls per game
2010 Game Balls: 5
Career: 1,036 balls
Streak: 166 consecutive games attended with at least 1 ball snagged.
Attendance: 15,783
2 Comments
You're looking really good man. No ****.
I think it is about time for a road trip to PNC and Camden and who knows where else before the end of the season! It would be cool to finally meet you too! Glad to see your MLBlog got a mention in the Ballhawks article in Sports Illustrated that Zack and I were in.
Good luck and get that record!!


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JFW 5th Anniversary Event, 2012
Trending Now
'I'm Pregnant, So What? I Will Still Act' Says Kareena Kapoor
Kareena confirms Veeri Di Wedding
'Salman Is a Male Chauvinistic Pig Who Dances Like a Monkey in Stupid Movies'
Stylist Sapna Bhavani lashes out at Salman Khan!
"A Woman Should Be Second To A Man," Says Neena Gupta! What????
Doesn't believe in women empowerment!
"A Woman's Bra Is Not Dangerous To Society," Says Kangana Ranaut
Spoke out against censorship!
"Arrogant Girls Deserve To Be Killed," This Comment Shows What's Wrong With Our Society!
Check how some people reacted to Swathi's murder case :(


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Man killed in crash with semitrailer in Walworth Co.
Officials say victim lost control on snow-covered road
The driver of a Chevy S-10 pickup truck was killed in a crash with a semitrailer Tuesday morning in Walworth County.
Walworth County sheriff's deputies responded to a report about 11:21 a.m. of an eastbound pickup truck versus a semitrailer crash with injuries on Highway 11 about 50 feet east of Old 89 Road in the Town of Darien.
Deputies found two vehicles had come to rest in the westbound lane of Highway 11.
The two vehicles involved were a westbound semitrailer milk hauler and a Chevy S-10 pickup truck, according to a Walworth County Sheriff's Office news release.
Sheriff's officials said the pickup truck lost control on the snow-covered road and slid into the westbound lane of Highway 11. The milk hauler struck the pickup truck broadside on the driver's side of the vehicle, sheriff's officials said.
Sheriff's officials said the driver and sole occupant of the pickup truck, Carlos R. Cantu, 44, of Lake Geneva, was killed upon impact. The Walworth County coroner pronounced him dead at the scene.
The driver of the milk hauler, Michael P. Forstrom, 31, of Brooklyn, was wearing his seat belt and was not injured.
Copyright 2013 by Channel 3000. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.


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The personal data gathered above is intended for Jas HENNESSY & Co, who may use them for purposes of customer management and commercial prospecting, and transmit them for these purposes to other entities in the Moët Hennessy Group relating to Hennessy, in accordance with the conditions described in our privacy policy.
You have a right of access to, and rectification of, your personal data, and also the right to object to these data being processed, on condition that you have a legitimate reason. You may also at any time, and at no cost to yourself, object to your data being used for the purposes of commercial prospecting. These rights may be exercised by email or by post, by writing to: email@example.com or Jas Hennessy & Co, Consumer Relations Dept., Rue de la Richonne, C.S. 20020, 16101 Cognac Cedex (France).
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Our reporter recounts the highlights of the Hennessy 250 Tour Opening in Johannesburg
Our reporter follows DonMonique, a young and ambitious hip hop artist making her way to the top.
The Hennessy 250 Tour is more than an exhibition celebrating legacy, it's a stage where artists can create and share their message.
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The four semester certificate program is designed to provide those responsible for pre-hospital emergency care the opportunity to become skilled in advanced life support measures. The Paramedic Program sponsored by Pensacola State College is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs(www.caahep.org) upon the recommendation of the Committee on Accreditation of Educational Programs for the Emergency Medical Services Professions (CoAEMSP).
