text:
Nevada Wildfire Continues, Residents Evacuate
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Obama Skirts Senate to Appoint Consumer Chief
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Islamic militants say Christians in Iraq should be prepared to die. The threat comes after a terrorist group attacked...
He was on the shores of Iwo Jima when U.S. soldiers faced the costliest battle in Marine Corps history.
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Eating well on Turkey Day means choosing turkey and other foods that are both tasty and nutritious.


text:
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subset: commoncrawl


text:
1 Row Conical Leather Belt
(approx. $6.79 or €5.89)
- Out of Stock - Product Discontinued
Product Info
Simple yet stylish, this cute leather belt is a must have for your wardrobe. Featuring a row of conical studs, this adjustable belt will fit effortlessly into your day to day accessory collection.
- Product Type: Belt
- Product Code: 78401


text:
this guy likes me, i was not leading him on but i was being nice to him. his friends say he's going to ask me out what is the easy way to reject with out being mean
Most Helpful Guy
"Look, I'm not going to bullshit you with some niceties or thinly veiled insult alright? Just keeping it real and truthful to you and myself.
You are my friend , not my lover. I don't feel anything for you above that of a friend. Take it or leave it."
To the point.
ABSOLUTELY no strain of hope left for him.
That's the way to do it.52|30|0
thanks mate
"No strain of hope left for him" maybe I attract the weirdos but I've said pretty much that and STILL had guys think something could happen


