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Short Story by: GeorgePetrie
He would give me his toothless grin from "ear to ear" whenever I would place my forehead against his and our noses would touch. It was exactly what you would expect from a young child but this was not the case. Vernon was actually 82 years old and he was trapped somewhere in the synapse of his own brain. We call it Dementia or Alzheimer's. Whatever you call it, it is still evil and robs its victims of all of the wonderful memories that made up their lives.
Those of us who study the institutional treatment of it try to design methods to forestall its progress, rehabilitate, comfort and pursue best practices for helping these patients. Scientists desperately search for a cure or a treatment while those of us on the "inside" watch variant behaviors like agitation, withdrawal, anxiety, hostility, verbal and physical violence. We watch as families come and go from their visits. We watch some people who never have any visitors. Whispered words of encouragement, conversations without meaning and lots of people filled with guilt for not being able to do anything and grief for having to watch.
Each case is different. Each person hides a different story, locked up in a part of the brain that cannot be opened.
I didn't know anything about Vern but I knew that he was diagnosed with Alzheimer's. I also knew that the only way to make a definitive diagnosis like this was by autopsy. We make this diagnosis based on behaviors, quasi-scientific testing and day to day observations.
He was actually a very healthy person just a year ago. He loved to fish and, since he was retired, he had plenty of time to pursue his favorite hobby. His wife had passed away several years ago and he had stayed in the family home, providing for himself and living a very ordinary life of retirement.
None of us knows what exactly each day will bring and little did Vernon know that today, on his daily trip to the Post Office, everything would change. His gait and his eyesight weren't the same as they were when he was younger but he still drove and did all of his own errands. He stepped out of the car and, as he did every day, he headed in to check his postal box.
Someone somewhere, a long time ago, decided that it would be a good idea to put cement bumpers on the ground in parking lots. I assume they were designed to tell people when they had pulled far enough in to their designated spot. I remember when I worked in the emergency room we would treat several serious falls each week, wherein a person had tripped over one of these "curbs" and either landed on their head or suffered a broken wrist or two, trying to break their fall. It wasn't just old people either. Sometimes it was a young mother, hurrying to finish her errands or a young man with too much on his mind. Some of the injuries were relatively minor and just required a dressing or a few stitches. Some of the injuries were more serious and required a bone to be re-set and a cast applied. Many of these injuries, unfortunately, involved serious head injuries and required CAT scans to determine the level of damage. Occasionally a patient would sustain such severe injuries, due to head trauma, that their lives would be changed forever.
Such was the case with Vernon. When he tripped and fell his head slammed against the ground and his world collapsed. Suffering a "brain bleed" he underwent an emergency procedure to relieve the pressure and was taken to the Intensive Care Unit to be stabilized. His immediate emergency needs were met but, during this hospitalization it was discovered that he also had cancer and it had metastized. Too late to address that issue.
When Vernon was ready to be released, it was obvious that he would need constant care. He certainly couldn't fish any more. He couldn't even remember what fishing was. He didn't know where he was, who he was and he certainly didn't have any memory of his "past" life. Everything that had once been dear to him had suddenly been erased.
Vernon was shuffled from one facility to another. His behavior had become difficult. He was verbally and physically abusive to the staff and other residents wherever he was placed. Because of the restrictions placed on using medication to control behavior, Vernon suffered the type of abuse that comes from caregivers that are overworked, underpaid and particularly those that were ill suited for caring for patients like him. People who took his behavior personally quickly tired of him and used every opportunity to secretly lash out at him. There was no such thing as revenge to Vernon but many of his caregivers spitefully lashed out at any opportunity to "punish" him for the things that he would say or do. These types of "payback" are subtle and include many manifestations including things such as slapping, pinching, food deprivation and oftentimes just ignoring the patients' basic needs.
Something to think about; if your child was living in your home and had a disability you would want to do everything you could to meet his/her need. If your child's room had a "call light" which they could use to signal you when they had a special need you would certainly want to go to them to see what they needed.
In most senior facilities, call lights are merely there to meet State and Federal guidelines and become perceived as a nuisance more than anything. How many hours have I spent in some facilities listening to call lights go unanswered. How many times have I wondered if it is a staffing issue or an issue of indifference? Some staff have too many patients and the job is extremely demanding. Patients need to be fed, bathed, toileted and the procedure repeats itself over and over each day. Some patients require more attention and some are just demanding due to the nature of their mental status.
Vernon wouldn't sleep for more than a few minutes at a time. It was as though his mind would wake him up as soon as he would doze off. It was as though his mind was saying "Wake up…wake up, something is happening," He would scream out "Help…help!" and he would try to jump up out of his bed as though there was something chasing him. Anyone who came near him must have appeared to be a threat. He would lash out at them, calling them vulgar names and try to strike them. There was absolutely no filter on whatever he might say to someone and, unfortunately, he was often perceived as just a "nasty old man".
"Nasty old man" was not something that anyone who knew Vernon in his "old" life would have ascribed to him. He served in two wars, retired from the military with numerous awards for bravery and selflessness and spent his later years establishing a food bank in his community for those less fortunate.
One slip, one fall and the man had suddenly become the antithesis of the person he truly was but for many people their perception of him was rooted solely in the damaged person he had become.
I got involved in his care when one of the staff members had been caught trying to stuff a face cloth in his mouth to "shut him up". This was a person who was entrusted with his care. This was a person who was representative of a minority in this type of healthcare but, unfortunately, it happens much more than is reported.
Students ,who can manage to sit through one of my lectures about geriatric care, will always hear me say "Pretend there is a camera in the room. Pretend that everything you do is being observed. Most especially, pretend that the person you are caring for is your parent or sibling. Then, stop and think about the possibility that someday you might be the person who needs to be cared for! If you can't do this then get into a different type of work. You are a danger to yourself and you are a danger to those whose care has been entrusted to you!
I didn't know much about Vernon. I knew that he had a head injury and he had been diagnosed with frontal lobe dementia which was a result of his head injury and his advanced age. For the most part he was non-communicative (except when he was screaming out). He was unable to carry on a conversation; he couldn't remember words, names of things and certainly couldn't tell you what he needed or wanted.
I could easily tell that it was frustrating to him. A part of his brain seemed to realize that he wanted to say something or ask for something but he had given up trying to search for the words.
Imaging being hungry, thirsty or having to go to the bathroom and not being able to tell anyone. What Vernon needed, as do most of the other patients like him, was someone who could see into his mind. Since that was impossible, the only alternative was to take the time to study him, study his behaviors and try to determine why he would become agitated. Why was he "acting out". Did he have a specific need? Was he in pain? What caused this gentle man to act the way he did?
Of course he was angry! People would speak about him instead of to him. Most of his caregivers had good intentions but, when his behavior would deteriorate they would ask him "Do you need to go to the bathroom? Are you hungry?" Sometimes they would walk him to the dining room for a snack when he really needed to use the bathroom.
After I spent a lot of time with Vernon I noticed that he would break into his enormous toothless grin whenever I would walk into the room. He would suddenly seem relaxed and calm. Every time I saw him I would say "Hello Pardner". After about two weeks he would smile and respond "Hello Pardner" Everyone was surprised when they would witness this and ask me what my "secret" was. There is no "secret". Vernon knew that he could trust me. Vernon knew that I could translate his non-verbal cues. I had learned to recognize that, when he would tug on the front of his pants, it was his desperate signal that he needed to use the bathroom.
Vernon never made what anyone could call progress, nor was he expected to. These types of diseases don't have a prognosis that includes reversing or slowing the progress.
He knew that I would try to translate his unspoken needs and eventually he had fewer and fewer episodes of bed wetting and agitated behavior. I also learned that, if I put him in a wheelchair and letting him use his feet to propel himself, gave him a safe and comfortable way to explore outside the room that he was "trapped" in for most of his days. If he needed to go to the bathroom he would "wheel" himself over to the bathroom door and wait for me to assist him. If he was hungry he would "wheel" himself down the hall and go into the dining room where he knew I would hunt down a snack for him. One day I was just sitting with him when he suddenly looked up and said "You are my best friend". I looked back at him and I said "Vernon, you are like an iceberg. We only see very little of you and we don't even know how much of you there is beneath the surface".
Just a simple little interpretation of his needs gave him back some of his dignity. I wasn't sure if he was aware in this new empowerment but I did know that, when I would get off the elevator, he would be sitting there, smiling and obviously waiting for me to arrive.
Sadly, I never knew much about his previous life. As I said, I knew that he loved to fish. He never had any visitors. I don't know if he had any family and it was obvious that his friends had abandoned him here. This happens all the time. Oftentimes families don't want to see their loved ones in this condition and friends have their own lives to live and don't want to be around this depressing environment. Someone on the full time staff told me that he used to be a pilot "during the war". Someone else told me that he "used to have a few visitors from time to time" but that had ended as his condition deteriorated and he became more verbally abusive.
Vernon passed away one day, shortly before I arrived at his facility. I knew something was wrong when he wasn't waiting by the elevator. I made my way to his room and they were preparing to transport his body to a funeral home. I bent over him and said "So long pardner". Of course he couldn't give me his toothless grin but I knew that, wherever he was, he was no longer just a lonely old man waiting to die. I don't know what comes after death but I do know that Vernon will never be ignored again. I know that he will never go hungry or have soiled undergarments again. I know that he will never be subject to the demeaning behavior that so often was meted out to him. Unfortunately I also know that there are a lot more elderly people out there, in various facilities, who will have to spend their final days enduring callous treatment from the few individuals who populate the healthcare industry and have forgotten the word "care".
So long Pardner!
© Copyright 2017 GeorgePetrie. All rights reserved.
Add Your Comments:
Perfect. Not a word to much. All it needs to make it a great piece is there. I like the iceberg image. Nice work!
Once again..I enjoyed your story.I know all to well about the health care system & the lack of the word Care. As I journey this life with my daughter who has MR.I have found the same thing when I had to place her in a facility such as a group home.How wonderful that he had someone to advocate for him.
Thank you for your kind words. When I started doing Patient Advocacy I was amazed at the different levels of care. I was and still am concered about certain licensed facilities. My greatest concern is that most of the care is given by CNA's. While some of them are very conscientious there are just as many who should not be in healthcare. The CNA licensing requirement is way too simple. The state exam is so easy that practically anyone could pass it without any formal training. I keep lobbying for more effective training and licensing requirements.
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Last night, actor Tyrese Gibson posted a video to Facebook (which he took down as of early this morning) confirming some big news for his good friend, rapper and music mogul Dr. Dre. Yesterday there were talks of Apple's plans to buy out Dr. Dre's Beats Electronics, the hugely popular and ingeniously marketed headphone company (though they definitely aren't the best quality headphones on the market) for $3.2 billion dollars. Beats was previously associated to a failed campaign with cell phone company HTC. Beats Electronics also provides a music streaming service, Beats Music app, that competes with Swedish music app Spotify.
With last night's celebration at his studio, it would seem Dr. Dre has landed himself a deal, and Apple and Tim Cook now have a very important shoe in the music industry door on top of their already developed music distribution platform in iTunes.
This acquisition will rake in a fortune for Dr. Dre, possibly making him the first rapper-turned-billionaire. Luckily we still have the video below (Video Contains Expletives):