Pensacola State College Paramedic Program Student Outcomes
This program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (www.caahep.org) upon the recommendation of the Committee on Accreditation of Educational Programs for the Emergency Medical Services Professions (CoAEMSP).
|School Year
|National Registry Pass Rate
|State Exam Pass Rate
|Positive Placement
Special Requirements:
Admission to this program is limited by special accreditation requirements and/or the availability of clinical assignments; therefore, students seeking admission to the program must complete application to both the college and the program. Application packets are available from the Health Admissions Office on the Warrington campus. All application requirements must be completed by the established deadlines before a student will be considered eligible for admission to this program. Minimum requirements for eligibility to the program include high school diploma or GED, satisfactory scores on diagnostic tests in reading and computation skills, and documentation of current EMT Certification. Admission to this program is based upon receipt date of completed application requirements. Once a particular class is full, the remaining qualified applicants are automatically listed as alternates for that class. If the applicant is not seated he/she is offered admission in the next available class.
*If applicable, any documents related to this program of study can be found listed under the Documents section on this web page.
*We strongly encourage you to contact the Pensacola State Health Sciences Department for assistance in planning your program of study.
Use our College Course Search to find course descriptions and course term availability.


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Mofos World Wide cowgirl VIDEOS (204)
Chintia Doll sent us this amateur porn of her and her fuck buddy getting it on in the bathroom. First, she gets in the shower to wash down her big natural tits and tight Euro pussy, and then she sucks and fucks his big cock to get herself a facial!
Mofos World Wide
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One of our biggest fans made an amateur porn video at home. Aysha told her fuckbuddy to come and give her an extra special fuck while she recorded it all. After getting fucked hard and raw like she likes it, Aysha sent us the clip for you to enjoy! ...
Mofos World Wide
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Dude's GF had the best idea: to film up a little amateur sex tape they could watch whenever they felt horny. Angelina wanted a little spanking on her thick juicy butt, so guy gave it to her before pounding that pussy hard and raw on the sofa.
Mofos World Wide
82 %
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When Melanie Gold heard about Mofos, she knew it was the perfect place to show the world how big of an amateur slut she is. She posted a raunchy sex tape she made one day, showing off those big fat titties and getting pounded hard in every position!
Mofos World Wide
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How did dude end up in bed filming some hot sex with this mischievous slut Candy belle? Who cares! We're just happy he posted a vid of this slut working his dick with MAD blowjob skills, and how her ass jiggled like crazy while gettin fucked doggy.
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Dude was partying at the club when he bumped into this nympho Claire. She swallowed his line about being an adult talent scout, and followed him to bed. She showed on cam just how bad she wants the work, and just how skilled she is at taking a dick.
Mofos World Wide
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What was Sicilia thinking when she offered her BF to film them banging? Didn't she know it would end up on mofos, for y'all to enjoy? Check out this tight Czech piece getting fucked hard and raw, her sweet tits bouncing as she rides cock like a pro. ...
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When a smokin' hot Euro slut like Afrodity offers to post the amateur porn she made with her boyfriend on your site, you say fuck yah! Check out this hot skank sucking down her man's cock and bending over on her bed to get nailed hard from behind.
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Jump into bed with Karol and her favorite fuckbuddy. She invited him over today to film a raunchy little homemade sex tape. This blonde slut stripped down to her sweet natural tits, and gave dude a sloppy blowjob before he pounded her sweet pussy
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Mmm this is what we like to see! A hot Euro slut like Chelsey throwing her mouth down the whole length of a fat cock til she hits the balls. Chelsey wanted to try something new, so she let her fuckbuddy film their whole afternoon fuckfest together.
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If you want to see a blonde Euro slut throatfucking a fat cock until the balls tap against her chin, check this steamy tape she posted. You haven't seen amateur porn til you've watched Lola riding a fat cock and squirting lady-cum all over the floor....
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Do you know what kind of magic Rosalina can do with those dicksucking lips of hers? Check out this little homemade video she made with her fuckbuddy, to see what oral skills this 10/10 Euro slut has to offer, and how hot she looks getting fucked hard...