text:
"Yes, hold just like that, please. You pose well."
"As well I should," Philip answered as he put an arm up to lean on the frame of the door out to the balcony. All he was wearing was an opaque dress shirt, unbuttoned and gaping open, which was made even more opaque-luminous even-by the backlighting of the sun beyond the balcony of the eleventh-floor, Darlinghurst, Sydney, apartment. Philip's trim, well-muscled, but not overly so, blond body was gorgeous in its smooth-muscled sculpted lines. His cut cock hung low, nestled in a well-defined nut sack. The only jewelry Philip was wearing-by request-was an elaborate Esculpta cock ring at the base of his cock, made of black rubber, with silver lions' heads on each end that wound around the base of the cock more than once, showing the lions' heads at the top, facing away from each other.
"How about this?" Philip asked after Steve had taken a couple of photos. He lowered his head, looking at his feet, so that his face didn't show, just the tousled top of his blond, with golden highlights, head of curly hair.
Steve, about ten years older than Philip-thirty-five to Philip's twenty-five-dark-haired, slightly hirsute, rougher looking, more heavily muscled and solidly built than Philip, put the camera down, turned to his easel, and picked up a chunk of black charcoal. "Perfect. Now if you can hold that pose for fifteen or twenty minutes, we're home free." He was dressed only in gym shorts, pulled down in front by a heavy basket, and flip-flops.
"There, done," he said some fifteen minutes later.
"Can I see it?" Philip asked, raising his head. He had remained stock still the entire time.
"Later," Steve answered with a husky voice. "First we fuck. I told you you'd pose and I would sketch, and then we'd fuck." He had lost the gym shorts and was in magnificent, uncut erection.
"Where?" Philip asked, his eyes big in confirming the size of Steve for real for the first time outside the pages of a glossy nudes book. Philip felt himself going hard.
"Sit on the chair on the balcony. I'll be out there in a minute."
The minute was spent gathering up lubricant and condom packets.
Coming out onto the balcony, Steve sank down on his knees in front of Philip. He grasped Philip's legs under the knees and parted and lifted them while he pulled Philip's buttocks forward and rolled them up. He spent several minutes licking down the side of Philip's cock as it engorged, sucking on his balls, and seeking out his hole with a tongue before he returned to Philip's cock, deepthroated it several times, and then gave him the preliminaries of a blow job in earnest, while Philip moaned and bucked under him, talked dirty, and clutched at Steve's curly black head hair with his fingers.
At length, Steve pulled his mouth off the cock, and this was when Philip thought he would be fucked. He was prepared for that. For some time now he had welcomed the thought, even as thick and long as Steve's cock turned out to be.
But Steve surprised him. When he opened a condom packet, he rolled it down on Philip's cock instead of his. Then he dribbled the crowned cock with lubricant, palmed more of it, and rubbed that into his own asshole as he stood and crouched over Philip's lap. He lowered his channel on Philip's cock and started, first, a slow rise and fall rhythm on the cock, pulling Philip's face into his chest, the young man's lips onto a nipple nestled in black, curly chest hair. Philip placed his hands on Steve's waist and groaned at the surprise pleasure of his cock being worked by the older, well-experienced man.
After a few minutes of a gentle rhythm, Steve began picking up speed, fucking himself hard and deep on Philip's cock. Philip raised his head and Steve cupped his ears and brought his lips into a deep kiss. Philip reached down and started stroking Steve's cock in a rhythm matching Philip's ever-faster rise and then slam down on the cock. Philip flopped his head back as he came out of the kiss and cried out "Oh, fuck, oh, fuck, of fuck!" as Steve went after Philip's arm pits with his tongue and teeth.
They came almost simultaneously-the very first time they had sex. It was not the fuck that Philip had expected by a long shot, but it was a good one for him.
* * * *
Earlier in the day, if Philip was being honest with himself, which he always liked to try to be, he was bored and cruising. He was on the second day of a three-day layover in Sydney, and, having nothing else to do-he wanted to go to a beach, but the directions that anyone had given to him on getting to one had been too complicated-he found himself seeking out the gay districts of the city in search of some action. He'd never been to Sydney-or Australia, for that matter-before. He'd been told that there was a gay district in the southern Sydney sector of Darlinghurst, within walking distance of his hotel in the harbor area, and he had found a gay bookstore, The Bookshop Darlinghurst, there and was perusing the book offerings-and the clientele. He hadn't been laid in nearly a week, and he was getting jittery.
There were several young men there. Only one was brawny in the way Philip liked his men, though. Heavily muscled and wearing gym shorts and an athletic T-shirt with deep cuts in the armholes that showed tight, curly black hair peeking out here and there and in more profusion at the armpits. He looked like a footballer, and he looked like he could be rough in sex. He also looked several years older than Philip. All of this was enticing to the young man. But the man's attention seemed to be elsewhere.
Philip moved to the table of art books. He saw the 2013 edition of the Dieux du Stade Calendar, featuring artistic nude shots of the rugby players of Paris. He didn't have this edition of the calendar yet and thought this would be as good a place to buy it as anywhere. But as he reached for it, so did another hand. A bigger, rougher hand than his, with tight, curly black hair on the back of it. The hand came down on top of his and held his hand.
"Oh, I'm sorry," Philip said. "We seemed to have been reaching for the same calendar at the same time."
"I would have thought this book over here was more to your interest," the man he'd already scoped out said in a rich baritone voice.
"Uh, which one?"
"The Henning Von Berg photo book. Alpha Males."
"And why did you think I might be interested in that one?"
"All of his models are particularly hung. That's the point of the book. The lower hung a man is, the more he is Alpha material, according to Von Berg."
"Oh, and am I supposed to be impressed by big cocks?"
"I certainly hope so."
God, he's cocky-and confident of himself, Philip thought. Then he went on to append, as well he should be, as he looked down the line of the man's torso from his muscular pecs to his solid waist and the way his gym shorts were pulled down in front. Philip could make out the line of a thick cock and there were two silver lions' heads peeking above the center of the waistband, just above where the man's cock would be rooted. It didn't even appear that he was wearing a jock or briefs under the gym shorts.
"There are several copies of the calendars," he said. "We can both have one." But the man still had his hand on Philip's and Philip hadn't tried to take his away. He had come in here on the off chance of picking up a hookup for the afternoon. And this guy fit the bill. Philip didn't want to discourage him.
"You don't sound like you are from around here, and I haven't seen you in here before," the man said.
"No. I'm an American. This is my first time in Sydney. I'm just here for a few days this time, although I'll be back frequently now. I haven't seen much of anything."
Offer to show me something, Philip was thinking. I think you know what I want you to show me. You're cocky enough to assume that's what I want to see. And I'm needy enough for you to be right.
"Ah, an American. So, what part of America and what brings you here?"
"I live in Los Angeles. I'm an air steward. Just signed on for the Los Angeles-to-Sydney route. I'll be here a couple of times a week for a couple of days."
Take me somewhere and fuck me, Philip added in his mind.
"An air steward. Qantas?"
"No, Delta."
"And your interest in this art work is?"
Because I'm gay and cruising, Philip screamed in his brain. Because I'm looking for some hunk to fuck my brains out. I'm bored. And because, like the men in this art book, you fit the bill and know you do. But what he said was, "I'm also a model. On the side."
"Ah, a model . . . on the side And maybe all that entails."
Yes and on my back too. Go ahead and say it. Go ahead and make something out of it. Tell me you want me on my back.
But the man just repeated himself. "A model. I could have guessed. Nudes?"
"Yes, sometimes. But mostly underwear . . . and jeans . . . and swim wear ads."
"So, as good as nude, considering the ads for those these days."
"I guess you could say so."
Ask me to go with you somewhere, Philip's mind was begging.
"And an escort too, I'll bet," the man said. Philip had been looking away from the man and now his gaze snapped back to the man's face. He was giving Philip a level look and had a slight smile on his face. If he was moving in for the hookup-which Philip welcomed-this was the most direct stab at it Philip had heard thus far. Philip shuddered a bit. The man was a strong dominant. Philip would be manhandled. This was like winning the lottery.
"Are you always this forward?" Philip asked. He intended to make it sound insulted, but he didn't think he'd accomplished that. And he wanted to hook-up anyway.
"When I see something I'm interested in, yes. So, are you an escort in Los Angeles too?"
"Yes, when it suits."
"Both ways?"
"Excuse me? What do you mean? Both men and women? We're standing here in a gay bookstore, you know. But women hire me to escort them as well as men."
"I mean top or bottom or versatile?"
Philip gave it a few seconds to make the man wonder if he was home free-although, of course he was. He was a real hunk and he was crowding in on Philip just the way that made Philip melt to a man. "Yes to all of it," Philip answered. "Both men and women, both top and bottom. Now is that all you wanted to know? Are you really asking if I'll go with you-let you fuck me? Wanting me to say that I want you to fuck me?"
"Well, what I really wanted to know-what drew me over here-is wondering if you would model for me."
Was that a "gotcha" grin on the hunk's face?
"You're a photographer?"
"No. I'm a sketch artist. Charcoal mostly-because it's faster. I like to capture expressions and poses instantaneously."
"And should I ask what else you do as you did with me?"
"You mean other than fuck my models?"
"Yes," Philip answered, his face turning red. It wasn't this man who was going to be embarrassed by direct talk.
"No problem. No secrets. I'm in construction."
"Oh, a construction worker." Yes, he did look a little like a construction worker, Philip thought. Solid, compact, hunky, and a bit rough. And he was dressed for the part. That didn't make much difference to Philip. He liked them a little rough. And this guy had an attitude that suggested he'd drive real hard. Philip also liked casual sex. This was working out well for him.
"Not a construction worker. I said I was in construction. As in an architect. High-rise buildings. I work here and in Brisbane. But I live mainly in Brisbane because there's a lot of construction there. More than here. I keep a place here too though."
"Your place is nearby?" This was where Philip expected to be asked baldly to go there with him. He would just as baldy say yes.
"Yes, just down the street a bit. So, I wondered if you would sit for a drawing for me."
"In the nude, and then we'd fuck?" It was time to stop dancing around the topic of interest to Philip?
It came right back. "Yes, something like that. If you wanted a big cock, applied well."
The man looked a little surprised. He apparently hadn't expected this so fast after all the work he'd done, all of their playful bantering. He backpedaled a bit. "But you said you were a professional model and a rent boy. No preliminary negotiations? No 'It will be this much'?"
"I said escort, not rent boy. Don't cheapen it. I don't need your money."
"But you want to fuck. You came into a place like this looking for a fuck. I can tell."
"I said yes. And I've also said I don't need your money. Yes, I want to fuck. Yes, I came here looking for a hookup. And I think you'll do fine-if you haven't been hyping what you don't have. But you could pay me in some way for the modeling. There's something I need someone to do for me."
"What's that?"
"I've wanted to go to a beach. I've heard they're good here. But I have no way to get to one or any idea what direction to go in."
"You want me to take you to a beach in exchange for a fuck?"
"As the price of modeling. The fuck would be free. I want it, and I think I'd enjoy having it from you. I won't lie about that."
"You have a suit with you? I only ask because whether or not you do determines which beach I take you to."
"Not with me, but back at my hotel."
"Which is your hotel?"
"The Grace on the corner of King and York."
"The art deco one near the harbors? That's on our way to the beach I have in mind."
"Bondi beach? That's the one I've heard the most about."
"I'm thinking of a more private one. Obelisk beach. On the other side of the entrance into the bay from Bondi beach. It's more private."
"OK. How are we going to get there?"
"I have a ute. We'll take that."
"A ute?"
"The Aussie version of what I think you Yanks call a pickup truck combined with a sport's utility."
"Let's go, then. I'll get the calendar. You might want one too. You look like a rugby player too."
"I've scrummed in my time, yes. But those are French guys. They wouldn't measure up to us Aussies."
Still boasting? "Maybe you should buy the Alpha Males book, then. You said it covers champion hung guys. You could compare."
"I don't need the book. I'm in it. Page 32."
With trembling hands Philip flipped the pages of the glossy photographs of nudes. "Holy shit. That is you. Holy shit."
"Shall we go?" the man said, with a smile, as he put the palm of his hand on the small of Philip's back and started guiding the nearly hyperventilating young man toward the bookstore's door.
Already taking charge. Philip trembled with anticipation.
The man's ride turned out to be a sleek and sporty lime green Ford XR8, which he extracted from an underground garage nearby underneath a high-rise apartment house that Philip thought might be where the man had his Sydney digs.
* * * *
The man, who introduced himself as Steve on the ride to the hotel, sat in a chair and watched Philip undress in his hotel room and then pull on a skimpy Speedo. Philip kept looking at the bed. He did want to go to the beach, but what he really would have liked would have been for Steve to fuck him with that monster cock before they went-if, of course, the photograph in the art book hadn't been photo shopped. Philip was real interested in checking that out.
But Steve didn't take the hint. He just sat and watched. And Philip wasn't going to beg for it. At least not yet.
"Don't you have a suit?"
"In the ute, yes. But I'll wear what I have on," Steve answered. Philip hoped that Steve would be going into the water. He couldn't wait to see a pair of wet gym shorts hanging off the guy. He was wondering if those silver lions' heads were attached to what he thought they were. There wasn't much they could be attached to if not that.
Obelisk beach was out Middle Head Road, toward the harborside town of Manly, on the north shore of the long bay stretching inland to Sydney.
The section they went to was a gay beach permitting nude sunbathing, and although there weren't many guys on the beach, they tended to be paired off and were making out most of the time. Not actual humping, as that wasn't allowed on the beach, but everything up to penetration, and there were many pathways leading in from the road to the beach covered in heavy foliage. Pairs of men could go off into the bush for their fucking and then come back and perhaps pair off with others for another round. Several eyed Philip and Steve closely in passing, but a good look at Steve told them it was best to move on and perhaps take their chances with Philip later if he was alone.
Philip and Steve mainly made out-heavily so, and in fact probably a bit beyond the beach's "no penetration" rules. They didn't go off into the paths, and they didn't stay long on the beach. Steve obviously had an agenda. He was the aggressor. That was the way Philip wanted it.
After they had lain on a beach blanket, side by side, on their backs for a while, Steve rolled over on top of Philip. He didn't let his weight rest on Philip except at their crotches, propping himself up on his elbows and his knees, but what he did to Philip couldn't be called much less than a dry fuck-with enough penetration to make Philip moan for more. His knees were between Philip's thighs, his arms were cradling Philip's back, and his hands were cupping Philip's head, holding him captive, while Steve ground against Philip's basket with his own and trapped Philip's lips in deep, tongue in mouth kisses when he wasn't ravishing Philip's nipples with his lips and teeth.
Rolling Philip's pelvis up by forcing his thighs under Philip's, and after rubbing the underside of his nearly unclothed cock over Philip's hole at length while Philip shuddered and writhed under him, Steve pressed his cock head, fettered only by the thin material of his gym shorts and the not-much-thicker material of Philip's Speedo, against Philip's hole and actually managed a bit of penetration of the bulb in short jabs that had Philip gasping and counterpressing, bringing the gigantic bulb a bit further inside his opening, sighing for him, and whispering of moving into the foliage and completing the fuck. Philip, panting hard and groaning and moaning, begged and whined for the fuck, but Steve just laughed. At length Philip came in his Speedo and collapsed under Steve.
"Fuck me for real now, please," he whined.
"Drawing first. Then we fuck for real. Had enough of visiting a beach? Are you ready to go back to my place now? Now that I have shown that I can make you come even without taking our clothes off?"
"Oh, god, yes."
* * * *
After Steve had surprisingly (to Philip) fucked himself on Philip's cock on the balcony, he rose from Philip's lap.
"You have no end of surprises in you, do you?" Philip asked.
"It's all a progression, a conditioning-all by my schedule, my personal rules. And, trust me, you will not leave here before you've been royally fucked. It's late. I'll go fix us an omelet for dinner. You want a glass of red wine? You'll be staying here the night."
It wasn't a question.
"Yes . . . thanks," Philip answered, still confused that it was Steve who had his channel spiked-and aroused at what the man was promising was to come. And not just by what he said-also by the confident way he strutted around in the nude in his apartment, and with what was swinging between his legs. Philip would have to think about all of this. Perhaps he was more aroused by this strange approach Steve was taking than if he had just fucked him in the hotel room. Above all because now he'd seen-and handled-the man's hard cock, and now he knew, with a shudder, that he would be taxed to his limits when he had to sheath it. Sometime. Unless the man was just toying with him. He certainly had been toying with him.
Philip got up from the chair on the balcony after a few minutes and entered the living room which, in one longer-than-wide space ran into where the dining table was and then to the open kitchen beside the entry door. The eleventh-floor residence at Park Apartments on Oxford Street did have a bedroom and bath in another room. The apartment was small, but Steve had said he lived most of the time elsewhere, and Philip thought this place still was probably expensive. It was more than a hotel room; it was high in the building, and it had a spectacular view toward the city center and Circular Quay where the Sydney Opera House reigned.
Retrieving his glass of wine from the counter between the kitchen and the dining area, Philip started to make a survey of the room. He was still wearing just the open dress shirt Steve had sketched him in. His first stop was at the easel where Steve had been working. He had to admit that Steve had a great deal of artistic talent and had captured him-flattered him even-with a minimum of strokes of the charcoal. If anything, the artist had been generous with the hang of his cock. The sketch was sexy and arousing in its own right. The artist had a talent for focusing on the physical aspects of sex without losing the features that made the individual recognizable.
That led Philip to pay more attention to the rest of the room. He had been so focused on being fucked when he'd come into the apartment that he hadn't paid much attention to the furnishings and decor.