subset: commoncrawl


text: Chao Krung Thai may be outside of your area. Please enter your delivery address to check availability Do you need any... Napkins & Utensils Continue to checkout Chao Krung Thai Back to menu Your order refresh Chao Krung Thai Your bag is empty Edit Delivery address Please enter delivery address Edit Delivery time N/A* Add someone to this order House Fried Rice Premium jasmine rice stir-fried with chopped garlic, tomato, onion, and egg. Prepared with choice of Chicken, Beef, Pork, Tofu, or Vegetables. For Shrimp instead, add $4.00. What Kind Of Fried Rice?Select one of the choices Prepare With Chicken Prepare With Beef Prepare With Pork Prepare With Vegetables Prepare With Tofu Prepare With Shrimp + $4.00 Add instructions? Special instructions Label for x $11.50 or Cancel


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WELCOME TO WeChauffeur.co.uk
WeChauffeur.co.uk is the premier Yorkshire chauffeur service. Providing a reliable and competitively priced, luxury service, we ensure you arrive at your destination on time, in comfort and style.
All our chauffeurs are highly skilled professionals. Whether they are driving you in one of our luxury vehicles or in your own car, you can rest assured they have the expertise to make sure you arrive in plenty of time, after a stress-free journey, ensuring your comfort and safety throughout.
Our Yorkshire chauffeur service can cater to all your travels needs, providing:
• A wide range of impeccably maintained, prestigious vehicles
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• All our staff are fully screened and CRB checked
• Competitive rates
• Full European coverage – ideal for non-flyers
• Price Guarantee - We will price match any UK-based company quote offering a similar service.
View our Testimonials Click here.
Download our NEW Presenter Click here. or to view in flip book format Click here.
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Through our fleet of executive cars in North Yorkshire, we offer a full range of chauffeur services, including meet and greet, and can tailor corporate packages to suit your company's needs... Read more
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Our limousine service offers a complete door to door experience, taking the hassle out of travel: busy airports and contending with traffic and congestion can all mean you reach your destination tired... Read more
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other headband options for accessories
Baby Girl Bows, Baby Girl Dresses, Flower Girl Dresses, Girls Bows, Baby Girls, Baby Girl Outfits, Newborn Girl Headbands, Headband Baby, Baby Flower Headbands
Simple and sweet knot headband. These will fit newborn up to toddler. If they become stretched out, just wet them and let them air dry. They will shrink back.


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Back in 1945, Sir Bernard Lovell, a radio astronomer at the Manchester University, established the Jodrell Bank Observatory. This landmark observatory is home to the Lovell Telescope, one of the world's largest (76 meters in diameter), fully steerable radio telescopes, which has been exploring the radio sky for decades. And since 2011, the unique Jodrell Bank site has been the exceptional décor for 'Transmission Live from Jodrell Bank', a series of shows that bring together music, science activities and workshops.
In the weekend of 30 and 31 August, the Observatory celebrated the 100th anniversary of the Observatory's founder with a special edition of 'Transmission Live'. The Icelandic Sigur Ros (Friday) and Manchester's renowned Hallé symphony orchestra both played an unforgettable set in this particular setting. Equally mind-blowing were the visuals. The Lovell Telescope served as a spectacular backdrop for a documentary on the life and work of Sir Bernard Lovell. Working with Spaceside Creatives, Bluman Associates had produced the documentary and supervised its projections onto the Lovell Telescope.
Pod Bluman, Managing Director of Bluman Associates commented: "This was a fantastic showcase for our new design capabilities on one of the most monumental projectionist surfaces ever imaginable. For the actual event, we had a very tight timeframe to ensure all projectors were in the exact right place down to the last millimetre. We used four of Barco's new 40,000 lumen 2k DLP projectors and the incredible brightness ensured pixel-perfect reproduction of all content. The show was definitely a crowd pleaser and we are proud to have been part of celebrating the work of a clearly much-admired man."


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September 16th, 2011, 11:20 AM #1
Sharis Berries is now available at GoldenCAN
- Join Date
- May 30th, 2005
- Posts
- 975
We are very excited to announce that Sharis Berries Google Affiliate Network is now available at GoldenCAN.
You can display Sharis Berries's entire Data Feed, any selected category, Coupons, Recent Price Drop Products or Search on your website with only one line of GoldenCAN Code.
Integration Samples:
Sharis Berries Store Integration Sample
Sharis Berries Coupon Integration Sample
Sharis Berries Search Integration Sample
Sharis Berries's GetData:
Use GoldenCAN GetData feature to get the complete pre formatted HTML for Sharis Berriess store integration and display on your website with SEO benefits.
Sharis Berries's GetRSS:
Use GoldenCAN GetRSS feature to receive a valid RSS document with Sharis Berriess Coupons and recent Price Drop products.
If you have already created a store, coupon or search integration for multiple merchants, dont forget to add Sharis Berries in your existing Integration.Thank You,
Asif Malik,
GoldenCAN Data Feed Integration - Participating Merchants - GoldenCAN How to
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MOVIE SYNOPSIS [ General Audiences ] Directed by Tara Miele, this full movie with audio in English (original language) was premiered in 2015. This movie, whose libretto belongs to Jennifer Maisel, is an original production of USA. You can watch The Lost Boy online on TV cable or theaters with original audio in English at different dates. This film premiered in theaters in 2015.
Rating: 5 by 13 users./
Runtime: 88 minutes
Virginia Madsen, Carly Pope, Mark Valley, Sosie Bacon, Matthew Fahey, Joshua Burrow, Jacob Buster, Shani Atias, Michael Esparza, Feodor Chin, Robert Carbo, Nicholas Wayne Holmes and Lillian Jones.
Drama, Thriller.
88-minute film (full movie) directed by Tara Miele.
The original audio of The Lost Boy has dialogues in Dolby Digital, it was produced in USA.
It premiered in cinemas or television in 2015.
Screenplay written by Jennifer Maisel.
Damian Horan.
Neobe Velis, Sharon Bordas, Hannah Pillemer, Fernando Szew and Carrie LeGrand.
This film was produced and / or financed by LeGrand Productions.
Composed by Mj Mynarski.
Marvista Entertainment.
Without commercial breaks, the full movie The Lost Boy has a duration of 88 minutes; the official trailer can be watched in streaming on the Internet. You can watch this full movie free in EnglishDolby Digital in movie TV channels, renting the DVD or with VoD services (Video On Demand player, Hulu) and PPV (Pay Per View, Netflix).
See the page of this full movie, The Lost Boy in FULLTV Movies.


text: Has anyone been to this place on Clematis? How is it? I know it is Tex/Mex and it is moving into Big City Tavern's spot in Boca (not sure whether they are closing Clematis or just expanding to second resto) and wondered how it stacks up? We really could use a good Tex/Mex in Boca.


