text:
The Prophet's daughters
There's much in Islam that favors women, says this scholar. As sisters in faith Muslim and Catholic women can seek out such traditions together.
Syafa Almirzanah, a professor of comparative religion at Islamic University Sunan Kalijaga in Yogyakarta, Indonesia, could have continued her studies anywhere in the Muslim world, but she chose Catholic Theological Union in Chicago. Last spring she became the first Muslim to earn a doctorate from the school.
"Dialogue is, for me, a must," she says. "In my tradition it is the obligation of Muslims to learn from others, to get knowledge from everywhere."
Almirzanah has been active in interreligious dialogue in both her home country of Indonesia and in the United States. She feels comfortable with Catholicism, she says, because of the many similarities between it and Islam.
One unfortunate similarity is the way scholars from both traditions have misused faith to repress women. Almirzanah hopes that by learning about the history and theology of Islam—and by participating in interreligious dialogue—Muslims will embrace more female-friendly interpretations of the religion.
"I think one of the most important things in dialogue is having the courage to criticize our own tradition. We must learn from others, then come back and look at our tradition with a new horizon," Almirzanah says. "Learning from others enriches our traditions. We can be better Muslims and better Christians."
What does the Qur'an have to say about women?
The Qur'an is very positive about women. In the story of Creation, women and men are created from the same cells, so usually scholars say that means that men and women are the same before God.
The problem is that different Muslims understand the Qur'an in different ways. Islam is not the monolithic religion people think it is, just as Christianity is not monolithic.
If you read the Bible, you cannot ignore the context. When God revealed himself, it was not in a vacuum. People who receive the revelation of God have different backgrounds, experiences, and contexts, so they respond to it differently.
The same is true in Islamic tradition. Some more traditional Muslims only focus on what's written in the text and don't pay attention to the context of the verses; other more modern Muslims look at why God revealed a particular verse and how the community at that time understood it.
The verse on polygamy, for example, says that you can marry one or two or three or four women. More fundamentalist or traditional Muslims use this verse to justify having more than one wife, but actually the verse does not stop there. It continues: "If you cannot do justice, just marry one." They ignore that crucial part of the verse. This verse was revealed after a war, and there were a lot of widows and orphans, so men were allowed to marry multiple women in order to take care of them.
You also must look at verses in relation to other verses. The Qur'an says elsewhere that even if you wanted to, you could not do justice to more than one wife. So actually Islam and the Qur'an ban polygamy. It says if you cannot do justice, just marry one woman, but it also says you can never really do justice to more than one wife.
How were women treated during the seventh century in the Arabian Peninsula at the time of Muhammad?
This is also debatable. Scholars usually compare what it was like for women before Islam and after Islam.
Most scholars say that pre-Islamic times were worse for women. They say that before Islam men could marry more than four women. A Muslim scholar will argue that Muhammad limited polygamy and advocated the ideal marriage of one man and one woman. This is progress because some say that husbands could even sell women before Islam.
But there are also many scholars who write that before Islam women's conditions were not really bad because they were free and had rights. One author says that before Islam a lot of women were involved in war and managed businesses. There is evidence of cultures where husbands came into their wives' homes when they married, and the children would belong to the women's tribe. Our Prophet's first wife was a businesswoman, and she came from a very noble tribe, though she may be the exception.
I personally think it was almost like it is today. In certain communities where people are poor and have no access to education, of course women may not have the same opportunities as women who have rich families and live in an urban society. I can say that there were some good attitudes toward women before Islam, but Islam increased those good attitudes.
How did Muhammad treat his wives?
The first wife of the Prophet was a businesswoman. His youngest wife, Aisha, was a scholar and one of the interpreters of what the Prophet was saying. Because she was very close to the Prophet, a lot of people asked Aisha about what they should do in matters of love or matters of Sharia, or Muslim law. She also was involved in battle.
The Prophet didn't teach that women should just stay at home. These rules were introduced by the Prophet's companions after his death. The Qur'an gives women the right to pursue an education and be involved in worldly matters.
I think we need to get traditional Muslims to look at history, even at our Prophet's wives, and see that they were very active. Why should we now have to stay at home?
There is a verse that says men are above women, but above here does not mean women are naturally inferior. It means men are responsible for family welfare because they work outside the home and earn money—as they were in Muhammad's time.
Today, a woman can go outside of the home, work, and earn money, so she has the same status as a man. She also has responsibilities for her family, so for a more modern scholar, men are not above women.
How do more traditional Muslim scholars explain away the prominence of Muhammad's wives?
They say that his wives were exceptions. Most of the interpreters of the Qur'an have been men, so there is a lot of submission of women in Muslim teachings. When I was doing my graduate studies, my adviser told me that some of the interpreters were men who really hated women.
A lot of the misogynistic hadiths— the sayings of the Prophet—do not come from trusted sources, though.
Hadiths tell scholars about the life of the Prophet and the context of the revelations but aren't actually revelations themselves. They are passed on through generations of people from Muhammad's contemporaries, so scholars have to make sure there is a common link back to the time of the Prophet. In order to evaluate whether the Prophet said something, we have to study the transmission of the tradition and who it came from.
We have very strict requirements to accept that a saying really came from the Prophet. Most of the misogynistic hadiths come only from one source. These cannot be used as a resource for an edict. But some people choose the one that matches their thinking rather than the one that has the best source.
Who are other notable female figures in Islam beyond Muhammad's wives?
There are a lot. The ninth-century scholar Ibn Sa'd wrote biographies of important Islamic figures, and he had a whole book of women in Islamic history.
There are also women saints. Rabia al-Adawiyya is a very famous Sufi, or Muslim mystic. She was a pioneer for the idea of love for God in Islamic mysticism. She has a well-known prayer: "God, if I pray to you only so you do not put me in hell, just put me in hell, and if I pray to you only so I can go to paradise, don't put me in paradise, but if I pray to you only because I love you, don't hide your face from me."
Rabia is said to be in the rank of men because she was close to or one with God. A lot of Muslim women look at her as an example—the ideal mystic woman. She didn't marry, but there are a lot of women mystics who did marry. Some are the wives or daughters of male mystics. Sufi men had women teachers. A teacher of the famous Sufi Iban Arabi said, "I am his spiritual mother."
As in Christian spirituality, there are a lot of Muslim women mystics who are highly regarded. Mystics go beyond the text into the essence of the story. When you do that, every religion can meet, and men and women can meet. It is very conducive to dialogue.
Christian women sometimes struggle with male images of God. Is God thought of as male in Islam?
God is often described as having both a feminine and masculine aspect. One scholar compared it to yin and yang. In the Islamic tradition we call it Jalal and Jamal. Jalal is the might of God, and Jamal is the beauty of God. God has both of these aspects, feminine and masculine.
Yin and yang always are together, so women and men should be together. Man is not better than woman, and woman is not better than man. In Islam women and men should cooperate. Even in the Muslim Creation story, Eve is not the cause of the fall.
Still, the pronoun for God is a male pronoun, and that is a problem that feminists discuss. There are also certain verses in the Qur'an that only use a male pronoun, so Muslim feminists say that the male pronoun refers to both genders. For example, verses such as "you have to pray every day" use the male pronoun, but this doesn't mean that praying is only for males.
What does it mean to be a Muslim feminist?
Quite simply, I define it as someone who supports women's rights. There are a lot of male feminists who support the equal status of women, especially in Indonesia and Egypt. Some governments also promote equal rights.
Generally, what is the status of women in the Muslim world today?
As I said, Islam isn't a monolithic religion. The place of women depends a lot on the social, political, and cultural conditions of the community. Islam in Indonesia is very different from Islam in Saudi Arabia, for example.
In Indonesia it's common for women to study and be in politics, but still there is resistance. We had a female president before our current president. When she was to be appointed president, fundamentalist groups opposed it because they said that Islam prohibited women from leading them. She became our president anyway. There are no verses that prohibit a woman from being president.
Still, many believe that women's responsibilities are domestic tasks such as cooking and taking care of children. Even my in-laws still believe that. They wouldn't let my husband cook.
When a woman's husband comes home from his job, she is supposed to serve him. But both my husband and I work outside the home, so why should I serve him? I always say, "I am not his servant. I am his wife." If I serve him on an occasion, it's not because it's my responsibility; it's because I love him.
We also have to understand there are women themselves who really believe in the fundamentalist interpretation. They believe that they should be at home and that they might have to accept being a second wife because this is what Islam teaches.
How much of that is due to religion and how much is due to culture?
I think it has to do with both. Culture is there, but certain interpretations of religion are there, too. There is a certain interpretation of Islam that says women should stay at home, not go anywhere, and take care of the family.
This is why women have to study what Islam actually teaches about women and our position. Our Prophet cooked and even sewed his clothes himself. There is nothing to be ashamed of in that.
We have to improve Muslims' understanding of the Qur'an. A lot of laypeople are Muslim because their family is Muslim, and they have never really studied their own tradition. They depend on their religious leader: Whatever he says, they will follow it. We cannot just do that; we have to know the sources of Islam ourselves.
There are a number of schools of thought for Islamic law. I was taught that you don't have to follow one of them, but the most important thing is to know why they say what they do.
How can women's positions in the Muslim world improve?
There are a lot of ways to improve our status, but I think the key, again, is education. Unfortunately, there are still a lot of people who do not have access to it. A lot of families in my country still pay only for boys and not girls to study if they have limited resources.
I have a brother, and my father let me go to school even to the highest levels, but that's often not the case at the university level. As a professor in Indonesia, I do see a lot of female students studying theology, though.
Why do you think some resist alternative interpretations of Islam?
I think we need more research on that. Some scholars say fundamentalism is not a purely religious movement, but is political as well, and I agree. Patriarchal culture is weakened by the Muslim feminist movement. They are strict with women because they want power.
I also think it's one way for the Muslim community to challenge modernity. When it comes to women's issues specifically, for example, fundamentalists say that a Muslim feminist is strongly influenced by the Western perspective. They criticize the feminist movement because they don't want it to be secular.
What do you as a modern Muslim make of Western feminism?
I think Muslims have to choose what is really appropriate for us and what can be applied in our tradition from Western feminism.
It does seem like Western feminists don't really need men sometimes, and I don't think Muslims should go in that direction. We have to work together. The Qur'an says that women are sustenance to their husbands, and husbands are sustenance to their wives.
Every tradition has good points and bad points. I always try to see the positive. Fundamentalists often refer to Sayyid Qutb, an Egyptian scholar who came to the United States in the late 1940s and only saw bad things—promiscuity, drugs, materialism, and so on. In his mind people in the United States were living in Jahiliyyah, the era before Islam, a state of ignorance.
Should we follow him? I think not. I came here and I saw myself what it is like in the United States. There is still much good here. We can choose to see what is good.
What issues do Christian and Muslim women share?
I think Muslim and Christian women have the same struggle to gain equal positions to men within our traditions. Most of the interpreters in the Catholic tradition are male, just as in Islam. That's one of the reasons they underestimate women, and there are misinterpretations of both religions.
For example, Jesus had female followers, but the Catholic tradition doesn't really consider them to be apostles. From my perspective, the women of those days were Jesus' apostles. In Islam we also have women companions to the Prophet Muhammad. But for some reason, in both cases, these women have been forgotten.
Muslim and Christian women can work together. We need to interpret verses for ourselves and criticize the old male interpretations. We should study together and go deeper into the traditions to find out what our traditions are actually saying about the position of women.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Please arrive 15 minutes prior to your appointment to register. If you arrive late, the time of the appointment may be shortened out of consideration to the next customer.
Health Conditions
When making your booking please advise us of any health conditions and any medication you are taking. On the day of your treatment, our spa team will ask you to complete a health questionnaire to ensure we are providing you the very best service and results, while assuring your comfort and safety. Please note that for certain medical conditions we will require written permission from your Doctor to proceed. Please speak to our Customer Care team for more information.
We are proud to offer a specialised menu of maternity treatments. Please ensure you inform your therapist if you are pregnant to allow us to tailor your experience. Please note our pregnancy and safety policy: no treatments can be given in the first 12 weeks of pregnancy.
If you need to change or cancel an appointment, we ask that you give us 24 hours' notice or the full cost of the treatment will be charged. Please note that we request credit card details to secure your booking.
Cowshed's Age Policy
No one under the age of 18 is permitted in any of our Cowshed spas. Our treatments are specially tailored for adults. However, we do offer treatments to those aged 16-18 with parental consent.
Cowshed has good accessibility at The Ned.
If you would like either a female or male therapist, please let us know when making the booking.
Spa Etiquette
Although we encourage social grooming we request that you refrain from using your mobile when in our spas.