The furniture was spare but obviously of high quality. And the walls were covered with other charcoal sketches-all of other young men, like him. But there many different men were depicted. Gorgeous young men. And the sketches seemed to come in pairs for each of the young men, one an artistic pose like Steve just had done of him, and a second one of the young man in dishabille, sometimes entwined in sheets and other times just a heap on the floor. These, though, were just as sexy looking as the formally posed ones, maybe more so because of the sense-almost a smell-that came off of them of musky sex. And there was a quality about them that made Philip feel exhausted, spent and just a bit apprehensive. They made him conscious of a catch in his breath.
These young men had been sketched after being fucked totally. Fucked by Steve. Maybe fucked again after a quick sketch was done.
At one point, while standing and looking at one of these sketches, Philip had to put his wine glass down on a table, he was trembling so much. The young man looked like he had been fucked to within an inch of his life-and yet there was a sublime, if exhausted, smile on his face as if he would volunteer to die that way given another chance. What, Philip wondered, about the sketch led him to think of the fuck as having been cruel and totally taxing? Then he thought he saw it. The sketch of the young man was from his feet looking up his torso to a face of blissful exhaustion. The view was between spread and bent legs. His hole was gaping, not yet closed, sketched immediately after the cock's withdrawal. And he had been reamed extraordinarily wide. Big splotches of cum still glistened on his belly. Philip looked up and down the walls, suddenly concerned whether there had been another chance at this heaven for that young man. But he saw no more sketches of him.
He moved into the bedroom. There he found a large-sized platform bed and more sketches on the walls. Look as he might, though, Philip couldn't find any more than just those two sketches of each of the subjects. It was almost scary. In each instance the second sketch gave off the vibe that the young man had just been taxed to the limit-but would beg for more, given the opportunity. More gaping holes, more prodigious globs of cum. And yet there was no evidence there had been further sketches of any of them. It was disturbing to Philip. When-no, if-Steve got around to fucking him, would it be satisfying and a memorable experience encouraging more encounters with more men, or would he become a sex slave to a single man who showed him what sexual divinity was but who left him incapable of being satisfied by any other man? His mind kept going back to the length and thickness of that cock and to the evidence that Steve would be a cruel and expert lover.
And to those gaping bung holes after Steve had reamed them.
He shivered at the realization that he loved the idea of such an encounter, and scaring him at the prospect that it would ruin him for full pleasure from other men.
He obliquely broached his concern with Steve while they were perched at the kitchen counter and eating their omelets.
"What's in this omelet?" Philip asked.
"Left to right."
"Meaning I stood at the refrigerator and took what seemed to fit from left to right. Luckily I found eggs."
"Ah. Well, it isn't bad."
"Most any food isn't bad after sex," Steve said. "And before more sex."
"Speaking of sex. All those sketches on the walls. Those all guys you've brought here and fucked?"
"Yes. You should see the walls on my house in Brisbane."
"But you fucked them, right? It was you who put them in the condition of those second sketches?" These were questions Philip really wanted to ask. Not just had Steve been the one to ream them that way but also was he really a top? It was disturbing that he hadn't fucked Philip yet. Why had it been Steve on his cock? Everything else but the reality so far pointed to Steve being a piledriver. Was this just a mad game? Was some mad rapist confederate lurking around in the shadows somewhere? Someone physically repulsive?
"The evening is young. Eat your omelet. It will give you strength."
"There are only two sketches of each. Were they drawn on the same day?"
"But only the two?"
"I should have warned you. I'm a first and only sort of guy," Steve said. "It seemed from how much you were on the make for casual sex at the bookstore that you'd be cool with that. I just do a guy the one day. But I totally do the guy."
"Was I that obvious at the bookstore?"
"Sure were. And you're that obvious now. You want me to fuck you right now, don't you? You want me to prove that I can fuck your brains out. Even though what we just did was great at the time, you won't be satisfied until it's me plowing you. Until I ream you a wider one."
"Yes," Philip admitted.
"Sorry. It's on my schedule. At my whim. If you weren't showing you wanted it so bad at the bookstore, I probably would have just moved on."
"Really?" Philip asked, surprised.
Steve took a minute. "OK, not really. I really did want to sketch you. And not just the first one. I want to sketch the second one. And I think you're going to be a real nice lay when we get there. But more than just this once? I don't think so. When you fly away to L.A. in that Delta jet of yours, this will just have been an interesting encounter-one from which you will be humming and can't close your legs when you walk down that airplane aisle. It will be interesting for me; I hope it will be interesting for you too."
"That's it? I don't even get my own version of the sketch?"
"No. I got my rules. I sorta broke them for you, but you have such a great look. And your cock did me good too. I don't really know yet if you're a good lay."
"You broke the rules for me?"
"I don't knowingly do rent boys. I like them fresh or gently used."
"And do they stay gently used?"
"No. I fuck them silly and ream them a wider rectum and colon. I like to stretch their canals myself. You've seen some of these sketches. You can figure that out yourself."
"I'm not sure. I think you were generous with my cock in the sketch you just did of me."
"You measure yourself short, then. Pun intended. I sketch with integrity. Even in the 'second' sketches. I sketch what's there to see. I saw you looking real close at some of them. Does that scare you?"
"Yes, a little." Which was a lie. It scared Philip more than a little. But it aroused him even more. He was already hard. He felt his juices stirring.
"Good. It's supposed to."
"Do you always talk to your men so openly about this on that one day-the day you sketch and do them? They can't all want to hear you are going to ream them wider. Although when they see you naked, they must realize that's going to be the case."
"No. You're the first one I've gone this far with in what I say. I stop when I sense they can't take any more of the truth. But I do them just the same. You are different from the others. Maybe it's because you are a rent boy. I have sensed from the beginning that you want this-all of this. But it isn't all I want. There is fear in their eyes before I stop telling them what is happening and why. I need that and look for that. I haven't seen that in your eyes yet."
"And you think you can't do that with me-ream me a wider one? Master me totally in that way? I'm an escort, not a rent boy, I'll repeat. I think there's a significant difference in fee structure and services. I make entirely too much from it to be called a rent boy."
"I'm gonna make you cry, Mate. It's in the rules. I don't know about stretching your rectum and colon, though. And that's why I should really be doing this by my rules. Reaming fresh channels is the thrill for me. I want them tight and to leave them big enough to drive a ute into. But I'll plumb you deeper than a fresher guy. We'll see how much you can take. No one has taken it all yet. I'm going to give it all to you whether or not you beg me to stop. Does this make you want to head for the door?"
Philip looked away and took a long drag on his wine. But he showed no inclination to head for the door.
"Ah, two hands on the wine glass, you're trembling so bad. I've reached you at last. And I bet you're ready to come right here and now. I bet you could come with me just telling you what I'm going to do to you."
"Yes," Philip whispered.
"Look at me."
Philip turned his head back toward Steve.
"I see it now. A trace of fear."
"Come to my bed now."
* * * *
Twenty minutes later, they were on the bed. Philip was on his back, and once again Steve was using Philip's cock. Steve was suspended over Philip's prone body like an upward-facing crab. His knees and elbows were bent and his head flopped back between Philip's feet. His buttocks were in motion, rising and falling on Philip's cock. Philip was groaning from an experience he didn't often have unless the man he was escorting was a lot older than Steve and with a lot less muscular body than Steve's. Steve had told him just to lay there and stay hard, which he was doing with the help of the Esculpta cock ring, and that Steve would do all of the work. Steve was showing that he could work Philip's cock expertly even in this position.
After ten or fifteen minutes in this position, Steve flattened his legs with them running beside Philip's torso and his feet beside Philip's legs. Steve's torso was still suspended over Philip's thighs and his fists were gripping Philip's ankles. He pistoned his ass back and forward on Philip's cock, and Philip gripped Steve's cock in two hands and stroked him, until, with a cry Philip filled the bulb of his condom.
Steve rose off him then and went across the room to his bureau where he'd put his glass of wine. He watched as Philip cooled down and regained his regular breathing. But when Philip rolled off the bed, stood, and started to walk toward his own wine glass, Steve set his down, walked swiftly toward Philip, picked him up and slammed him down on his back on the edge of the bed, stuffing a pillow under the small of Philip's back to raise his pelvis. Kneeling between Philip's spread legs, Steve's mouth went to Philip's balls and hole, which he attacked with slurping sounds, as Philip arched his back, began to breathe heavily again, and moaned to the ceiling.
It was coming, surely. Surely Steve would fuck him now. Philip was panting with short, ragged breaths, already filling out again. That cock would be inside him soon. He spread his legs as widely as he could in anticipation of what he'd have to take. He was frightened and exhilarated all at once.
Rolling the spent condom off Philip's cock, Steve deepthroated him while he started working lubricated fingers into Philip's hole. Then, standing and crowning his own cock, Steve muttered, "Here's the part where you cry." He reached down to Philip's cock and wound the Esculpta cock ring off its root and transferred it to his own staff. The lions' heads that had overlapped around the root of Philip's quite presentable cock didn't even meet when the cock ring was wrapped around Steve's root.
Philip groaned as the thick cock head pushed in beyond his rim. Steve pushed a little farther, while his hands held Philip's legs and extended them as wide and high as possible. And then he held. But only momentarily. Philip arched his back and did cry out, again and again, and was sobbing within minutes, as Steve thrust his thick cock deep in one long, wrenching motion and then started stroking hard and deep in long, thrusting strokes.
"Holy sweet jezuss," Steve muttered as Philip's channel sucked his cock in deep and Philip started causing his channel muscles to undulate over the thick cock. "You can take me deep, all the way. I don't think I've ever . . ."
Philip didn't have to be told he'd taken all of the cock. He could feel the lions' heads of the Esculpta cock ring rubbing against the rim of his hole. "Oh, daddy, oh, daddy, oh daddy, fuck me deep," he cried out in a monotonous litany as Steve, panting heavily himself, did just that.
"I've never. Oh damn, oh shit, you're good," Steve mumbled with a deep moan of his own. "What you do with those canal muscles . . ."
Steve drove Philip's body up onto the center of the bed with the pile-driving thrusts of his cock, ending up with his knees under Philip's buttocks, and Philip just lying there, spent, his arms akimbo and his head turned to the side, with his mouth yawning in a sloppy grin and creating bubbles and his body jerking slightly with each deep thrust of Steve's cock.
"Shit, you're beautiful like that," Steve muttered. And then he had pulled out of Philip and was gone for a few minutes. But he returned to exactly the same position inside Philip and raised a camera to his face and snapped off some shots of Philip's head and torso in well-fucked dishabille. All the time he continued stroking inside Philip's channel. Then he moved the focus of the camera down to where the lions' heads of the cock ring were rubbing against the rim of Philip's entrance as Steve stroked deep and fired off a few photos. "Still can't believe you're taking all of it," he muttered.
Philip dozed off momentarily soon after Steve had finished him, pulling his cock out, ripping off the Golden Ticket Magnum, and shooting off on Steve's belly in four prodigious ejaculations. His eyes opened to find Steve sitting on a kitchen stool, hovered over the foot of the bed, and his easel in front of him.
He was sketching the after being fucked silly visage of Philip, just like he'd done with all of the young conquests before Philip. Moaning, Philip flopped an arm over his face and tried to shut out the world. It had been a glorious fuck-all that he had hoped for. But it had worn him out.
"Yes, I like that better," Steve muttered, tearing off the sheet of art paper he had been sketching on and then starting all over with a new one. "Keep the arm over the face until I tell you you can move it. And spread your legs more, stuff the pillow back under the small of your back, and bend your legs, putting your feet flat on the mattress. Yes, like that. The widest hole yet, I think. All of it. You took it all."
Philip was asleep before he received permission to move.
In the dark of the night, awakening to discover that he had been stretched out beside Steve on the bed, he only had the briefest moment to think of that because Steve was pulling him up on all fours and mounting his hips and fucking him hard and deep again. He crouched over Philip close and murmured in his ear, "So tight and yet taking it so deep and expertly. Baby, I could fuck you forever."
"It's hard not being tight for a cock like yours," Philip murmured dreamily back. "Yes, there, just like that. Again and again. Oh shit. Oh FUCK! Oh god, you are the best. The very BEST!"
But when he woke in the morning, it was to find he was alone in the bed. Upon inspection, he realized that he was alone in the apartment as well.
This must be what first and only meant to Steve, he thought. So much for "I could fuck you forever." Use them and leave them-without a word of thanks or an assessment of how the other guy had done in the sack. Philip realized, though, that this was what was bothering him the most. Steve had leveled with him on what this was, and, as far as using, Philip had come out cruising looking to use another guy's cock. He hadn't been looking for anything more than a casual fuck. As ferocious as the fucking had been and as taxing as Steve's huge cock was, Philip had to admit that he had loved it. He had never taken a cock that long and thick before, and he felt a sense of accomplishment that he had now. He regretted that they hadn't barebacked. He'd felt the strong repeated release inside the condom when he'd been doggy fucked in the night, and he ached to feel the full flood of it inside him. Truth be known, he had wanted to wake in the morning with that cock working its way into him again-and he resented that it hadn't been there.
What was irritating him now was that Steve wasn't here to assure him that he hadn't been so complimentary on Philip's technique the previous night just to get the last ounce of passion out of him. He had said Philip had a good, hard cock himself, but he had said he'd have to assess how good a lay Philip was later. It was later now, and Steve had evaporated without comment. It wasn't good enough that Steve had told him he was a good lay in the heat of the fuck. Steve had been so detached and analytical before that. Philip wanted to hear Steve tell him he was the best when Steve was in his analytical mode.
The walls spoke of a legion of competitors and Philip was very much a competitor. He wanted to know how he stacked up with the competition. He'd made no bones about telling Steve he was the best. He wanted to hear the same from Steve.
The Esculpta cock ring lay on the dresser. Philip dressed, picked up and pocketed the cock ring as a souvenir of the experience, took the elevator down to Oxford Street, flagged a taxi back to the Grace hotel, stripped, and went straight to bed.
Later that afternoon, Philip heard a persistent knocking on his door. Slipping on a robe, he went to the door and opened it.
"Hello, I don't think we've ever met," Steve, leaning against the door frame, said. He was standing out in the corridor. Just in the gym shorts, athletic T, and flip-flops-no change from the bookshop or dressed any more formally than since that day, which was only the previous day, but seemed so much longer ago than that to Philip. Philip couldn't imagine how Steve had ever made it past reception. But then he'd been to this room in the same thing the previous day and had made it up here. That's how he knew where to come today.
"Of course we've met. You reamed me a new asshole last night. Just as you said you would, and I sobbed, just like you said I would. And then you left me."
"But it was a good sob wasn't it? And where did you go this morning? I went out to get us breakfast-there wasn't anything in the house to feed you. And when I got back you were gone."
"Breakfast? You were coming back?"
"I don't know if I believe you. You said it was in your rules. Just the one day. That was yesterday, not this morning. If you've come for your precious cock ring, stay right there. I'll get it for you."
Philip thought of telling Steve to remain in the corridor and to shut the door while he retrieved the ring, but Steve already had moved inside the room. He stood just inside the open door, though.
"I'm sorry, I don't know what you're talking about," he said. "We've never met before."
Philip was incensed by the mocking smile on the man's face. Was there no end to the power games he played? "Of course we have. We've-"
"Shush," Steve hissed. "Go with me here. There are rules to this. I'm a first and only guy. I want you again. I want to fuck you again and again. But I have rules. I've got to have never met you before. I can't breach too many rules too quickly. But before we agree that this next fuck will be the first and only again-I hope to be followed by the next first and only-I wanted to give you this. I have my two sketches the rules tell me that I must have. This is a third. I've never done this before. I hope you appreciate what that means."
Steve unrolled the sketch he had brought with him. It had been drawn from the photograph Steve had taken of Philip under him being fully fucked. "You told me I was the best. And I'm telling you that you're the best I've ever had too. Every time you look at this, I want you to remember me-and to remember how totally I was fucking you at this time. How much you were enjoying it."
Steve fucked Philip from behind with Philip bent over the bed, spreading his legs as far apart as possible, spreading his buttocks with his hands as far apart as he could too, and panting and sobbing-and loving every stroke of it.
When they were done and stretched out against each other in the bed, Steve asked in a low voice, "When is your next flight out?"
"Tomorrow, and if I don't get some sleep before then I'll be in no shape to work the flight."
"I've been thinking," Steve said. "I have places in two cities. If you are on this route semipermanently, is there any reason you can't home base in Sydney rather than Los Angeles?"
Surprised, Philip turned his face to Steve, his mouth working but nothing coming out as he had no idea what to say. Steve saved him the embarrassment. He covered Philip's mouth with his, and turned his body toward the side so that he could slip his cock into Philip's now-reamed-to-fit ass in a side split. Once encased, Steve turned Philip belly to bed and used his powerful thighs to trap Philip's legs close together, tightening his channel impossibly on the buried cock.
Philip cried out in surprise, pain, and ecstasy. "God, that's too tight. I can't . . . oh SHIT!"
But Steve was already beginning to stroke deep. "You can and will . . . and will love every stroke of it," he commanded. "I want you as tight as possible."
Whimpering and moaning-but believing himself in heaven and mastered just as he liked-Philip happily settled down. Steve had remembered to wind the lions' head cock ring around the root of his cock-Philip could already feel the silver oblongs of the lions' heads on his rim, which meant Steve was all inside him. Philip hadn't had time to notice whether Steve was wearing a condom. Part of Philip hoped not-he wanted to feel the reward of those repeated strong ejaculations deep inside him-if only for this version of the first and only time.


