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The PrisonerTranslations courtesy of
of AMORC
of AMORC
current/fotrmer AMORC members
Announcing the release of an illustrated ebook describing step by step first temple degree lodge initiation part 1- as given in the Rosicrucian/AMORC temple. Upon release (December 15, 2013) the book will be available for free download for a limited period of time on Amazon Kindle. AN OPEN LETTER TO CHRISTIAN BERNARD, VENERATED IMPERATOR OF THE ROSICRUCIAN ORDER AMORC
Esteemed and Venerated Imperator-
As you may have heard, I, Pierre S. Freeman, the author of The Prisoner of San Jose and AMORC Unmasked, have taken grave exception to the practices and agenda of your organization, Ancient Mystical Order Of Rosæ Crucis, known to the world as AMORC. For this reason, I extend to you the opportunity to answer personally some of the questions that have troubled me and to defend your organization from the charges I have seen fit to make against it.
As you may have heard, I, Pierre S. Freeman, the author of The Prisoner of San Jose and AMORC Unmasked, have taken grave exception to the practices and agenda of your organization, Ancient Mystical Order Of Rosæ Crucis, known to the world as AMORC. For this reason, I extend to you the opportunity to answer personally some of the questions that have troubled me and to defend your organization from the charges I have seen fit to make against it.
Does not AMORC introduce in the Initiate Section DEGREE 9 Number 24, the occult faculty of ASSUMPTION, which it defines as the ability "to assume momentarily the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual state of another person, so as to obtain this person's assistance or to provide assistance to him or her?" Disregarding the caveat that this is only possible if one's intentions are pure and the affirmation that this concept must be in alignment with Cosmic Consciousness, isn't the bottom line that this is an example of one living human being TAKING COMPLETE POSSESSION OVER THE CONSCIOUSNESS OF ANOTHER HUMAN BEING, without their permission or knowledge?
Further in Initiate Section DEGREE 9 Number 24, does it not clarify that ASSUMPTION is used for the purpose of advantaging oneself? Does it not say that in life, the member has often needed to approach people "to seek their approval, consent, authorization, or support for something concerning your family, social, or professional life?" Further does it not go onto saying that it is the case when a member seeks "employment," to "pass an oral examination", or needs "special authorization to undertake an important project, etc.?" In order to provoke positive responses from such people, does not AMORC say clearly that "In applying assumption, it is possible to momentarily act on the personality of these individuals and influence their behavior toward us? In other words, we can act in such a way that they will think, speak, and act in accordance with our will, without even being aware of it." Is manipulating another person against their will to affect your personal will very obviously a form of black magic? Is not taking over another person's consciousness in order to manipulate his thoughts and emotions an extreme violation of his rights to privacy and personal freedom?
In Celestial Ascent Number 1, Experiment 93, the member is asked to "choose a head of state or government, either in your own country or some other country." The member is then asked "to stimulate your psychic consciousness," take positive breaths and then visualize the leader you have chosen sitting in the center of a pyramid of light. You then repeat the sound OM, while continuing to breathe until you feel that you are within this person's body, being part of his or her whole consciousness. Is this process of assuming control of another person's consciousness, which you call 'assumption,' a form of black magic?
In Neophyte Section Atrium 2 Number 9, you state, "Rosicrucians have always distinguished two great categories of illnesses: those accompanied by fever and those not causing fever." This is the basis for your diagnosis and the basis for recommending certain breathing and energy transmission techniques involving placing the fingers on certain areas of the body adjacent to certain nerve centers. Is AMORC encouraging to diagnose and treat disease without a medical license or certification of any recognized kind whatsoever? Is it true that in your monographs you teach your members how to heal "scientifically," utilizing a combination of visualization, positioning the hands on the subject's physical body and breathing but without affording them any proof or evidence that such procedures work and without any medical or health certification whatsoever?
Take what it says in Initiate Section Degree 6 Number 19, you have the member doing the healing explain "that the whole procedure has nothing to do with any magical or occult practices, but that it involves a therapeutic practice that is entirely in keeping with the physiological laws functioning in the human body." In Initiate Section Degree 6 Number 15, you present a list that shows a certain "knowledge concerning the sympathetic division of the autonomic nervous system and the procedures that offer the possibility of curing most diseases." You further assert that "their efficacy has been put to the test and confirmed by scientists who are Rosicrucians." This is all very well, but why, after twenty-four years of study have I never come across any evidence whatsoever of such proof or confirmation of the validity of these practices? Don't you think it is dangerous to offer totally unverified techniques for healing a wide variety of conditions to members who might use them on themselves or others without having themselves checked out by a qualified health practitioner?
In Degree 9, No. 29, it talks about how clairvoyance is produced by attuning with Cosmic Consciousness. Can you explain to me exactly what you consider this state of consciousness you call Cosmic Consciousness to be and how it is connected to you teaching your members how to attain various occult powers- including telepathy, the ability to heal, the capacity to step into another's consciousness and manipulate their actions, the ability to contact the dead, the ability to use a crystal ball to see into the future, etc.?
Why haven't I--as a member of AMORC for 24 years and one who has passed through its higher initiations, have no kind of reasonable, demonstrable evidence that members can heal, control telepathic contact, communicate with the dead--or other so-called powers? I would particularly like to have been able to master invisibility as described in becoming invisible as in Degree 9, Number 20. Tell me, Venerated Imperator, have you seen many people become invisible recently?
Whereas I know--because of my blog and my many conversations with your Rosicrucian members over the years--that many think that your organization is somewhat liberal in its approach to life and to the upholding of democratic institutions, I cannot help but wonder if you can explain why your title in your organization is Imperator, a Latin term which is translated to Emperor in English? What is the difference between the veneration that the people of Japan had toward their Emperor before and during World War II and the devotion of the members of AMORC have to you, Christian Bernard, as their venerated Imperator?
Do you not hold power at the pleasure of a Board of Directors? But is this Board of Directors not entirely subservient to you--and isn't this election rather just a meaningless routine because your continuance in your position is somewhat of a given--like the so-called election of dictators like Fidel Castro? Would not an organization that does not truly have the authority it represents itself to have, but yet demands obedience and money from its members, be practicing a kind of fraud on the public? Is not the use of fraud to assert spiritual authority over others for the personal desires of the leadership of a group a general characteristic of a cult?
Do you fear that your tax-free status that you enjoy in various countries could be jeopardized if more governments would classify you as a cult in the same manner as the French government did in 1999?
In many of your monographs, you insist that life only begins with the first breath. And prior to that, the fetus is simply a vestigial part of the mother's body, not an independent living consciousness. How do you know that? Do you have any scientific proof correlating individual consciousness with the first breath outside the body? And does that position linking life exclusively to the first breath not lead to a definitive position on the moral viability of abortion?
In various monographs in the Mandamus sequence and elsewhere throughout the monographs, AMORC stresses the importance of the continuity of the Rosicrucian tradition. It says that there are cycles where the Order is public and cycles where it is not. Is it not the case that, despite the claims that your order has a continuity extending from the time of the Egyptian Mystery Schools, that there is not a shred of evidence you can or are willing to show to the public that can verify the truth of this continuity? Can you explain how come someone like myself, who has gone through all the relevant monographs open to its membership but hidden from the world, has never seen or experienced any competent proof of this secret history nor have heard any member show me anything that warrants such a proof?
Is it not the case that if such an historical tradition cannot be proven in the case of AMORC, even to its own members, like myself, who have achieved the highest level initiations--that AMORC, indeed, lacks the right to promote itself as a true Rosicrucian organization? Why have you never validated to me, a member who has gone through the higher initiations, this claim of historical continuity by showing me and others like me some actual, verifiable documents indicating this continuity? Why do I still completely lack any real evidence that Sir Isaac Newton, Benjamin Franklin or Francis Bacon belonged to your actual order?
Is it not the case that AMORC and you have this cosmic and historically-validated authority one of the main justifications for being able to teach members the ability to attain Cosmic Consciousness? In fact, with all this emphasis on occult powers, are you really teaching anything real about Cosmic Consciousness at all? Is your organization really sanctified by a true connection to the Divine Presence as it claims?
Many religion and spiritual teachings warn against the acquisition of occult or psychic powers for its own sake. Do you feel that AMORC feels those warnings are justified?
In fact, isn't AMORC's claim that it holds a unique authority in the realm of fraternal organizations the real foundation for its ability to convey universal and practical truths to its membership with its various levels measured by specific initiations? Do you not agree that, for an organization to elicit authority from its members, that it needs to justify that authority with some kind of tangible proof? These questions, in one form or another, can be used by journalists if they are lucky enough to be able to locate Christian Bernard in a setting conducive to asking questions. Generally speaking, the pattern is to avoid reporters at all costs, and, if cornered, to change any kind of hard-hitting question into a philosophical discussion.
As you probably know from my books, my biggest complaint against AMORC is the use of Mind Control. In this context, Mind Control implies the use of hypnotic techniques to increase suggestibility, condition behavior and alter personality. This is possible because there is a thin line between meditation and hypnosis, and it is my belief that your monographs and the use of the Home Sanctum (private place in the home for reading monographs and performing Rosicrucian exercises) develop an hypnotic platform for Mind Control.
There is no question in my mind that AMORC uses Mind Control to trap and retain its members. Is not the creation of a sense of authority or power of the interrogator, hypnotist or cult leader the key to creating a mind control platform? Are not the monographs the primary tools for instilling in your members a sense of the absolute uniqueness and power of your organization for attuning its members to God's will and purposes?
One of the main ways cults gain quick control over their members is by exhausting them as quickly as possibly--usually by giving them an overwhelming amount of physical work, accomplished over long hours. Doesn't the fact that the monographs fail because of their essential untruth about being able to "program" good things to happen and the absence of acquiring the promised occult powers make serious members attribute this failure to their lack of understanding and diligence? Do they not, as dedicated members, undertake to review the monographs over and over again and also perform extensive exercises to create the conditions for their success? In addition to this repetition, do the exercises themselves begin to dominate your members' every moment--teaching you to sleep in an unnatural position, to constantly perform breathing exercises and to be writing in a diary? Is not the Rosicrucian work, despite the initial contradiction with the claims of the opening monographs, meant to dominate and control every second of the member's life?
Is it not true, given the possibility that AMORC is creating an hypnotic platform for its members, that many of their experiences--like seeing an aura or having a vision of a spiritual master or having a montage of images appear in their consciousness regarding the distant past or immanent future--be hallucinatory and deceptive as a result of deep hypnotic conditioning? For instance, when you repeat the name of a color frequently, wishing intently for it to appear, as described in the monographs, is this not just as likely to be an hallucination as it is to creating a different color through some kind of psychic manipulation of the electromagnetic spectrum?
Every member of AMORC understands that the EGREGOR is a kind of divine energy pattern in which contains the seed of AMORC's power to help manifest members' connection to the divine. Has not the concept of the Egregor been raised to the level of a uniquely necessary connection to the Divine Presence so that without it members will lose their connection to God? Does not the egregor function to instill in the member a fear of leaving the Order? Is not leaving AMORC subliminally similar to being excommunicated and losing the keys to a happy afterlife?
Is not the fundamental object of every cult to create out of its members a new personality, called in Mind Control literature a "cult personality?" This new personality is the result of members "buying in" to certain claims made by the Cult leadership which makes them highly programmable, compliant with the wishes of the Cult's leaders and capable of acting fanatically in the interests of the cult. Is this not the reason that persons who are liberated from cults often have symptoms related to the Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome--ranging from erratic behavior, irrational night and daymares and even blackouts of conscious, as I did? How aware are you, Venerated Imperator, of the psychological dangers for your teachings in the monographs for your most faithful and attentive members?
Isn't it true that the Spiritual Masters that AMORC speaks of with the greatest depth are actually the Spiritual Masters described in theosophical literature? And that most of the other Masters including the Master Nodin, alleged author of the "important" Nodin Mansucript, are barely described in detail or their history revealed--including some of the more famous adepts such as Benjamin Franklin or Sir Isaac Newton? Is this Cosmic Hierarchy really constituted as you claim or is this not a myth perpetuated by the founder, H. Spencer Lewis to augment the "divine authority" of the organization?


