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New career move?
New career move?
https://www.smh.com.au/sport/rugby-u...10-p51czx.htmlTHE SYDNEY MORNING HERALD › Annotations
'Unacceptable': Fresh posts put Folau on collision course with Rugby Australia
Rugby Australia branded as "unacceptable" social media posts by dual international Israel Folau on Wednesday.
A RA spokesman said its integrity unit had been "engaged on the matter" after the decorated Wallabies fullback took to social media with more commentary on sexuality and religion, including an Instagram post that declared gay people would go to hell.
Israel Folau's social media posts.
Israel Folau's social media posts.Credit:AAP
"Rugby Australia is aware of a post made by Israel on his Instagram account this afternoon," the spokesman said.
"The content within the post is unacceptable. It does not represent the values of the sport and is disrespectful to members of the Rugby community.
"The Rugby Australia integrity unit has been engaged on the matter tonight."
The controversy comes less than a week after Folau became Super Rugby's all-time top try scorer with his performance in the Waratahs' loss to the Blues.
On a week off due to a round nine bye, Folau took to Twitter and Instagram with his religious views.
"The devil has blinded so many people in this world, REPENT and turn away from your evil ways. Turn to Jesus Christ who will set you free," he wrote on Wednesday night above a screenshot of a news story covering the legislation passed in Tasmanian parliament that made optional in birth certificates a declaration of gender.
A short time later on Instagram he listed "homosexuals" as one of eight groups of people for whom "Hell awaits", following it with a Bible extract and the commentary: "Those that are living in Sin will end up in hell unless you repent. Jesus Christ loves you and is giving you time to turn away from your son and come to him."
It is almost exactly a year since Folau plunged rugby into turmoil with a similar sentiment, stating gay people were "destined for hell".
The difference then was that some argued he had been goaded into the comment by a question from another user. On Wednesday his posts were unambiguous.
The incident last year split opinion between supporters of Folau's right to voice his beliefs and those who believed RA should have sanctioned him for comments deemed offensive and upsetting to large groups in the community.
It put Folau's contract negotiations on ice for many months, but the Waratahs fullback ultimately re-committed to Australian Rugby for four more years.
The issue will be a major headache for RA boss Raelene Castle, who claimed the navigation of Folau's first transgressions as a major victory in her first year in charge.
She told media at the time: "On the one hand you're dealing with a human rights issue and on the other hand you're dealing with a freedom of speech [issue]. There's someone's right to express their views, whether it be religious or otherwise, and I think the test is whether it's done in a respectful way. So that's the measure we'll continue to apply."
Folau's latest comments are arguably no more offensive but they do appear to be a brazen flaunting of an understanding the parties appeared to reach late last year, being that Folau tone down his public expressions of his faith to the extent that they not wilfully court controversy.
The comments also heap further pressure on his teammates at the Waratahs and Wallabies, with a Super Rugby season in the balance and a World Cup looming.
The Waratahs playing group were understood to be supportive of Folau but made their dismay known for the pressure and scrutiny it piled on them in the middle of last season.
The NSW Rugby Union was contacted for comment.
Cant think much of his chat with RA recently!! Surely better things to do with his time!!
It will be interesting to see how Raelene deals with this one. Especially with the world cup looming.. my guess is nothing will happen but a slap on the wrist, will sponsors follow through with their threats to move on like they did last year?
An idea for Twiggy to give Qantas a call if they're looking for an opportunity on alternative sponsorship.
Their accounts show $5million in sponsorship as non-current deferred revenue. In other words, paid in advance. I wonder what that/those sponsors think about this.
Proudly Western Australian; Proudly supporting Western Australian rugby
Hopefully Qantas will look to other grassroots options to support Rugby. Twiggy.... call them!
Get me inside a boardroom and I'll get any decision I want
https://www.news.com.au/sport/rugby/...c052953194fc5cMajor Wallabies sponsor Qantas, who threatened to pull its sponsorship last year following a series of provocative posts from Folau, hit out over the Waratahs flyers post.
These comments are really disappointing and clearly dont reflect the spirit of inclusion and diversity that we support, a Qantas statement to AAP said.
We are pleased to see Rugby Australias condemnation of the comments and will await the outcome of their review.
Ferinstance not that long ago we had a "Personnel" Department, then we became "Human Resources" which I didn't like but got used to. Now we are becoming "Human Capital", which is (IMO) bloody offensive. Glad I'm retired.