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CHAMPAIGN — The latest proposal to reform state employee pensions is expected to be a major topic at a forum on the State Universities Retirement System this afternoon.
The Campus Faculty Association set today's pension forum at the University YMCA before Gov. Pat Quinn announced his latest plans to address the state's $83 billion pension liability. He proposed raising the retirement age for public workers, increasing employee retirement contributions, and making colleges and school districts share the cost of pensions.
University of Illinois Professor Susan Davis, spokeswoman for the faculty group, called it a "unilateral pay cut and a way of forcing university faculty, school teachers and other state workers to shoulder the burden of the mistakes of the government."
Davis said she had hoped the forum could address ways to improve the second-tier benefits approved recently for newer state employees, but "now this almost looks like tier 3."
The deficit is a result of the state's failure to honor its financial obligations to the pension system, and employees shouldn't have to pay for what their employers are contractually obligated to contribute, the association said.
The free public forum on the health of the retirement system is scheduled for 4 p.m. at the University YMCA, 1001 S. Wright St., C.
The keynote speaker will be Amanda Kass of the independent Center for Tax and Budget Accountability in Chicago, which supports a graduated income tax and a re-amortization of state pension obligations to solve the funding crisis.
Quinn said Friday that employees should not be allowed to retire with full benefits until age 67, unless they give up some of their health benefits. He proposed increasing their pension contributions by 3 percentage points and capping cost-of-living increases for retirees at 3 percent, and gradually having colleges and schools take over employer contributions. UI officials have said that could cost the university up to $180 million.
In a statement to UI employees Monday afternoon, President-designate Robert Easter noted that the plan has not yet been introduced as a bill but said the university would "closely monitor" it through the legislative session.
"We also will be actively engaged in proposing adjustments and amendments to the proposal to minimize the financial impact on our dedicated employees and protect retirement benefits earned. Approval of the proposal by the legislature in its present form is uncertain," Easter said.
The Campus Faculty Association said eroding pension benefits would harm the UI's ability to recruit and retain top faculty and staff.
"Ultimately, this means undermining the educational and research missions of one of our country's great public institutions of higher education. We urge the governor and the state legislature to work with representatives of state employees to develop a plan that does not penalize those who have carried out their obligations over the past three decades and preserves the quality of education and services in our state," the association said in a release.
In an interview Monday, Kass argued that state pension plans aren't "overly generous," and that the problem can be addressed without slashing benefits.
"The issue with the Illinois retirement system is really one of funding, and paying down the unfunded liabilities," Kass said, and framing it as pension reform "skirts the issue."
Pension contributions consume a huge part of the state's general revenue each year, Kass said, and that may not change significantly under Quinn's proposals.
Quinn wants to shorten the time frame for paying down the retirement systems liability, from 2045 to 2042, and raise the funding target from 90 percent to 100 percent. The governor didn't provide numbers on what the state's annual contribution would be under his liability repayment plan, she said.
Legislators approved a two-part plan to pay off the system's unfunded liability back in 1994, with the deficit projected to grow through 2010 and then be almost fully funded by 2045 as the state's contributions increased.
But the payments didn't cover growing interest on the debt, the state took a pension "holiday" in 2006 and 2007, and then came the financial crisis of 2008, Kass said.
The center supports a re-amortizaion plan that would flatten out the pension payments, require the interest to be paid each year, and extend the repayment time past 2045 to ease the pressure on the general revenue fund.
The center also proposes increasing state revenue by switching from the current 5 percent flat state income tax to a graduated tax and expanding the sales tax to cover haircuts and other services. The center argues that the graduated income tax would mean a cut in the effective tax rate for 94 percent of state taxpayers but still increase state revenue by $2.4 billion annually.
On the web:
SURS fact sheet on governor's proposal: http://www.surs.com/pdfs/facts/GovQuinnPensionPlan.pdf [2]
UI President-designate Easter's message to employees: https://illinois.edu/emailer/massmail/23245.html [3]
Center for Tax and Budget Accountability graduated tax proposal: http://www.ieanea.org/media/2012/03/CenterTaxBudgeAccountability.pdf [4]
Burden the schools for the mistakes of the government, huh? That comptroller in Dixon, Ill, just is one who got caught and you want more tax money for pensions? Is our government sick? No, there greedy. It's people like that who has drained our economy and it's time to let the criminals out of prison and fill them with all the civil servants who are stealing from the taxpayers. Retire-rehire that most civil servants are doing in cities across the nation is a way they hide the money that has been stolen. The comptroller who stole the 30M. in Dixon got caught because of a staffer who replaced her. Start letting others enjoy being civil servants and then you will find out that the stealing of tax dollars is wide spread. I am tired of paying taxes and getting nothing in return. Housing accessment is down but they want higher taxes, roads are torn up, the schools are out budgeted, the civil servants want more money and benefits and you want the taxpayers to bail out the thieves. You all have a warped sense of humor or you have no common sense. If you don't convict the civil servants fairly to their crimes then I am compelled not to pay taxes until the criminal justice system do their jobs! They're even civil servants.
So your point is that because of a few public employees stealing, you are not going to pay taxes? Your saying that all public employees are thieves? Your saying that they are not entitled to have pensions even though the majority of the remaining money in the pension systems is what they paid, not the state's? Your saying that the state did not pay the employer portion of the pensions so it is okay to steal from the employees? Hey, help yourself to a "civil servant" job if you are qualified. At least, volunteer your time in a public service organization to see how misinformed you are.
Did you read what I wrote or are you just like me? Answering my comment like I answer the column? I am saying our government problems are coming from the civil servants themselves and then again, bail them out because of their misuse of funds. The schools shouldn't bail out the misuse, do an investigation and I bet my life their is more misuse than discovered. Why should the taxpayer keep supporting misuse of discretion like the criminal justice does when they make mistakes? BAD MISTAKES when they can correct them themselves? Greed is what this is all about and taxpayers are really tired. Are you a civil servant, to where that what I'm saying is true? If not, don't stress about my comment. This comment was made for taxpayers who are tired of being tired of always being gouged by the government with their misuse of funds. We have no control of how they use money from one department to feed another, then there's a shortfall in the one they borrowed from. Look at the IOU's that Social Security has from the government and they say it's no money in that department. Recipients of S.S. didn't get a cost of living raise for three years but the civil servants did. Just my point! I am sorry but if our federal government audits these municipalities with certain populations, they will possibly find out that money was misused and it's their fault, not the taxpayers. Like the woman I mentioned in Dixon, she's a prime example of my comment and this forum they are about to have will never mention these types of situations. We have two ex-governors in prison because of abuse of power or discretion and there's alot more. Do you really think that the only incident like this happened only in Dixon? Please, don't be nieve.It's happening all over and the woman in Dixon just got caught because someone sat in her position for 12 weeks and caught her theivery. Retire-rehire, I say again is a smoke screen to these type of practices and it's nationwide. Read up on retire-rehire and you will see how dissatified people with a social or political science degrees feel about working at McDonalds instead of what they went to college for! These retire rehire people gets two checks not just one and it's paid by taxpayers with money that comes from other programs, departments or other funding that hasn't been touched. It's legal robbery and there's nothing taxpayers can do about it because it's who we trusted to allocate these funds in the right places.
So you would convict every employee on one corrupt employee, lets do the same at private organizations too. In fact lets just make everyone guilty of a crime if they have ever known a criminal.
The concept that every public employee within the state is corrupt based upon the actions of one, or even a few corrupt public employees is not reasonable, nor is it justice. Your concern for tax dollars is legitimate, your rant against public employees in general is not.
State employees pay into their retirement, they pay a higher percentage of their income towards the retirement system then private employees pay to social security. If they have paid into Social Security from a prior job, or a second job, they will not get as much, if any Social Security as others, simply becuase they are in the state pension system. In the even of a divorce, Social Security cannot be attacked, the state pension can and is.
The state of Illinois chose to not pay Social Security, in fact they do not even pay as much into the retirement system as they would if the were paying Social Security. Perhaps The elected officials of Illinois should get honest and start paying the funds as if they were Social Security and put new hires on Social Security, because obiously the state is incapable of fulfilling its obligations.
I kind of have to agree. For the most part, government workers can be akin to thieves.
Most of them do NOT deserve a pension. They should have to pay their way through life just like the rest of us. Why is it on MY shoulders to pay for their retirement?
You don't have to support me. As a civil servant employee, I was informed that you pay into the pension system what would normally be paid into Social Security and the state would do the same. Therefore, as a civill servant, you are not eligible for Social Security when the time comes. I paid into the pension system for many years, the state did not. Would any private employer have been allowed not to make payments to Social Security? I don't think so. Personally, I would rather have been in the Social Security system. Not that I trust the federal government to handle my money but I have more confidence in them than I do the state.
Your salary comes from taxpayers! Your paid vacations, sick leave, pension, and other perks come from taxpayer. If it wasn't for me, you would have none of the above. You don't generate revenue, you have a service. I am not saying you don't diserve what you get, I am saying that the theivery is coming from the people we trusted to make sure the funds go in the right place.
Actually we contribute about half the amount of our pensions -- the government committed to contributing another amount, and investment growth is supposed to take care of the rest. So two problems: gov't did contribute its contracted share, didn't pay our Social Security, and the financial crash of 2007-2008 took a huge bite out of the funds. But we paid in all along.
Pensions are part of our pay, in our contracts. We can go back an "not do" work we haven't been paid for. But what if, for example, state workers demanded a proportion of all the services they've delivered back ---? should you accept a giant pile of uncollected trash or leaves, say, 20 years worth? Or could we cancell your children's highschool diplomas?
So your saying that the elected politicians misspent your, and my taxes? It was not the front line employees that did it. Yet, you and others hate the employees. Yes, you are taxpayers. So are public employees. For all I know the only tax you pay is the liquor tax. You, and I pay our taxes, and the legislature decides how to spend them. It's not the employees that work for their money that are the culprits. We paid our pension payments. The employer, the State of Illinois, did not pay the employer's portion. They took our money, and spent it on you. You want to raise heck with us, blame us, and jeer us. Well understand this; you pay your taxes, but you are not our boss. Get that straight. Go whine about something else. Your misinformed, hateful, greedy, selfish, and cheap if you blame the workers instead of the legislators. Got it straight now.
Rethe pension forum:
I'd like to add that Center for Budget and Tax Accountability's Amanda Kass forcefully suggested this perspective on Gov. Quinn's pension funding reform plan: Besides that fact that it is unfair and unconstitutional IT WON'T WORK. Cutting benefits to future retirees and raising present contributions only nibbles away at the edges of the state's unfunded pension liability. It's futile and dishonest to ask people to sacrifice for something that STILL will not solve the problem. A graduated income tax (raising income tax on the top earners (6% oftaxpayers), and actually reducing the income taxes on everyone else, the 94%) and a broadened pool of sales tax categories would spread the burden more fairly and go a long way to restructuring the debt and solving the problem.
What if Illinois looked to the world as if its law makers were actually solving this problem, instead of cyncially pretending?
Welcome to the real world…Conservatives want to raise the SS and Medicare age until it is out of reach for half the population. IRSs and 401ks have been savaged by a decade of gut wrenching crashes. FDIC backed savings pay a percent or two. Now, some want savaged tax payers to make them whole so they can retire at 55 while we work until we drop dead. Not going to happen. Add to this the possibility that the conservatives have a decent chance of gaining control of state government in the next election, and the solution proposed now will seem like a good deal when said conservatives really swing the ax.
In the real world, we are told like it or leave…
"The real world"? What other worlds are there? The public employees pay taxes also. Their pensions are "guaranteed" by the State of Illinois Constitution, and previous documented agreements. States cannot go bankrupt due to their ability to raise taxes. The employees money was stolen to be spent on other things that benefited the state's citizens. Most of the things were corrupt pork-barrel projects, wants versus needs, and illegal aliens. Yeah; my money, and yours was spent on the All Kids Health Insurance program, immigration centers, educational costs, baseball field lights, dolphin pool liners, ramps for religious institutions, grants for parks and statues, tax breaks for Sears and other corporations, Ameren deals, and other assorted goodies. The employer's portion of the employee's pension payment was not paid for years. Add to that; the fact that the legislators funded with state money their pension system, and are not "reforming" theirs. An underfunded 401K due to your private employer's non payment would result in a fraud court case. The same applies here. The state will lose in court even if it goes all the way to the Supreme Court. It is not just Illinois. It is all of the states, and municipalities that have stolen their employees pensions. The issue goes way past Illinois. Sorry; but you, and I will pay more taxes to honor the debt. Your tag says it all; "whatsinitforme". Your comments live up to your tag.
If the state loses, expect a blow up of the pension plan. Distribute the proceeds to the participants, perhaps making the payouts similar to SS. The only time to get a tax increase thru is during a lame duck session, and the new reps may just repeal it when the take office. The voters may actually have a say in this manner: Shall the state income tax be increased to 10% to assure that state employees can retire comfortably at 55? (While you the tax payer can never retire?) Not predicting a landslide on this one.