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If you've spent any time listening to the radio over the last few years there is a good chance that you've heard music from the Ting Tings. Who exactly are they you may ask? For many the bells only start ringing after mentioning their 2008 punk-pop hit song "That's Not My Name."
RELEASED: February 2012
RECORDED: 2009–11 Berlin, London, Murcia and Ibiza
GENRE: Indie rock, indie pop, dance-punk
LABEL: Columbia
PRODUCER: Jules De Martino
1. "Silence" 3:47
2. "Hit Me Down Sonny" 2:51
3. "Hang It Up" 3:12
4. "Give It Back" 3:36
5. "Guggenheim" 3:57
6. "Soul Killing" 3:17
7. "One by One" 3:46
8. "Day to Day" 3:34
9. "Help" 3:01
10. "In Your Life" 2:58
Sounds from Nowheresville is the two-man band's second studio album, which predictably starts off as a dance-inspired follow-up until it takes a complete tangent half way through, delving into different genres instead. In an act of sheer defiance the duo, Jules de Martino and Katie White, scrapped half their album half way through the recording process, prompting them to replace it with 30 minutes of music, songs they claimed had a lot more depth and emotion.
The results are a cocktail mix of vocals, bassy-pop music beats and melodies. It's not unusual for White to sound like a cheerleader/rapper on one track and emerge as Fergie meets Gwen Stefani on the next. Whatever your preference, White clearly has the talent and the chops to croon a haunting melody, clearly noted in "In Your Life". It's hard to deny her vocal abilities when you consider the different types of vocal styles she offers here.
"Silence", "Hit Me Down Sonny", "Hang it Up" and "One by One" echo the ideas of their previous works, while songs like "In Your Life", "Help" and "Day To Day" embrace a side to the Ting Tings we've never seen before. "In Your Life" is haunting and Noirish, reminiscent of something off a Kill Bill Soundtrack. "Help", a simple tune with repetitive lyrics and deep 80s electro synth sounds clearly conveys the depth and emotion they referred to. "Day To Day" on the other hand could easily be mistaken for Natasha Bedingfield-style pop.
Nowheresville is heavy with 80s and 90s Prince influences, which become increasingly evident in the guitar solos, and perhaps even in the chanting. The heavy bass rhythms are overlayed with odd percussion throughout, especially in "Soul Killing", with sounds that mimic bed springs.
The group has been under a lot of fire regarding this album, and their decision to expand their musical footprint, but Nowheresville is solid proof of their musical gifting, keeping a good balance between the dance floor-ready tunes and those that are more on the experimental side. Whether fans react to the album positively remains to be seen, but if this album is anything to go by they have definitely gained a new fan.
[yframe url='http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gHzgzN9H6QM']

subset: commoncrawl


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Women may see RU486 as easy way out: Truss
DEPUTY Nationals Leader Warren Truss has spoken out against giving women access to the abortion pill RU486, arguing they should not see a termination as "the easy way out" of an unwanted pregnancy.
The pro-life minister deemed moves to scrap the effective ban on the drug as a "significant step towards abortion on demand".
But Mr Truss said he would listen to scientific arguments on the relative safety of the drug as a non-surgical alternative, believing there were cases when a choice had to be made about the life of a mother or a child.
"I've never been a supporter of abortion on demand and this pill seems a significant step towards abortion on demand," he told The Age.
Female senators and MPs from four parties are pushing to overturn a law giving Health Minister Tony Abbott a veto on drugs that trigger an abortion.
Federal politicians will have a conscience vote in Parliament next month on whether to scrap the veto and allow access to be decided by the Therapeutic Goods Administration.
Nationals Senator Fiona Nash, who is sponsoring the private members bill overturning the veto, backed Mr Truss' call for more education and prevention of unplanned pregnancies, but said the federal vote did not ask politicians to endorse or oppose abortion.
"This bill just says that the assessment of a non-surgical alternative should not be made by one person the Health Minister but should be decided by the TGA," she said.
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Posted 4 years ago
(10 items)
Look at these lovely hats that I received from my great aunts home that we've been cleaning out. I just love them and wish women wore them still today! (even though I don't look good in hats).
Can anyone give me any information as far as era's and fashion for the time? Thanks for any info in advance! Blessings~


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Eleveen Mile Canyon, Colorado April 1st-5th whats the snow like?
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Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Abilene, Ks
Posts: 21
Re: Eleveen Mile Canyon, Colorado April 1st-5th whats the snow like?
I live in the north central part of Kansas have thought about going to Arkansas sometime but have never been there this will be my 7th time to Eleven Mile Canyon. I am some what familiar with that area so I'm not learning an area over again. I have fished below Spinney but that was once right below the dam once at the bridge and have fished the lake once and once above the lake. Also fished the Arkansas a couple of times I like it but am not very familiar with it the time I fished around Coaldale we did pretty decent but last year that was all muddy had to stay upstream from Salida might try the Arkansas again this year depending on what happens. Last year while we where there in April once u got to Lake George the S. Platte river was seriously muddy and up it sucked tried to fish Happy Meadow but couldn't catch anything same deal with up by Hartsel.
As far as freezing I don't mind the cold nights I got a decent sleeping bag. And the nights always seem to be freezing when I am there; been there in beginning of April, beginning of June, and the beginning of August a couple of times nights are always cold.
Few days off from work and away from the wife always going to be a good trip; a few pulls on the rod will just top it all off. Would like to try and get another pike this year though got one last year that was some fun.....
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Purchasing a Project Portfolio Management Tool: What's the ROI?
LOS GATOS, CA April 6th, 2016 - You could ask just about any project management leader out there and most or all would probably say that purchasing a good PPM (project portfolio management) tool is a great idea. The problem is, when it comes time to actually write the check, most are hesitant because they have tight budgets, staff and current projects to worry about, and they aren't sure what the return on investment (ROI) will be or if there even is one...or if it can be measured.
The problem with basing everything on ROI is you never take that jump. I was worried about being able to afford our first child. Imagine if I had stayed in that mind set – how boring our life would be. Instead, we now have 11 children...4 born to us and 7 adopted. I am blessed to the fullest and couldn't imagine life any differently – though I realize that's not for everyone. But as with many things in life, we sometimes we have to take that bold step and say, "Yes, I'm ready...let's see how this goes".
The tangible pros
Maybe for this situation, we actually can look at this a little deeper. While it's difficult to determine an exact ROI – in fact you'll probably never really get there – you can consider some cold hard facts about what purchasing a project portfolio management tool will bring to your organization in a positive way. Quickly, these five pros come to mind...
- Finishing a higher percent of projects on time due to better portfolio balancing and management
- Saving money on projects through more efficient management, prioritization and oversight
- Starting the right projects at the right time because you have a good 10,000 foot view across all projects
- Easier and more accurate resource management and allocation across all projects
- More meaningful reporting across all projects by managing them in one tool as a whole
Reporting is always a critical piece of the decision-making process
Let's consider the reporting aspect a little farther. When you are managing all of your projects in, say, a spreadsheet as one organization I worked for was doing, there is no easy way to provide meaningful reporting across all projects that can be used well and productively by senior management. In general project managers are spending an average of at least 4 hours per week putting reports together and another 2 hours collecting actuals from project team members. If you consider that they may have a billable rate of $150/hour if they are doing client-related work as opposed to spending valuable time on reporting...then that's up to $900 per week of potential client-billable time an organization me be losing on an activity better suited by and probably eliminated by the acquisition and implementation a good project portfolio management tool. Over the course of a year that could add up to $45,000 per project manager needlessly spent or lost of potential billable time.
Let's look at this another way that may help further convince the reader of the ROI of a solid PPM tool. These tools – if you choose the right one – can be a collaborative wonderland with very good and customizable reporting mechanisms. What serves our project managers and the PMO director and all of their weekly analysis and reporting needs to get a nice detailed view of the project landscape and backlog in the company's PM infrastructure, can also serve the upper management tier very well with a 10,000 foot level dashboard view into the projects that need to be planned for, proposed upon, prioritized and addressed.
Those in charge need to be able to identify critical projects, make accurate prioritization of projects, and analyze resource usage and availability across all of those projects and potential projects. With a spreadsheet you may be able to capture some key aspects of each project, but meaningful reporting and customizable reporting that can be done quickly is just not possible. With the purchase of a good project portfolio tool you will have customized reporting and can use the tool to accurately report on, prioritize against, and assess resource availability for all of those ongoing and potential projects in your organization.
It's unfortunate, but some projects actually get canceled once an organization realizes all too late that they do not have the time or the resources to do it. If they had a good PPM tool that could assist with capacity planning or portfolio simulation, they wouldn't start a project they couldn't finish. As I mentioned earlier...managers are spending an average of about 6 hours every week collecting actual project hours and putting reports together that mean something to leaders and decision-makers in the organization and can be used to plan for and prioritize projects. This expense effort can be eliminated by acquiring and implementing a good project portfolio management tool.
Without a good PPM Solution, your management is likely making project management resource, financial and prioritization decisions based on gut feelings, inaccurate or estimated information and may even be taking on projects that aren't the best use of time and resources in the organization and contradictory to organizational goals. I've seen so many organizations approach the management of their overall project portfolio without any real insight and oversight...prioritizing based on what director or VP may be shouting the loudest. It is disastrous situation to be in and perpetuate and has led to the deconstruction of more than one project management office (PMO).