text: Recent Posts in Product Liability Category Blog Home The 10 Most Hazardous Toys of 2016 Posted By Goodman Acker P.C. || 12-Dec-2016 According to research, every three minutes, a young child is treated in a United States emergency room for a toy-related injury. Additional research proves that since January 2015, roughly 19 defective toys have been recalled. For this reason, every year, the World Against Toys Causing Harm (WATCH), a group which promotes child safety, creates a list of the most hazardous toys. This year, WATCH ... Share This Post: Continue Reading What You Need to Know About Amusement Park Accidents & Liability Posted By Goodman Acker P.C. || 22-Feb-2016 While not common, accidents and injuries do happen at amusement parks. Two of the most common types of amusement park accident claims are negligence ( premises liability ) and product liability. Examples of amusement park owner or employee negligence include: Failing to maintain equipment or park areas Failing to properly train ride operators Providing incorrect instructions to riders Posting ... Share This Post: Continue Reading Paul Walker's Father's Lawsuit Against Porsche and How it Relates to Auto Defects Posted By Goodman Acker P.C. || 7-Dec-2015 As many people already know, famous actor and car enthusiast, Paul Walker, died in a car accident in Valencia, California. Shortly after the accident, his daughter filed a lawsuit against Porsche stating the accident should not have killed her father at the speeds he was traveling unless the car was defective. The case was dismissed in court. Now, Walker's father has filed a lawsuit for ... Share This Post: Continue Reading The 10 Most Dangerous Toys of 2015 Revealed By World Against Toys Causing Harm Posted By Goodman Acker P.C. || 2-Dec-2015 Holiday season is right around the corner, and for many families, it means time to do some holiday shopping. For parents, some of the most common items bought for their children include toys. Toys can be a great gift. However, parents should be aware that not all toys are fit for all children. Over the years, there have been certain toys that are deemed unsafe or hazardous to children, meaning ... Share This Post: Continue Reading Consumers Guaranteed Right To Hold Corporations Accountable For Hazardous Products Posted By Goodman Acker P.C. || 13-Mar-2014 House Passes Consumer Product Safety Commission Bill Consumers who have been tragically harmed by dangerous products secured their right to hold irresponsible corporations accountable, under legislation expected to pass the House of Representatives this evening. Prior to legislation, manufacturers of dangerous cribs, flammable mattresses and toxic lead toys used Consumer Product Safety Commission ... Share This Post: Continue Reading 5 results found. Viewing page 1 of 1.


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Bouncy Castles, Slides and Party Packages for Bournemouth, Poole, Ringwood, Christchurch and the New Forest.
Call: 0800 779 7393
Mobile: 07472 534 294
|Fully insured for £5m
|Wide area covered
Including terms and conditions of Hire
It is the responsibility of the person who is hiring this Bouncing Castle to ensure that all possible steps are taken to avoid injury or damage to the Inflatable.
Please ensure that the following Safety Instructions are followed:
1. This unit has an age limit of ............................... Please ensure no one over this age uses the equipment. No adults are to use this Bouncy Castle.
2. No food or drinks or chewing gum to be allowed on or near the Bouncy Castle which will avoid choking and mess (Please note if the Inflatable is collected in a dirty condition then the person hiring it will incur a cleaning charge)
3. All shoes, glasses, jewellery, badges MUST be removed before using the Bouncy Castle.
4. No face paints, party poppers, coloured streamers or silly string to be used either on or near the Bouncy Castle.
5. No smoking or barbeques near the Bouncy Castle.
6. Climbing, hanging or sitting on walls is DANGEROUS and must not be allowed.
7. A responsible Adult must supervise the Bouncy Castle at all times.
8. Always ensure that the Bouncy Castle is not overcrowded, and limit numbers according to the age and size of Children using it. Try to avoid large and small Children from using it at the same time.
9. Children are not pushing, colliding, fighting or behaving in a manner likely to injure or cause distress to others.
10. No pets, toys or sharp instruments.
11. If the Bouncy Castle is not being used for any part of the day, please switch the blower off at the mains.
12. Do not allow anyone to bounce on the front safety step as a Child could easily bounce off the inflatable and get hurt. The step is there to assist users in getting on or off!
13. Ensure that no one with a history of back or neck problems is allowed on the Bouncy Castle as indeed any Child who is feeling unwell.
14. Do not allow anyone to be on the Bouncy Castle during inflation or deflation as this is DANGEROUS.
15. No pets, toys or sharp instruments to be allowed on or near the Bouncy Castle.
16. Please ensure that Children are not attempting somersaults and are clothed appropriately and that nothing can fall out of their pockets.
17. Ensure that an area of 6 feet (2 metres) around the unit is completely clear
18. The Bouncy Castle should not be used if it becomes wet on the jumping area. If no shower cover is fitted and in the event of rain, the unit should not be used
19. In the event of heavy rain, it is strongly recommended that the Bouncy Castle be switched off. Any wetness, including bubbling (which is normal) can be dried with a towel.
20. In the event that the blower stops working, please ensure all users get off the inflatable immediately. The blower has a safety reset button, try pressing this, also check the fuses and make sure the blower tube or deflation tube has not come undone or something has not blown onto and is obstructing the blower.
21. In the event that the blower overheats or loses power and this isn't rectified by pressing the reset button, switch the blower off at the mains, then leave the blower to cool for 1 or 2 minutes. Then try pressing the reset switch again and it should restart. If it does not, inform us straight away.
22. Cancellations. Other than for bad weather we require 7 days notice for any cancellation on bookings.
If you are unsure of Anything, Please contact us…
Web Site Design and Hosting by Cracking Media


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ADA Officer Claims Sugar Has Nothing to Do With Diabetes
I respect the ADA and their work that brings diabetes awareness to the public. I think the problem here is they have played some publicity games with the whole Obesity and type II. They have refused to accept the fact that they do not have all the answers when it comes to the Obesity and the whole type II link. Outside of the "first world" there are lots of thin type II's that makes me wonder. Are they all LADA? And if they are then the diabetes epidemic is not a weight issue.
With the stand they have taken about obesity being the cause a type II epidemic it looks as if they have sold out. The accepted the money like a politician would hash money leaving them powerless in helping to bring about change or regulations that affect that industry.
As a type I diabetic along with all diabetics we know that sugar does not cause diabetes we also know that one can avoid sugar and still gain weight even become obese. However they chose to make type II an obesity thing and with the no carb, less carb craze sugar an evil twin to obesity.
Another cent here:
But sugar doesn't have anything to do with diabetes and the ADA has been saying that for years. It certainly does not cause Type 1 diabetes.
While obesity may be linked with diabetes, there is no evidence stating that obesity itself causes diabetes.
FYI: That's one reason I believe your website is doing a HUGE disservice to diabetics around the world and if you as an author were a diabetic you would realize the damage your obesity kick is doing.
How sugar is metabolized by the diabetic is a symptom NOT the cause of the disease.
I've spent more than three years researching the dangers of sugars and refined carbs for my upcoming book (SUGAR SHOCK!) and I've found oodles of medical studies from such reputable institutions as Harvard that point to the exact opposite…
A diet high in sugary foods and fast-acting "(high-glycemic") carbs (such as white bread, white rice, etc.) could, in fact, lead to diabetes, as well as many other diseases.
So, to clarify, YES, too much sugar COULD lead to diabetes — this, according to a number of cutting-edge researchers and physicians.