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As the Department of Commerce scrambles for an explanation, Representative Sandy Adams (FL-24) charges forward with calls for an investigation into taxpayer-funded conferences held by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP). Yesterday, Adams urged the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform and the Science, Space and Technology Subcommittee on Investigations and Oversight to investigate whistleblower documents that she has obtained.
"The American people are fed up with government agencies and entities misspending their hard-earned taxpayer dollars. While families are struggling to put food on the table in this down economy, we have government agencies that are living it up on the taxpayer dime. The Department of Commerce's response yesterday was nothing short of playing a semantics game with the American people's money. NIST knows that direct costs paid by their agency are not the only ones associated with this conference. They are fully aware that MEP centers are under contractual obligation to attend these conferences, and that the funds used by each center to attend come directly from the federal government's investment in MEP. Whether the true cost is $5 million or $1 million, it is a gross mismanagement of taxpayer funds, and the discrepancy in the dollar amount the department released and the documents I have is reason enough for Congress to forge ahead with an investigation.
"With more than 20 million Americans unemployed or underemployed, it is sad that agency officials chose to waste taxpayer dollars funding fancy conferences and exotic getaways instead of helping the manufacturers who are looking to create jobs and expand the economy. The American people deserve answers, and I intend to get them on their behalf."
Source: http://adams.house.gov/News/DocumentSingle.aspx?DocumentID=303042