"The main difference between playing League and Union is that now I get my hangovers on Monday instead of Sunday - Tom David
virtually telling his employer's major sponsor that he(the sponsor)is going to hell is not a smart career move by anyone,one would think
Until Israel Folau repents, Rugby Australia has no choice but to let him go
OPINION: In the wake of his latest homophobic outburst - gays, among other sinners, are heading to hell once more - Israel Folau has to go, and will go.
Quick. Clean. Gone. At least until such times as he repents.
His contract will be suspended or terminated on the grounds of having breached either rugby's social media policy, or his contract.
Rugby Australia simply has no choice. They cannot go through one more time the agony of last year when Folau's social media comments trumpeting that gays would go to hell, saw rugby lose sponsors, fans, and support.
Then it took three weeks for Folau to pull his head in, and it seemed like he got it: that you couldn't be a standard bearer for the inclusive game of rugby and put out bigoted nastiness like that.
Israel Folau will quickly find himself out in the cold after his anti-gay social media posts.
Israel Folau will quickly find himself out in the cold after his anti-gay social media posts.
This time, it won't take three weeks. Rugby must surely move quickly, or be made to look ridiculous.
All of the dynamics that applied last year - outrage in the rugby and wider community, people swearing not to go to games, volunteers threatening to leave the game, sponsors looking at tearing up their contracts - apply this year, but there is one difference.
Back then, it seemed it wasn't clear to Folau what he could and could not do.
After that storm though, he can now be in no doubt ... and has done it anyway. Instead of lifting his index finger and pointing to the Lord in thanks as he is wont to do when scoring his many tries – as of last Saturday more tries than anyone in Super Rugby ever – he has effectively lifted his middle finger and showed it to gays, Rugby Australia, the rugby community, sponsors, the lot.
Israel Folau has put his Waratahs team-mates in a difficult position with his social media posts.
Israel Folau has put his Waratahs team-mates in a difficult position with his social media posts.
How can Rugby Australia not stand him down in response?
When they do, Folau will be inevitably defended by a certain section of the commentariat and community, spouting his right to "freedom of speech."
They don't get it.
That would apply if he was being dragged off to prison for his expressed views. He is not.
He has exercised his rights to freedom of speech, just as the rest of us have exerted our rights to call him out for it, and Rugby Australia will be surely exerting its right to ensure that an employee to whom they are paying a reputed A$2 million a year comports himself in a manner that brings people into their tent, and doesn't drive them away from it.
Rugby Australia will be saying, "You can continue to exert your right to speak, but NOT as our employee, as you disgrace what we stand for."
After the events of last year, it will surely have been written into his contract that he is no longer allowed to post homophobic rants, and therefore rugby's own right to stand him down should be fairly cut and dried. If it was not written in his contract, Rugby Australia will have a serious case to answer as to why he was signed again without ensuring that their employee couldn't put them through precisely the same drama as last year.
Either way, the whole affair is madness on the part of Folau, and dangerous madness at that. Beyond matters of money, sponsors, ticket-sales and all the rest, far more important is the impact of having homophobic dogma in the public domain. That impact includes shocking youth suicide rates among teens troubled about their sexuality. This is a serious matter, most of the country gets that and agrees we can no longer tolerate it.
Both rugby union and even more particularly rugby league have been wonderful in recent times in stamping out homophobia within their own ranks. They have done so from both the moral imperative, and a business need. You cannot prosper in a community if you are not reflective of the community's values.
And one way or another, rugby cannot go on with its most famous current player continuing to thwart that movement. When they sit down with him, they will have to put the question to him: do you get that, or not Israel? If not, you have to go, for gooda


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WESTCHESTER, N.Y. – Snow and rain are likely Friday night into Saturday morning, according to the National Weather Service.
Friday will be cloudy with a high near 38 degrees. Friday night could see a chance of snow, with an overnight low of about 30 degrees.
Snow is likely Saturday before 10 a.m., then rain and snow are likely from 10 a.m. to noon, with rain likely after noon; the high will be near 38 degrees. Saturday night will see rain before 10 p.m., then rain and snow, with an overnight low of about 31 degrees.
On Sunday, there is a chance of rain and snow before 10 a.m., then a chance of rain. It will be cloudy, with a high near 41 degrees. Sunday night will be partly cloudy, with an overnight low of about 26 degrees.
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subset: commoncrawl


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Dad is giving me ideas for tattoos. He is encouraging me to get one but suggested that I get more in shape first like this guy. He said skulls are made out of bone and bone should be rock hard. Not soft and jiggly. Maybe I won't get skulls but tattoos of waterballoons instead. I can get them in all kinds of nice colors...