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We got this video of Angel, and she's got some of the most incredible big natural tits ever. Check it out as she wraps her jugs around his hard cock, rides it hard to make them boobies bounce, and then takes a load all over those awesome knockers!
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Kiara is an amateur slut who wants to make it big in the porn biz, so she sent us this tape of her and her man having an intense fuck fest. She deepthroats that big cock like it's nothing, and then takes a serious pounding in her little pink pussy!
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We got this video of Kitty Black from her ex, who says she can't start her day without a load of cum. Soon as the camera started rolling she started sucking, then he fucked her in her tight amateur pussy until he was ready to jizz all over her face!
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Kaleido Star
The Amazing Fated Duel
Episode 46 | TV-14
Sora lands the starring role in Kaleido Stage's new production of Swan Lake, but her leading man has yet to be determined. Yuri and Leon draw swords and take to the air as they battle for the right to fly alongside her!
Official Site: www.funimation.com/shows/kaleido-starHide Details


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Nuts (even peanut butter) are very healthy. Surprisingly, they don't appear to contribute to weight gain and may actually help facilitate weight loss. They also appear to protect against DNA damage, suppress cancer growth and inflammation, reduce cholesterol, and reduce the risk of abdominal aortic aneurysms and heart disease. Nuts are a preferred source of protein in an affordable plant-based diet. Nuts and seeds offer a healthy source of fat, which can boost the absorption of fat-soluable nutrients. Nuts are an excellent source of minerals (especially dry roasted) and vitamin E, which may have adverse effects taken in pill form. Their antioxidant content puts nuts as a group near the top of the list of healthy foods. This does not include betel nuts (which have been shown to be carcinogenic and damaging to liver and kidneys), nor necessarily chestnuts or coconuts. Coconut oil and coconut milk appear to raise one's LDL (bad cholesterol) as much as butter. The dietary guidelines of countries such as Greece recommend nuts as snacks. The 2010 USDA Guidelines and MyPlate recommendations similarly emphasize a shift towards a more plant-based diet including nuts.
Topic summary contributed by Aaron.


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While Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu traded verbal jabs at the United Nations General Assembly this week over the threat of Iran's nuclear capability, one thing is for sure: international economic sanctions against Iran are having an impact.
The United States, European Union and the U.N. have imposed tough economic sanctions against Iran, blocking access to the international banking system and curbing sales of Iranian crude oil as a way to persuade Tehran to abandon its nuclear program.
As Ali Arouzi, NBC News Tehran Correspondent, reports today, the sanctions have had a real impact on Iranians as the value of their currency, the rial, continues to drop daily – affecting everything from basic food items to manufacturing.
Iranian: 'Our money is becoming more and more worthless every day'
Ali answered reader questions about the impact of the sanctions in Iran earlier today.
REPLAY the informative chat below.


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Events » Family & Youth Programs » Stories in the Afternoon
Stories in the Afternoon
Self-Portrait, c. 1636-38
Rembrandt van Rijn
Dutch, 1606-1669
Oil on panel
panel: 24-7/8 x 19-7/8 in. (63.2 x 50.5 cm); framed: 32-1/2 x 27-1/2 in. (82.6 x 69.9 cm)
The Norton Simon Foundation
Rembrandt van Rijn
Date: Sunday, January 27, 2013
Time: 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Speaker: Staff Educator
Type: Stories in the Afternoon
Rembrandt van Rijn is widely recognized as one of the most important painters in Western art history. He was sought after by patrons all over Europe. Imagine yourself a pupil in Rembrandt's workshop, and create a portrait of your own.
This activity is designed for families with children ages 4–8.
Meets in Entrance Gallery | Free with admission. | No reservations needed


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The list starts with a reminder that any dog or cat older than four months must be vaccinated for rabies every year.
Pet owners are also reminded that taking proper care of animals includes providing them with adequate shelter, fresh food, water and shade.