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No services are scheduled for Roy Fredrick Braudt, 30, of Lampasas. Mr. Braudt's body will be cremated.
Mr. Braudt died Aug. 4, 2014, at Scott & White Hospital in Temple. He was born July 21, 1984, in San Saba to Lloyd E. Braudt and Carol J. (Stanford) Braudt.
Sneed Funeral Chapel in Lampasas is in charge of arrangements. Offer condolences at www.sneedfuneralchapel.com.


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15 years ago I met my first boyfriend and I was so in love with him but we broke up because I was too young at the time. He is 18 years older than me. I was 20. I loved him so much and never stopped, and since then no other guy could ever compare to him.
Last month we bumped into each other. We haven't seen each other since we broke up 15 years ago. We don't have mutual friends and neither of us are active on social media so we never kept in contact.
He has an 18 year old son from an old girlfriend. He was only married once and he's been divorced for 2 years now and he has a 5 year old girl with his ex-wife.
Just like before we clicked immediately. We've been hanging out quite a bit this month and had sex every time.
Now I don't know what to do.. he texts/calls me everyday. We really like and care about each other. I'm now 36 and he is 54. I've never been married and I have no kids, and I wonder, do I really want to get involved with him?
Ladies, what would you do? Should I put an end to this now? When I think about his situation I feel like I should, but when I think about all the other jerks I dated after him I just want to stay and see where things go.
Money isn't an issue as he is very successful so I'm not worried about his ability to support those children, and mine should we ever have any. It's just the whole situation.. if things work out I'd be the third women to have a baby with him.
Would you date a women who has 2 children from 2 different men?
Usually though, the children stay with their mothers. My case is a little bit different where the children live with their mothers, and his first born son lives in a different state.
Most Helpful Girl
I'd absolutely pursue the relationship. You have been given the opportunity to try this same love again, I'd think of it as fate.11|00|0


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Rihanna Made Out With a Fish
And then she ate it.
Most Popular
Leave it to Rihanna to turn an inherently unglamorous event like fishing into a joyful fashion shoot.
Advertisement - Continue Reading Below
Still in Hawaii, Riri is clearly making the most of her vacation.
Here she is sipping some pleasant looking brunch drink (a bellini?) and smoking a blunt while fishing...
Most Popular
Catching a huge AF fish and giving it a little love...
Using that fish (aka dinner) as a backdrop to display her fierce talons...
And then eating that fish like a boss.
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Nick Santonastasso has Hanhart Syndrome and, as a result, is living his life with one arm and no legs. However, he is also living it with one heck of a sense of humor and a real love of zombie pranks based on his Vine activity.
So it makes sense that the universe conspired to make this awesome zombie prank happen.
Nick was contacted by The Walking Dead's Andrew Lincoln and then flown out to Tokyo to prank Norman Reedus.
I'm going to let you watch the video yourself, but let's just say it's kind of awesome and it had to have been a dream come true for Nick.
Check it out after the break.
(via Buzzfeed)


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Product Spotlight
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Hiller's Snuffs Out Cig Sales
After careful deliberation, the seven-store Michigan grocer flicks cigarette sales to other retailers.
Hiller's Markets will discontinue selling cigarettes at all seven of its stores, despite the fact that CEO Jim Hiller admittedly "agonized over the decision. My personal beliefs are intertwined in my business ethos, and to continue to sell cigarettes runs contrary to my personal commitment to this community and its future."
Hiller said that while he recognizes "that if you don't start somewhere, you can't impact the greater good at all...[and that]...there are all kinds of vices and unhealthy products for sale...cigarettes aren't only dangerous to those who smoke them. The effects spread far beyond those who choose to smoke," and despite the right of those who choose to smoke, "I will not make Hiller's a fellow traveler."
Hiller's operates seven stores, including a new 52,000-square-foot store in Union Lake along with others in Ann Arbor, West Bloomfield, Northville, Plymouth, Berkley and Commerce Township.
Other supermarket operates that have discontinued selling cigarettes include Wegmans and some New Jersey ShopRite stores.


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Driven by a shameful past and a perilous future, Maureen O'Reilly and her sister flee Ireland in search of safety, liberty, and opportunity. But after surviving the rigors of Ellis Island, Maureen learns that their benefactor has died, and his familyrefusing to own his debtcasts her out. Impoverished and in danger of deportation, Maureen connives to find employment in a prominent Manhattan department store, only to discover the elegant facade hides a dangerous secret.
Despite her family's disapproval, Olivia Wakefield vows to honor her father's promise but can't find Maureen, the woman her brother-in-law so rudely turned away. Unexpected help comes from a local businessman, who Olivia dares hope will become more than an ally, even as she fears the secrets he's hiding.
As women begin disappearing from the department store, Olivia rallies influential ladies in her circle to help Maureen stand against injustice and fight for the lives of their growing band of sisters. But will they be too late? And in the midst of a world gone mad, can either woman open her heart to divine leading or the love it might bring?


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Friday & Today - Twelve Apples print (50 x 70cm)
Sold Out
Twelve Apples, is one in a growing series of posters designed for living spaces. Iconic and bold as well as delicate and detailed, this beautiful poster is offset printed on premium uncoated 200g premium archival, carbon neutral paper using Pantone colours and is foil stamped.
Paper size is 50 x 70 cm.
Need a frame? We have you covered.
We sell custom made frames to fit all of our artwork perfectly. Made exclusively for norsu in Melbourne. Shop the frame range now.