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Posted by Ka`iana at 11:43 PM
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- About Port Colborne
- Accommodations
- Getting Here
- Leisure & Attractions
- Library
- Museum
- Roselawn Centre
- Shopping & Dining
- Sugarloaf Marina
- Things to do...
- Travel Guides and Brochures
- FAQs
- Contact Us
Things to do...
Looking for something to do?
Do you have an hour, an afternoon or evening, or a full day?
And what if it's raining? What about the kids?
Listed below are suggestions to answer these questions.
There is always something fun to do in Port Colborne!
...for an hour:
Learn about the history of the Welland Canal and our community at the Port Colborne Historical and Marine Museum.
Enjoy a walk along the Port Promenade and discover the shops of Historic West Street and the Downtown Business District.
Explore history and shop along Old Humberstone.
Stroll through the gardens and fountains of Lock 8 Gateway Park and watch lakers or salties passing through one of the longest canal locks in the world.
Take a scenic drive along Sugarloaf Street and Lakeshore Road. Turn around at Cement Road, retrace your route and observe the Incredible Shrinking Mill. Try to figure out why the Mill seems to get smaller as you drive towards it.
Sample the best Niagara has to offer at the Port Colborne Farmers' Market. A Friday tradition dating back more than a century.
Across the street from the Farmers' Market is the Maker's Market run by the St. James & St. Brendan Anglican Church.
Hours coincide with the Farmer's Market every Friday morning from 8:00am to 1:00pm.
Drop in at the Library. Read a newspaper or magazine, listen to your favourite CD, or use the free Internet service to contact friends and family back home.
Pack a picnic basket and head for H.H. Knoll Lakeview Park. Cool summer breezes and picture perfect sunsets. Go for a stroll along the shore and watch the comings and goings at Sugarloaf Marina.
Enjoy a meal or a drink at one of Port's eateries and bars. Choices range from coffee shops and fast food outlets to family-style restaurants and fine dining. Fresh fish is available along the waterfront and lakeshore
Softball, baseball, soccer, beach volleyball - throughout the summer there's always an adult or youth sporting event going on at one of our city parks. Relax, put your feet up and enjoy the game. Afterwards stop for an ice cream cone.
Try wakeboarding at Boarder Pass at Sugarloaf Marina.
Visit the new Vale Health & Wellness Centre
Change your travel schedule, stay longer and see more of our community!
...for an afternoon or evening:
Head for Nickel Beach. Sun, white sand and clean, warm water - the perfect summer combination. A great place to go swimming or wind-surfing.
Attend a summer performance or a concert at the Roselawn Centre. Summer theatre at its best and non-stop entertainment throughout the years.
Get out your bike or rent one, or lace up your walking shoes or rollerblades, and explore the Port Colborne section of the Welland Canals Recreational Trail. Seven kilometres of paved paths following the Welland Canal.
Learn about the architectural history of Port Colborne and the surrounding communities. Go on a self-guided walking tour of 33 homes, sites and properties located near the Downtown Business District and the Welland Canal. Afterwards, take a short drive west to Marshville Heritage Village in Wainfleet.
Hit the antique trail and find a hidden treasure. More than thirty outlets are located in town and along the Lake Erie shore.
Explore the lakes, streams, wetlands and woods of Mud Lake Conservation Area. A great spot for hiking, fishing, hunting, nature study and birdwatching. More than 60 species of birds and waterfowl have been identified at this location. Bring a fishing pole and try your luck at Largemouth Bass and pan fish.
Go western. Mount up and take a western trail ride around the woods, ponds and abandoned quarries in the Wainfleet Wetlands Conservation Area.
Check out our Calendar of Events, where you can find beach volleyball tournaments, international fishing tournaments, lobster dinners, antique power displays, horse pulls, saddle club shows, craft shows, classic car shows, fireworks displays, rowing regattas, old fashioned carnivals and parades - the entertainment is varied and non-stop throughout the summer and fall.
...for a day:
Take out your clubs and hit the links at one of four area golf courses. Located in tranquil countryside settings, these courses are well-suited to golfers of all levels. The Port Colborne Country Club defines Niagara country club golf. Whisky Run consists of three nines unique in design. Nearby Cherry Hill is a registered RCGA course that has hosted the Canadian Open. Emerald Pines Golf Club is geared more towards to the weekend and occasional golfer.