text:
Maldives Main Beach resort is the perfect location for your next holiday or romantic getaway. Enjoy spectacular views of Main Beach and The Gold Coast Spit from the balcony or lounge of your luxurious one bedroom apartment; indulge yourself in the Lavish Beauty salon; or hurl yourself into the amazing attractions that only the Gold Coast can offer.
Everything is virtually on your doorstep - whether it's soaking up the sun on the beautiful soft white sands of Main Beach, soaking up the cosmopolitan atmosphere of the famous Main Beach Tedder Avenue's boutique restaurants, bars and cafés, or sampling the retail delights of Surfers Paradise Gold Coast only a short walk away.
And when it's time to come "home" to the Maldives - it will be your haven - with pool, heated spa, and barbeques. Just lie back, relax and enjoy all our Main Beach Gold Coast Resort has to offer.
Main Beach Gold Coast is the most popular location for Holiday Accommodation on the Gold Coast. Famous for our beautiful street scapes including Tedder Avenue with its cafes and boutique shopping, the Surf patrolled Main Beach and narrow neck surf beach are just a short stroll. The Marina Mirage Resort shopping and Seaworld are also nearby. So for your next Gold Coast Holiday stay with us here in Main Beach at Maldives Main Beach Resort Holiday Apartments, Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia.
Stay with Maldives Luxury Main Beach Resort Apartments and save with our exclusive Accommodation special deals.
Enquire about our Gold Coast Romantic Getaway Packages or Family Accommodation Specials at Maldives Main Beach Resort Apartments
Main Beach is the most prestigious Holiday Location on the Gold Coast. Maldives Resort is the most
popular Main Beach Accommodation being continually voted as the #1 Accommodation Resort in Main Beach by Trip Advisor.
Click here to read the reviews of previous guests.


text:
Read latest COVID-19 advice for parents and childcarers here
Start by entering your postcode to set up your FREE
account and read reviews about childcarers local to you.
You can then book childcare online – just select the
date, time and address for your booking.
Choose the local carers you'd prefer us to offer your bookings
to first and we'll keep you updated of progress by email.
Your childcarer will call you before the booking and you should pay
her for her time at the end. Rates start from just £8.75.
Pay nothing until after you have used Sitters - guaranteed. A booking
fee (£4-£6) and quarterly membership fee (£14.95) will only be
charged to your credit card after your booking has taken place.
Read reviews of approved Sitters local to you
Very happy with the professional service from Alison. We needed a Sitter for a 18 month old late at night while we went to a concert. Alison was very pleasant and kept us informed while we were out. This was the first time we used Sitters and would totally recommend the service and Alison to anyone. Thank you Sitters and Alison for enabling us to a band we had wanted to see for years :-).
Matt is a lovely guy, the boys loved having him around to babysit. They had a lot of fun.
Lovely girl. Would be happy to use her again.


text:
The Twinkle in Her Eye
"The Twinkle in Her Eye" is created from white vinyl applied to the back, with cut out vinyl drawings applied to the front of a circular clear acrylic panel, finished with resin. Artwork has a D-ring affixed to the back and is ready to hang.
Dimensions: 8.5″ D
Interested in this piece?
Click "Inquire" below I will get back to you as soon as possible with payment and shipping details. If the piece is no longer available, I'm happy to explore commission options to make a custom piece just for you!


text:
Princess Silver
Glamour Puss has a smooth metallic finish and is considered to be shinier than other metallic papers. This sophisticated coated paper range is milled by old, established and reputable paper mills from around the globe. They are made to the highest environmental standards. The exciting colour shift coatings result in shimmering metallic surfaces and a luxurious feel. Some colours are made using 100% renewable energy AND 30% PCW recycled paper. The paper core is the same colour as the coatings, preventing white cut edges. Laser printer compatible. Printer testing is always recommended. Princess Silver is a close match to Stardream Silver.


text:
About us
At any point during the day, we may be engaged in life's wide spectrum, from leisure to labor. Conversations, study, or imaginative journeys are all commonplace in Misha's. The center of this house is its coffee, a fixed point around which the activities of the entire house rotate.
Misha's Coffee House is no exception.
Large, open squared arches connect our three rooms. These allow for sight lines that run the full length of our space. There are also large paned, westerly facing windows in each of the rooms. Thus, a sense of expansive and cohesive space, both interior and exterior, is maintained.
In one room you will find a large community table. The roaster stands nearby too, fired and churning batches of beans for hours most days. Beans scooped into the roaster straight from the heavy, fibrous cargo bags in which they were shipped to us.
Our central room includes our serving counter. On this are large glass jars containing whole bean displays of our blends and varietals. From these you may buy beans by the pound or have coffee made for you. We also always have a number of blends ready to serve, both warm and iced.
The third room includes a number of small tables of a kind with others that can be found throughout our space. When we first opened, as some of you may remember, this room was the entire coffee house. Over the years, we expanded into our current three-room configuration.
Vintage refrigerators, framed paintings and photographs, a solid, pure jazz sound system are additional elements that define our space. On days of accommodating weather, we have outdoor benches and chairs that create a spontaneous fourth room. And, most importantly, we have you. Any and all of our patrons that choose to be here are vital members of the house.
Like any house, mere descriptions or accounts of its spaces are inadequate conveyers. We invite you come and see it for yourself. some time populating this house with your life. We promise, in turn, to provide coffees worthy of you.


text:
FREE Yoga Tips & Technique with Sienna
140 Poses in 90 seconds
Downdog Tutorial
Handstand Tutorial
140 Poses in 90 seconds
Downdog Tutorial
Handstand Tutorial
What Students Say ~
After Sienna saw the X-ray and knew exactly how to work me back into spinal health (not cured, but better ) I am slowly re-falling in love with my practice, getting a new strength that I never knew was there for me." ~ Joy Sassoon
A deep gratitude to you for the most beautiful retreat. Thank you for sharing who you are, your superb yoga teaching skills, and your vast knowledge of yoga, the sutras and koshas, and your own personal spiritual experiences, rituals and practices. I am so inspired by your dedication, devotion and commitment to your practice and personal growth, to Yoga Mountain Studio, to the teachers, students, and staff. I feel very honored and blessed to have the opportunity to participate in this retreat and to be a part of such an amazing sangha. I look forward to many more years of practicing yoga with you ." Rosalyn Miller 2016
Contact Us
Join our mailing list today!


text:
Before the lineup for this year's Cannes Film Festival was announced, many were hoping that Terrence Malick's romantic drama starring Ben Affleck and Rachel McAdams (previously referred to as The Burial) would be among the films set to premiere. Given that he just released The Tree of Life last year, it would have been an unprecedented move; the average time between the release of Malick films is 7.6 years (yes, I did the math). However, the director has become surprisingly prolific as of late, lining up two new films to shoot this year. He filmed the romantic drama in 2010, but he famously spends years shaping his films in the editing room.
The Cannes lineup announcement came and went with no mention of Malick, but today we've got some news that provides hope for those wishing to see the film sometime this year. Not only does the film now have a set title of To the Wonder, it has an official rating of R. Hit the jump for more, including story details.
The official Classifications & Ratings Administration has revealed (via The Film Stage) that To the Wonder is rated R for "some sexuality/nudity." This rating falls in line with the synopsis that was revealed late last year:
"It concerns a philanderer (Affleck) who, feeling at loose ends, travels to Paris, where he enters a hot-and-heavy affair with a European woman (Olga Kurylenko). Said Lothario returns home to Oklahoma, where he marries the European woman (in part for visa reasons). When the relationship flounders, he rekindles a romance with a hometown girl (McAdams) with whom he's had a long history."
Mr. "gorgeous photography" Malick is taking on the world of s-e-x. I've been looking forward to this one for quite some time, in part because Malick has assembled a top notch cast. In addition to Affleck, McAdams, and Kurylenko, the film also stars Javier Bardem, Rachel Weisz, Barry Pepper, and a possible brief appearance by Jessica Chastain and/or Michael Sheen. This rating and title mean that the director has finally put the finishing touches on the project, and once he secures distribution we could hopefully see the film in theaters later this year. Producers will most likely be shopping the film at the Cannes Film Festival, so we hopefully we'll have distribution news to report in the next two weeks. Stay tuned.