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Rutherford's custody case 'hits snag'
Kelly Rutherford has reached an impasse in the fight to be reunited with her two children.
The Gossip Girl star has been fighting a legal battle since 2012, when Hermés, eight, and Helena, five, went to live with their father Daniel Giersch in Monaco.
Last Friday a California judge granted temporary custody of the children to Rutherford, ordering their swift return to Los Angeles.
However, according to the New York Daily News, another judge has halted last week's order because the United States does not hold jurisdiction over the case.
TMZ reports Monaco has full command over what happens with the children.
"Giersch's attorneys argued that Rutherford's legal team tried to pull a fast one by filing for custody in California on the Friday before the Memorial Day holiday [on Monday May 25] ... when they knew Monaco already had the authority to rule," the website writes.
TMZ claims the legal snag will be sorted out over the phone between the judge in California and the magistrate in Monaco during a conference they've scheduled with one another, which takes place on June 11.
Kelly has literally gone bankrupt over this litigious drama, as she was granted insolvency in 2013.
Back in 2012, a California judge ruled that Hermés and Helena should live with their father, as his US visa had been revoked due to allegations regarding his company. The decision was made even though he and Kelly shared joint custody.
The 46-year-old filed for divorce from the businessman towards the end of 2008, when she was pregnant with Helena.
© Cover Media


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Dr. Rich Schultz is an Associate Professor of Geography and Geosciences at Elmhurst College in Elmhurst, Illinois, and holds a Ph.D. in environmental geochemistry from the University of Cincinnati (1991), an M.S. in geology from the Wichita State University (1988) and a B.S. in geology from Illinois State University (1985). He is in his tenth year as a full-time faculty member at Elmhurst College and serves as the Director of the Elmhurst College Online GIS Certificate Program , Applied Geospatial Sciences Graduate Program, and the AP Human Geography Graduate Certificate Program. Dr. Schultz is the current Genevieve Staudt Endowed Chair at Elmhurst College and is the sole or senior author of more than seventy publications, book chapters, and abstracts. His major areas of research are: geoscience education, online/distance learning, spatial cognition, web 2.0 applications, geospatial thinking, global climate change, the scholarship of teaching and learning, and the use of technology in teaching geography literacy. Dr. Schultz was the recipient of the 2008 Distinguished Teaching Award from the National Council for Geographic Education (NCGE) . Dr. Schultz also received the "GIS Service Award" for geospatial education service to the Illinois GIS Association (ILGISA) in October 2009 and was the inaugural recipient of the Richard Hilton Collaboration Award from ILGISA in 2010. He serves on the Editorial Board for the Journal of Geography for the National Council for Geographic Education (NCGE)as well as the NCGE National Vice President for Products and Publications. He formerly served as the chair of the Geography Education Specialty Group (GESG) for the Association of American Geographers (AAG) and sits on the editorial boards for several prominent journals. Dr. Schultz is currently an Associate Director and co-PI for the National Geospatial Technology Center of Excellence (GeoTech Center).
More info: http://richs.fys.elmhurst.edu/about/


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Contact Cushman or Tyson for more information about this suite.
This property is located on a major throughfare connecting directly to the Perimeter Highway and is in close access to many amenities including the Kenaston retail area on Route 90. Situated in the highly sought after south Winnipeg on an established truck route and is a build to suit opportunity available on pad site with ample parking.


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Product Details
CRP FR Sport Copper Flange Lock Nut 8mm x 1.25mm Pitch
FR Sport copper lock nut is an alternative to the other lock nuts we sell. This one does not have the split head, but uses a tapered head instead. Also the base is flanged to spread out the load of the nut.
Please keep in mind that the base increases the area of the nut, so if the area is narrow, it might not fit.
** For SR20DET elbows, this might cause issues with such tight spaces **
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You can help make the difference by taking your support to the next level. Become a monthly donor to NSW Labor and help us build our grassroots campaign one donation at a time.


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1815 Maplelawn Drive
Directions Troy, MI 48084
Learn More About Buying a 2017 Jaguar XJ in Troy
Visit Jaguar Troy for a great deal on a new 2017 Jaguar XJ. Our sales team is ready to show you all of the features that you will find in the Jaguar XJ and take you for a test drive in the Troy Area. At our Jaguar dealership you will find competitive prices, a stocked inventory of 2017 Jaguar XJ cars and a helpful sales team. Stop by our car dealership today and take a 2017 Jaguar for a spin.
Interested in a different Jaguar? Click a link below and find the Jaguar that fits your lifestyle.


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Hard drives, memory chips, small disks, flash drives are all very useful and sensitive storage devices as they accumulate all the critical businesses and personal files from account records and contracts as well as store the nostalgic photographs of your loved ones. So, if your computer does not start up or produce an irritable clicking sound then your hard drive is going through a tough time as there might be a severe data corruption or the read write heads has become nonfunctional. Sometimes natural calamity, human error, sudden power failure may also lead to hard drive failure and consequent loss of relevant data.
An accomplished hard drive recovery company or firm can efficiently fix this problem with advanced technical expertise and upgraded software enhancement. There are many well organized, informative and reputed online directories that give valuable knowledge regarding leading data recovery companies in UK along with their respective quotes and field of expertise. These online directories guarantee to connect you with the best data recovery firms within your area. So, avail hassle free flash drive recovery, disc recovery and hard drive recovery service from the leading technicians and data recovery experts with a simple click on the mouse.
The application of RAID or Redundant Array of Independent disks storage levels has revolutionized commercial and business enterprises with its huge virtual storage capacity without being tied to a dedicated computing infrastructure. The storage levels of RAID consists of 5 stages starting from 0 to RAID 5. Sometimes virtual development server of big business enterprises may become unresponsive and fail to reboot.
Depending upon the damage and levels of RAID arrays trained and qualified technicians can configure RAID arrays and recover lost data or files. Whether it is a RAID 0 recovery or technical RAID 5 failure expert guidance from renowned data recovery companies can be availed by browsing through UK's top online directories. Complicated RAID 5 recovery services can be gained by hiring the services of reputed RAID recovery experts within your locality.


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Cheddar Tomato Oven Omelette
Recipe by Lenny Leonard
This is something my mother makes for Christmas brunch every year. Everyone loves it, even the kids. I made her give me the recipe so that I could have it more than once a year. Cooking time may vary a bit.
Top Review by Kelbertuna
I have to admit, I was skeptical at first. I have never done eggs in the oven before... I will never do them on the stove again. I made this 2 days in a row. It's so easy & SO good. I made a few additions that you MUST try. Instead of bacon I cooked up our local grocery stores fresh poultry breakfast sausage. Veggies I added were frozen asparagus, sweet peppers, onion, fresh mushrooms & jalapeno. As well as the cheddar, I had some goat cheese & added that.... OMG. WINNER!! It made it so creamy. YUM. Take my advice. This is a delicious & hearty breakfast.
See Discussion:7 Reviews
Ingredients Nutrition
- 8 slice bacon, chopped
- 59.14 ml sliced green onion
- 118.29 ml diced tomato
- 14.79 ml flour
- 7.39 ml salt
- 6 eggs
- 236.59 ml milk
- 295.73 ml shredded cheddar cheese
Directions See How It's Made
- Preheat oven to 350ºF.
- Cook bacon until crisp, reserve 1 tablespoon of drippings.
- Saute onions in drippings.
- Add tomatoes.
- Sprinkle on flour and salt, toss lightly to coat.
- Beat together eggs and milk.
- Add vegetable mixture, 1 cup cheddar and chopped bacon.
- Mix together.
- Pour into a greased 8 x 8 x 2 (2 quart) pan.
- Bake uncovered for 40-45 minutes.
- Remove from oven and sprinkle on remaining 1/4 cup cheese.
- Let stand 5 minutes so cheese melts.


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Here's everything you need to know about stone wash jeans.
What is stone washing?
Stone washing is a process in textile manufacturing used to alter the appearance of the material in question. It is especially typical with stiffer, more rigid fabrics like canvas and denim. Stone washing makes jeans appear faded and well-loved. After all, that telltale mixture of blue and lighter creases in jeans is part of what makes denim jeans so iconic. However, this look takes years – even decades – of wear to happen naturally. Stone washing creates this classic look right at the manufacturing factory.
Stone washing has two major benefits. On the one hand, it gives a more "worn in" look to new clothing. This skips the break-in period that used to be necessary with new clothes, especially denim jeans. You can get that ideal look and feel from the very first time you wear them. The second benefit is that the stone washing makes the denim material softer, more flexible, and more comfortable.
Stone washing is the most famous washing process for denim jeans. It is the most common method of aging jeans and making them appear worn.
How does stone washing work?
As the name implies, stone washing is the process of using stones to roughen up fabric. Typically, jeans are placed in a large industrial clothes washer filled with stones. The tumbling stones beat at the denim, making it more flexible and soft.
Pumice is the typical stone used for stone washing, though perlite has become increasingly common in recent years. Pumice beats at the fabric, removing dye particles from the cotton to create that classic worn look. Every pair of jeans will have its own unique creases and worn effects with this method. Chlorine can also be added to the water which is absorbed by the stones. As the jeans tumble, the chlorine will create a lighter fade. The more chlorine, the lighter the shade. An alternate process is known as bio-stoning, which uses cellulose enzymes to create that aged look with a more uniform, consistent result.
Stone washing refers only to the process, not the tone of the denim. You can have light stone wash, medium stone wash, and dark stone wash. Depending on the material used – white cotton, indigo cotton, black cotton and so on, the look will be entirely different. However when using indigo denim, the final color of the stone wash jeans is that classic "jean blue" you would expect.
What stone-washed jeans do you sell?
Stone wash jeans are some of the best-selling items in the JNCO collection. We sell a variety of pairs of denim jeans in a stone wash. Our stone-washed jeans are made of 100% high-quality cotton indigo denim and made with care and attention to detail. On the men's side of the ledger, we have:
In our women's collection, our stone wash jeans include:
Who invented stone-washed jeans?
The origin of stone-washed jeans is disputed. Levi Strauss & Co. traces stone washing back to Donald Freeland of Great Western Garment Company in the 1950s, while others credit inventor Claude Blankiet in the 1970s. Regardless of the origins, take one look at our popular collection of stone wash jeans and it is clear that JNCO has perfected the technique! Stone wash is a delicate balance. Too little, and the denim remains stiff. Too much, and you can damage the denim or other parts of the pants, including buttons and zippers. Our manufacturer process has been fined tuned so every pair of JNCO wide leg jeans has the right look, style, and fit. Every time.
Why are stone-washed jeans so popular?
Stone-washed jeans are popular because they give you that worn-in, well-loved, time-tested look and feel…with none of the work. The reason everyone loves "old blue jeans" is because they fit like a glove and feel as comfortable as can be. With stone-washed jeans, the same feeling applies to any pair, from the very first wear. So that's the first thing – comfort, comfort, comfort. Any pair of jeans that feels like you've worn them forever even if it's the first time you're pulling them on…that's a great pair of jeans. Then there's the style. There's simply something appealing about jeans that have a bit of character, don't you think? The jeans have lived a life (even if it's just in an industrial dryer!), they have stories to tell. It's like writing a book but the first chapter is already written – where will you take the journey from here?
How often should you wash stone wash jeans?
The stone wash finish has no effect on how often you should wash your jeans. Wash them as regularly (or irregularly) as you would any other pair of jeans. The typical rule of thumb is to wait at least five or six wears before the first wash. Wash your stone wash jeans inside out in cold water with similar colors and hang dry, at least at first. The main thing is understanding that the more you wash your jeans, the faster they will age and the more the indigo tone will fade. It's up to you how comfortable you are with that.
How should stone wash jeans fit?
Stone wash finish has no effect on the fit of your jeans. Whatever fit you prefer for your jeans, go for it! Remember that JNCO jeans should fit comfortably at the waist, and the jeans do the rest of the work being baggy in all the right places.
Check our our stone wash jeans:


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What is JotForm?
JotForm is a free online form builder which helps you create online forms without writing a single line of code. No sign-up required.
At JotForm, we want to make sure that you're getting the online form builder help that you need. Our friendly customer support team is available 24/7.
We believe that if one user has a question, there could be more users who may have the same question. This is why many of our support forum threads are public and available to be searched and viewed. If you'd like help immediately, feel free to search for a similar question, or submit your question or concern.
Is there a widget that lets me add Text over ImagesAsked by cwatkins on October 13, 2016 at 10:37 AM
Is there a widget that I can place on a form that lets a customer upload an image or choose from a gallery of images and place text over it, kind of like a meme?
For Example:
If a parent wants to upload an image of their kid and put text on the bottom "We're so proud of you!"
and that image posts when the form is submitted.
JotForm Support
Unfortunately, we do not have a widget with that kind of functionality.
I think the closest widget that you might want to consider is the "Draw on Image" widget. This allows users to upload an image and draw something in it. This does not have text option though.
Hope this still helps!
Is there a way I can be alerted if a widget like that is created?
JotForm Support
You can create an email notification to be alerted when that is submitted: https://www.jotform.com/help/25-Setting-Up-Email-Notifications


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A study from the Center on Juvenile & Criminal Justice showed that marijuana decriminalization in California led to a significant drop in overall youth crime. The drop did not just come from the recategorization of misdemeanors related to marijuana, fewer crimes were committed after California decriminalized marijuana, effective the first day of 2011. Other drug felonies fell 36% and violent crime rates dropped 16% as well. Marijuana is not legal in California, but the penalties have been reduced over the years, and medical marijuana is legal in the Golden State.
The study goes much deeper, showing a steep drop off in crime when a 1976 California bill reduced marijuana possession from a felony to a misdemeanor. These crimes were still reported--so the numbers did not drop simply due to a recategorization--the law, along with socioeconomic factors, led to a sharp decrease in crime.
It does make sense after all. Much of the real damage done by marijuana revolves around establishing and protecting an illegal business. Reduce the criminal penalties around marijuana, and the rest of the criminal infrastructure decreases as well.
A debate is brewing over marijuana legalization in light of Colorado and Washington State voting for full legalization. California considered legalization in 2010, and Gov. Jerry Brown has called for the issue to be decided by the states instead of the federal government.


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Worrying warning lights on your dashboard? Call into Charles Hurst Citroen for a Diagnostic check carried out by fully trained technicians who can easily identify any problems with your vehicle.
Here at Charles Hurst Citroen we use state-of-the-art car diagnostic test equipment as well as having fully qualified technicians who can help fix & identify problems and advise on any necessary repairs.
For more information Enquire Here or alternatively contact our Service Department on 0844 539 4667 & book your Diagnostic Check today!


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Product Description
Marmot Junior Space Walk Jacket
The new Marmot Junior Space Walk Jacket offering Marmot MemBrain Waterproof and Breathable Fabric, also has Thermal R 100 Gram Insulation to keep you warm. Not only are you dry and warm, this Jacket has a long list of unmatched product features like a Removable Snap Off Hood.
- Marmot MemBrain Waterproof and Breathable Fabric
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- Internal Mesh Goggle Pocket and Internal Zipper Pocket
- Brushed Tricot Collar and Shoulder Lining
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Director of Financial Aid
Duke Kunshan University in China
|Open until filled
|Date Posted
|May 9, 2017
|Commensurate with experience
|Employment Type
Position Overview:
Duke Kunshan University seeks to hire a Director of Financial Aid to coincide with the launch of its new innovative interdisciplinary liberal arts undergraduate degree program. Duke Kunshan University is a Sino-US joint venture University (between Duke University, Wuhan University and the city of Kunshan) located in Kunshan China in Jiangsu province. Its new state-of-the-art campus is located about 75 minutes by car and 20 min by high speed rail from Shanghai.
The person we are seeking must be a highly energetic, creative problem solver who has at minimum 6-7 years' work experience in the field of higher education financial aid. Familiarity with the higher education landscape in China would be a real plus as approximately 2/3 of the entering class will be from Greater China. Because this is a new office at Duke Kunshan, the qualified person also should be an adept strategic thinker who is capable of designing and executing an overall strategy for the disbursement of financial aid and scholarship funds in support of Duke Kunshan's enrollment goals. The position reports to the Dean of Enrollment Management and will be part of a three person leadership team that includes recruitment, admissions and financial aid.
Reports to:
Dean of Enrollment Management
Main Responsibilities:
- Developing an overall financial aid strategy for Duke Kunshan University's undergraduate and graduate programs;
- Collaborating with counterparts in recruitment and admissions to define an overall plan to attract the most highly qualified students to the University's degree programs;
- Work with counterparts at Duke University to endure alignment with best practices in the financial aid field;
- Cooperate with the business and financial affairs team at Duke Kunshan as well as with the development team to ensure Duke Kunshan's financial aid goals can be met;
- Develop a small team of financial aid professionals who can work efficiently and effectively together to design and implement our financial aid plan;
- Devise a variety of mechanisms to advance the University's long term goal of following a "needs blind" admissions policy.
Required Qualifications:
- Must be energetic self-starter with solid knowledge and understanding of university based financial aid practices in the US;
- Possess a general familiarity with the higher education landscape in Greater China;
- Be a hands-on manager and leader who can work within and across different cultures and systems;
- Team player who understands the importance of strategic thinking as well as the need for impeccable implementation;
- Strong English writing and speaking skills; some Chinese language capability would be real plus;
- Able to work under pressure and meet tight deadlines;
- Possesses a can-do attitude along with the skills and creative instincts to solve both anticipated and unanticipated problems;
- Should have both undergraduate and graduate degrees from recognized university in China or abroad;
- 6-7 years' work experience in the financial aid field and some supervisory experience.
How to Apply
Submit cover letter and CV to email@example.com using "Director of Financial Aid" as the subject.
About Duke Kunshan University
Duke Kunshan University is a partnership of Duke University, Wuhan University and the Municipality of Kunshan, China. The Duke Kunshan University campus is located 37 miles west of Shanghai in Kunshan, which is connected to Shanghai via a 19-minute high-speed train and a subway-light rail train system.
As an international intellectual community that encourages diversity, openness and creative learning, Duke Kunshan University welcomes outstanding faculty from around the world who contribute diverse perspectives and experiences to this global learning and research environment. Duke Kunshan University is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer.
How To Apply
It's easy, fast, and FREE to manage your job search on ChronicleVitae.
- Organize all the documents needed to apply for this position in ChronicleVitae FREE dossier service
- Request letters of recommendation, provide references, and submit applications directly from ChronicleVitae
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KVH Industries, Inc. has announced that Brent Bruun, currently executive vice president of mobile broadband for the company, has been promoted to the newly created position of chief operating officer (COO). In this position, Bruun will assume direct responsibility for KVH's corporate development, as well as operational responsibility for mobile communications products and services for maritime and land markets. His purview as COO covers the customer lifecycle from sales and manufacturing through customer onboarding and on into long-term services, support, and customer retention.
"In the eight years that Brent has been with KVH, he has demonstrated time and again his strategic vision and commitment to executional excellence," says Martin Kits van Heyningen, CEO and president of KVH. "Building from our position of market leadership, and uniting the key portions of the customer experience, we look forward to Brent's further contributions to our growth and to extending customer satisfaction and loyalty. Our solutions, particularly in commercial maritime, are the broadest in the industry, and we expect Brent will be instrumental in further broadening and deepening our customer base."
Brent Bruun joined KVH in early 2008, and has served as executive vice president of the mobile broadband group, the company's largest business unit. Mr. Bruun was previously senior vice president with satellite operator SES Americom, and gained strong corporate financial background from positions held with GE Capital and KPMG earlier in his career.
"I'm tremendously excited to be taking on this new role as COO," says Brent Bruun. "We have many opportunities to drive toward providing the most comprehensive and seamless customer experience in the industry, allowing us to build on our current customer base and attract new customers as the move to VSAT accelerates. I'm looking forward to seeing further market growth and to driving greater shareholder value moving forward."
KVH Industries Inc.
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