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The profile was last updated on December 6, 2016. If you have any questions, please contact our general manager.
The University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Business isn't nameless. While they may joke about being the "No-name School," there's a good reason why the B-school is simply titled, "Wisconsin," says Steve Schroeder, assistant dean of the Wisconsin BBA Program.
Ten years ago, Schroeder says, 13 alumni each chipped in a minimum of $5 million dollars for the rights to name the school for 20 years — and chose to name it after the state. So Wisconsin is no different, he says, than its peer schools that carry the name of a generous benefactor.
"We're no different than Kelley, or McCombs, or Ross," he tells Poets&Quants. "The difference with us is, it was 13 alumni who came together to pool their money to make a significant contribution. We sort of refer to ourselves as the 'No-name School,' but we are the first school in the country that did this. And I think it says something about our alumni that they came together and pooled their resources. It says something about the culture of Wisconsin and about wanting to make an impact."
Wisconsinites' desire to make an impact can readily be seen, Schroeder says. The school constantly tops lists of Fortune 500 alums. It leads the country in participation in the Teach for America program. And it paces all other schools in the number of Peace Corps volunteers.
"There's a sense of service," Schroeder says, "and service to make an impact — not only within a community, but in this country and in the world. And I think that relates back to why so many of our students study abroad. Our students want to make a global impact, and that's not just a mission statement for us. Our students actually do it."
Of the 2016 Wisconsin B-school graduating class, 35.3% had some global experience. The school offers only three global courses, none of them required, but the university as a whole has 190 semester-abroad programs where students can study from Spain to Singapore, Norway to Hong Kong. Twenty-nine of the programs are business school-supported.
The B-school now has its own study-abroad unit, Schroeder says, and regularly conducts site reviews to maintain partnerships. He himself will travel to Dublin, London, Germany, and South Africa this school year to visit international business schools that Wisconsin has established relationships with. But discussions are underway in the school's Curriculum Committee to figure out how to expand the offerings and grow the number of students who participate.
"We are in the early stages of talking about what we should require from an international standpoint, knowing that not all students can study abroad," Schroeder says. "Should we require students to take our Intro to International Business course if they don't study abroad? We're having some preliminary discussions now about where international fits." Wisconsin also is mulling Australia as a new international destination for its students, he adds.
Jason Shapiro, Class of 2014, took full advantage of Wisconsin's international opportunities — and then some. The finance and international business double major studied abroad twice: first, a three-month summer language immersion program in Tianjin, China, then a six-month spring semester at Tsinghua University in Beijing.
After studying Chinese in Madison for two years, Shapiro, now a senior treasury analyst with Navistar International, says he decided that the summer immersion program was a great way to "pull it all together, practice the tonal aspect of the language, and see how I can carry my own only using Chinese."
The first trip was language immersion, but Shapiro also learned about Chinese culture. Each student had to choose a "cultural class," he says, with such options as calligraphy, Chinese paper cutting, and Erhu (Chinese guitar). Essentially, it was like taking a whole year worth of Chinese in three months — with a week off to travel China and see the sights.
After that, he added an international business major to his finance major. "I took business classes and Chinese language classes. It was a great opportunity," he says.
Wisconsin moved from junior-based admissions to sophomore-based admissions 11 years ago. It added its own admissions team and learning center, which serves as a tutoring office, and has since grown from about 1,800 admitted students to its current size of more than 2,500. The school admitted 794 out of 2,154 direct applicants this fall, for a 23.6% acceptance rate. A good portion — about 111 — are direct admits from high school, Schroder says. Average SAT/ACT for admits is 1314/29.
Most business students at Wisconsin — between 85% and 90% — begin in their sophomore year through the pre-business process. Pre-business students typically apply the spring of their first year, says Jamie Marsh Finco, director of career services for the Wisconsin BBA Program; those who are admitted begin in the fall semester of their second year. The school requires admits to take four pre-business classes: Psychology, Calculus, Economics, and Communications, though some students "test out" with AP credit.
Wisconsin recommends that students start "chipping away" early at the university's general education requirements, Schroeder says. Overall, Wisconsin BBA students are required to complete 52 credits (approximately 17 courses) in liberal arts studies including communications, ethnic studies, quantitative reasoning, social sciences, ethics, and more. In their sophomore year, they will be expected to start taking what are called "prep classes": Economics 102, two semesters of accounting, a professional communications class, and the first part of the Compass Class, a one-credit required course in which students talk about their values, career preparation, academic planning, global citizenship, diversity, and inclusion — "helping them understand their own identity," Schroeder says. The Compass Program is designed as a multi-year program that supports students' development throughout their time at Wisconsin, Finco says, with students completing career development, academic planning, and leadership and engaged citizenship requirements as they go.
In addition to the Compass Program, Wisconsin recently implemented two new courses for all students: Business Analytics I & II. All students also complete a MS Excel proficiency course, which provides a foundation in basic skills needed for business analytics.
How many of these course involve experiential learning? About 21, with six required depending on major. However, Schroeder notes that the school likes to think of many of their classes as applied learning. "Especially in the core classes, students have to take management, human resources, finance, operations, technology management…they have to take two business analytics courses, and then they have to take a marketing and a business law class. There are so many group projects in almost every one of our classes, because obviously the element of teamwork is important."
Jason Shapiro remembers the course that meant the most to him: Professional Communication, taught by Mark Lindquist. "I've noticed many of my colleagues and friends at other schools are unprepared to communicate in the business world — resumes, emails, cover letters, etc.," he says. "In my opinion, a class is most effective when it teaches the student not only the whys, but how they'll apply these skills in the real world. Professor Lindquist's class prepared me for the real world while I believe many of my colleagues could benefit from the teachings of that class."
In the inaugural Poets&Quants undergraduate business school ranking, Wisconsin placed 29th overall, largely on the strength of its inputs, which ranked 21st. Alumni feedback rated the school 38th of 50, while outcomes ranked 28th.
Wisconsin costs a total $183,136 to attend for out-of-state residents (excluding Minnesotans, for which the university has special dispensation). Yet very few students graduate with debt: only 5.80%, according to university figures, and those with a relatively low average of $7,978.
Ranking in the lower half in outcomes, Wisconsin saw 90% of 2016 graduates score pre-senior year internships, and 85.7% secure jobs within 90 days of graduating. That was up only slightly from 2015 (85%). Recruited by such top firms as Kohl's Department Stores (39), CUNA Mutual Group (22), Target Corporation (22), and Deloitte (16), they earned an average total compensation of $61,905, a minuscule rise from 2015 ($61,634).
The Wisconsin School of Business is a small, intimate enclave in one of the biggest universities in the U.S., Schroeder says. Wisconsin, as a whole, has 43,000 students, 17,000 faculty and staff, and about 450 buildings. The B-school has one building, and a tight-knit community.
"We're Midwest nice, so we never say that we're better than anybody else," Schroeder says. "So not only do you get the scale of a big university with the small-feel community within the business school, you can be assured that the English classes and the chemistry classes and the botany and the art history classes are going to be in the top echelons within the country. And that's important, because most of our students take more classes outside the business school than they take in the business school.
"It's great to have a great business school, which we believe we have, but we also have a great university. Students are going to get a well-rounded business education with its foundation in the liberal arts.
"The other piece of that is Madison, which is almost always in the top 10 cities to live in. So if you can handle the cold, it's a really great city."
Yeah, about that weather …
"The weather sucks," Shapiro says. "That's the only demerit I can give to Wisconsin. The professors, classes, and overall academics are great. The career services are very helpful. If the social life is what you're looking for, UW can't be topped. To this day, I've never met anyone who said, 'I regret my decision to go to UW.'
"The only thing I can — and have — complained about is the weather."
"I took part in two separate (but very similar) dynamic simulations where the class was divided into seven to eight small groups and we were launching competing products on a global scale. At a high level, we were tasked with sourcing, target markets, pricing, product features, freight, risk assessment, and how to react to competitors. We were given beginning budgets that increased with success or, conversely, decreased by failures. The goal was to maximize profitability and market share. The simulation was dynamic in that it incorporated the actions of our competitors. The takeaway was that decisions in business are rarely one-dimensional and the part that various decisions have in success, with each requiring thoughtful planning and vision." — Class of 2014 Grad
"I took part in the School of Business study-abroad program in London (spring semester, 2012). The soft skills and cultural awareness I learned while spending time abroad is unable to be replicated in the classroom or on a domestic campus. I also learned to be independent and how to effectively communicate across language and cultural barriers." — Class of 2014 Grad
"Studied Abroad in Oslo, Norway. Learned how to work with students and professionals from a broad and diverse background, as well as language and cultural differences. Key experience which helped me land a full-time position with a Global 500 employer." — Class of 2014 Grad
Where the Class of 2016 went to work:
(Intern and Full-time)
Kohl's Department Stores: 39
CUNA Mutual Group: 22
Target Corporation: 22
Deloitte LLP: 16
JP Morgan: 15
PwC: 12
BMO Harris/Capital Markets/Financial Group: 11
Northwestern Mutual: 11


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text: I've had my Okie Joe's smoker for about 5-6 years. I love it. EXCEPT... The ash box drawer below the fire box is so thinned out, it is about to fall apart. I don't know how many more fires I have left before it just falls off. I can't find the "part" anywhere! It is the one that slides straight out towards the front for dumping. Suggestions????


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Janet Barkhouse
Janet Barkhouse retired from professional theatre in 1982, and from teaching high school English in 2005. She's written and directed plays for children from ages 8 to 18, written innovative English curriculum for the Province of Nova Scotia, and given workshops and readings for young people, teachers and writers across the Province.
In 2006 she fell in love with writing poems. Since then she has studied with many extraordinary poets, at universities in Halifax, and at the Banff Centre. Her poems have been published in literary journals across Canada; her chapbook, Silence, has had a 3rd printing; another chapbook, Sable Island Fieldnotes, with photographs by Zoe Lucas, will be available through the Sable Island Institute Website in September, 2017. In 2013-14, through their Humanities-HEALS program, she was Artist in Residence (Writing) at Dalhousie University's Medical School.
Janet lives near Mahone Bay on Nova Scotia's South Shore.Publications
Barkhouse, Janet. Keeper of the Light. Halifax: Formac Publishing, 2016.
Barkhouse, Janet. Silence: Poems by Janet Barkhouse. Newburne, NS: Mid-Drumlin Press, 2015.
Barkhouse, Joyce, and Janet Barkhouse. Pit Pony: The Picture Book. Halifax: Formac Publishing, 2012.
Barkhouse, Janet. Sable Island - Imagine! Toronto: Curriculum Plus, 2010.
Barkhouse, Janet. The Dalhousie Review, 2017 (forthcoming). Three poems.
---. The New Quarterly, 2017 (forthcoming). Three poems.
---. Silence: Poems by Janet Barkhouse. Mahone Bay: Mid-Drumlin Press, 2015. Chapbook.
---. "Kindness Counts." Mother's Message in a Bottle. Ed. Tyler Hayden. Halifax: Nimbus Publishing, 2014. Article.
---. "Hung Jury, Sable Island." Literary Review of Canada. Vol. 21, No. 1, January/February 2013. Poem.
---. "The Girls in the Snapshot." Untying the Apron: Daughters Remember Mothers of the 1950s. Ed. Lorri Neilsen Glenn. Toronto: Guernica Editions, 2013. Poem.
---. "Little Billy." Room 34.3, 2011. Short story.
---. "Little Billy." Room 34.3 (2011). Short story.Awards
Atlantic Writing Competition, 2007. Second prize, Poetry.