text:
German tuner MTM has taken Audi's R8 to the next level. Not only have they added the eye-catching (or eye-bleeding) Kermit-the-Frog-green from the Porsche GT3 RS, they've increased engine output to an incredible 560 horsepower – higher than the 520hp 5.2-liter V10 promised in the R8 5.2 FSI Quattro coming soon.
They've achieved this 120hp boost by adding a supercharger, a reprogrammed ECU, and a quad-exhaust for free-flowing air out of the more powerful engine. Not wanting the R8 V10 customers to feel left out, MTM has developed an ECU program to allow to achieve the same 560 horsepower from their machines.
In addition to the increase in power and wild color scheme, MTM also includes a full aerodynamic body kit made completely from carbon fiber, revised carbon fiber side blades, and 20-inch forged Bimoto alloy wheels. Suspension upgrades include lowering springs with an optional lift-kit for burbs and speed bumps (Lamborghini-style.)
As you can sort of see from the interior picture below, you can opt for matching green stitching and carbon fiber appointments inside the R8, which may or may not look very good.
As cool as the paint job looks, I could do without the resemblance to Porsche, and stick with the excellent performance upgrade. No pricing is announced at this point, but expect to shell out a pretty penny for these pricey upgrades.
More pictures below:
Related: CBN


text:
Drbrean brauchte ein neues Logo Design und hat einen Wettbewerb auf 99designs gestartet.
Aus 69 Designs von 17 Designern wurde eine Gewinner gewählt.
Kingdom Family Chiropractic
I am a young female Chiropractor who is looking for a logo for my new office. I am very modern with a fun personality, so I want a logo to represent who I am and what I stand for. We are soon to be one of the largest natural healthcare clinics in the state of Colorado, so I want something powerful that people will recognize and remember.
Kingdom Family Chiropractic is a faith-based office that is 99% referral based. Our target audience would be young families who are potential patients. The majority of our practice are middle-aged, health-conscious parents who start their entire family under chiropractic care. Even though we are a family office, I want to avoid stick-figure type of artwork for the logo.
This logo will be used on business cards and promotional products. I want a logo that represents we have a global mission to improve the lives of others through Chiropractic care. I like the concept of having a sphere, which would represent the earth, and some type of design that keeps it modern and intriguing.... but not overly complicated. The office title "Kingdom Family Chiropractic" implies we are a faith based office with Christian values, so it would be nice to have that represented in some way as well. I have toyed with the idea of having a dove coming off of the earth somewhere in the design, but I would want it very subtle and almost look like a cool shooting star as well. I have also thought about having a crown somewhere in the design to represent "Living in the Kingdom", but I do not want it to look too juvenile or princess-like.
Our colors are purple and blue. I would like the blue to be either an electric or turquoise. The purple should be a bright, vibrant purple. I would like the font for the word "Kingdom" to be something very strong and regal (but not too fancy). I want the word "Family" to be the smallest word in a cursive-type font and "Chiropractic" to be almost the size of "Kingdom" but slightly smaller and in more of a block-type lettering. Overall, I would like something similar to the "Mankind Project" example below.
Finden Sie heraus, wie ein Designwettbewerb funktioniert, oder lernen Sie mehr über unsere Logo-Design-Angebote.


text:
Encircled by five mountain ranges and several state and national parks, Tucson seduces visitors with its awesome beauty, spectacular spas, guest ranches, lush golf courses, art galleries and more than 350 sunny days a year. Forget hotels, the best way to fully enjoy the diverse surroundings is a holiday rental. Imagine staying in luxurious, multi-bedroom home, amenity-laden condo or comfortable cabin rather than a staid, small hotel room.
Whether you want a Sonoran desert golf course venue, city setting or something else, we have a long list of options with plenty of unbiased user reviews so you can book with knowledge and confidence.
Attention art aficionados! Tucson has more than 215 art groups and organizations and there are more than 35 art galleries in the downtown district where you can view works and purchase art. For family fun, Tucson lets the good times roll with attractions such as Old Tucson Studios, an Old West theme park with live shows, stunts and trail rides, Tucson Children's Museum, an interactive museum with 10 galleries and hands-on exhibits and Rooster Cogburn Ostrich Ranch, where you can had feed ostriches, deer and miniature donkeys and Reid Park Zoo, which has over 500 exotic animals in their natural habitats.
Attention golf aficionados! Tucson has more than 40 golf courses with designer tags like Jack Nicklaus, Tom Fazio, Tom Weiskopf and Robert Trent Jones Jr. Choose from desert golf or more traditional parkland and links-style layouts. Top courses in the Tucson area include Arizona National Golf Club, Randolph North Golf Course and Loews Ventana Canyon.
No visit to Tucson is complete without enjoying some form of outdoor recreation. For hiking, try the trails at Saguaro National Park West, 10 miles west of Tucson, where you can climb at 4,600-foot peak. Bikers should head to the Old Spanish Trail to Colossal Cave Mountain Park, about 40 minutes from downtown, which concludes at the intriguing Colossal Cave. Bird lovers, venture to Tohono Chul Park in the city, a 49-acre desert preserve with many different birds and docent guided birding tours. Family holiday rentals in Tucson
Wouldn't you like to see a beautiful Tucson sunrise from the balcony of your holiday rental? Surprisingly affordable compared to hotels and oh-so-spacious, holiday rentals are great for kids and helpful for your budget. Many rental homes, cottages and cabins have balconies and porches to see sunrises and sunsets as well as fully equipped kitchens where you can prepare money-saving family feasts.


text:
End of last year we presented the Mercedes-Benz SF1 concept car, designed by Steel Drake. At the time the concept was not entirely done, yet still got a lot of attention around the web and even in print. Therefore the designer decided to put a little more work into the project and now we can finally present the final design concept of the futuristic super sports car.
We love the front and the use of panels, as well as the sharp edges all around. The back of the car somehow expresses 'sadness' for us, almost like a sad smiley and we are not big fans of that, because otherwise the car screams power, future and extreme design.
Flip through the full gallery above to see all the great details on the Mercedes-Benz SF1.


text:
Shellstobells brauchte ein neues Logo Design und hat einen Wettbewerb auf 99designs gestartet.
Aus 40 Designs von 15 Designern wurde eine Gewinner gewählt.
Shells to Bells Wedding Planners
I am a wedding planner who is looking for a company logo to refelct our company. Our company represents simple, sophisticated, personal and professional service. We are Sydney based company on the Northern Beaches and are looking for something to represent this. We are starting up on a massive marketing campaign and need someone who has the talent to represent us in the form of our logo.
The name Shells to Bells focuses on the fact that we do weddings for any bride from the simple elegance of a beach side wedding to the tradition of a church wedding
Affluent, powerful career women from 25 - 45 years of age who are engaged, work full time and need someone else to look after the details of their upcoming wedding. These are women who are heavy hitters in their industry and want nothing but the best for themselves, their guests and their wedding days.
My market is made up of women who have money to spend and expect perfection or the level above perfection for what they pay. While weddings are based on emotional purchases, they are looking for a wedding planner that they can rely on to deliver but that they feel they have a relationship with.
Wedding planning is a relatively new market in Australia so this logo needs to be an origional and something easily recognised within our market as it expands. In the US wedding planning is a far more recognised industry however here there are few.
I am looking for a simple, elegant design for my wedding planning company with the focus on the shell part of the name as we are located at the Northern Beaches. I want nothing that is childish, cartoonish or tacky, 2 colour maximum as it will be used for print, web etc. possibly even just black and white??
I am looking for a classsic, clean, conservative design - nothing that will date. NO PINK please nothing girly or hearts etc.
I will require it in a vector file format.
Wedding planning is a relatively new market in Australia so this logo needs to be an origional and something easily recognised within our market as it expands
The logo MUST be an origional!
Finden Sie heraus, wie ein Designwettbewerb funktioniert, oder lernen Sie mehr über unsere Logo-Design-Angebote.


text:
Jtupy necesitaba un nuevo diseño de papelería y lanzó un concurso de diseño en 99designs.
Un ganador ha sido elegido entre 98 diseños de 13 diseñadores freelance.
Innate Wisdom Coaching
I'm a life coach, more specifically an Insight Guide. My passion is to guide and assist, walking side by side with my clients, through the murky waters of everyday life. I love the outdoors, adventure and exploring the unknown, stretching the elasticity of what we perceive our potential to be, only to discover we have that much more to offer, than we ever imagined. Sharing this journey with all that cross my path is an absolute delight and driver in my everyday existence..
I'm a new business and the essence is about Oneness, Interconnectedness, "We are an intricate part of, all that is". I believe we already have that ancient wisdom, its just a matter of remembering and unlocking our Innate Wisdom.....
Individuals that are passionate about getting more out of life. Insight, Inspiration and Clarity are the product, with the service being Transformational coaching to one's desired outcome.
Anyone whom feel there is more out there than they may have at the moment or know how to attain.
Those whom are willing to explore their uniqueness, expanding their skills and point of difference and committed to creating change in their life's.
The business is registered as 'Innate Wisdom Coaching', with my main focus being around the words 'Innate Wisdom' (but would like coaching in smaller less noticeable text, say underneath or as you suggest).
I love the unity of a full moon and the energetic magnetism of a mountain as a symbol.
This logo is to embrace/encompass: our full potential, our life's calling, being in the flow, fulfilment and abundance....
It will be used on all my marketing, including going on my website (please advise and assist here). I love the natural colours of sky blue, rainforest green and earthy brown/red's.... I love symbols, something that inspires and get the viewer pondering on more than just the face value, ideally something that all can connect with and find their own meaning, that they holds true and identify with, in there hearts.
Thank you for your time and creative spirit.
Love Jan