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|You are in: Health
Wednesday, 13 October, 1999, 17:02 GMT 18:02 UK
Ł14.6m pledged for mental health beds
The government has announced the allocation of extra secure beds for the most seriously mentally ill.
Mental health experts welcomed the announcement, but said they believed the figures may have been manipulated by the government.
They say the additional beds are not backed by any extra cash, since the government announced earlier that it was investing Ł14.5m in secure places.
"They must have known how many places that would fund," said Matt Muijen of the Sainsbury Centre for Mental Health.
London will get the most cash - some Ł3m which will fund 55 new beds.
Mr Hutton said the places would provide greater security for the public as well as better treatment for the mentally ill.
Bed shortage
Pressure on a range of mental health beds, including secure beds, has been intense in recent years following the closure of the old long-stay hospitals and cutbacks in mental health budgets.
A shortage of secure beds for the most severely ill can have a knock-on effect on other areas of mental health provision, although mental health charities say this only affects a small proportion of patients.
The worst pressure is in local hospital acute beds, where psychiatrists complain that a lack of places means they can only allocate beds to the most seriously ill, regardless of whether they think a person may need in-hospital treatment.
However, a shortage of medium secure beds can mean people in high secure beds who are getting better are unable to move.
Mr Hutton said: "The pressure for beds in medium secure units is high.
"There are small numbers of patients who need more secure conditions to be properly cared for because their behaviour or dangerousness prevents them from being treated in a local unit or in the community."
According to the government, one in seven adults suffers from a mental health problem, although mental health charities say the number may be higher.
Around four people in 1,000 are estimated to have a severe mental illness, such as schizophrenia or manic depression.
Some 11,500 people are detained in hospital or mental nursing homes under mental health legislation.
A spokesman for the National Schizophrenia Fellowship welcomed the extra money for "the Cinderella of the health service".
But he added: "Secure beds address a need for a tiny minority of people with severe mental illness and we look forward to future announcements of extra funding for the vast majority of people with severe mental illness who will never need a secure bed."
Melba Wilson, policy director of mental health charity Mind, said: "The emphasis should not be on beds. While some are needed, secure beds are only for a minority. The focus should be on care in the community."
It welcomed a recent government announcement of Ł19m to extend the number of 24-hour staffed beds, assertive outreach teams and new drug treatments.
But said more money was needed for these kind of community-based initiatives.
Mr Hutton also announced the allocation of Ł3.7m to the eight NHS regions in England to help them implement the Mental Health National Service Framework.
This will be published shortly and will set out the kind of service mentally ill patients can expect across the country.
See also:
13 Oct 99 | Health
Warning over 'third way' for mental health
13 Oct 99 | Health
Mentally ill 'need more rights'
13 Oct 99 | Health
Mentally ill 'denied crisis care'
13 Oct 99 | Health
Bed shortages 'cost NHS millions'
15 Jun 99 | Health
Case for compulsory medication 'overstated'
13 Oct 99 | Health
Children's mental health 'ignored'
Internet links:
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Top Health stories now:
Links to more Health stories are at the foot of the page.
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Thelma & Louise (1991)
Plot Summary
Louise is working in a diner as a waitress and has some problems with her boyfriend Jimmy, who, as a musician, is always on the road. Thelma is married to Darryl who likes his wife to stay quiet in the kitchen so that he can watch football on TV. One day they decide to break out of their normal life and jump in the car and hit the road. Their journey, however, turns into a flight when Louise kills a man who threatens to rape Thelma. They decide to go to Mexico, but soon they are hunted by American police.- Written by Harald Mayr <firstname.lastname@example.com>
Whilst on a short weekend getaway, Louise shoots a man who had tried to rape Thelma. Due to the incriminating circumstances, they make a run for it but are soon followed closely by the authorities including a local policeman who is sympathetic to their plight. The federal authorities, however, have less compassion and thus a cross country chase ensues for the two fugitives. Along the way, both women rediscover the strength of their friendship and suprising aspects of their personalities and self-strengths in the trying times.- Written by madjanssen
An Arkansas waitress and a housewife shoot a rapist and take off in a '66 Thunderbird.- Written by DANIEL
As the film opens, we meet Louise (Susan Sarandon), a waitress in a diner-style restaurant. She phones...See full synopsis » (Warning: contains spoilers!)


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Experience a living nativity
Each year, thousands of people take time from their busy schedules to journey to the manger to witness a recreation of the Christmas story.
First Lutheran Church in Alexandria will display a living nativity on Saturday, November 30 from 5 to 8 p.m.
Starting at the intersection of Douglas Street and 7th Avenue West, "shepherds" will guide cars through each nativity scene.
Actors will portray the holy family, shepherds, wise men and angels. Live camels, donkeys and sheep will be present to show how the stable may have looked that first Christmas Eve.


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The stars of Sweden's bestiary are northern predators like bears, Arctic lynx and wolf - stalking elk, reindeer and Arctic hare. But it's a twitchers idyll too, from Lapland to Oland. Migratory visitors include crane, eider and goldcrest, while Swedish skies are patrolled by raptors like Gyr falcon, osprey and White-tailed Eagle. Seals, meanwhile, disport themselves along gorgeous rocky shores.
Officially, around 24,000 islands lie within this unique archipelago a mecca for kayaking, hiking and swimming spreading 80km out from the capital. Highlights include Stendörren Nature Reserve, gorgeous Uto with its bird-filled woods, seductive beaches and glorious cycle trails, plus historic spots like 17th century Trosa, the Tullgarn Palace and fortress Vaxholm. Traditional floating bathhouses beckon for cool dips.
Alongside Viking mementoes and ravishing medieval towns like Lund, Falkerberg and Visby, Sweden has a host of distinctive ancient sites. Ales Stenar is a Nordic Stonehenge on a sweeping southern coastal headland, near an imposing Bronze Age burial site at Kivik. Bohuslan's Tanum Plain, meanwhile, is a UNESCO-listed natural gallery for eye-popping 3,000-year-old rock carvings many erotic!
Sweden does traditional villages as entrancing as the countryside they nestle in. Think red and yellow cottages, cobbled lanes, fishing huts perched by bouldery shores. Eksjo is a symphony in wood, Trosa a historic harbour idyll, Sigtuna a ravishing timewarp dotted with holy ruins. Ornskoldsvik is just one fishing beauty along the atmospheric Hoga Kusten ('High Coast').
Northern Sweden claims Europe's most remote point, amid lonely mountains and taiga explorable on foot, husky sled or skis. But other spots beckon. Magical archipelagos frame each coast: historic Ostgota in the east, sandy southern Oland, woody Lulea by the west. Bergslagen and Halsingland, meanwhile, offer bear, wolf and elk in the heart of Sweden, just 2-3 hours from Stockholm.
Sweden's larder is renowned for the brilliantly fishy: multiple ways with herring; dazzling crustacea; succulent oysters and mussels; freshwater treats like pike perch; superb caviar - the red Kalix is served at Nobel banquets. Wild herbs and a panoply of berries are foraging favourites, flavouring everything from mains to crispbreads. Add novel meats like moose and reindeer, superb cheeses and potent Swedish aquavits.
Between October and March, Sweden's vast, sparsely populated northern interior provides optimal conditions to view the aurora light show. Unlike Atlantic Ocean spots like Iceland, the weather is generally clearer too. One of the best places is the Abisko National Park, where the Aurora Sky Station takes advantage of Sweden's driest climate. Snowy expanses and frozen lakes provide beautiful reflectors.
Intriguing human life rivals wildlife in Swedish Lapland (aka Sapmi). Delve traditional culture at vibrant festivals in the Sami capital Jokkmokk. Try indigenous delicacies like elk or reindeer sauced with cloudberry, mopping up the juices with gahkko bread. For deeper engagement, learn to track animals on skis, make wood and textile crafts, or work with ice to build snow homes.
Stockholms forested surrounds and vast archipelago are a multifaceted natural jewel, but much of the city centre is let down by bland corporate architecture, tourist hordes clogging its 57 bridges, traffic swirl and a certain capital city smugness. Many prefer the laidback creative buzz of west coast Gothenburg, the Bohuslan gateway with a fine gourmet scene and industrial can-do edge.
When first built in 1989, the Ice Hotel near Kiruna was truly cool a startling igloo palace unlike anything else on Earth, melting away each spring then rebuilt with new twists each winter. 25 years on, it remains a glittery oddity - but distinctive rivals in Norway, Canada, Finland, Japan, Romania and Switzerland now blunt its cachet.
IKEA does pleasant-enough pale wood furniture but its giant stores feel like part of a corporate cult that traps you on an inescapable circuit inside a blandly tasteful vision of Scandi design. It's far removed from the mid-century modern dynamic forged in the 1950s and 60s, and continued by contemporary Swedish names like Kasthall and Bjorn Dahlstrom.
While not as eye-wateringly expensive as Norway, eating out in Sweden can be tough on your wallet. Always check prices before sitting down in a restaurant, and factor in often high wine costs. For bargain daytime scoffing, avail yourself of widespread dagens lunch (lunch of the day) deals, generally offering a salad, main and drink for a bargain price.
Multi-activity tour in Stockholm's picturesque countryside
Self-guided hiking through Stockholm's picturesque countryside
Wildlife break at Sweden's most primitive hotel.
Wildlife holiday in Sweden with full focus on large mammals.
Self-guided cycling in Stockholm's picturesque countryside
Self-guided cycling in Stockholm's fantastic archipelago
Self-guided canoeing in Stockholm's picturesque countryside
Luxury tree hotel in Northern Sweden
Treehouse and active holiday in Swedish Lapland