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text:
"Most of the people understand this is for Chinese New Year, that we have to wear bright auspicious colours to bring luck into our lives", the 60-year-old said.
THIS SATURDAY (28 February) come along and join in the celebrations for the Chinese New Year at the Sunderland Museum, Library & Winter Gardens with lion dances, martial arts, craft displays and stalls.
United Overseas Bank's annual Lunar New Year survey shows that fun and novelty (59 percent) and convenience (57 percent) were the top reasons to send digital red envelopes.
Dim sum provides the perfect way to honor Chinese New Year. The city's best dumplings in Flushing
From the vibrant parades to teams of lion dancers taking the streets, there is plenty to do. But leave it to master Thomas Haas and his Lunar New Year Collection to give us handcrafted stunning creations, including dark-chocolate roosters, gold-foil coins plus a Good Fortune Mandarin Orange, air brushed with cocoa butter.
It's time to celebrate New Year's - again.
Meanwhile Thais with Chinese ancestors in Hat Yai in the South and Chiang Mai in the North are out to shop for foods and fruits to worship their ancestors.
Risk of severe storms over weekend
The Storm Prediction Center says parts of Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Georgia all have a marginal risk of severe weather. The Storm Prediction Center said this morning's storms could spawn tornadoes and produce wind gusts of up to 70 miles per hour .
Macau, while enjoying some recovery in the latter half of 2016, finished the year with another decline in gaming revenue, in spite of two new casinos having opened within the year.
James Wong, chairman of the Birmingham Chinese Festival Committee, said: "This is my second year running the festival and I always had ambitions to make it bigger. With the weakened pound, London is much cheaper this year for Chinese visitors, and we expect popular shopping destinations to reap the benefits from the influx of free-spending tourists".
Advance tickets for Folkmoot's Chinese New Year are $8 for kids, $10 for adults and $35 for families of four or more.
In Last Hours, Obama Approved Funds for Palestinian Authority
The aides and the State Department official weren't authorized to speak publicly on the matter and demanded anonymity. It is meant to provide assistance for reform in the territories for any future Palestinian state.
As Folkmoot has been developing its year-round programming, the group wanted to incorporate an event to feature the Chinese culture, specifically the Chinese New Year.
Famous people born in the Year of the Rooster include Benjamin Franklin, Beyoncé, Francis Bacon, Catherine Duchess of Cambridge, William Blake, Elton John.
Needless to say, the sheer number of people travelling around the Chinese New Year puts massive pressure on China's public transport systems and civic amenities along the routes. Red envelopes carrying tokens will also be distributed to children. It is rumoured that this year's World Economic Forum in Davos was held a week earlier than usual to avoid clashing with Chinese new year.
Missing MH370 Flight Search Was 'Thorough, Comprehensive' - Malaysia Airlines
A new search operation could be ensued if a private donor offers to fund the combing or if Malaysia adds more funds to the operations.


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Day 10 - Why am I here?
Thursday, June 06, 2013
I've been flopping basically all the time so I thought that I ought to lay out exactly why I am here. Why I am doing this.
- Because I feel better when I am healthy. My head is clearer, I feel fresher, I am more productive, I am less grumpy. I am just a better version of me.
- My skin is clearer when I eat better.
- The feeling when I manage things I couldn't use to do. The feeling when I finish a run or a set of reps. The feeling when I can run faster or further than someone else.
- I am sick of being judged for my terrible eating habits. I am better than that and people should know it. :D
- I really don't want anyone else to ask me if I'm pregnant. I've had quite enough of that, thank you.
- My dad has a lot of problems with his knees and my mum's family have a lot of health problems. Better to get into healthy habits now than to face the consequences later.
- I am sick of looking at other women and thinking, god, if only I looked like her. It's not fair on me or them!
- Because I am 19 and I don't feel comfortable in clothes for people my age. I don't want to wear a bikini this summer, I don't like the way I look in tight clothes or short dresses.
- Because I'd really like my boobs to shrink!!
- Because the lessons I learn here are very important to the rest of my life.
- Because I will study better and work better if I am healthy.
- Because I'd want to be able to survive if I fell into a fantasy novel.
- Because I hate being sick.
But mostly, because I am not happy with where I am now.
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Take if from me..who has fought weight all her life..I was a fat; child; teenager; young adult; adult..and now a not as heavy senior..still working on getting it together..You are wise to tackle the problem..starting today. I didn't have a good self image of myself and made some horrid choices along the way because of it. Body size does affect not only our physical but our mental out look ..Your goals and reasoning sound good.. Spark will help in so many ways..Keep motivated !!
1629 days ago
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D -Tools Joins the Control4 Solution Providers
Control4 selects D-Tools as a Proposal & Project Management solution provider for their dealers worldwide
AMSTERDAM RAI, NL. ISE, FEBRUARY 01, 2011 - D -Tools, Inc., the leader in fully integrated system integration software, and Control4, the operating system of choice for consumer electronics companies, homes, businesses, and utilities, today announced that D -Tools has joined the Control4® Solution Provider Program to provide Control4 dealers worldwide with their exceptional comprehensive system design, documentation and project management software package.
From training and hardware tools to proposal management and marketing services, the Control4® Solution Provider Program recommends products and services to enhance business -management processes and increase sales for Control4 dealers.
"Control4 is a leading provider of intelligent operating systems, and we are pleased to be selected as a participant in the Solution Provider Program," says Adam Stone, President and CEO of D -Tools. "We are like -minded in our goal to provide our customers with a platform to fuel their growth, and we look forward to assisting Control4 dealers in expanding their businesses and maximizing their bottom line."
"We are committed to providing Control4 dealers with the best project solutions in the industry and the D -Tools software package is no exception. Their comprehensive software package is an excellent tool for system integrators, providing streamlined system design, proposal generation, and project management -some key 'must -haves' for our dealers to expand their businesses," says Glen Mella, President and Chief Operating Offer at Control4.
About Control4
Control4, a leading provider of the operating system for the smart home, delivers intelligent control over consumer electronics products, appliances and networking systems through an easy -to -use and intuitive software interface. Founded in 2003, the company delivers affordable automation of lighting, music, video, thermostat, security, and energy management systems through more than 1,900 custom integrators, retail outlets, and distributors in over 70 countries. With the most intelligent, open and affordable control solution on the market, Control4 is the platform of choice for major consumer electronics companies, residential homes, hotels, businesses and utilities that require an intelligent, open and affordable control solution. For more information visit www.control4.com.
About D -Tools, Inc.
D -Tools, founded in 1998 and based in Concord, California, is a worldwide leader in accessible, highly accurate system design and documentation software. The company's flagship product, System Integrator™ (SI), is a total design solution that utilizes Autodesk® AutoCAD and Microsoft® Visio for comprehensive system design, documentation and project management. D -Tools SI allows residential and commercial integrators to streamline their business processes to increase overall revenues while reducing the time and costs associated with the installation and integration of low -voltage systems. Over 3,000 leading companies use D -Tools software to reduce time and costs and streamline the system integration process. D -Tools is the recipient of the Consumer Electronics Association's Mark of Excellence Award (2004, 2005, 2006), National Systems Contractors Association and Sound and Video Contractor's Innovations in Technology for Business Productivity Award (2004, 2005) and CE Pro's High Impact Award for Design Software.
For more information, contact D -Tools at (866) 386 -6571, e -mail at info@d -tools.com or visit D -Tools online at www.d -tools.com.
Press Contact:
Jill Reddy
D -Tools, Inc.
(925) 270 -4111
jillr@d -tools.com
www.d -tools.com


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Today, Rep. Ed Royce (R-CA), Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, announced that on Monday, November 4 he will hold the Committee's first field hearing to examine international human trafficking and to assess efforts to combat trafficking at the international, Federal, State and local levels. The hearing, entitled "Regional Perspectives in the Global Fight Against Human Trafficking," will begin at 10:00 a.m. PT in the Titan Student Union building on the campus of California State University, Fullerton.
Chairman Royce said: "Each year, human trafficking victimizes millions around the world; many are women and girls from our own neighborhoods. This threat is on the rise in communities across southern California. This field hearing will examine efforts to combat this form of modern-day slavery and provide the Committee an opportunity to assess the efforts of the State Department, law enforcement officials and community organizations to fight the spread of this grievous offense against human dignity."
Note: Earlier this year, Chairman Royce launched a Human Trafficking Congressional Advisory Committee (HTCAC), which is comprised of victims' rights groups, local and federal law enforcement agencies, and community advocates. HTCAC meets on a monthly basis to address human trafficking concerns, as well as offer policy recommendations. In May, Chairman Royce convened a Committee hearing to examine local and private sector initiatives to combat international human trafficking.
Source: http://foreignaffairs.house.gov/press-release/chairman-royce-announces-southern-california-field-hearing-human-trafficking