text:
"Bought one this mousepad for my husband and one for me, it's great quality and the pictures look great."
"Yes, a good repeat from last year."
"We purchased the mousepad from this site because it is nice and thick. Not thin and flimsy like most mousepads you buy online. Being able to pick your own picture is a bonus. I would definitely order from this item again."
"Absolutely love my mom's pads I can definitely will be ordering them again or ordering through you again"
"It was actually fun...and easy...to enter the photos and move them around until I got the look I wanted."
Many of us spend a great deal of our days sitting and working at our desks, so it's important that we make our workspaces our own. We are willing to bet that you have spent hours decorating your work area to make it feel a little more you. You've probably brought in a few pictures from home. Maybe you have some of your children's drawings hanging from your filing cabinet. You've even brought a little life into the office with a plant. (Have you watered it lately?)
Warm up your workspace a little more and add a one-of-a-kind touch with a mouse pad featuring a photo that makes you smile. Yes, it can seem like such a small thing, but we use our computers all day long—how much fun could it be to see a favorite photo all day while we work, to remind us of our loved ones at home? A photo mouse pad is super easy to create… just add your own pictures, images, designs or text to help you keep your day pleasurable. Custom mouse pads also happen to make a great gift. Choose one photo design or create a collage with your choice of background color. One thing is for sure: with personalized mouse pads from Shutterfly, there is something for everyone.
Looking for additional ways to liven up a desk or office with customized photo items? Check out a desk organizer from Shutterfly to keep all of your files, pens and staples exactly where you need them. Dress up your desk and take notes in a personalized notebook. Add your favorite text or photo for a unique notebook. You'll love this whether you use it as a journal or for everyday notes. Perfect for kids, teacher gifts or even as a hostess gift.
Desk calendars are the perfect gift for late year holidays or the New Year. Start your calendar on any month and create a custom desk calendar using your favorite photos. Our calendars are stunning and durable, with a built-in easel for display.


text:
News Archives - 2010
For some Auggies, summer means research
What would persuade an active young college student to spend eight hours a day for 10 weeks of her summer in a laboratory looking over carbon uptake data? Ask Jazmine Darden, a sophomore mathematics and physics major from Brooklyn Park.
"You learn what a career would be like," she says. "You can't sleep until noon because you have to be at work, and it helps you realize what you want to do."
Darden was one of more than 60 students who conducted research this summer through several different programs. Her project, which was conducted with mathematics professor John Zobitz, was funded through the Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation, or LSAMP. The program provides research opportunities through the Northstar STEM Alliance for first-year students of color who are pursuing bachelor's degrees in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics—the STEM disciplines.
Darden and five other Northstar STEM researchers worked this summer and also met regularly to discuss their projects and learn about other aspects of the graduate school application process. "What did my friends at the U do?" she says. "Worked at Target. There are so many more opportunities here."
She adds that Rebekah Dupont's leadership and support was a very important part of her summer project. Dupont is the LSAMP site coordinator working with the STEM program. "She really took us under her wing and helped us find a bunch of opportunities," Darden says.
In addition to helping her explore a career in mathematics, Darden says conducting research allowed her to apply principles she learned from the classroom to the real world.
"In Calculus class, you do a bunch of math problems and say, 'When am I ever going to use this?' And we were using it," she says.
In August, Darden and three other students attended a national mathematics conference with Zobitz to present their research. Pictured above [left to right] are Darden, Nana Owusu (LSAMP), John Zobitz, Nghiep Huynh (McNair), and Jeremy Anthony (URGO).
"I was proud of our group's presentations because we worked hard to make them eye-catching and interesting," Darden says. "Overall the conference was a great experience and I would recommend it to next year's researchers."
When asked about her plans after graduation, Darden confidently answers that she will be going to graduate school for engineering. Not only will she be the first college graduate in her family and the first to earn an advanced degree, she is the first to attend college.
"I don't know where, but I just know I am going to go," she says. "I have two older sisters who didn't go to college, so I feel like they are living the college experience through me. And I know my nieces and nephew are looking up to me, too."


text:
Bonk for the Danganropa thing. We may need you to use the watch.
Just dropping a note here to make sure you see it --- I sent you a PM because you miscalculated my powers last round.
I have biases. I just try not to let them stand in the way of my judgment
Nothing else to add to the Farming debate?
Yep. In the one I was actively in, it related to diets, and as a Culinary Student/Chef-in-Training, it directly correlated with my studies, which is why I could provide so much input. Which was nice, because I do think I provided some awareness for the others.
Yeah, I always keep an eye on new threads. But you don't enter a debate of you can't add to the topic. That's just foolish.
Debating with you was pretty enjoyable. Can't find anything else to bring up in the thread, so I won't poke at anything. Just wanted to say that I understand your views, even if I don't agree with them all.
You play LoL?
Skull Enforcer
It just doesn't matter!
Friendliest SP Member
The Lord Of Robots
Senior Member
Junior Member
doing my rubesty


text:
Hot cocoa in the snowSunday, January 31st, 2010
I often think about how lucky I am to live here, in this house and neighbourhood, with my husband. We live in the middle of three bays all within a 5 minute walk. One of them has a lovely beach, with people bathing in summer and ice skating in winter. We have a really cold winter this year with an enormous amount of snow. Some people would just stay at home but we've been out both days this weekend. Today we prepared hot cocoa in a thermos bottle that we packed together with something warm to sit on before heading to our beach. We stopped by our local bakery to buy two semla and then we trudged through the snow to a wooden dock where we drank our piping hot cocoa and ate the delicious semlas while enjoying the sun and snow. We returned home with frost nipped cheeks but very happy.
Hot cocoa and semla.
Happy in the snow!
Enjoying the view.
The black dots are people and children ice skating on a ploughed track.


text:
- Tobin & Leroy: Do The Heat Have Enough Championship Pieces?
- Tobin & Leroy: Heat-Knicks Pandemic Twitter Beef
- Hoch and Crowder Show: Coronavirus survivor, Rick Folbaum, describes his incredible recovery after contracting COVID-19
- Tobin & Leroy: Bam Adebyo's The Best Of The 2017 Draft
- Tobin & Leroy: Bam-Butler Duo Getting High Praise
- Hoch and Crowder Show: Ira Winderman dubs Udonis Haslem a mensch
- Hoch and Crowder Show: A list of robots Crowder would consider dating and we sing Happy Birthday to Pat Riley
- Zaslow & Amber: Where's The Album?
- Tobin and Leroy: Happy 75th Birthday Pat Riley!
- Zaslow & Amber: Gone From Our Football Lives
- Report: Top-10 Team in the NFL Draft Failed Tua Tagovailoa's Physical
- Tobin & Leroy: Tua Hype Video Teases Dolphins
- Hoch and Crowder Show: Coronavirus survivor, Rick Folbaum, describes his incredible recovery after contracting COVID-19
- 2020 NFL Draft: Potential Landing Spots for Top Running Backs
- Tobin & Leroy: Is Drafting Tua Tagovailoa Irresponsible?
- Tobin & Leroy: If Ya Don't Draft Tua, Imma Bua
- Hoch and Crowder Show: Ira Winderman dubs Udonis Haslem a mensch
- Tobin & Leroy: Should Dolphins Trade It All For Watson?
- Tobin & Robbie: Tua's Workout Video and Kiper 3.0
- Injured Draft Prospect Tua Tagovailoa Appears to be on the Mend in New Instagram Video
- Zaslow & Amber: Expectations
- Zaslow & Amber: The Big Game Is Finally Here
- With Guests Omar Kelly, Ira Winderman, Andrew Ivins, and Alan Fertel
- Zaslow & Amber: Busy Day at Radio Row
- Zack Duarte Show: Waiters trade value rising
- Zaslow & Amber: Just Like Old Times
- Zaslow & Amber: Who's Had More Hard Times?
- Zaslow & Amber: Not The Shirt
- 01-14-20 Zack Duarte Show
- Zaslow and Amber: One Game Away
RADIO.COM Sports
Upcoming Events
Super Bird Bowl Watch Party With Corona!
Join us for a Super Bird Bowl Watch Party as the Kansas City Cheifs take on the San Fransisco 49'ers. WAXY Street Squad will be out there ALL GAME LONG to play games and win prizes with you all. Drink specials, food specials, AND bowling specials available during the entire game!
Dave & Buster's With Hoch & Crowder!
Join us for the BIG GAME with Hoch & Crowder at Dave & Buster's in Hollywood, Florida! The WAXY Street Squad will be out there as well handing out prizes and playing games with you the entire night. Enjoy a real Kansas City BBQ as we cheer for our favorite Superbowl team!
Twin Peaks With Corona!
Join the 790 The Ticket Street Squad at Twin Peaks in Hollywood: 440 SW 145th Avenue Hollywood. We will be handing out prizes and playing games while we get ready for the BIG GAME that starts at 6:30pm sharp!
Yuengling Watch Party - Dolphins VS Cowboys
Join 790 The Ticket and Yuengling for a Dolphins vs. Cowboys Football Watch Party at Sports Grill in Kendall from 1p-3p! We'll have your chance to win a Big Screen TV and also great specials on Yuengling!
HEAT.HELP.CURE. Dribble Drive Against Cancer
It's our first community-wide Dribble Drive Against Cancer! Join our stations on November 16, as we take to the streets of Miami, with the 13.1-mile Dribble Drive Challenge, the 3.3-mile Dribble Drive, and the Dribble Drive Dash around the perimeter of AmericanAirlines Arena. It's a fun way to raise serious funds for the fight against cancer. You can register now by visiting HEATHELPCURE.org. HEAT.HELP.CURE. is a partnership among the Miami HEAT, Baptist Health South Florida, and our Entercom radio family to raise critical funds to help the non-profit Miami Cancer Institute achieve its vision of a world without cancer. Cancer is the 2nd-leading cause of death in the United States. One in two men and one in three women will be diagnosed with cancer in their lifetimes. Every dollar raised through HEAT.HELP.CURE. will help Miami Cancer Institute conduct breakthrough research, access the world's latest technologies and equipment, and retain internationally-recognized cancer experts who provide world-class cancer care right here at home. Join us and make an impact today.
1-22-20 Tobin and Leroy Part 1
Tobin & Leroy
Wednesday, January 22nd
Panthers revenge win for Coach Q last night. Outrage Tuesday last night with the Kansas Brawl and Jeter getting denied unanimous induction. Tyler Herro delivered Pizza to Goran Dragic. Catching up on Heat players where were once linked to the Heat.