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A York man who bequeathed his estate to York Museums Trust has inspired the latest art installation at St Mary's church.
The exhibition entitled 'Finding the Value' displays the work of five commissioned artists – Andrew Bracey, Alison Erika Forde, Yvette Hawkins, Susie MacMurray and Simon Venus – whose pieces are influenced by the Madsen collection.
Peter Madsen and his sister Karen Madsen left their estates, worth £2 million, to the Trust in 2011.
Artist Simon Venus created 'Passed On' which uses an eclectic selection of objects and images drawn from the Madsen collection, arranged in three animated tableaux.
He said: "This is a eulogy to the Madsens and the church setting gave me the idea for a triptych."
Alison Erika Forde took pieces from the collection and worked on top of them.
She said: "This collection is based on the idea of taking under-valued objects and breathing new life into them.
"It also looks at how Madsen might have installed the works in his own home."
The exhibition explores the idea of inheritance of cultural values and the meaning of value.
The high value of this collection also provided the financial trigger to instigate the £8 million development of York Art Gallery, which is due to reopen in 2015. Included in Peter Madsen's estate was his own varied collection, which is the stimulus for Finding the Value.
Dr Janet Barnes, chief executive of York Museums Trust, said: "Peter Madsen was generous in leaving us his collection of paintings, prints, books and ethnographic and decorative art."
The exhibition is open to the public until November 2, from 10am to 5pm. Entry is free.
The majority of the new works will be for sale with proceeds going to the York Art Gallery redevelopment fund.


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Tue 24th May 2011 12:00pmBundoran Surf Co's Bundoran - The Peak Surf Report
May 24th 2011 @ 10am Very strong wind again in Bundoran slightly lighter than yesterday but still gusty. The only beach option is Rossnowlagh but very windy out there too. High tide: 1204 3.0m Low tide: 1756 1.5 m
View the Bundoran - The Peak Surf Report and Forecast. Bundoran Surf Co's Reports have received a total of 853980 views.
This report has received 401 views since 24/5/11.


text: STUART, Fla., Oct. 4, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Ecosphere Technologies, Inc. (OTCBB:ESPH), a diversified water engineering, technology licensing and environmental services company, today announced that the Company and its majority-owned subsidiary, Ecosphere Energy Services, LLC, completed manufacturing, acceptance and delivery of two Ozonix EF80 units to Hydrozonix, LLC in the third quarter of 2012. Additionally, Ecosphere received the purchase order for units 11 and 12 from Hydrozonix. The Company has commenced production of units 11 and 12, and expects them to be delivered in the fourth quarter of 2012. "I am pleased to announce another delivery to Hydrozonix under our long-term contract," stated Charles Vinick, Chairman and CEO of Ecosphere Technologies. "Hydrozonix now has ten Ozonix EF80 units for their U.S. oil and gas exploration customers, eliminating biocides and scale inhibitors as well as enabling 100% recycling of flowback and produced waters." Vinick further stated, "Since initiating our license agreement, Hydrozonix has treated more than 14 million barrels (nearly 600 million gallons) of water using Ecosphere's patented chemical-free Ozonix technology. With Hydrozonix, we are well-positioned to continue our growth strategy." About Ecosphere Technologies Ecosphere Technologies, Inc. (OTCBB:ESPH) is a diversified water engineering, technology licensing and environmental services company that designs, develops, and manufactures wastewater treatment technologies for a variety of industrial markets. The Company provides environmental services and technology solutions for large-scale, sustainable applications across industries, nations and ecosystems. Ecosphere is currently driving clean water innovation with its patented Ozonix advanced oxidation technologies and mobile, low-maintenance water treatment systems. Ecosphere's patented Ozonix technology is a high-volume, advanced oxidation process designed to recycle water while reducing liquid chemicals used during water treatment applications. A recipient of Frost & Sullivan's 2012 North American Product Leadership Award in Disinfection Equipment for Shale Oil and Gas Wastewater Treatment, Ecosphere has enabled oil and gas customers to recycle and reuse over 2 billion gallons of water on approximately 600 oil and natural gas wells in major shale plays around the United States since 2008.


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Traveler's Choice Beverly Hills Country Club 2-Piece Carry-On Spinner Set - BH2702RItem#: T22-102388001 | Model#: BH2702R
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text: Mr. Scot 34,528 Report post Posted January 29, 2009 Just heard a blurb on ESPN Radio that could be big. Quoting a New York Times story, they reported that federal prosecutors have record of urine samples from Barry Bonds that came up positive for steroids. "Not really news" you say since Bonda has already admitted to using the designer steroids that were created by BALCO, but claimed not to know they were performance enhancing drugs. The defense has also pointed out that the "Cream" and "Clear" drugs were not legally defined as steroids at the time they were being used. Valid points, if the steroids found in Bonds' samples were the Cream and the Clear. According to the story, they're not. Haven't seen a writeup on it yet, only heard the announcer read the main points. Good chance there's more info to come out, and the defense will of course try to counter. With that said, if this does indeed prove true, and it holds up in the trial, Bonds is done for. Stay tuned on this one. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites


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Toyota tester Ricardo Zonta set the best time of one minute 25.583 seconds, with McLaren's Pedro de la Rosa second.
But Raikkonen and Montoya took it in turns to go fastest of the race drivers in Friday's two one-hour sessions.
BAR's Jenson Button was next quickest ahead of Red Bull's Vitantonio Liuzzi and Renault's Fernando Alonso.
Championship leader Alonso's team-mate Giancarlo Fisichella was eighth, with David Coulthard 12th for Red Bull and world champion Michael Schumacher 13th in the Ferrari.
The new 5.3km Istanbul Otodrom is one of only three circuits on the Formula One calendar which run anticlockwise.
By the end of the session, all 25 drivers had completed a timed run as the need to learn the track took priority above the desire to conserve their engines.
De la Rosa's lap of 1:27.882 put him 0.571 seconds ahead of Raikkonen, who won the last race in Hungary.
Several drivers made mistakes, with Schumacher spinning his Ferrari across the gravel at turn 12 late in the session.
Mark Webber also took to the gravel in his Williams after running wide, Liuzzi lost control at turn eight, Nick Heidfeld's Williams went off at turn one and Rubens Barrichello spun his Ferrari at turn three.
Montoya went quicker than Raikkonen in the second session, the Colombian's lap of 1:26.525 almost a second slower than the benchmark set by Zonta with his final lap of the day.
Friday practice times:1 Ricardo Zonta (Br) Toyota one minute 25.583 seconds2 Pedro de la Rosa (Sp) McLaren-Mercedes 1:26.1963 Juan Pablo Montoya (Col) McLaren-Mercedes 1:26.5254 Kimi Raikkonen (Fin) McLaren-Mercedes 1:27.2745 Jenson Button (GB) BAR-Honda 1:27.3466 Vitantonio Liuzzi (It) Red Bull-Cosworth 1:27.5787 Fernando Alonso (Sp) Renault, 25, 1:27.5798 Giancarlo Fisichella (It) Renault, 29, 1:27.6739 Jarno Trulli (It) Toyota 1:27.96410 Takuma Sato (Jpn) BAR-Honda 1:28.08111 Mark Webber (Aus) Williams-BMW 1:28.12012 David Coulthard (Sco) Red Bull-Cosworth 1:28.23513 Michael Schumacher (Ger) Ferrari 1:28.29314 Jacques Villeneuve (Can) Sauber-Petonas 1:28.40415 Rubens Barrichello (Br) Ferrari 1:28.46016 Ralf Schumacher (Ger) Toyota 1:28.64117 Felipe Massa (Br) Sauber-Petronas 1:28.68118 Christian Klien (Aut) Red Bull-Cosworth 1:28.82819 Nick Heidfeld (Ger) Williams-BMW 1:28.95920 Tiago Monteiro (Por) Jordan-Toyota 1:30.62621 Robert Doornbos (Mon) Jordan-Toyota 1:30.62822 Christijan Albers (Neth) Minardi-Cosworth 1:30.73023 Nicolas Kiesa (Den) Jordan-Toyota 1:30.88424 Narain Karthikeyan (Ind) Jordan-Toyota 1:30.89925 Enrico Toccacelo (It) Minardi 1:32.813