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White - FORD FOCUS ST - Die-Cast & Plastic Pull Back Car Model Toy - New
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This auction is for aFord Focus ST Approx 1:38 Scale Die-Cast with Plastic Parts Pull Back Toy Model from the Welly . This model is brand new and boxed. The model itself measures approximately 4.5cms wide, 11cms long and 3.5cms high. Pull Back & Go Action with Opening Doors. The detail is excellent and it comes in a White Colour as per the picture . Thanks for looking and . IF PAYING BY PAY PAL - PLEASE NOTE THAT I DO NOT CHARGE EXTRA Not got a Paypal Account? - Don't Worry We also accept Credit / Debit Card Payments over the phone Just call us on (Monday - Friday) FOR OUR AIRMAIL CUSTOMERS PLEASE NOTE THAT DELIVERY FOR YOUR ITEMS CAN TAKE UPTO 28 DAYS FROM THE DAY OF POSTING - DEPENDING ON HOW QUICKLY YOUR COUNTRIES CUSTOMS CLEAR THE PACKAGE FOR DELIVERY


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Their love was forged in fire...
He would overwhelm a woman
Flynn knew that loving him and being loved by him would be an all-consuming passion. There would be no room for reason; there would be no halfway measures. He would demand everything from the woman he wanted, heart and soul and body....
"You frighten me," she said, as the pulsing of her blood matched his. "I'll never hurt you." She looked at this man whom she had watched reign supreme with nothing but the power in his two fists and she believed him. "I trust you," she said softly, "and that frightens me even more."
Later, many people would say they were there when it happened. They would say it was as obvious as lightning across a summer sky and twice as electrifying. But, in truth, it was a small moment-a brief flicker of acknowledgment, of destiny, that left both Flynn and Jack shaken to their cores.
©1990, 2013 Barbara Bretton (P)2014 Barbara Bretton
"A good audiobook"
The story didn't keep me interested but I finished listening till the end of the audiobook.
reunion, devotion and intrigue
Flynn and Jack meet when he pulls her out of a burning car on her wedding day. Amnesia makes Flynn forget who she is and the tragic accident that put her in the hospital. For one week Jack stays by Flynn's side while she recovers. A bond forms between them. After Flynn's uncle comes and takes her away to recover, they lose contact with each other and Jack isn't the same.
Years later a chance meeting brings them back together. Will their bond still be there and will it work out for them?
All We Know of Heaven is book 4 in the PAX series. Ms. Bretton has created a world of intrigue and suspense. I liked the premise of the story and how Flynn and Jack met, were separated and then met again.
Ms. Kane's narration of this story is spot on. She gives each character the emotion that propels the story forward. She makes you want to keep listening to the story and find out what happens next.
I would recommend this book to my friends who like romance and suspense. I would listen to this book again.
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On November 23, 2015, an order regarding the application for authority to retain professionals was filed in the bankruptcy case of City Sports, Inc. and its affiliates.
The filing was assigned docket number 386 and is described on the court's official docket as follows:
Order Authorizing the Debtors to Retain Hilco Real Estate, LLC as Real Estate Advisors for the Debtors Effective Nunc Pro Tunc to the November 9, 2015 (related document(s)[331]) Order Signed on 11/23/2015. (Attachments: # (1) Exhibit 1 # (2) Exhibit A # (3) Exhibit B) (GM)
City Sports, Inc. filed for bankruptcy protection, or had an involuntary bankruptcy petition filed against it, on October 5, 2015. The bankruptcy case is pending before the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware. The case number for the lead bankruptcy case is 15-12054. The bankruptcy case is currently assigned to United States Bankruptcy Judge Kevin Gross. The law firm of DLA Piper US LLP is acting as lead bankruptcy counsel to City Sports, Inc. in the bankruptcy case.


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"The Pony"
I've put some of Kim's paintings, with my frames on them, up on my main site. Or, you can go directly to the thumbnail page.
This is an ongoing project, as some items need to rephotographed, and some slides need to be scanned, and some of the slides that have been scanned need to be run through Photoshop. Speaking of Photoshop, I have been using Elements mostly; and only use Photoshop now, because my old scanner isn't recognized by Elements.


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In the 2nd episode of the 'Gas Monkey Weekly' web series, our host Christie Brimberry announces the winner of the 1st t-shirt giveaway. Congrats to David A. Ortega of West Corvina, CA – thank you for sharing episode 1 via social media.
Christie talks with Jason Aker regarding details behind the 1949 Chevy 3100 pick-up build between parts 1 and 2 of the Fast N' Loud episodes.
Also, Christie and Tony Taylor answer a frequently asked question about the cars we built that found their way back to the garage. Richard and Dennis also make a surprise cameo.
Be on the lookout for more 'Gas Monkey Weekly' episodes for your change to win a free Gas Monkey Garage t-shirt.


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|The Vomit Bag on Board 😛 but we didn't use it 😛
It was different and new for me !moving from a place to a place by a Ferry! making the decision while I was plannning the the trip was hard !
Ididn't know what kind of Ferry I'm going to book ! all I know is that I have to move from Macau to Hong Kong by a Ferry. Is it safe ? well I depended on travelers opinions from the internet on which Ferry company should we take. I made my options but I didnt book from here, Since I found out that ferries leave every 15 min starting from 7am to 7pm daily from Macau to Hong Kong & Vice Versa.
The Venetian Macau (our Hotel) were kind enough to have free bus trasportation to New World First Ferry Services. Its a couple of minutes away from the hotel. But you should put in in mind that Hong Kong consists of two Islands, so remember when you book your ticket you should know in which part are you staying.
That's My ticket from Macau To Kowloon(Hong Kong).
Some Information you need to know :
– Regarding the reservation, once I arrived to our hotel in Macau I asked if I should book our tickets from now(the moment of the arrival) since we were planning to leave to Hong Kong on a weekend so the tickets might be sold out. Well, It turns that its ok , we left the hotel with no concern because we can get on board of any ferry we want since there is one leaving to Hong Kong every 15 min. we arrived at the Ferry Terminal then we booked the next one that is leaving.
– Its approximately one hour ride from Macau to Hong Kong. What's funny is that their Ferry terminal is like an airport 😛 you should get your passports stamped.
-The ticket is 155HKD ( 6KD) per person .
– They Charge for the big luggages I dont remember how much but I think 20HKD. the ticket and the luggage extra charge was very resonable.
– Its a bumpy Ride 😛 that was in april 2009 elb7ar kan eshway mooy fa be careful sea sick ppl 😉 everybody around were vomitting bs el7mdela the 4 of us were enjoying o el ferry etroo7 fooq o t7t 😉
– Help your self ! it means mako a7ad esheel lejna6! u r responsible for your luggages you take them in the ferry and out of the ferry so make sure to limit your carry on's 😉 wraakum kaad o tyerer jnaa6 ;P
– the Ferry was a high class one 😉 leather purple chairs and clean.
– The Link to the Ferry Company http://www.nwff.com.hk/.
|On the way to The Ferry Terminal in Macau
|One ferry that already left 😉
|Enjoying el Scene eli kela thbaaab o gheem 😉
|Ferry Terminals ! ma6ar el feriyaat 😉 so so arranged
|My Breakfast 😉 Breakfast el3a'azah ;P
Wait for Hong Kong , U will be amazed 😉