text:
Android Stomps Into Wearables Field
Mar 19, 2014 6:33 PM PT
Google on Wednesday released a developer preview for Android Wear, a day after announcing the project, which Android head honcho Sunder Pichai teased at SXSW earlier this month.
The preview, which includes a software development kit, an Android emulator and a preview support library, is for development and testing only -- not for production apps.
Developers will have to rewrite their Android apps, Carl Howe, a vice president at the Yankee Group, told LinuxInsider.
Some smartwatches, such as the Pebble, run both Android and iOS, but "that doesn't mean anything," Howe pointed out. "You can't go to the app store and download an app, [because] smartwatches are such a different form factor and work so differently."
Google's Vision for Android Wear
Apps written for Android Wear will provide notifications from a variety of applications, ranging from social to chat to shopping, news and photography.
Users will be able to ask questions or launch apps, as well as access and control other devices, using the familiar "OK, Google" voice command.
Many apps already are compatible with Android Wear because it works with Android's notification system, Google said.
Google partners for Android Wear-powered watches set to debut later this year include consumer electronics manufacturers Motorola, Asus, HTC, LG and Samsung; chip makers Broadcom, Qualcomm, Mediatek, Intel and Imagination; and fashion brands including the Fossil Group.
"They're promising a product this summer, but these things have a tendency to drag on," remarked Howe. "We don't have a product yet -- we have slides."
What Devs Get
The developer preview lets devs run the Android Wear platform in the Android emulator; connect an Android device to the emulator and view notifications from it as cards on Android Wear; and try new APIs in the preview support library.
Devs must install the Android SDK before signing up for the preview. They have to sign up with a Gmail or other Google account to download the preview support library and get access to the preview beta app in the Google Play store.
Devs using the ADT plugin for Eclipse must upgrade to version 22.6.1 or higher.
Their version of Android SDK Tools must be 22.6 or higher.
Devs should keep the "Hardware Keyboard present" feature selected in the Android Wear emulator so they can provide text input on screens.
The Android Wear Preview app is compatible with Android 4.3 or higher.
The Wearables Pot O'Gold
Tech companies are banking on wearables being the wave of the future, and Intel for one is working to be a player in a bid that could ensure its future. It is working with the fashion industry and has purchased several companies that make wearable devices.
The market for wearable devices, including Google Glass, the anticipated "iWatch," and other medical technology, will be more than US$5 billion this year, growing to exceed $12 billion in 2018, according to Statista.
Those figures might be a tad optimistic.
"There are early adopters, but probably not enough to support hundreds of thousands of devices being shipped," Mike Jude, a program manager at Frost & Sullivan, told LinuxInsider.
Possible Spoilers of the Smartwatch Dream
"Watches have become a niche market and I've seen statistics that say the entire watch market is worth $50 to 60 billion," Jim McGregor, principal analyst and founder at Tirias Research, told LinuxInsider.
"Millennials are moving over to smartphones, and the younger generation doesn't identify with watches," McGregor continued. "Turning towards watches is like saying GPS is going to be the next big thing."
Still, the idea of a smartwatch "has legs; youngsters who don't wear a wristwatch because it's so 20th Century may wear this," Jude suggested. Further, there are "a lot of situations where having telemetric displays on your wrist is a real advantage."


text:
Bullard Energy Center (BEC)
Docket Number:
06-AFC-08 (Application For Certification)
Project Status: Proceeding Terminated; March 6, 2008
Committee that oversaw this Proceeding:
Jeffrey Byron, Commissioner, Presiding Member
Karen Douglas, Commissioner, Associate Member
Hearing Officer: Kenneth Celli
Key Dates
- November 6, 2006 - Application for Certification (AFC) filed with California Energy Commission.
- January 3, 2007 - Commission accepts Application for Certification (AFC) as complete.
- August 6, 2007 - Bullard Energy Center, LLC filed request to suspend AFC.
- February 22, 2008 - Bullard Energy Center, LLC filed request to terminate AFC.
- March 6, 2008 - Committee Order Terminating Proceedings.
On November 6, 2006, Bullard Energy Center, LLC, submitted an Application for Certification (AFC) to construct and operate a simple-cycle electrical generating facility, the Bullard Energy Center (BEC), in Fresno, California.
The proposed BEC project would be a simple-cycle electrical generating facility located in Fresno. The BEC project will have a nominal electrical output of 200 megawatts (MW) with construction planned to start in 2008 and commercial operation planned by summer 2009. The project is proposed as a 12-month AFC. The applicant has a 20-year contract with Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E) as a result of the 2004 PG&E Request for Offers for new generation resources.
The BEC is designed as a peaking facility to meet electric generation load during periods of high demand, which generally occur during daytime hours, and more frequently during the summer than other portions of the year. The project is expected to have an annual capacity factor of no higher than 57 percent, depending on weather and customer demand, load growth, hydroelectric supplies, generation retirements and replacements, the level of generating unit and transmission outages, and other factors. The generating facility will include two General Electric (GE) LMS100 natural gas-fired combustion turbine generators (CTGs), inlet air filters with evaporative coolers, turbine compressor section inter-cooler, mechanical draft cooling tower, circulating water pumps, water treatment equipment, natural gas compressors, generator step-up and auxiliary transformers, and water storage tank.
The proposed BEC plant site, a 12.3-acre parcel (Assessors Parcel Number 505-080-22S), is located approximately 1.25 miles southeast of the intersection of Herndon Avenue and North Golden State Boulevard, at 5829 North Golden State Boulevard, in the City of Fresno. This parcel is zoned M-1 (light industrial use) and is located in an industrial area. A truck depot, and construction equipment fabrication and storage yard are currently located on this site. The plant site will be leased and/or purchased at the option of BEC. There will also be a temporary construction laydown and parking site on a 9.2-acre parcel located immediately to the north of the plant site.
A new 230 kV looping substation will be constructed on-site, tying into the east side of the existing PG&E Herndon-Kearney 230 kV line, which runs from south to north across the southwest corner of the site. This new sub-station will be on approximately 3.0 acres located on the southwest portion of the 12.3-acre site between the Herndon sub-station to the north, and the Kearney substation to the south. Approximately two miles of the existing 230 kV transmission line will require re-conductoring.
The project will connect to a PG&E natural gas pipeline approximately 9,500 feet west of the site. The primary pipeline route will convey gas via a new pipeline up to 12 inches in diameter along West Bullard Avenue to North Golden State Boulevard, and then south to the site. Two alternate routes involve the same PG&E gas connection location, running north along North Garfield Avenue to Herndon Avenue, then south along North Golden State Boulevard and North Weber Street to the site.
A Fresno city water main located near the southeast corner of the site along North Golden State Boulevard will be extended approximately 300 feet, to the northeast corner of the site.
Wastewater from the site will be conveyed via an approximate 14-inch diameter, 1,500-foot sewer line proceeding northwest along North Golden State Boulevard, tying into the existing 54-inch City of Fresno trunk line, just north of the intersection of North Golden State Boulevard and West Bullard Avenue.
Air emissions from the proposed facility would be controlled using best available control technology applied to each engine's exhaust. Each of the two GE LMS100 natural gas-fired CTGs will be equipped with water injection to the combustors for reducing production of NOx, a selective catalytic reduction system with 19 percent ammonia injection to further reduce NOx emissions and an oxidation catalyst to reduce carbon monoxide emissions. Final permitting by the Energy Commission would reflect conformance with rules and regulations of the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District and include the issuance of a Determination of Compliance from the District.
Energy Commission Facility Certification Process
The California Energy Commission is the lead agency (for licensing thermal power plants 50 megawatts and larger) under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and has a certified regulatory program under CEQA. Under its certified program, the Energy Commission is exempt from having to prepare an environmental impact report. Its certified program, however, does require environmental analysis of the project, including an analysis of alternatives and mitigation measures to minimize any significant adverse effect the project may have on the environment.
For Questions About This Siting Case Contact:
For Questions About Participation In Siting Cases Contact:
Public Advisor
California Energy Commission
1516 Ninth Street, MS-12 Sacramento, CA 95814
Phone: 916-654-4489
Toll-Free in California: 1-800-822-6228
E-mail: email@example.com
News Media Please Contact:
Media & Public Communications Office
Phone: 916-654-4989
E-mail: firstname.lastname@example.com
Original Proceeding
- Submit e-Comment
- Submit e-Filing
- Documents for this Proceeding
(Docket Log)
- Exhibit List
- Proof of Service List
- Proof of Service Declaration Form MS Word or PDF
- Search Documents in this Proceeding
- Search All Power Plant Documents
- Legacy Notices Page
(No Longer Updated)
- Legacy Documents Page
(No Longer Updated)


text:
The American Helicopter Society (AHS) International is the world's premier professional vertical flight technical society. Since its inception in 1943, AHS has been a major force in the advancement of a global rotorcraft industry.
We are the leaders of advocacy for vertical flight technology. Our highly acclaimed magazine, Vertiflite, brings our members in-depth insight into the latest developments. Our technical publication, The Journal of the American Helicopter Society, is the the world's only vertical flight technical journal. Membership also provides networking opportunities, access to Members Only features on our website, discounts to our products and the opportunity to be recognized as part of our prestigous awards programs. Find out more!
Copyright © 2020 AHS International.


text:
LIRR's Largest Union Votes to Approve Strike
Long Island Rail Road's largest union has unanimously voted to strike, with a walkout possible as soon as March.
Members of two locals that make up the Sheet Metal, Air and Transportation Union cast their votes Wednesday.
A labor stoppage could come on March 21 unless a contract agreement is reached or the MTA asks the White House to intervene with a second Presidential Emergency Board.
Newsday says the request for the second board would put off the strike until July at the earliest.
The MTA rejected the first board's recommendations. The agency says it remains hopeful an agreement can be reached.
Smaller LIRR unions have approved similar votes to walk off the job.
LIRR unions have been without a contract since 2010.
The railroad carries 300,000 daily commuters.


text: Thanks for getting results posted! And thanks again for putting on a great and well organized event. We are already practicing/planning for next year. I must say we did better than we thought we would, I guess having only two members helped instead of hindered us, maybe two more sets of eyes would have helped for the virtuals though. Cant wait til next year!