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Wynyard, NZ tech stocks rally as investors seek 'next Xero,' bet on growth
By Suze Metherell
Jan. 14 (BusinessDesk) – Security software firm Wynyard Group has soared 90 percent on the NZX this year, leading a rally in tech stocks as investors regain their appetite for risk, buying businesses they hope will offer the same growth prospects and capital gains as Xero.
Xero, the cloud-based accounting company, has increased 24 percent in the past two weeks, building on a 333 percent gain in 2013 that made it the NZX 50 Index's top performer. SLI Systems, which provides search engine navigation for retail websites, is up 10 percent in 2014, GeoOp, which sells a worker management app, has jumped 32 percent and Diligent Board Member Service, a governance software firm, is up 15 percent
As a group, listed tech-related companies have outpaced the NZX 50, which has risen just 3.4 percent this year, extending a two-year advance in what some economists are now calling a 'rock-star' economy. Investors have been returning to equities and in an increasingly online world are focusing on stocks with growth potential.
"Faster and faster internet speeds are helping these companies come through," Rob Mercer, head of private wealth research at Forsyth Barr. "If you turned the clock back to 2001, there were these cool ideas but not the infrastructure. In 2014 we now have the enablers that can take those ideas, and people can see the commercial upside."
Neither Xero, Wynyard, nor GeoOp have turned a profit yet. Xero's $5 billion market capitalisation is backed by annualised sales of just $70.6 million and the tech rally has left some investors struggling to apply conventional valuations on stocks.
"The hard part of it is to put a value on belief," Mercer said. The market has "inflated expectations" of tech companies. "At some point your share price can get ahead of you. Ultimately companies need to be seen delivering on their investment plan."
Diligent has revived after its shares were punished by a mix-up over executive options and its announcement in 2013 that it needs to restate three years of revenue because of miscounting. Xero raised $180 million in new capital in October from high-profile tech investors including PayPal founder Peter Thiel, ensuring it can continue to burn cash as it chases sales growth ahead of profits.
Wynyard said yesterday it had met its sales target for 2013 of $21.5 million. Today, SLI Systems said it notched up more than one billion search queries in December, up 50 percent from a year earlier. Its local customers include Warehouse Group though more than 95 percent of its software-as-a-service sales are offshore.
"The heat that's in the tech sector is a search for new ideas," said Greg Fraser, senior equity analyst at Mint Asset Management. "New ways to make money out of the internet – if it makes using the internet easier, or facilitates business transactions then it is commercially viable."


text: Tall No. 2 pencil skirt in two-way stretch cotton Item G2179 Color: IVORY Size: All sizes are US sizes. TALL 2 TALL 4 TALL 6 TALL 8 TALL 10 TALL 12 TALL 14 TALL 16 Size Charts Quantity: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Prices are now in Canadian dollars. Add to Bag Wishlist Add to Bag Add To Wishlist share: size & fit Sits below waist. 25 1/2" long. Falls to knee. Product Details You asked, we listened... Our original No. 2 pencil skirt silhouette is back, and it features exactly what you've been missing—like a waistband that sits lower on your waist and that still-flattering knee length. Cotton/viscose/elastane. Machine wash. Import. Online only. Item G2179.


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Warsaw (Jul. 26)
(Jewish Telegraphic Agency)
Great indignation was expressed in various Jewish circles and in the Jewish press in Poland at sensational disclosures concerning Ulen and Company, an American investment concern active in Poland.
Ulen and Company has carried out investment and construction work in many Polish towns. It was learned from reliable sources that in signing agreements for the work with the Grabski government, Ulen and Company undertook not to employ Jews in its work in Poland.


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Raleigh, N.C. — Gov. Pat McCrory has said that raising teachers' salaries will be a priority during his second year in office, but there are big questions about how.
An across the board 1 percent pay hike for all state employees and teachers would cost about $160 million. Just raising teacher salaries by 1 percent would cost $50 million per year, according to estimates by legislative staffers.
"We've under-invested in our teachers. This is a long-term issue," Eric Guckian, McCrory's senior education policy adviser, said on this week's episode of "On the Record." Guckian and N.C. Association of Educators President Rodney Ellis spoke with reporters Laura Leslie and Mark Binker about the fact teachers have had only one pay raise in the past six years. "We recognize that whatever we get done in 2014 is not going to make up for the shortfall that we have. This has got to be a long-term solution."
Lawmakers have said they back an increase but not if it requires increasing taxes.
In order to get the most out of whatever money is available for a pay increase, McCrory has talked about raising the salaries of early-career teachers as well as those teaching in particular subject areas, such as science, technology, engineering, and math, or STEM, subject areas.
"We have to begin with an across the board raise before we begin talking about how you compensate teachers for working in STEM," Ellis said. He said the state should focus on raising teacher salaries to where they would have been if they hadn't been frozen before differentiating pay for certain teachers.
Guckian said that the $30,800 starting salary for teachers is one of the biggest complaints he has heard when talking to teachers and one place the governor wants to focus in terms of a pay raise.
"The biggest issue, we think, and the biggest pain point is in that starting salary," Guckian said. "We've got to make choices around fiscal responsibility and that's why we're really going to focus on those first 10 years, particularly getting that base pay up....We want to raise the floor and then we'll raise the ceiling."
Also during this week's On the Record:
- If teacher salaries do go up, what should be the target? Many people, such as former Gov. Jim Hunt, have encourage lawmakers to aim at the national average. Not everyone agrees. "The idea of a national average is very compelling, and everybody wants to see a ranking," Guckian said. "I think, though, when you look at cost of living – I'm originally from Rhode Island, and Rhode Island is among the top 10 in their investment in teachers. But ... it's much more expensive to live in a place like Rhode Island, New York City, (Washington) D.C. And when you compare those things, I think it's apples and oranges."
- Guckian said he would not favor a much-talked-about 60-30-10 plan that would limit salaries and how much time a teacher would spend in the profession. "We want the teaching profession to be a destination and a career, not a layover," Guckian said.
- Both Guckian and Ellis said public schools needed more flexibility in how they teach students. Both men said the state's current testing regimen limited how much public schools could pursue innovation. "We are testing our children to death," Ellis said, "It is one of the things keeping us from being flexible in our classrooms."


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NEW student accommodation complete with 48 rooms and a gym look poised to be given the go-ahead by planning chiefs.
Proposals have been submitted by Whitelionco Ltd for the new six-storey building on the site of Nevada Motors in White Lion Brow, just off Spa Road.
The plans would see 48 bedrooms with en-suite facilities arranged into 11 "clusters", including communal areas with kitchens and living rooms.
The ground floor would have a manager's office, a bin store, laundry room and large internal secure bike store.
A private gym for use by residents would be on the fifth floor as well as access to an outside terrace.
The site is currently occupied by the single storey Nevada Motors building which would be demolished if planning consent is given.
Bolton Council's planning committee is due to meet on Thursday, January 10, where members are recommended to approve the plans.
A report to the committee said: "Due to the location of the site, close to the university and town centre, this is a desirable and sustainable site for student accommodation.
"The building will provide high quality accommodation for the student market and internally the building has been tailored to meet that demand.
"The accommodation would not, however, be suitable for the general market and a condition will be placed on the planning permission."
There has been one objection to the scheme from Paul Atkinson of nearby White Lion Court.
He claims the development would ruin his view and that allowing students so close to the Bolton Lads' and Girls' Club youth club in Spa Road would be "extremely irresponsible".
In a letter to the planning committee, he said: "I strongly object to this build. I think it is extremely irresponsible that you would even consider building student accommodation facing the Lads' and Girls' Club where impressionable young children are seven days a week.
"I'm not saying that all students party — but I think it's a common fact that a very large percentage of them do." He said he would move out if the plan went ahead.
In September last year luxury student accommodation opened at the site of the landmark Pack Horse Hotel in Nelson Square following a £3 million redevelopment.


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Originally posted by Muggins:
So it's going to be insanely noisy at this game tonight since we are trying to set the Guinness World Record for noise. Last week I thought we had no shot at the record but I think it's clear it's going to happen. KHTK had people calling in this morning already being hella noisy. Some dude said he was bringing his trumpet lol. They also talked to Chris Granger the Team President and he was encouraging people to bring in all types of noise makers.. he said about the only thing that won't be let in is something dangerous like a chainsaw or something. He wants people to push the edge.
I'm going! Its going to be HELLA loud... the section I'm in, some dude bought cowbells for the entire section. Hella funny that ESPN thought to put the Pistons and Kings on national TV though, haha... outside of Detroit and Sac, NO ONE will see that game. But whatever, lets bring that noooise!!!