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Executive team
Richard Nunn
Chief Executive Officer
Appointed to this role: 4 January 2016
With more than 25 years' experience in financial services, Richard joined Statewide as Chief Executive Officer in January 2016.
Richard has significant domestic and international senior leadership experience across the wealth management and banking sectors.
For two years prior to his appointment as Statewide CEO, Richard was NAB's General Manager Strategic Development, Asia, where he was responsible for developing and overseeing the strategic direction for NAB's Asian business.
Richard joined NAB in 2009 as Executive General Manager of Advice and Marketing, in NAB's wealth operation. Prior to working at NAB, Richard held senior executive positions at CBA, including General Manager, Commonwealth Private Bank and General Manager, Distribution for Colonial First State Investments.
Richard's early executive career included time with IOOF as General Manager Retail Fund Management and AXA Asia Pacific Holdings Ltd as National Retail Sales Manager and Business Manager International Operations.
Richard holds a Bachelor of Business, a Graduate Diploma in Economics, is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and is a graduate of Harvard Business School's Advanced Management Program. Richard is a director of the Botanic Gardens and State Herbarium, Glenelg Football Club and Pulteney Grammar School.
Con Michalakis
Chief Investment Officer
Appointed to this role: 25 August 2008
Along with the investment committee, Con is responsible for managing Statewide Super's $6 billion in funds under management.
Prior to joining Statewide, Con was Director of Marketing and Client Services for Manhattan-based boutique investment firm Pzena Investment Management, where he was responsible for marketing the firm's products and services in Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong and Singapore. He was previously the Director, Head of Institutional Business, for Merrill Lynch Investment Managers based in Sydney. Con has also worked in London with Alliance Capital Management and was the first Australian practice leader of investment consulting for Watson Wyatt.
Con has a Bachelor of Mathematical Science from the University of Adelaide, a Masters of Science from the University of London, a Postgraduate Diploma in Financial Strategy from Saïd Business School at the University of Oxford, and is a Fellow at the Financial Services Institute of Australasia.
Linda Zeelie
Chief Operating Officer
Appointed to this role: 15 February 2016
As Chief Operating Officer, Linda heads up Statewide Super's ICT, Project Management Office, Facilities and in-house super administration teams. Linda is an energetic, outcome-focused leader with extensive ICT and general management experience who drives business performance, operational excellence and customer service.
Linda is widely considered an industry expert in the areas of program and project management, governance and service delivery. She has over 20 years' experience in the domestic and international executive and ICT (Information Communications and Technology) arena at Executive levels, across a range of industries including Government, Defence, Energy, Finance, Banking and various other commercial organisations.
Linda is a Fellow of the Australian Computer Society and a graduate of the Institute of Company Directors. She holds a Masters in ICT from the University of South Australia and various project management and audit certifications. Linda is a director of a number of Statewide held organisations and the Mary MacKillop College.
Grant Eastwood
Chief Financial Officer
Appointed to this role: 18 February 2016
Grant is responsible for strategy and oversight of Statewide Super's finance function.
He brings to Statewide over 25 years of experience across diverse industries including banking and finance, logistics, sport and leisure, and information technology.
Before joining Statewide, Grant was CFO of Intec Group, South Australia's largest privately-owned professional services firm, where he was responsible for all finance, HR, business support and systems administration functions. Prior to this, he was a consultant at Better Business Basics and held various relationship management roles at ANZ over a 13 year period.
Grant's background in strategic planning, financial modelling, corporate governance frameworks and risk assessment ensures that the interests of members is at the forefront of Statewide's thinking.
Grant holds a Diploma in Management from Leadership Management Australia and is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Debbie Sterrey
General Manager, Business Development
Appointed to this role: 5 February 2016
Debbie has worked in the finance sector for more than 30 years, joining Statewide Super in 2013. She is responsible for introducing new employers and members to Statewide. Debbie is passionate around the delivery of exceptional service and takes great pride in ensuring that our employers are well supported in managing their super obligations.
Before joining Statewide, Debbie was Adelaide Bank's National Sales Manager for the Wealth Management Division and prior to this she held the role of SA/NT Regional Manager for ING from 2001 – 2007. Earlier in her career, Debbie held various Senior positions at ANZ Bank which included providing advice to clients as one of their leading Certified Financial Planners.
Debbie holds a Masters in Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Adelaide and a Diploma in Financial Planning.
Tony D'Alessandro
General Manager, Member Engagement and Marketing
Appointed to this role: 29 March 2016
Tony is responsible for Statewide Super's Financial Planning, Member Services, Marketing and Member Insights teams. Tony's focus is on developing and delivering high quality benefits and experiences to our members.
Tony has over 30 years' experience in the financial services industry and has held a variety of Senior Management positions for CBA, St George Bank and Bank SA. This included serving as CEO of Symetry Limited (wholly owned subsidiary of Commonwealth Bank) which provided IDPS and superannuation administration services to over 50,000 customers.
Prior to joining Statewide Super, Tony was Regional General Manager of Commonwealth Private Bank for SA/WA/NT/VIC, responsible for customer-facing managers, financial planners, bankers and associates accountable for delivering bespoke financial services to high net worth clients.
Tony is a Certified Financial Planner.
Julie Haines
General Manager, People and Culture
Appointed to this role: 3 November 2014
Julie is responsible for managing Statewide Super's human resources services, policies and programs. Her focus is on ensuring Statewide maintains an employee-oriented, high performance culture, prioritising empowerment, quality, goal attainment, productivity, and recruitment and ongoing development of a superior workforce.
Prior to joining Statewide as Senior People and Culture Adviser in early 2014, Julie lived in London for 13 years. During this time, she worked for Dimensional Fund Advisors, setting up their London office before assuming the role of HR Manager there.
Julie is a Certified Professional Member of the Australian Human Resources Institute.
Kristyn Verrall
General Counsel and Company Secretary
Appointed to this role: 17 January 2017
Kristyn is responsible for ensuring the organisation complies with its statutory and prudential obligations and provides timely, commercial legal advice and support to the organisation on a range of investment, operational and related legal issues.
Prior to joining Statewide Super as Legal Counsel in January 2014, Kristyn was a Senior Associate at top-tier international law firm, Minter Ellison. She has over 12 years' experience advising clients on complex commercial and legal matters and over 10 years' experience working in the financial services industry.
Kristyn is known for her down to earth approach, high quality advice and creative problem solving. She holds a Bachelor of Laws (Honours) from the University of Adelaide, a Bachelor of Commerce (Economics) from Melbourne University, a Master of Commerce (Finance and Accounting) from Deakin University and a Graduate Diploma of Legal Practice from the Law Society of South Australia.
Kieran Netting
Chief Risk Officer
Appointed to this role: 13 March 2017
With more than 20 years' experience in financial services, Kieran joined Statewide as Chief Risk Officer in February 2017.
Kieran has significant experience in managing all facets of risk including regulatory risk, market risk and operational risk in some of Australia's largest ASX-listed and global financial institutions, both in Australia and internationally.
Prior to joining Statewide, Kieran was Head of Operational Risk for Standard Chartered Private Bank, based in Singapore. Kieran has also held senior executive positions with NAB, CBA, Credit Suisse and Macquarie Bank.
Kieran holds a Masters in Business Administration from The Melbourne Business School, University of Melbourne. He also holds a Bachelors degree in Management from Queensland Institute of Technology and a Bachelors degree in Accountancy from The Queensland University of Technology. Kieran is a Member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and the Risk Management Institution of Australasia Directors.


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Pantoum with Stolen Lines
Just beneath sleepy skin
my pulse is doing a waltz,
pushes beyond the ocean swell
of sea, seagull and seagrass.
My pulse sways like a waltz
(or maybe a polka, it's hard to tell) –
of sea, seagull and seagrass
from a country I left years ago.
Or is it more like flamenco?
That duende guitar, the hard beat
from a homeland I left long ago?
Is it music at all, or just wind?
Ay, duende, guitar, heart beat
beyond a glassy-green Pacific:
(Is it music? Is it wind?) -- feather
tight the boundaries of skin.
tight the boundaries of skin.


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Holy Cow: Meaning
This idiom (holy cow!) is used to express strong feelings like surprise, pleasure or anger. Examples:
1. "Holy Cow!" she said as she saw his car after the horrible accident.
2. Holy cow! How did she do that?
This term is considered to be very popular among teenagers.


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"All of us possess the strength within us to be leaders and mentors. I intend to continue spreading the message of personal empowerment to young women around the world as my career moves to the next level."
Oklahoma City, OK (PRWEB) October 09, 2014
Carla Gonzalez, seasoned pageantry winner and philanthropist, traveled to Montego Bay, Jamaica to bestow the honor of the Ms. United Nation International 2014-2015 crown to the next generation winner of the competition on September 27.
"Being crowned Ms.United Nation International 2013-2014 was certainly a shining achievement in my storied pageantry career, allowing me to take my philanthropy and stewardship to the next level. It is to my sincerest hope that this year's winner will find her own way to use the crown to take her ambitions to the next level as well, while giving back to her community."
Gonzalez's illustrious pageantry career includes several crowns. Her achievements include Ms. United Nation International 2013-14, Ms. America International 2012-2013, Ms. U.S. of America 2011-2012, Ms. Oklahoma United States 2009-2010 and Ms. Oklahoma Globe 2008-09.
Aside from her notoriety as a multi-time pageant winner, Gonzalez is a Clinical Social Worker, obtaining her masters degree from the University of Oklahoma. She has worked in Public Health for several years providing counseling services and has spent the last seven years going into schools to provide Bullying and Teen Dating Violence Prevention education. She adopted Anti-Bullying as her leading platform and later added Empowerment of Women, hoping to inspire young girls and women of all ages to always follow their dreams and never give up on achieving their goals, an example Gonzalez strives to live by as a role model.
Gonzalez has earned several certifications and has received multiple awards. She has a national certification in Bullying Prevention, is a certified Grief Recovery Specialist, a National Anger Management Specialist, a Prevention Relationship Enhancement facilitator, and is currently working to become a board certified Life Coach and a QPR Suicide Prevention Instructor. She was selected by the International Women's Leadership Association to receive the Woman of Outstanding Leadership award, and by the National Association of Professional Women to receive the Woman of the Year award for Outstanding Excellence and Dedication to her Profession and the Achievement of Women. Her most honorable award is from President Obama, the President's Volunteer Service award, presented by the Corporation for National Community Service, in recognition and appreciation of her commitment to strengthening the Nation and for making a difference through her volunteer service.
Reigning as Ms. United Nation International 2013-14, her year was busy not only supporting her platform but several other charities and organizations. She traveled extensively making appearances, attending red carpet events, speaking engagements, and did multiple interviews and photo shoots. A few highlights of her year include being an invited guest and speaking at the 3rd annual Amanda Network Anti-Bullying campaign and Annual Day of Awareness & Peace Rally in San Jose, CA. She attended the Mi Amor Gala Havana White Party & Charity event supporting the Safe Passage Organization, helping victims of domestic violence, she was a judge at the first annual Lotus Beauty Awards and was honored to present the prestigious Woman of the Year Award. An appearance was made at the British American Business Council event in Los Angeles where they hosted a World Cup celebration. She attended the ESPY'S After Party presented by Celebrity Sweat VIP Bash hosted by Evander Holyfield, four-time World Heavyweight Champion, which raised money for breast cancer awareness. She was a guest speaker at the Single Parent Support Network organization banquet and was honored to present an award to Jane Jayroe, Miss America 1967. She was a celebrity guest at the Kentucky Derby, Unbridled Eve Gala, supporting Blessings in a Backpack Charity, traveled to Illinois to emcee the Live Out Loud Charity fashion show which supports Suicide Prevention and was excited to visit NYC and judge the annual Mermaid Parade on Coney Island. She also had the honor of being the Grand Marshall in the Christmas Parade in her hometown. She appeared at several other events, spoke to civic groups, judged beauty pageants and attended a pre-Emmy's Gifting Suite event in Los Angeles, CA.
"All of us possess the strength within us to be leaders and mentors. I intend to continue spreading the message of personal empowerment to young women around the world as my career moves to the next level."
Gonzalez plans to continue pursuing a career in acting and modeling while also working towards her goal to start her own business, Reflections Counseling, Education & Wellness Center.
For more information about Carla Gonzalez, visit her website at http://www.CarlaDGonzalez.com. Twitter @CarlaGonzalezOK and Instagram CarlaJ0368.
And to see one of her recent interviews, visit http://www.LATFthemagazine.com.
For Media Inquiries, Interviews or Speaking Engagements, please contact YM & Associates PR | Marketing | Branding at firstname.lastname@example.com or call 949-244-9769.
Yvette Morales
YM & Associates
PR | Marketing | Branding
California | New York