No pet should ever be left unattended in a vehicle this time of year. The temperature in a vehicle can rise to a dangerous level in just minutes, causing severe injury or death for the pet.
With summertime come children who will be outside playing. Interaction with pets and children often leads to a child being bitten.
That brings the subject back to having a pet properly vaccinated for rabies and also keeping animals restrained. No dog should be allowed to run at large.
Failure to comply with the city ordinance requiring pets to be fenced or on leashes could result in a citation, a trip to municipal court and a fine.
Parasite control also is vital for pets during the summer. Animal control officers recommend that pet owners consult with a veterinarian regarding the control of fleas and ticks.
The shelter usually has dogs and cats that need homes, and the staff invites visitors to come by and see what is available.
The shelter has new facilities, and the staff welcomes visitors between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Visitors may call the shelter at (361) 358-4545 to make an appointment.


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National Child Safety Expert, Alison Rhodes, "The Safety Mom," is one
of the country's leading child safety authorities, providing tips and advice to
parents on a broad range of issues facing all children - newborns to teens.
With the warm weather finally here, everyone's thoughts turn to lazy afternoons outside. Well, everyone that is, except moms with kids who know that a day in the park or backyard means a forty-yard dash as you try to keep up with your children.
And while summers are filled with care "free" days, they still need to be careful days as well. This is especially true if you or friends you are visiting have a pool.
The statistics are sobering. Drowning is the second leading cause of injury-related deaths among children. According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, about 300 children under 5 years old drown in swimming pools. Another 2,000 children are treated in emergency rooms for submersion injuries. Approximately 75% of those children were between 1 and 3 years of age. Also, at the time of the incident most of the children were being supervised by one or both parents. Drowning can occur in a matter of minutes and, unlike scenes in movies or on TV, drowning victims cannot cry out - drowning is a silent death.
The following are some important recommendations from the Consumer Product Safety Commission in helping create a safer environment if you own a pool.
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Texas Public School Week was celebrated on all campuses. Goliad Middle School had refreshments for parents and/or grandparents that had lunch with their child.
Vickie Wimberly made a painting and had all middle school students sign their name on the painting. Parents or grandparents who visited the school during Public School Week were able to put their name in a drawing for the painting. The winner was announced at the end of the day on Friday.
Goliad Middle School hosted a track and field meet on Friday and will be hosting the district meet Saturday, March 23.
March is National Nutrition Month, and school nurse Jessica Morris provided decorations in the cafeteria to help promote healthy eating.
Students and staff looked forward to spring break and the Goliad County Fair and rodeo. Classes will start back on Tuesday, March 19.
Upcoming events
March 8-18 - spring break
March 23 - district track and field meet at Tiger Stadium
March 28 - early release for Easter
March 29 - Good Friday (no school)
April 2 - STAAR testing (seventh-grade writing Day 1); STAAR testing 8th grade Math
April 3 - STAAR testing (seventh-grade writing Day 2); STAAR testing (eighth-grade reading)


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State asks FEMA for extensionBy PETER HIRSCHFELD
Vermont Press Bureau | July 06,2013MONTPELIER With nearly 200 Vermonters still struggling to recover from Tropical Storm Irene, state officials are asking FEMA to extend a federal grant aimed at getting those households back to pre-flood conditions.
Vermont is among the first states to avail itself of FEMAs new disaster case management grant program. State officials credit the $2.8 million allocation with supplying the human-resources infrastructure needed to help victims bounce back from 2011 floods. But they say the looming Aug. 31 expiration will come before all of the families have been made whole.
Bob Constantino, an employee at the Department for Children and Families who has since late 2011 served as director of the disaster case management program, estimates that by the end of August, close to 100 flood survivors still will be experiencing unmet needs.
The fact is were stretched for resources, and there are no logical agencies to take over these cases, Constantino says.