text:
|Have the kids outgrown their outdoor clothing or gear? This is the place to sell it or find replacements!
|Visit our Forum Sponsor: Tuff Kids Outdoors clothing and gear can help make your next outdoor family excursion a memorable one. The right gear and apparel are essential. We carry kids outdoor gear such as winter wear, rain and snow boots, waders, and coats and mitts to keep your little outdoorsmen dry, warm, and safe. We also have camping gear for kids including backpacks, sleeping bags, pads, and waterproof dry bags to keep your child and their equipment high and dry (in a good way).


text:
Instant Marketing necesitaba un nuevo diseño de página web y lanzó un concurso de diseño en 99designs.
Un ganador ha sido elegido entre 22 diseños de 8 diseñadores freelance.
Dr. Kemsley, cosmetic surgery by Dr. Kemsley - http://www.drkemsley.com
Dr. Graham Kemsley is a skilled plastic surgeon who specializes in body contouring and facial cosmetic surgery. His Orange County plastic surgery practice opened in 1985 and continues to serve the needs of men and women throughout Southern California and beyond.
Anyone needing cosmetic surgery
Take the existing website http://www.drkemsley.com and bring it into 2010. They like their website but don't have a marketing plan to it... they don't care about colors, feel free to change or use existing colors. Use whatever you want from their existing website. They don't seem to have an logo or slogan so be as creative as you want.
-Must have 3 columns in website design!
-column on left must have testimonials and a side toolbar/navigation menu or have a top toolbar/navigation menu
-Middle column have 3 main buttons that has image that signifies 3 main services we provide. 1. Breast Enhancement 2. Liposuction 3. Face Lift. Headline after that with body of copy.
-Right column must have an opt-in box for a free special report just below the top header.
-"new patient offer" button & a "request a consultation" on side column doesn't matter which side
-"health & beauty tips" button on left or right side column as well.
Reference http://www.barrylyckamd.com or http://www.irmocosmeticdentist.com for an example of what layout we're looking for.


text:
Two separate performances will make Wednesday a very musical day at Central College. At noon, Sue Odem, an adjunct instructor of music at Central will perform the semester's first "Notes @ Noon" concert in the Cox-Snow Recital Hall; which is a free concert that is open to the public. Odem is an oboist and a member of the Des Moines Symphony and several other Iowa chamber ensembles. She and other guest musicians will perform works by Hindemith, Mozart and Bach, among others.
Then in the evening, Central's Red and Blue Vocal Combos will perform another free concert at 8:00 p.m., also in Cox-Snow Recital Hall. Songs from the pop, rock, and jazz genres will be sung by students in both combos, which are under the direction of associate professor of music Gabriel Espinosa. Tickets are required for the event though, and can be obtained at no cost at the Information Booth in the Maytag Student Center by calling 628-9000.


text:
Final Fantasy XI: Vana'diel Collection 2 is getting released in Japan on three platforms (Xbox 360, PC and PS2), but it will only be out on the Xbox 360 and PC in North America.
According to game site Siliconera, this is Square Enix's last PS2 title.
As the PS3 picks up more steam, the PS2 era is slowing drawing to a close. The PlayStation 2 has had an incredible run — kinda sad to see it gradually end!
We are following up with Square Enix for confirmation.
Square Enix's Final PlayStation 2 Game // Siliconera [Siliconera]


text:
Enjoy this summer supercar parking game and check out our collection of car games, bike games and car tuning resources.
Super Rally challenge 2
Earn To Die 2 – Exodus
Hot Chase Car Racing Game
Remodel Racing
Mad Med Racing
Disaster will strike 2
Snail Bob 4
Earn To Die
Renegade Racing
Red Fury Racing
Jet Ski Rush Racing Game
Stunt Bike Draw Online Game
Autumn Bike Ride
Play ATV Racers Online Game
Moonlight Motorway 3D Motorbike Racing Game
Nitroplayer.com offers some of the best racing games for those who love to play online games. If riding a motorcycle is your passion, check out our bike games, but if you are a car fan, here is the place where you can play car games.


text:
The GOP stage is a lot less crowded now, and the tone was a lot calmer than the candidates' previous meeting. It's down to four candidates in the Republican presidential primary race, and time is running out for those party leaders who want to stop front-runner Donald Trump. (He managed to mention that former candidate Ben Carson would endorse him, which happened on Friday).
During Thursday's CNN debate in Miami, which took place less than a week before the Florida primary and other winner-take-all contests that will more heavily influence the delegate count, Sen. Marco Rubio was under pressure to make his case in his home state.


text:
36X75 Super Bio Stat Shower Curtain
36X75 Super Bio Stat Shower Curtains
Super Bio Stat Shower Curtains are exceptionally durable, specially formulated vinyl to help keep shower and bath areas cleaner and fresher. Also stain resistant, odor resistant, mildew resistant and antimicrobial.
Super Bio Stat Shower Curtain Material:
This material is heavy duty
13 Gauge
Flame Retardant
Anti-Microbial Super Bio Stat Vinyl
Super Bio Stat Features Include:
Flame Retardant
Mildew Resistant
Water Repellent
Wear Resistant
Scrubbable and Colorfast
Hooks Needed:
These hooks are sold individually. Each hook is approximately 6 inches on center.
36" Wide Shower Curtains (8 hooks needed)
Details To Note:
Manufacturing time is approximately 2 weeks.
These are made per order and are NON-Returnable.
Please call (800) 328-5343, if you need help with sizing.
Super Bio Stat Shield Fabric
Provides impregnated and multi-coated with Aqueous based micro-porous polymers. Super Bio Stat vinyl is specially formulated with a protective coating that is mildew, bacterial and wear resistant. Manufactured with heavy duty material for numerous applications. Curtains have been tested and pass fire safety standards.
Super Bio Stat Cleaning
At completion of the installation, remove any debris and clean surfaces in accordance with the Clickeze clean-up and maintenance instructions.
Super Bio Stat Curtain Examination
Examine areas and conditions in which the cubicle tracking systems will be installed.
Complete all finishing operations, including painting, before beginning installation of cubicle tracking system materials.
Verify that surfaces and above ceiling supports are ready to receive work.


text:
This might look like a Range Rover publicity shot, but it's just a shot of an ordinary driver beating the heavy floods that hit England last week.
The shot was taken in Somerset near Taunton, England last Thursday. It wasn't the only Land Rover that managed to make it through the waters, as this other photo shows.
Driving through flood waters isn't a safe thing to do, though I'd rather be in a Landie than, I dunno, a $160,000 Bentley.
Photo Credits: Getty Images


text:
Environmental policy
Concern for the environment
Spain, although it can be considered a mountainous territory and semi-arid in many aspects, is home to a fauna and flora of great richness and biodiversity.
Spain is a habitat with over 8,000 plant species. Forests account for around 30% of the territory, although these do not always correspond to native species. Traditional reforestation practices carried out particularly in the late 19th century have lead to an overall presence of pine and eucalyptus stands. Spain's environmental conservation policy was launched many years ago, and has been considerably enhanced in recent years. One of the fundamental pillars of this government policy has been protection, by means of initiatives such as the National Parks, Nature Reserves and Game Reserves. However, most of these competences have now been transferred to the Autonomous Regions, who have enacted a range of different protection models. The most important threats to the environment are deforestation (forest fires), erosion, desertification and contamination of river water. This problem is common to the whole of Europe, and the positive balance between agriculture, rational exploitation and conservation of the environment is one of the most important issues for the country. Therefore both agriculture and tourism (which also affects the state of environmental conservation) are today strictly regulated, in order to allow these sectors to prosper and grow without affecting the environment. For all these reasons, Spain is a country with a strong –and increasing– commitment to conserving the environment.