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Cooking: 1 cup rice + 1-1/2 cups liquid = 4 servings. Rinse rice under cold water until water runs clear. Place rice and water or stock in a medium saucepan. bring to a boil, reduce to a simmer, cover and cook until liquid is absorbed and grains are soft, about 15 minutes. Flavor Tip: Before adding liquid, saute rice in pan with a dash of olive oil until slightly toasted, about five minutes. For more cooking tips and recipes visit us at www.alterecofoods.com/recipes.
Always refer to the actual package for the most accurate information


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Time Flies When You're Having Rum Beach Towel
This cheeky beach towel is sure to put you in beach paradise mode.
Many sailor knot bracelets here, I especially like this red yellow and green rasta styled one. Don't see many of these, and its just too cool.
Just got back from Maui and this rum brings me right back to the beach. Can't go wrong.
Philly2night always has great deals for its members. 2 hour open bars, free giveaways and more!Added 8 Years Ago from Cities2night


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Musical Barracks
The picture on p. 19 of the spring Scene — the Barracks — is indeed a picture of a former BOO, but it did not house students; it was the home of the music department. The lower floor, made up of small rooms, served as practice rooms; the upper floor had two large rooms—one used for band practice (I was in the band) and the other for Glee Club (I can't carry a tune, so I never used that area).
The barracks that housed students were behind Lewis Hall (one set) and then below, just to the west of the football field, were perhaps 10 or 12 structures that housed single men. Adjacent, and jutting out toward Gaines Street, were the "married barracks," made up of small apartments for married students.
Probably someone already has mentioned all of this, but there aren't many of us around from those days so maybe this is news.
Keep up the good work!
Tom Mulligan '53
Lenexa, Kans.
Embarking on a Mission
Listed below is facts and figures from my deployment. When it is all said and done I will write a more specific memo summarizing the many experiences in the Middle East prior to IRAQI Freedom.
Steven J. McCauley, LTJG
United States Navy
USS LABOON Mediterranean/Middle East
2002 Deployment Highlights:
Fifth Fleet: 77 of 85 days (90.5%) underway.
Sixth Fleet: 51of 84days (60.4%) underway
Combined: 148 out of 184 days (80.4%) of deployment were underway.
Operations and Exercises:
Operation Enduring Freedom
Operation Southern Watch
Maritime Interdiction Operations ("Raised the bar")
Exercise Eagle Salute (OCE/OTC)
Exercise Pioneer IV (OTC/ASWC)
Port Visits:
04-08 JUL Split, Croatia
11-14 JUL Aksaz, Turkey
16-20 JUL Souda Bay, Crete
17-20 SEP Mina Salman, Bahrain
05-08 OCT Port Victoria, Seychelles
19-23 OCT Souda Bay, Crete
17-20 NOV Toulon, France
22-26 NOV Koper, Slovenia
Navies Operated Alongside:
Germany United Kingdom
Turkey Netherlands
Spain Greece
Italy Australia
France Japan
Canadian Egypt
Command Awards:
Q3 FY-02 CINCLANTFLT Retention Honor Roll
Retention Pennant
Gold SWO Pennant
Silver ESWS Pennant
Fuel Figures:
F-76 Received 3,978,400
F-76 Used 3,854,351
JP-5 Received 5,592
JP-5 Used 4,478
Water Figures:
Produced 2,158,264
Used 2,167,976
Strait Transits:
Straits of Gibraltar (STROG) 2
Strait of Messina 1
Suez Canal 2
Bab El Mandeb Strait 2
Strait of Hormuz 2
9 (Total)
Miles Traveled: 44,583
Mediterranean Moorings: 2
Sea & Anchor Details: 58
UNREPs Conducted: 42 (US, German, British and Japanese Oilers)
Helo Bounces: 108
Maritime Interdiction Operations Boardings: 44
Advancements last cycle 47.6%
CPO Selectees 5
E-4 Advancement Rate 75.9%
E-5 Advancement Rate 37.5%
E-6 Advancement Rate 35.0%
Qualifications (projected to end of deployment)
Command Qualification 1
Surface Warfare Officer 9
Officer of the Deck (Underway) 9
CIC Watch Officer 10
Enlisted Surface Warfare Specialists 80
Engineering Officer of the Watch 13
Combat Systems Officer of the Watch 12
Small Arms Weapons (9MM, M14,M60) 587
Reenlistments and Retention
Reenlistments 35
Reenlistment Rate 87.3%
First Term Reenlistment Rate 66%
SRBs 31
SRB Amount $621,253.43
Pace Courses
3 Terms, 10 Courses (Math, English, Government, and Political Science)
79 Enrolled
68 Received College Credit
Cost of Food Consumed $270,425.18
Coffee Served 664 lbs
Milk Served 1634 Gallons
Cereal Served 9432 Boxes
Fresh Eggs Served 2,345 DZ
Rice Served 1,657 lbs
Hamburgers Served 2,605 lbs
Chicken Served 7,401 lbs
Steak Served 1,992 lbs
Crab Legs Served 220 lbs
Lobster Served 85 lbs
Postal Services
Total Weight of Mail Received 21,000 lbs
Total Weight of Cargo Received 10,000 lbs
Mail Received during Flight Quarters 6,000 lbs
Avg Time for Delivery of 1st Class Mail 10-15 days
Avg Time for Delivery of 4th Class Mail 30 days
Haircuts 2,160
Laundry 184,896 lbs
Ship's Store Sales $140,048.75
Soda Sales $29,133.90
Number of Sodas Sold 58,267 cans
Pressed Khakis (Officer/CPO each) 2,400 sets
Supplies Received via VERTREP: 1,200 lbs
Deployment Summary
USS LABOON (DDG 58) is concluding a very successful six-month Mediterranean/Middle East Deployment on 20 December 2002. While representing the George Washington Battle Group in two AORs, LABOON operated under the tactical control of German, Canadian and Australian Task Force Commanders and in doing so, represented the United States with exceptional competence and dignity.
LABOON chopped into the Sixth Fleet on June 30th alongside the USS GEORGE WASHINGTON (CVN 73), USS NORMANDY (CG 60), USS MONTEREY (CG 61), USS MAHAN (DDG 72) and USNS SUPPLY (AOE 6). Prior to INCHOP into the Fifth Fleet, LABOON conducted several port visits in the Mediterranean and Adriatic Seas. On the 22nd of July, LABOON transited the Suez Canal en route Safaga, Egypt for Exercise Eagle Salute.
EAGLE SALUTE 2002 was a bi-lateral exercise with the Egyptian Red Sea Naval Fleet. The goal of Eagle Salute was two-fold. It allowed the Egyptian Sailors to become familiar with current American Naval tactics as well as providing an opportunity to strengthen our relationship with Egypt, a vital stabilizing force in the Middle East and an Ally in the US War Against Terrorism. The first day of the exercise consisted of LABOON sailors providing tactical seminars on VBSS, SAR, Air Defense and Electronic Warfare. The final two days of Eagle Salute were underway seamanship and warfare demonstrations between LABOON and two Egyptian ships, a frigate and a minesweeper. This exercise provided an excellent opportunity to conduct seamanship maneuvers, firing exercises, and ASW tracking events alongside our African counterparts.
Upon completion of Eagle Salute, LABOON transited the Red Sea enroute the Gulf of Oman for integration into Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF). On station for only 30 minutes, the ship was directed to support National Tasking in the Arabian Sea. On August 9th, LABOON became the first Carrier Battle Group ship to conduct operations in the Horn of Africa/Gulf of Aden region as a part of the German Task Force in support of OEF. The ship remained on station in the Gulf of Aden for 58 days prior to a brief port visit in Bahrain. Following the port visit, LABOON executed duties as Comiskey Guardship in the North Arabian Gulf, including 44 boardings in support of Maritime Interdiction Operations. The Australian MIO Commander expressed his pleasure with LABOON's performance upon departure by challenging the ships remaining on station to meet the challenge of LABOON's standard as we had "raised the bar." Following departure from the Arabian Gulf, King Neptune paid a visit to the ship!
while transiting to Port Victoria, Seychelles.
On October 15th, the ship transited the Suez Canal en route to the Mediterranean Sea and the Sixth Fleet for a reunion with GWBG. As a part of Sixth Fleet, LABOON conducted Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) Operations in the Eastern Mediterranean, a multi-national ASW Exercise (PIONEER IV), and a Change of Command in Toulon, France.
PIONEER IV was an ASW exercise between Germany and the United States. As OTC and ASWC for the exercise, LABOON participated alongside two submarines, USS SAN JUAN and German FGS U17, and five Maritime Patrol Aircraft from the United States. PIONEER IV is a Tactical Development Exercise designed to develop interoperability between the navies of Germany and the United States. PIONEER IV focused on a Coordinated ASW force search for a transiting/patrolling SSK with the main emphasis on the tactical use of EERs and ACOMMS to detect and localize the target. The exercise was conducted in the western Mediterranean Sea between the Balearic Islands and the coast of France. The results of the exercise were very positive and provided the framework for the new era of the command and control architecture in an ASW environment.
As a part of the Fifth and Sixth Fleets, LABOON operated with navies from 12 countries. During this time, the ship completed numerous ASW, SUW, and AAW exercises. Through this coalition building, the contribution of LABOON and the rest GWBG will be felt for years to come. The interoperability of command and control systems and the sharing of intelligence will only lead to a stronger coalition bound together to win the War on Terrorism.
As ambassadors of the United States, the crew of LABOON continually maintained and exhibited the highest of standards. Whether conducting an UNREP alongside a Japanese oiler or participating in COMREL projects in Crete and France, the crew maintained dignity throughout and in the process, never missed a beat. Through solid planning and total commitment to readiness, LABOON has executed smartly across the spectrum of Surface Warfare during the GEORGE WASHINGTON BATTLE GROUP 2002 Mediterranean/Middle East Deployment.