The 90-day extension, Constantino says, would give the disaster case management program the cushion it needs to close out all but a few of the more than 700 cases it opened in the wake of Irene. Constantino says the no-cost extension Vermont has enough unspent grant money remaining to fund a pared-down version of the program through Nov. 30 looks to be poised for approval by FEMA.
Which for us is great, because all this rain has definitely complicated construction schedules, and would get us through fall to get everything done, Constantino says.
Introduced in an Alabama tornado recovery mission in 2011, the disaster case management grants mark the first time FEMA has played a financial role in helping survivors navigate the bureaucratic labyrinth though which resources are ultimately accessed.
In Vermont, the grant is funneled through the Agency of Human Services, and has funded 11 case managers at three community-action centers serving seven counties. Those 11 grant-funded employees staffed by Central Vermont Community Action Council, Southeastern Vermont Community Action and BROC of Bennington and Rutland counties spearheaded recovery plans for the individual cases to which they were assigned.
This sort of case management has been going on for awhile, but FEMA was never doing it like it is now, Constantino says. It was done by the Methodists, (nongovernmental organizations), other state-based groups or the Red Cross. But this is the first time weve had anything like this.
The case managers served as a conduit between flood survivors and the raft of state, federal, municipal, nonprofit and charitable groups from which they might be eligible for aid.
It can be a small or a large need. The test is whether it was Irene-related, Constantino says.
A lot of the cases were closed out quickly and early, and without needing to secure financial resources.
Maybe someone had a front porch washed away, or had some flooding and needed their basement mucked out, Constantino says. And a lot of those early projects were done by volunteers.
Its the more severe cases that persist now, according to Constantino, who says many of the remaining clients are tapping funds of last resort like community development block grant money or Vermont disaster relief funds to make homes habitable.
Lynn Boyle, a field services director at the Agency of Human Services and member of the Upper Valley Strong long-term recovery committee, says the grant-funded case managers have played a crucial role in recovery missions.
I think they identified the need that was out there, Boyle says. The work the case managers did sort of translated into the community being able to respond to the needs.
Boyle said the check-ins from the boots-on-the-ground case managers also helped connect volunteers on the long-term recovery committee connected to flood victims they hadnt necessarily ever seen or spoken to.
They were really able to keep volunteers abreast of the work that was happening, which I think kept volunteers interested and committed, Boyle says.
If the extension comes through, she says she expects her committee will have resolved all but three or four cases by the end of November.
And well be able to transfer those to NeighborWorks, Boyle says.
The grant program will begin to ramp down considerably after August; funding will be discontinued for all but four case managers. Constantino says he thinks the disaster case management grant has proven a useful model for disaster recovery. An evaluation of the program conducted by an outside consultant, Constantino says, will soon provide greater insights into what worked and what didnt.
Its just a puzzle, where you figure out all the different needs, and then figure out where the resources are that can address them, Constantino says. And the case manager helps the survivor put all those pieces together.
email@example.com IN Vermont NewsMONTPELIER Rep. Peter Welch, D-Vt. Full StoryVermont Attorney General Bill Sorrell plans to join the U.S. Full StoryMONTPELIER Gov. Full Story
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The Monte Iberia Eleuth is a critically endangered animal that is confined to just two remote areas of forest in Cuba. The Monte Iberia Eleuth was first discovered on Mount Iberia in 1996, and populations are known to be very vulnerable as this frog is only found in very specific habitats that include areas of closed rainforest, with poorly drained soil and high levels of humidity.
The Monte Iberia Eleuth is a tiny black frog that can be easily identified by the bright yellow stripes that run along each side of the frog's back. Due to the fact that the head of the Monte Iberia Eleuth is about the same size as the head of a pin, this tiny frog has fewer teeth than larger frogs and is also thought to make more highly-pitched vocal calls.