text:
God's Word Stands: Not All Israel is Israel, Part 1
From Gospel Translations
By John Piper
About Redemptive History
Part of the series Romans: The Greatest Letter Ever Written
Romans 9:6-12
But it is not as though the word of God has failed. For they are not all Israel who are descended from Israel; 7 nor are they all children because they are Abraham's descendants, but: "THROUGH ISAAC YOUR DESCENDANTS WILL BE NAMED." 8 That is, it is not the children of the flesh who are children of God, but the children of the promise are regarded as descendants. 9 For this is the word of promise: "AT THIS TIME I WILL COME, AND SARAH SHALL HAVE A SON." 10 And not only this, but there was Rebekah also, when she had conceived twins by one man, our father Isaac; 11 for though the twins were not yet born and had not done anything good or bad, so that God's purpose according to His choice would stand, not because of works but because of Him who calls, 12 it was said to her, "THE OLDER WILL SERVE THE YOUNGER." 13 Just as it is written, "JACOB I LOVED, BUT ESAU I HATED."
To understand Romans 9 we must constantly keep the flow of Paul's thought before us. In verses 1-5 he expresses his grief over the lostness of his kinsmen, the Jewish people. He says in verse 3, "I could wish that I myself were accursed, separated from Christ for the sake of my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh." And what receives the emphasis in verses 4-5 is not that Israelites are Paul's kinsmen but that they are God's kinsmen. It says, "[They] are Israelites, to whom belongs the adoption as sons, and the glory and the covenants." So the crisis in verses 1-5 is not only a personal one for Paul, it is a theological one all of us whose eternity hangs on God's faithfulness. The crisis created in verses 1-5 is that Israel is God's chosen, covenant people, and that most of them are accursed and cut off from Christ and from salvation. Has God been faithful to his promises? If not, what are we hoping in?
The Crisis: If God Doesn't Keep His Promises to Israel, Will He Keep Them for You?
Every week we must keep in mind that this is the crisis Paul is dealing with in Romans 9:1-23. Israel is God's chosen people and most of them are perishing, cut off from the Savior, Jesus Christ. And the reason it is a crisis for you, and not just for Jews, is that, if God's promises to Israel do not hold true, then there is no reason to think his promises to you will hold true. The rock solid security of God's elect in Romans 8 (Verse 33: "Who shall bring any charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies!") – this security that we exult in, at the heart of our faith, is worthless if God proves unfaithful to his covenant people. If God does not keep his promises to Israel, will he keep the promises he makes to us?
That's the crisis that Paul is dealing with as we begin today's text. We will spend two weeks on verses 6-13 because Paul deals with two illustrations of his point in this paragraph: one is the illustration of Isaac as the child of promise, not Ishmael (verses 6-9); and the other is the illustration of Jacob as the child of promise, not Esau (verses 10-13). Today we will deal with verses 6-9 and the illustration of Isaac's birth as a child of promise, not a child of the flesh.
Is It True That the Word of God Has Not Failed?
Verse 6 states the main point of the whole chapter. "But it is not as though the word of God has failed." That is Paul's assertion over against the crisis described in verses 1-5. Yes, it is true that many in the covenant people are accursed and cut off from Christ, and yes it is true that God chose Israel and made a covenant with her and gave her promises, but, no, it is not true that the word of God has failed. That is Paul's assertion. And so far it is only that: an assertion.
But everything else through this chapter, and indeed almost everything through the next three chapters, is an argument or a support for this assertion. He does not just make the assertion and then leave us hanging. He makes it and then gives reasons for believing it. And so keep in mind as we move through this chapter that some of the clearest and most forceful statements in the Bible about unconditional election and the sovereignty of God in salvation are made here in the service of God's faithfulness to his promises. Paul doesn't deal with controversial doctrine in the abstract – as if it would simply be interesting to know – he deals with it because it is needed to help us understand and enjoy God's faithfulness. In Paul's mind these great doctrines had a direct bearing on the way we live. If that's not the case with you, you might want to rethink what does shape your responses to life and your plans or living. If not the great truths about God, what then?
Now then, what is Paul's argument in support of God's faithfulness? How can he say that the word of God has not failed even though many Israelites are accursed and cut off from Christ? He states his answer three times in verses 6-9 and gives two Old Testament quotations to support it.
1. Ethnic Israel and True Israel
First, in verse 6b he says, "For they are not all Israel who are descended from Israel." In other words, Paul's argument is that the promises of God always hold true for the true Israel, the spiritual Israel, but not all ethnic Israel is true Israel. That's his first statement of the argument: "They are not all Israel who are descended from Israel." The assumption is: there is a true Israel; God's saving promises are made to them; and these promises have never failed.
2. All Descendants of Abraham and the Children of Abraham
Second, in verse 7a he says it a little differently, but makes the same point: " Nor are they all children because they are Abraham's descendants." In other words, he is distinguishing here between two kinds of "children" – there are all of Abraham's descendants, and there is a narrower group in that number whom he calls here "the children," or we could say, "the true children" since the others are physical children also. The assumption is that the promises of God hold true for the true children of Abraham but not for all the descendants of Abraham. So in verse 6 he says that not all Israel is Israel, and in verse 7 he says that not all the children of Abraham are children. There is a true Israel and there are true children. The word of God has not failed, because it was meant for the true Israel, the true children, and it has never failed any of them.
3. The Children of the Flesh and the Children of God
Third, in verse 8 Paul states the argument a third time in more general terms without naming Israel or Abraham so that we see the principle involved. "That is, it is not the children of the flesh who are children of God, but the children of the promise are regarded as descendants." This, he says again, is why the word of God has not failed –why the promises of God have not failed – even though many of Israelites according to the flesh are accursed and cut off from Christ. It's because the promises are for the children of promise – the children of God – and not every child of Israelite flesh is a child of promise.
When Paul distinguishes "children of the flesh" and "children of God" he means that not all physical Israelites are "children of God." And that means that the term "children of God" is not a mere ethnic or physical or historical term. It has its full saving meaning just like it does in Romans 8:16, 21, and Philippians 2:15 (cf. Hosea 1:10). And when he then says that these "children of God" are "children of promise," he means that they have their spiritual position not because of their physical connections, but because of God's effective promise. The promise produced the position.
What Is the Old Testament Support?
Now this is where we need to look at Paul's Old Testament support for this. But first remember that we have seen three different statements of Paul as to why the word of God to Israel has not failed. 1) Verse 6b: "They are not all Israel who are descended from Israel." 2) Verse 7a: " Nor are they all children because they are Abraham's descendants." 3) Verse 8: "It is not the children of the flesh who are children of God, but the children of the promise are regarded as descendants." That is why the word of God has not failed even though so many Israelites are accursed and cut off from Christ. They were not true Israelites. They were not true children of Abraham. They were children of the flesh but not children of promise, that is, children of God.
Now where does Paul see this idea of a people within a people in the Old Testament? Where does he find the idea that the promise of God is not simply for every Israelite, but for those who are children of promise? And what does that mean – children of promise?
The Case of Isaac and Ishmael
Paul gives two illustrations in verses 6-9 (and another one in verses 10-13 that we will look at next week). The first is in verse 7. After Paul says, "Nor are they all children because they are Abraham's descendants," he quotes Genesis 21:12. "But: 'Through Isaac your descendants will be named.'" The context here in the Old Testament is where God is saying to Abraham, even though you have an older son, Ishmael, he will not be the heir of the promise. Rather "through Isaac your descendants will be named (or called)." What Paul sees here is that being a physical child of Abraham, and even being the oldest, did not make Ishmael an heir of the promise to the covenant people.
Then Paul adds another insight from Genesis 18:10 in verse 9. After saying in verse 8 that "the children of promise are regarded [God says] as descendants," then he quotes Genesis 18:10, "For this is the word of promise: 'At this time I will come, and Sarah shall have a son.'" The context here is tremendously important. God had promised Abraham that all the families of the earth would be blessed through him (Genesis 12:3) and that his descendants would be like the stars in the sky (Genesis 15:5). But Abraham had no offspring and his wife Sarah was barren. What was the solution? Abraham's answer should have been, "I'll trust God for a child of promise. I'll trust God that the divine promise itself is powerful enough to bring itself to pass." But instead Abraham did what he could do in his own strength: he used Hagar, a maid of Sarah, as a concubine and produced a child named Ishmael. Abraham helped God out of his pickle. And produced what Paul called a "child of the flesh." He was "born according to the flesh" (Galatians 4:29). That is, his position was owing to no more than what man could do.
Abraham wanted Ishmael to be the heir God had promised. In Genesis 17:18 Abraham said to God, "Oh that Ishmael might live before you!" But God said, "No, but Sarah your wife shall bear you a son, and you shall call his name Isaac." That's the context of Paul's quote in Romans 9:9. God promises: "At this time I will come, and Sarah shall have a son." You see the sovereign purpose of God's word here. I make the promise, God says. And I bring it to pass. My promises are not predictions of what may come about with your help. My promises are declarations of what I intend to bring about by my sovereign power. "I will come, and Sarah shall have a son." Barren Sarah and old Abraham will have not a child of the flesh, but a child of promise.
So what is a child of promise (child of God)? A child of promise is an heir of God's saving grace, not because of ethnic origin or physical birth, or, as we will see next week, any human resource. But because of God's sovereign word. The birth of Isaac is a picture of how every child of God spiritually comes into being. The decisive work is God's work. Not Abraham's and not Isaac's and not ours. But God's.
The Answer to the Crisis
What then is the answer to the crisis of verses 1-5: Has the word of God failed because many Israelites are accursed and cut off from Christ? Have the promises of God come to naught? The answer is no. And the reason Paul gives three times is that the promise of God itself accomplishes its purpose, and that purpose is make for himself a true Israel. The promise and purpose of God was never that every Israelite would be guaranteed salvation. The promise was: God will see to it that the true Israel is brought into being and saved. And we have seen, and will see again; this true Israel includes Jews and Gentiles.
Application for Today
How shall we apply this to ourselves?
We are moving to the Lord's Supper; so let that be the application. The way God brings into being the true Israel is, finally by sending his Son, Jesus Christ, as the true Seed of Abraham, the true Son of David, and, in a profound sense, the true Israel himself. Jesus fulfilled all that Israel was destined for. And now every person, Jew or Gentile, who trusts in Christ, is united to him and becomes part of this true Israel in Christ.
The question facing you this morning as we move to the Lord's table is: Do you trust in Christ Jesus as your Savior and Lord and Treasure? Are you united to him? Has he made you a child of promise, a true Jew, a child of God? If so, eat the Lord's supper and enjoy fellowship with him. If not, trust him now. Amen.