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And an end to toe cleavage!
See The Entire H&M Conscious Exclusive Collection 2016
The glove shoe is the other It-shoe of the season. From Argentinian designer Martiniano Lopez Crozet's classic heel to Céline's ever-popular cinched design, the granny-esque heel is the latest addition to the comfy footwear cannon, and goes with just about everything. But more importantly, its high vamp means the death of what is, in my humble opinion, the most abhorrent thing in the world: toe cleavage. Shivers.More
23 Boyfriend Jeans to Add to Your Collection


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The Little Mermaid Original Production Cel....Click the image to load the highest resolution version.
DescriptionThe Little Mermaid Original Production Cel. An original animation cel from the 1989 Disney movie, featuring Ariel and Prince Eric (voiced by Jodi Benson and Christopher Daniel Barnes). In Excellent condition, matted with a background reproduction to an overall size of 15" x 12". From the Acme Archives.
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I popped open one of the beers, put my boots up on the desk, turned up the volume on my monitor and followed my watch list and while I was outbid on my proof Walkers I got a winning bid on a 67+ CAC BTW. Shoot, anniversaries don't come much better than tView More Testimonials
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[Press Release]
Open Road Distribution Will Digitize, Format, and Distribute Ebooks for Authors, Agents, and Independent Publishers
Ingram Content Group Will Power the Program
Open Road Integrated Media, a digital publisher and multimedia content company, announced today the formation of a new full-service digital distribution service. Open Road Distribution will offer published authors, agents, and independent publishers the ability to digitize their entire catalogues of published books, produce ebooks of the highest technical quality, and distribute through the broadest available distribution platform in the most cost-effective manner. The new service, which will be powered by Ingram Content Group, will commence in January 2013.
Jane Friedman, CEO of Open Road, said: "Open Road is committed to helping authors, agents, and publishers join the digital revolution. We produce hundreds of ebooks each week. Now we will offer access to our leading digital services to others. I have enjoyed a long history of working with Ingram and look forward to continuing this strong relationship in the digital age with the expansion of our core business."
"We are pleased to be expanding our relationship with Open Road as they launch their distribution service," said John Ingram, CEO, Ingram Content Group. "Ingram's growing digital and print-on-demand businesses have global reach and complement Open Road's expertise in digital publishing, distribution, and marketing. As the barriers to bringing great content to readers have fallen, Open Road is leading our industry in developing solutions for these new entrants to book publishing."
Open Road Distribution will work with:
· Independent published authors who want to manage the distribution of their ebooks
· Literary agencies and independent agents with large catalogues of backlist books, who want to offer a distribution service for all of their authors
· Independent publishers who want to digitize, format, and distribute their content
Print-on-demand services will be available for all titles.
Open Road Distribution is Open Road's latest business division, joining Author Brands, Publishing Partners, and E-riginals.
About Open Road Integrated Media
Open Road Integrated Media is a digital publisher and multimedia content company. Open Road creates connections between authors and their audiences by marketing its ebooks through a new proprietary online platform, which uses premium video content and social media. Open Road publishes ebooks from legendary authors including William Styron, Pat Conroy, Alice Walker, James Jones, and Virginia Hamilton.
About Ingram
Ingram Content Group Inc. is a subsidiary of Nashville-based Ingram Industries Inc. The company provides books, music, and media content to more than 39,000 retailers, libraries, schools, and distribution partners in 195 countries. More than 26,000 publishers use Ingram's fully integrated physical and digital distribution, logistics, and manufacturing solutions to access global consumer demand, and realize the full business potential of book content. Ingram's operating units are Ingram Book Company, Lightning Source Inc., Vital Source Technologies, Inc., Ingram Periodicals Inc., Ingram International Inc., Ingram Library Services Inc., Spring Arbor Distributors Inc., Ingram Publisher Services Inc., Tennessee Book Company LLC, and Coutts Information Services. For more information, visit www.ingramcontent.com.


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I Choose Harvard: Jeannie Bachelor Lavine '88, MBA '92
Jeannie Bachelor Lavine '88, MBA '92
After graduating from Harvard with significant debt, Herbert Bachelor '66, MBA '68 began saving for his children's college education. Now his daughter Jeannie Bachelor Lavine '88, MBA '92 and her husband, Jonathan Lavine MBA '92, are helping ease the financial burden for others. In 2011, the couple established the Lavine Family Cornerstone Scholarship Fund, which will support four undergraduates.
"It's a privilege to give deserving students a chance to attend Harvard," Jeannie says. "Intelligence is not distributed by income, and we want others to have the same opportunities we had. We're proud to support Harvard's financial aid program." The Lavines also made a significant immediate-use gift to advance University priorities and have established a humanitarian studies initiative at the Harvard School of Public Health.
As an undergraduate, Jeannie lived in Quincy House and concentrated in economics, thanks to inspiring teaching and mentoring by Lawrence "Larry" Lindsey PhD '85, a graduate student who went on to leadership roles in government, academia, and business. She acted, belonged to Harvard Hillel, and enjoyed traveling with the Radcliffe Choral Society. After business school—where the Lavines met—and work with The Boston Consulting Group, she has been home raising the couple's two daughters.
Jonathan is managing partner and chief investment officer of Sankaty Advisors, an affiliate of Bain Capital. He represents the family on several boards, including Children's Hospital Trust, City Year, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Horizons for Homeless Children, and Stand for Children. Jonathan is also a trustee of Columbia University and the Dana Hall School.
At Harvard, Jeannie is active with her upcoming 25th reunion and she shares her expertise at the Faculty of Arts and Sciences and University levels. "Being involved is another way of giving back to this institution that means so much to us," she says, "and of encouraging others to do the same."
More from Harvard Magazine
Feb 15, 2013
I Choose Harvard: Douglas '62 and Cynthia Crocker
Doug Crocker '62 and his wife, Cindy, believe that education is the gateway to opportunity—and that helping open those gates is essential. Read More
Feb 15, 2013
I Choose Harvard: Ab Gupta '04
Since graduating from Harvard, Ab Gupta '04 has lived in five cities, launched an investment office in Mumbai, earned two advanced degrees, and served as CEO of a 200-person company. The constant during that change-filled time? His Harvard College ties. Read More
Feb 15, 2013
Anything Is Possible
Harvard's financial aid program changes the lives of exceptionally talented students from all economic background and empowers them to change the world. Read More


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Durban - A second handwriting expert told the Durban High Court on Tuesday that the disputed signature on the deed of nomination of the late leader of the Shembe Church was authentic.
Forensic document examiner Jannie Bester said he had compared the disputed signature and the original signature.
"The writer of the specimen signature is also the writer of the disputed signature," he said.
The Shembe Church, which is also known as the Nazareth Baptist Church, has been embroiled in a leadership battle since its leader Vimbeni Shembe died in 2011.
Vimbeni's son, Mduduzi, and his cousin, Vela Shembe, both want to succeed him.
According to a will, Vimbeni chose Vela as his successor, but some senior church leaders want Mduduzi to take over.
After failing to convince the church's elders of his nomination, Vela took the matter to court.
Bester was instructed to authenticate the signature of Vimbeni on his deed of nomination dated February, 11, 2000.
He said he did not identify any fundamental handwriting differences between the specimen of Vimbeni and the disputed signature on the deed of trust.
"I identified various corresponding guiding characteristics between the collected specimen of the writer and the disputed signature.
"I also examined the signature for characteristics of forgery, of which none were identified," he said.
In December, forensic document examiner Michael Irving told the court the signature on the deed of nomination was authentic.
Colonel Frik Landman, another handwriting expert, is expected to tell the court that the signature on the deed of nomination was forged.
Bester has seen Landman's report. He said he did not agree with his opinion because he could not establish the methodology he followed in his examination of the signature.
"He did not interpret natural variation correctly and did not quite recognise examination standards," Bester said.
He said Landman had not considered external influences, like the impact of signing such an important document.
Bester is the chairman of the SA Forensic Document Examination Association.
He trained with the Forensic Science Laboratory in the SA Police Service in 1993.
The trial continues on Wednesday. - Sapa


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The visitors, who could have scored even more, went ahead on 24 minutes when Paul Ronald headed home a corner.
A minute later, Ronald's cross was turned into his own net by Shire defender Scott Livingstone.
Richard Bowers fired in a shot from 20 yards before an angled strike from Paul Paton and Shaun Molloy completed the rout with a thunderbolt drive.
East Stirlingshire: Nugent, Livingstone, Ure, Oates, Brand, Blair (Nixon 57), McKenzie (Smith 59), Joe Boyle (Stewart 57), Dymock, Ward, Adam. Subs Not Used: Learmonth, Tiropoulous.
Booked: Dymock.
Queen's Park: Cairns, Paton, Molloy, Whelan, Agostini, Canning (Dunn 46), Kettlewell (Weatherston 78), Quinn, Ronald, Bowers (Trouten 87), Ferry. Subs Not Used: Dunlop, Crawford.
Goals: Ronald 24, Livingstone 25 og, Bowers 37, Paton 51, Molloy 54.
Att: 391
Ref: A Boyd


text: WOOSTER Grace Brethren Church, Wooster, was the setting for the marriage of Wanda Jean Barone and Richard Glenn Shilling on May 1. Pastor George Johnson performed the 1:30 p.m. ceremony with music provided by pianists Sarah and Nathan Murphy, cousins of the bride.The bride is the daughter of Theda Marie Barone of Lodi. The groom is the son of Richard A. and Glenda K. Shilling.The bride wore a floor-length sheath dress enhanced with heavy lace and pearls. The long train was attached at the back neckline. She wore a tiara of pearls and sequins and carried a bouquet of white and pink roses and ivy.A lavender dress was worn by matron of honor Theda M. Barone, mother of the bride. She carried a bouquet of lavender and pink roses. Bright pink dresses were worn by flower girls Hannah Barone, Katie Barone and Madeline Barone. They carried white baskets with roses and butterflies.Best man was Richard A. Shilling, father of the groom. Ushers were Bob Barone, Leonard Barone and Wes Barone.A reception for 350 was held in the fellowship hall at Grace Brethren Church, Wooster. Guest book attendants were Karin E. and Rob Ecker.Following a honeymoon in Gatlinburg, Tenn., the couple is residing at 7920 Burbank Road, Wooster.The bride is a graduate of Cloverleaf High School and is employed by Pat Catan's in Strongsville.The groom is a graduate of Northwestern High School and is employed at Wooster Tool and Supply.A rehearsal dinner, with the groom's parents as hosts, was held at The Barn in Smithville. Prenuptial showers were given by Kin Barone, Charlene Barone and Janet Mennell; by co-workers at Pat Catan's; and by Linda Kline.