Only two isolated populations are known to exist, both in the HolguÃn Province of eastern Cuba at elevations under 600 meters. The first location is on top of the Monte Iberia tableland where the Monte Iberia Eleuth was first discovered. The second is smaller (less than 100 km²) and sparsely-occupied, near Nibujón at sea level. This area has suffered great disturbances over the past 40 years from human activities which has obviously led to drastic declines in Monte Iberia Eleuth population numbers.
Despite it's miniature size, the Monte Iberia Eleuth has a very similar diet to other small frogs, hunting and eating a wide range of invertebrates in the Cuban jungle. The Monte Iberia Eleuth feeds on insects, moths and spiders along with a number of semi-aquatic invertebrates when it is close to water.
Due to it's small size, the Monte Iberia Eleuth has numerous predators within it's natural environment including birds, rodents, lizards, toads and even larger frogs. The Monte Iberia Eleuth is also an incredibly sensitive animal that is easily affected by changes to it's environment including pollution and deforestation.
Little is known about the reproduction of the smallest frog in the Northern Hemisphere, besides the fact that once hatched, the life-cycle of the Monte Iberia Eleuth is similar to that of other frogs turning from water-based tadpoles to ground-dwelling frogs. When the first Monte Iberia Eleuth frog was found, she was found next to a single egg which indicates that this species reproduces slowly as they don't lay hundreds of eggs at once.
Today, the Monte Iberia Eleuth is considered to be an animal that is critically endangered in the wild and therefore population numbers are very low in the wild.


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Panasonic Lumix LF1 Review - The Panasonic Lumix LF1 arrives at the top of Panasonic's compact range to sit alongside the LX7
Panasonic Lumix LF1 Review
Panasonic Lumix LF1 Review – Features
Rather than employing the same 10.1MP 1/1.7in Live MOS sensor found in the LX7, the Panasonic LF1 features a 12.1MP 1/1.7in Live MOS sensor with an ISO range from 80-6400 that can be expanded to 12,800 if needed. Not only that, but the camera's Venus Engine image processor has also been developed to further enhance performance and image quality by working in tandem with Panasonic's latest noise reduction and edge smoothing technology.
The Panasonic Lumix LF1 manages to pack one of the longest reaching zoom lenses for a enthusiast compact, with a 7.1x 28-200mm optical coverage. It's not quite as wide as some rivals or as fast, with a variable maximum aperture range of f/2-5.9, but you get that extra reach at the long end.
To combat camera shake, the LF1 features Panasonic's Power O.I.S. stabilisation system to counteract unwanted movement when handholding.
Electronic Viewfinder
The feature that's going to cause the most interest on the Lumix LF1 is the inclusion of an electronic viewfinder (EVF), with the 0.2in EVF sporting a 200k-dot resolution and a 100% field of view that shares a similar, if not identical, specification to EVFs found on some Panasonic Bridge cameras such as the Panasonic Lumix FZ62.
Complimenting the EVF is a 3in 920k-dot display at the rear with an automatic brightness adjustment in 7 steps, although it lacks touchscreen functionality.
With the Lumix LF1 designed for both those looking for a quality point and shoot compact or for more experienced users, the it features a broad range of shooting modes including iA+ (Intelligent Auto) for assisted shooting, Creative Control (art filters), Panorama as well as manual, aperture and shutter priority modes.
The LF1 features both Wi-fi and NFC connectivity options. After initial setup, NFC lets you turn on Wi-fi with a simple tap of a smartphone or tablet with the camera – preventing troublesome menus and setup procedures making the whole experience of transferring images a lot more streamlined and easier.
Not only that, but the camera can also be controlled remotely when partnered with the Panasonic Image App that's available for free from iTunes for iOS and Google Play for Android mobile devices.
If you're looking to shoot video with the Panasonic LF1, there's the choice of Full HD 1920×1080 at 50i in AVCHD or 25p with MP4 output, while sound can be recorded in stereo provided you're shooting in AVCHD.