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Istituto Luce Cinecittà - Filmitalia was created to promote Italian cinema abroad, and increase the distribution of Italian films on the International market.
Functioning under the patronage of the Ministry of Culture-Direction Cinema, Istituto Luce Cinecittà plays an an all round and leading role in the promotion of Italian audiovisual production.
Drawing on its own strategic and specialist expertise in the field of marketing and communications, Filmitalia aims to develop tools and gather resources to interact with key targets, and increase the significance of the Italian film and audiovisual industry in both the national and international markets. In order to achieve the significant and ambitious objectives that it has set itself, Filmitalia has identified a series of key steps to be implemented over time in order to encourage foreign sales of Italian film products.
The most important of these are the medium-long term agreements and projects to be pursued with various companies in the sector, the creation of close and dynamic relations between these companies and Filmitalia Spa itself, the provision of training and studies to achieve constant improvement in the film promotion system and finally the creation of new development opportunities.
Filmitalia's activities include, the collaboration with all of the major International film festivals like Cannes, Berlin, Venice, Toronto, Shanghai, Locarno, New York and London, (although the actual number of international festivals in which Filmitalia is actively involved are over a hundred ), the organization of the national selections, the presence of Italian films and artists in the various festivals, and providing its own expository and promotional space within all the major international film markets designed to provide support to the distributors and other Italian film industry professionals, so as to increase and maintain the industry's visibility and distribution abroad.
Filmitalia is also involved in the organization of numerous events which take place in countries with strong commercial potential, take for example the Italian Screenings in Italy, the Festival of Italian Cinema in Tokyo, Open Roads – New Italian Cinema in New York, Italian Cinema Festivals in London, Istanbul, Barcelona and Eastern European Countries ("Mittelcinema"); and maintain contacts between the artists, festivals, buyers and the Italian film industry.
Filmitalia runs a bilingual database on Italian film productions since 2000 which can be viewed on our website www.filmitalia.org, an indispensable tool for Italian and foreign sector operators.
Of late the Italian Film industry continues to win international acclaim ,thanks to these film festivals, exhibitions, and various promotional events.


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Rather than promote sin, perversion, abomination, immorality and those things which lead one straight to eternity in hell, without God, nowhere near heaven we need to boldly, openly MORTIFY SIN and speak the inerrant Word of God! All the time. Continually. Without omission. Without hesitation. Without wavering and adopting the evil of the world. MORTIFY SIN! Cease this unsound and deadly acceptance and tolerance of those things which are an abomination unto the Lord our God! And begin using the RIGHT WORDS — knock this dung off of using euphemistic letters which appease the sinners and speak and write exactly what those sinners are! Please the Lord not the sexual perverts, the immoral, the deviant! Speak and write to please the Lord not appease the world! Drop the LGBT dung and write and speak the TRUTH of their actions, behaviors, immorality and sin!
~ Ken Pullen
Blasphemous James Martin of the vatis canna communications office: I call no man father except my birth father, who died a few years ago, and I only have One True Father, God in heaven, so no man ought to be called "father" more sacrilege of the false pagan church of Rome — comments by Ken Pullen, A Crooked Path
Vatican Communications Office Priest: Homosexuals Will Be In Heaven
By Tim Brown
May 12, 2017
Reprinted from: Freedom Outpost
Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. -1 Corinthians 6:9-10
Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. -Galatians 5:19-21
Scripture is clear about many things and among them is the fact that those who practice sexual immorality, including homosexuality, will find themselves outside the kingdom of God, not inside it. Yet, a Jesuit priest, who was appointed by Pope Francis last month to the Vatican's communications office is telling everyone the exact opposite.
Fr. James Martin, editor-at-large of the Jesuit-run America magazine, comment on Facebook on May 5 that certain saints "were probably gay" and that many people "may be surprised when you get to heave to be greeted by them."
Replied to Walter Maczynski's comment on Fr. James Martin, SJ's public post
Fr. James Martin, SJ Some of them were probably gay. A certain percentage of humanity is gay, and so were most likely some of the saints. You may be surprised when you get to heaven to be greeted by lesbian, homosexual, bi-sexual and trans-gender sexually deviant and perverted men and women.*
His reply fell under a link to a pro-homosexual event by New Ways Ministry, which he called "another sign of welcome and building bridges."
NB: Two post limit. No ad hominem. Keep on topic. Charity always.
Another sign of welcome and building bridges.
Bishop John Stowe leads prayer at homosexual, lesbian, bi-sexual and trans-gender sexual deviant and perversion Church of Rome gathering
LifeSite News reports:
But Catholic saint and doctor of the Church St. Peter Damian called homosexuality a "vice" that "opens up hell and closes the door of paradise."
"This vice [of same-sex activity] is the death of bodies, the destruction of souls, pollutes the flesh, extinguishes the light of the intellect, expels the Holy Spirit from the temple of the human heart, introduces the diabolical inciter of lust, throws into confusion, and removes the truth completely from the deceived mind," he wrote in his 11th century Book of Gomorrah.
"It prepares snares for the one who walks, and for him who falls into the pit, it obstructs the escape. It opens up hell and closes the door of paradise," he added.
The Catholic Church teaches that homosexual acts are "intrinsically disordered" since they are "contrary to the natural law" and they "close the sexual act to the gift of life."
But, not only this: The Church also teaches that same-sex attraction is itself "objectively disordered" since God created sexual attraction to be between a male and female for the sake of procreation.
In this way, there is no such reality as a "homosexual person," but only a person who struggles with the "disorder" of being attracted to the same sex. The Church teaches that everybody, including those with a disordered sexuality — often expressing itself in lust, masturbation, fornication, pornography, homosexuality — are called to chastity. That is, to the moral virtue of a rightly ordered sexuality integrated within the person.
While I am not Roman Catholic, Damian is correct in his assessment and this has always been the view of those who follow biblical teachings without distorting them.
Martin has published a book titled Building a Bridge: How the Catholic Church and the homosexual, lesbian, bi-sexual and trans-gender deviant and perverted sexual behavior Community Can Enter into a Relationship of Respect, Compassion, and Sensitivity, in which he wants Christians to embrace practicing homosexuals and respect them.
He's even gone to social media, such as Twitter and Youtube to advocate for those who mentally ill people who engage in transgenderism or to promote homosexuality as normal in the Roman Catholic Church. Martin has also declared that the church should embrace practicing homosexuals for their "special gifts."
I, for one, reject such assertions. In fact, the Bible rejects them. Additionally, I read in the pages of Scripture that many first century Christians were once practicing homosexuals, but they were changed.
Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God. -1 Corinthians 6:9-11
What the Church needs to embrace is the Law of God and the Gospel of Jesus Christ, not those who continue in their sin. Rather, we should love them enough to warn them of God's judgment against such sin and then call them to repentance from those sins and obedience to the Gospel and the fear of the Lord.
Fr. Martin should repent of his neglect of Scripture and distortion of the Gospel message.
* I, Ken Pullen, took the liberty and removed the euphemistic and worldly letters used to describe what these people are and inserted the actual language of what these people are.


text: I've been looking at getting the HTC desire, but I have concerns on how fragile the screens are, hearing less than a one foot drop can crack a screen. I've also heard how the screens can crack when charging the phone while it's turned on, surely that's not right? Are the screens this fragile, as if so I'm tempted to not get the phone, I'd hate to be afraid of waking up one day to find it cracked.