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Discover our latest product and thought leadership videos.
Co-founders Tim & Chris Vanderhook introduce Viant – the premier people-based advertising technology company that enables marketers to plan, execute, and measure their digital media investments through an on-demand, cloud-based platform.
Built on a foundation of people instead of cookies, The Viant Advertising Cloud (TM) provides marketers with access to over 1.2 billion registered users, one of the largest registered user databases in the world, infusing accuracy, reach and accountability into cross device advertising.
As the most advanced deterministic identity management platform, the Viant Identity Management Platform gives marketers access to Viant's proprietary database of over 1.2 billion registered user profiles, enabling marketers to onboard and build actionable customer lists.
The audience builder tool within the Viant Identity Management Platform allows marketers create unique audience segments based on real people, rather than anonymous cookies.
Viant's Data Analytics Platform (DAP) helps marketers understand true cross channel campaign effectiveness across digital, print, and TV through a simple user interface showcasing a customer's path to purchase.
Leveraging deterministic data from set-top boxes as well as automatic content recognition (ACR) technology from Viant's partnership with major smart TV manufacturers, Viant provides marketers with real-time results to help drive incremental reach & tune-in.


text: When people ask us how our business is doing, we always say that we are as good as our last guest. Our passion is to be an expert in our craft which is why we do what we do everyday. Recently, many of you participated in the annual Shepherd Express BEST of Milwaukee Reader's Choice Awards voting, for which we are grateful, as we won for best Aesthetician, Spa and Women's Hair Salon. With our complements, please enjoy a savings of $10 on a service of your choosing (hair, skin, nails, massage) at any of our four locations (Brookfield, Third Ward, Bayshore, East Side) on a weekday through the end of November. Since the offering is limited to certain team member please mention this tempting offer at time of booking.


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I've been fascinated by water since I was a boy. I would spend my spare time exploring the local lakes, rivers and streams of the surrounding areas. This led me to a degree in the sciences with a focus on water and a career at Aquascape, where I have the opportunity to design and build water features for clients around the world!
I'm an outdoor enthusiast with water as the focus, fishing, scuba diving, snorkeling, boating or just relaxing on a dock or beach, are a few of my favorite activities. But I'm not alone. According to a recent report by NorthStar, beaches are the #1 destination of choice for vacationers around the world!
Water front property is the most expensive property on the planet! Malibu, California; the Hamptons of Long Island, Miami Beach, the Gold Coast of Chicago on the shore of Lake Michigan; the fact is that people will pay a premium to live near water. Everyone is secretly drawn to it but the question is why? Why do we crave it?
If you were to ask someone, you'd hear a variety of reasons; beauty, serenity, wildlife, aquatic sports and activities or some may just say it's a feeling. What does it all mean?
There's actually some science behind the reasons, it's called negative ions. It might sound like science fiction but it's not; electrical charges are everywhere around us and they have an impact on our bodies and minds. The key is moving water, not just water. That's why waves at the beach, waterfalls and babbling brooks have the greatest effects.
What happens is the energy that's released as water falls through the atmosphere and crashes on the beach or off of rocks releases electrons into the atmosphere. These electrons are picked up by oxygen molecules creating a negative ion.
It actually happens every morning in homes around the world. That's right; our morning showers that wake us up are filled with negative ions. It's more than just the water; it's the byproduct of the falling water that energizes us. So, what does this mean?
When you're in an environment where the concentration of negative ions is greater than positive ions, it will have an effect on your body and mind. There's an increase in blood flow and oxygen content to your cells; it will lower blood pressure and stabilize respiration creating a calming effect. Increased oxygen content in your blood is critical for all metabolic functions which in turn affect your mood.
Negative ions will also clean the air of a variety of pollutants, airborne mold, dust, pollen and bacteria, which are positively charged. When they come into contact with negative ions, they are attracted to each other and will be removed from the atmosphere. That's why visitors to the seashore or a mountain stream will claim that the air is fresher ... that's because it is!
Positive ions on the other hand are the result of combustion and electrical devices(computers, TV's, heating and cooling systems) all of which surround us on a daily basis! Positive ions have a dramatic effect on us, causing depression and feelings of lethargy. I can speak from my personal experience with this because I'll feel more tired from working an 8 hour day in the office versus 12 hours outdoors working a physically demanding job.
Studies have shown that homes and offices will have negative ion levels from 0 to the low 100's at best. A meadow may have 1,000 or more negative ions per cubic centimeter, and the seashore or waterfalls can be 100,000+!!!
It's no wonder why we flock to coasts, lakes, rivers and streams. We need a break from our hectic lives and we get it from this unlikely source. Aquatic destinations will deliver more than we can comprehend; the stunning scenery and unique sounds create the perfect stage for nature to do her magic. The amount of wildlife found along waterways is second to none and negative ions abound as water moves through the atmosphere. Our lungs absorb the negative ion-rich atmosphere with every breath and we feel alive.
This is why we do it and we can recreate this feeling anywhere. It can be as simple as a small decorative fountain located in a courtyard. As the water bubbles effortlessly from the fountain top it will fill the intimate space with the sights, sounds, and energy produced by the water as it finds its way down between the water worn fissures carved within the stone.
For those looking to create a truly one-of-a-kind unique atmosphere designed to mimic their favorite aquatic getaway, the possibilities are limitless. Large expanses of water will capture the imagination in any setting, with the addition of strategically located waterfalls the property will be transformed into an aquatic oasis. Artistically placed boulders will make the water sing as they release electrons into the air creating an atmosphere rich in negative ions and filled with the music of falling water. The addition of aquatic plants and fish will make the feature come alive, inviting us to the shore to feel the water.
All I can say is.....Breathe...
Backyard - Before
Backyard - After
A well designed water feature will engage the entire family with an aquatic experience


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A new haircut can make you seem younger, just like calling your little sister "Mom" whenever you're in public. Keep 'em guessing with this Groupon.
Choose from Three Options
$19 for a haircut, style, and shampoo, valid for men or women (a $40 value)
$49 for a haircut, style, and partial highlights or single-process color (up to a $110 value)
$59 for a haircut, style, and full highlights or all-over color with foils (up to a $140 value)
Salon Brichelle
When Salon Brichelle's stylists perform keratin treatments, they winnow silky, shiny locks out of unruly manes. They accomplish this by using botanical ingredients that enhance, rather than harm, natural beauty. Master aesthetician Natalie Boatright also attends to health and beauty by revitalizing skin and grooming hair with professional-grade products. For special occasions such as weddings and British bank holidays, the specialists team up and give clients a trendy or vintage aesthetic.


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We've tested a number of Land Rovers over the years, but in the four decades since the first Land Rover Range Rover was launched, Consumer Reports has never tested a sample of the company's flagship. It's always been too esoteric, too ritzy, and too exclusive. All this still may be true. But the 2013 redesign impressed us when we borrowed one for a first drive and with a supercharged V6 replacing the V8 for 2014, it was all the more reason to finally test one. So we just bit the bullet and bought a Range Rover HSE. Price: $88,545.
It wasn't that easy to find one. Phone calls to all four Connecticut Land Rover dealers revealed the same story: They're in extremely short supply and are all spoken for. If you want to order one today, you plunk down a $2,500 deposit and wait. Delivery? Some time between March and July of 2014. I almost gave up on it and figured we'd be saving some money in our vehicle testing budget. But then I saw that one dealership had a Santorini Black/Espresso interior unit displayed on their website. The British-accented sales manager I spoke with by phone told me it was sold. But then came a pause. I kept listening. "…as of four hours ago it was sold," said the gentleman.
It turned out that an exporter was about to purchase it for resale in China, Russia, or Saudi Arabia. Apparently some folks in China are willing to pay nearly $500,000 for these things. But corporate Land Rover prohibits dealers from engaging with exporters, so that deal was nixed. I asked if he could transmit me the invoice. "I'll call you back," said the Brit. He didn't.
After another fruitless call, I drove over to the showroom and looked the car over. It had everything we needed, so I put down $2,500 on the spot and picked up our Range three days later.
Wafting along in our luxurious and stately Range Rover over this past long weekend, it became clear that few if any vehicles command such swagger. With a wide repertoire of attributes, in comfort, space, speed, and interior quality, the fact that this car is made for off-roading almost seems like icing on the cake. But we're not going to forget about that part when formal testing begins, which will be way, way before July 2014.
—Gabe Shenhar
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