text:
View: Presidential Proclamation Designating Rio Grande del Norte National Monument
View: Bureau of Land Management RGDN page
Read: Taos Pueblo Resolution of Support
View: Photo Gallery
Video: This American Land segment on RGDN
Map: Explore the National Monument
Audio: RGDN radio story
UPDATE: Community Responds to President Trump's Attack on Río Grande del Norte National Monument(4/28/2017)
Senators Udall and Heinrich introduce bill to protect Wilderness within Río Grande del Norte National Monument.
RGDN Wilderness Press Release May 2015.
Map of Rio Grande del Norte National Monument Proposed Wilderness Areas.
SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT: Rio Grande del Norte was designated as a national monument Monday, March 25, 2013, by President Obama. Read the presidential proclamation. Read our full story here.
On May 16, 2013, a bill sponsored by senators Tom Udall and Martin Heinrich to designate two wilderness areas in the Río Grande del Norte National Monument, cleared the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. This is the video of Heinrich urging the committee to establish wilderness areas in the Río Grande del Norte National Monument.
The Rio Grande del Norte has shaped the lives of the people who have lived and visited the area for so many generations. This natural area is a national treasure that deserves to be recognized as part of our National Landscape Conservation System managed by the Bureau of Land Management. This area is now part of a 27 million acre collection of lands in 887 federally recognized areas considered to be the crown jewels of the American west.
Since 2007, the New Mexico Wilderness Alliance has been working on permanent protection of Rio Grande del Norte. In December 2012, Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar came to a public meeting in Taos to discuss permanent protection for Rio Grande del Norte, and public support was overwhelming. (View a full list of supporters here.) As a way to reaffirm their commitment to the protection of Rio Grande del Norte, Senators Tom Udall and Martin Heinrich and Representative Luján in February 2013 reintroduced a bill to establish the Río Grande del Norte National Conservation Area to protect 235,980 acres of BLM-managed lands in Taos and Rio Arriba Counties. On March 25, 2013, President Obama used the authorities granted to him under the Antiquities Act to create Rio Grande del Norte National Monument.
The Rio Grande del Norte encompasses some of the most spectacular lands in all of New Mexico. The Rio Grande cuts into the Servilleta lava flows that make up the Taos Plateau just above the Colorado border. Eight miles later, at the New Mexico state line, the river is 200 feet down, the gorge 150 feet across. West of Questa, where Big Arsenic Spring bubbles from the rock and pinyon jays heap in the winter, the river is a glinting green ribbon eight hundred feet down. The opposite rim is over half a mile away where, on summer mornings, bald eagles soar southward in pairs. At John Dunn Bridge the river enters The Box, an 18-mile stretch of 900 foot cliffs, famous among rafters and boaters.
This is also the Rio Grande Migratory Flyway – one of the great migratory routes in the world. Eagles, falcons and hawks make the basalt walls of the Gorge their nesting homes. Ospreys, scaups, hummingbirds, herons, avocets, merlins and willits all traverse the Gorge. The sound of Sandhill Cranes migrating from the San Luis Valley to places like Bosque Del Apache can be deafening while on an October hike in the tablelands west of the river. It's that western plateau that is perhaps the most wild. From the edge of the Gorge, vast grass and sagebrush mesas intersperse with the forested slopes of volcanic intrusions such as Cerro Chiflo, Cerro del Aire, Montosos and Cerro de la Olla. It is on these mesas where vast herds of pronghorn and elk find winter forage and calve and fawn along the rim late in the spring.
This substantial chunk of wild is bounded by the Gorge Rim on the east and Highway 285 on the west. The northern portion spills over 285, encompassing the broad, gently rolling grass and sage brush plains of the Rio San Antonio Gorge WSA, bisected by yet another gorge where raptors nest in 200-foot high lava walls and conifers clamber down to the Rio los Pinos. Perhaps the crown jewel of this whole area is Ute Mountain, a 10,093 foot high volcanic cone rising nearly 3,000 feet above the surrounding plain. Ute is something you can't miss. Located about ten miles west of Costilla, it is the dominant feature for those driving north from Taos along highway 522. The steep slopes of Ute are covered in pinyon at the base, as well as pockets of ponderosa, aspen, white pine and Douglas Fir in the higher elevations. From grassy meadows of blue grama, western wheatgrass and Indian ricegrass where the trees thin, the Gorge is a jagged, inky slash dividing Ute from its sister cones to the west. Snow-capped Blanca rises to the north, just across the state line. The whole Sangre de Cristo range falls to the east, terminating, view-wise, at Wheeler Peak.
Descendants of the land grantees run cattle all along the Gorge and out into the table-lands between the rim and Highway 285. Vehicle routes tend towards sparse and are more likely than not unmaintained two-tracks. Hunting and fishing are common. Hikers climb to the bottom of the gorge for a swim and a picnic. The Box is a popular rafting area and bird watching draws – well, not as many as it ought to. It's fabulous birding! On the slopes of Cerro de la Olla, locals collect firewood to heat their homes in the winter.
This is wild land, important to the culture and character of our county and vital, in its wildness, to our economy. We learned two main lessons during the battles over the Valle Vidal: one, no chunk of public land is secure from mineral development or other forms of exploitation – no matter how safe you may think that land is, no matter how 'lacking' in exploitative possibilities it may be, someone, sometime is going to come after that land. Our other lesson was this: our economy in north-central New Mexico is dependent on wilderness. Wilderness feeds the rivers that feed the acequias. It nurtures our rural lifestyle. Wilderness is the 'bank' from which we hunt and fish. It is also a tremendous economic development opportunity. Perhaps most importantly, these wildlands create and nurture the character of the people of Taos County. The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) manages the landscape. This is public land. Our land. (text by Jim O'Donnell)
Timeline of New Mexico Wilderness Alliance's involvement:
2007: NM Wild staff member Jim O'Donnell starts work on the Rio Grande del Norte campaign.
June 2007: Former New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson signs letter of support for the Rio Grande del Norte National Conservation Area.
2008: NM Wild Traditional Community Organizer John Olivas begins working on the campaign. Olivas quickly gains support of the Northern New Mexico land grant community, which all starts in the living room of Esther Garcia.*
June 2008: Land Grant of San Antonio del Rio Colorado signs a resolution of support.
April 2009: Senator Bingaman introduces El Rio Grande del Norte National Conservation Area legislation (co-sponsored by Senator Tom Udall)in the Senate on April 23, 2009,
May 2009: Taos and Mora Valley chambers of commerce sign resolutions of support. Taos County Commission passes resolution of support.
May 2010: Congressman Lujan introduces legislation for Rio Grande del Norte NCA and Wilderness (cosponsored by Representative Martin Heinrich) into the House of Representatives on May 18, 2010.
August 2010: NM Wild arranges for a LightHawk flyover of the proposal area with media members from the Santa Fe New Mexican, a freelance writer, a member of NM Wild's WOCLP** program and a Santa Fe County Commissioner. An additional LightHawk flyover is conducted later that month and includes staff from Congressman Lujan and senators Bingaman and Udall, and Taos County elected officials.
March 2011: New legislation is introduced into the 112th Congress
May 2012: Taos County Commission passes an updated resolution of support.
June 2012: Santa Fe City Council and Taos Ski Valley Inc. pass resolutions of support.
December 2012: Rio Grande del Norte Grazing Permittees sign letter of support.
January 2013: Pueblo of Taos signs resolution of support.
February 2013: Senators Heinrich and Udall and Representative Luján reintroduced a bill to establish the Río Grande del Norte Conservation Area to protect more than 240,000 acres of BLM-managed lands in Taos and Rio Arriba Counties.
March 25, 2013: President Barack Obama designates Rio Grande del Norte National Monument by use of the Antiquities Act.
The only way that we can continue fighting for places like El Rio Grande del Norte is through continued financial support. Please consider giving to the New Mexico Wilderness Alliance today to help us continue our work for wilderness designation within Rio Grande del Norte. Your generous donation will help us fund legislative trips to Washington, outreach and education, and will help us fund our northern New Mexico staff member, who is working on the ground on this campaign.


text:
When temperatures in Arkansas rise, it is difficult to imagine that any parent could ever leave their child alone in a vehicle, but it is possible and often fatal.
Champion Children by Keeping Them Out of Hot Cars. We have these window clings in our Family Resource Center. Be sure to pop by and ask for one when you're at Arkansas Children's Hospital.
Arkansas Children's Hospital (ACH) has tips for parents to stop this tragedy before it starts. Armed with information from the Injury Prevention Center at ACH, families can keep themselves accountable and their children safe over the coming weeks.
Though parents may think prior air-conditioning will help to keep their car cool after they exit, they should know that within five minutes on a 90-degree day, the temperature within a vehicle reaches that of the outdoors, and for every nine minutes the interior temperature increases 15 degrees. Heat enters the vehicle through windows, causing objects within the car to heat up and convection works to trap the heat inside.
Infants and toddlers are at highest risk if left in a vehicle, and adolescents also suffer from heat injuries. If an infant or toddler is left inside a vehicle and their core temperature reaches 104 degrees, heat exhaustion displayed by dehydration will lead to intense thirst, weakness, dizziness and headache that could cause brain damage. If the child's core temperature reaches 107 degrees, convulsions, brain damage and death can occur.
To ensure your child's safety, always check your vehicle for children before you leave, and if parents find themselves in this scenario, "ACT." Before locking the vehicle and leaving it, families must avoid forgetting the child, create reminders and take action, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and Safe Kids Worldwide campaigns.
A — Avoid this event by never leaving a child alone in a vehicle for any amount of time. When the vehicle is unattended, lock the doors so that children cannot enter.
C — Create reminders. Place a purse, briefcase or phone near the child's car seat to ensure that you will look before leaving your vehicle. Parents or grandparents can also place a stuffed animal in the child's car seat when it is not in use and place the stuffed animal in the passenger seat when the child is riding with them. This will remind adults to check for the child. Be certain of a child's location at all times, and plan ahead with caregivers to call and inform you of whether he or she is present.
T — Take action if you see a child left in a vehicle. Call 911 immediately, and if possible, rescue the child from the vehicle after receiving emergency instructions.
"Never leave your child alone in a car," said Holly Terry of the ACH Injury Prevention Center. "Slow down and think about your reminders; this type of death is completely preventable."


text:
Chef-owner Jeff Osaka closing Twelve restaurant in Denver Aug. 23
Twelve, the acclaimed restaurant in Denver's Ballpark neighborhood, is closing Aug. 23.
Chef-owner Jeff Osaka announced the room's closing, which opened Nov. 4, 2008. During its nearly six-year run, the restaurant was routinely lauded on best-of lists, and this year Osaka was a semi-finalist for a James Beard Award for Best Chef Southwest.
"I love this neighborhood," Osaka said in an email. "It's been incredibly good to me. But while the restaurant has experienced tremendous growth, our restaurant has just 40 seats in the dining room and 10 seats at the bar, and we've gotten to the point where we're just not large enough to accommodate as many guests as we'd like."
Osaka said he intends to reopen Twelve elsewhere. But there's no solid timeline, and Osaka is already occupied with his next venture: Osaka Ramen, a Japanese noodle shop slated to open this winter at 2611 Walnut St.
The space at 2233 Larimer St. won't stay empty for long. Twelve will become Butcher's Bistro, a "rustic American" restaurant and retail shop.
I have mixed feelings about Twelve's closing. While it definitely deserves a larger space, I will definitely miss its food during the coming months and hope that Osaka follows through on his desire to reopen Twelve in another location. (Uptown neighborhood, anyone? What a terrific tandem it would make with such restaurants as Beast + Bottle, Humboldt or Argyll.)
Tucker Shaw, my predecessor as restaurant critic at The Denver Post — he's now executive editor at Cooks Country — turned me on to Twelve. He was a big fan of its commitment to seasonal ingredients and rotating monthly menu, which is where the restaurant's name is derived.
In his February 2009 review of Twelve, Shaw praised the restaurant, lauding it as a game-changer for the city.
"Dishes here are not the city's cheapest (entrees in the mid-to-upper $20s), but they are replete with innovation and elan, and so they are among the city's best values," Shaw wrote. "No other restaurant in town is assembling a plate as post-nouveau-elegant as January's duck entree, a four-square presentation of a perfectly roasted breast, a hash of quinoa and confit, a delicate strip of bacon over pearl onions, and an expertly formed quenelle of squash. Fussy, yes, but in every good way; nothing on this precisely designed plate was overdone."
Osaka, who is closing the restaurant on his 50th birthday, has estimated that in his six years of operation, he has created 70 menus and an astonishing 1,000 different dishes.
That's a lot of creativity. Let's hope we get to see it again at a resurrected Twelve.