Panasonic Lumix LF1 Review – Design
The Panasonic Lumix LF1 eschews the design of the Panasonic LX7 and instead opts for a more sleek and unfussy look that's a little reminiscent of Sony's RX100. Its proportions are a little closer to Canon's PowerShot S110 or Nikon's Coolpix P330 though, with dimensions of 102.5 x 62.1 x 27.9mm meaning that it'll easily slip into most pockets and the weight won't be too troublesome either coming in at 192g.
It has a quality feel and while the curved edges mean there's no space for a handgrip of such, it still feels comfy in the hand.
Body mounted controls are kept reasonably sparse. Along with the on/off button on the top plate, there's a mode dial which is accompanied by the shutter button that features a zoom control round its collar.
Rear controls
At the rear of the Lumix LF1 you"ll find scroll dial round a 4-way set of controls (Focusing, Drive, Exposure Compensation and Flash Control), with buttons to access display modes, playback, quick menu/trash and a programmable function.
On top of this there are controls to activate video recording, Wi-Fi and the EVF (no eye sensor here).
Turning to the front and unlike the Panasonic LX7 with has a dedicated aperture control ring, the LF1 has a multifunctional control ring that can be set-up to control aperture, shutter speed, ISO and Creative Control.
Panasonic Lumix LF1 Review – Performance
Whether using 1-Area, 23-Area or Face Detection AF modes with the Panasonic LF1, focus is snappy and only struggles slightly in low contrast scenes which is to be expected, though we'd be hesitant to use the AF Tracking mode on fast moving subjects.
It'll happily track a subject across the frame, but rapid or erratic movements from your subject will see tracking lost, but this is not unique to the LF1.
There's no denying that the EVF is a welcome and useful addition to the Lumix LF1, and something many people have been calling out for in a compact camera of this size. There's no getting away from the fact that the display is quite small, while colours appear quite muted compared to the rear 3in display, while the level of detail offered is limited.
It's perhaps unreasonable to expect anything more when you consider the size of the camera and the fact that it's a unique feature for a camera of this class. Keep your expectations in check and the EVF is more than adequate for general composition, particularly in bright sunlight when it can be near impossible to frame shots on a rear screen, making it a real benefit.
LCD Screen performance
The rear 3in display is good, delivering a decent amount of clarity and crispness, though it doesn't quite deliver the same punch as WhiteMagic display used on the Sony RX100 or AMOLED-based screens.
The Control Ring round the lens allows you to make quick exposure adjustments, while the flexibility to program it to a desired setting is welcome, with adjustments clearly displayed in the rear screen or EVF.
Combined with the additional function button and the 4 preset controls, and you've got pretty much everything at your fingertips, though if needed there's a handy quick menu to access other key settings of the LF1.
Wi-Fi connectivity with downloadable App works well – configuration is relatively quick and once you're set-up, its easy to transmit your images to a smartphone or tablet and images can be transferred at different sizes to make the process quicker. There's also the option to wirelessly control the camera from your device if you wish.
Panasonic Lumix LF1 Review – Image Quality
Colour and White Balance
Using our Datacolor Spyder Checkr chart for our lab tests revealed the Panasonic LF1 delivers pleasing, if in some instances slightly muted colours, but with no noticeable drop-off in colour saturation as the sensitivity is increased. The LF1's Auto White Balance, meanwhile, performs well, delivering natural results in a range of lighting conditions.
In most instances the Lumix LF1 will expose nicely for the scene, though we did find in bright conditions there's a bias towards retaining shadow detail at the expense of blown highlights requiring exposure compensation to be applied – normally around -0.7.
Looking at the results of the Panasonic's Lumix LF1's Raw files from our resolution charts and it performs well, resolving detail down to 22 lines per mm (lpmm) at its base ISO of 80, decreasing down to 20 lpmm at ISO 6400 and delivering a comparable performance to both the Canon PowerShot S110 and Nikon Coolpix P330.
Image Noise
The LF1 delivers some really clean results at low ISOs, with noise only faintly becoming present at ISO 800. Above this and the LF1's noise reduction algorithm comes into play if you're shooting JPEGs, with results loosing definition in an effort to combat image noise – at ISO 6400 results look distinctly patchy and waxing.
If you're prepared to shoot in Raw though, the story's a lot better. While colour and luminance noise become more prominent in the image as the sensitivity is increased, detail is retained to a much great level.
Panasonic Lumix LF1 Review – Verdict
The Panasonic Lumix LF1 enters a increasingly competitive market, and its priced somewhere in the middle, costing around £75-100 more than the likes of the Canon PowerShot S110 or the Nikon Coolpix P330, though around £75 less than either the Sony Cyber-shot RX100 or Fujifilm X20, though both admittedly feature physically larger sensors. That's not forgetting Panasonic's own LX7, which is now a little less having been available for just under a year now.
For those looking for an enthusiast compact camera, you may be better served with an LX7 thanks to the wider and faster optics or splashing out a bit more on a RX100. But if you're looking for a quality pocket compact camera then there's lots to like about the LF1.
Its compact size, straightforward handling, decent zoom range, great images, Wi-fi connectivity and the inclusion of a built-in EVF all combine to make the LF1 a great premium compact.
Panasonic Lumix LF1 Review – Sample Image Gallery
This is just a small selection of sample images captured with the Panasonic Lumix LF1. For a full range, visit the Panasonic Lumix LF1 review sample image gallery.
Panasonic Lumix LF1 Review – First Look
The Panasonic LUMIX DMC-LF1 is the latest addition in the company's high-end compact range. Designed for enthusiasts looking for a smaller camera boasting an impressive specification, the Panasonic LUMIX DMC-LF1 features a 12.1MP MOS sensor and delivers a 80-12,800 ISO range.
The all-new LEICA DC VARIO-SUMMICRON lens features a 7.1x optical zoom and a f/2-5.9 variable aperture across its zoom range. Equivalent to 28-200mm, the camera's Venus Engine has also been developed to further enhance performance and image quality by working in tandem with Panasonic's latest noise reduction and edge smoothing technology.
Despite its compact size, the LUMIX DMC-LF1 is also capable of recording HD video (1920×1080) at 50i in both the AVCHD progressive and MP4 outputs. Possibly the most interesting talking point is the LF1's 0.2-inch electronic viewfinder, which gives users the option to use a shooting display that suits their style rather than being reliant on using the 3in LCD screen at the rear.
Other noteworthy features on the Panasonic Lumix DMC- LF1 include a high speed burst mode that gives users the option to shoot a continuous burst at up to 10fps. Quick start-up and a responsive autofocus performance are promised, while Panasonic's O.I.S stabilisation system is used to reduce the risk of blur that's often caused by handshake.
Just like the recently announced Panasonic Lumix GF6, the Panasonic Lumix DMC-LF1 features both Wifi and NFC connectivity options. After initial setup, NFC lets you turn on Wifi with a simple tap of a smartphone or tablet with the camera – preventing troublesome menus and setup procedures. The camera can also be controlled remotely when partnered with the Panasonic Image App – available from iTunes and Google Play for iOS and Android mobile devices.
Commenting on the creation of the new Panasonic Lumix DMC-LF1, Sebastian Drawert, Manager of LUMIX G and DSC at Panasonic Consumer Marketing Europe said: 'We believe that the LUMIX DMC-LF1 delivers a new level of performance and functionality for compact camera enthusiasts. We have managed to incorporate a host of features and functions, including a high-performance LEICA lens, into a beautifully designed and incredibly mobile camera. With the LUMIX DMC-LF1, photographers will be in complete control of their images and video, both when composing, shooting and editing. Even better is the fact that you can instantly share that creativity with the world, thanks to the LUMIX DMC-LF1's amazing connectivity capabilities.'
The Panasonic LUMIX DMC-LF1 will be available from mid-June and is expected to cost £379.