Grab a pole, charter a boat, and get ready for the challenge of some of the best Bass and Walleye fishing on the Great Lakes. The International 444 Walleye Tournament takes place in June. Boat docking, boat launch, and fish cleaning facilities at Sugarloaf Marina and H.H. Knoll Lakeview Park.
Try your hand at SCUBA diving and explore the waters of Lake Erie. More than 20 marine wrecks within a 20 mile radius. Lake schooners, barquentines and tugs from the 19th century can be found resting on the bottom of the Lake.
Explore the back roads and country lanes of the Lake Erie Shore by bike. Cycle west on the Long Beach Pedal, or east on the Ridgeway Ramble. Completion of the multi-use rail trail to Ridgeway in 2003 will allow easy access to the Friendship Trail and the Niagara Parkway Recreation Trail. More than 140 km of safe, off-road cycling on the Greater Niagara Circle Route.
Learn about your family's history. Genealogical research information available at the Port Colborne Historical and Marine Museum and at the Port Colborne Public Library.
Go rockhounding. The ancient Onondaga Escarpment passes through Port Colborne near the shores of Lake Erie. Local quarry sites contain an array of coral fossils extending back more than 380 million years.
Park your trailer, pitch a tent, or rent a cottage by the lake. Pleasure and tranquility at water's edge. The perfect spot for outdoor play.
Experience Canal Days! Port Colborne's signature event, this unique waterfront festival celebrates the community's marine heritage. Fun for the whole family, with everything from Tall Ship cruises to a Boat Parade of Lights and a spectacular fireworks display over the Welland Canal. Live musical entertainment, beer garden, carnival midway, food vendors, antique car show, kid's zone, charity duck race, and giant kite flying competition. The Port Colborne Museum hosts an annual arts & crafts show, marine displays and historical demonstrations.
...when it's raining:
Head to Roselawn Centre for the Living Arts. Showboat Festival Theatre hosts shows throughout the summer.
Take a tour of the Port Colborne Historical and Marine Museum. See the 1901 Neff steam buggy, one of the first automobiles manufactured in Canada.
Drop in at the Port Colborne Public Library. Listen to your favourite CD, rent a movie or use the free Internet service to contact friends and family back home. Travelling exhibits and works of local artists displayed in the atrium.
Have some fun, exercise and play games at the Vale Health and Wellness Centre
...with children:
Build a sandcastle on the shores of Lake Erie.
Go swimming at Nickel Beach.
Camp at Sherkston Shores Resort.
Enjoy a round of mini-putt golf at H.H. Knoll Lakeview Park.
Go fishing! The ponds, lakes and streams of Mud Lake Conservation Area and Sugarloaf Harbour Lagoon are great places to get a feel for a fishing rod.
Visit Melissa's playground and the splash pad at H.H. Knoll Lakeview Park.
Head to the Port Colborne Public Library. There are books to read and special summer programs just for kids.
Explore the Lions Carnival, or the Midway and Kid's Zone play area during Canal Days.


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If you've ever wanted to save a cocktail from a ridiculous/inaccurate/pretentious/embarrassing name, your chance has arrived. Hubbard Grille is hosting the Become Legendary cocktail-naming contest for the second year in a row.
Here's the deal: Bartenders at the Short North restaurant and bar have concocted five new autumnal cocktails (using local spirits, natch) but have left them anonymous. Your job is to stop in, have a drink and then name the drink. Names are accepted Sept. 1 through Sept. 30. On Oct. 10, the bar invites in a panel of judges to make final decisions on names. I helped with this event last year and had a blast (you can see my fuzzy "ballot" in the photograph above). Each winning name-bestower gets a $50 gift card and some bragging rights.
Bonus: The bar has created a sixth drink, called the Art for Life cocktail. Order that one and a portion of the proceeds go to Art for Life to support the Columbus AIDS Resource Center Ohio. That's worth a cheers.


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Graduation season has once again brought the usual round of controversy and fauxrage over speakers who are selected to address the crowds of happy, hopeful students preparing to set out into the adult world. We've covered some of these stories already here, particularly the exit of Condi Rice from the celebration at Rutgers, but there have been others. In response to all of this, Timothy Egan, writing at the New York Times, made the apparent mistake of preaching to the liberal choir and suggesting that just maybe hearing people with opinions differing from your own might not cause brain cancer.
Near as I can tell, the forces of intolerance objected to [Rice's] role in the Iraq war. O.K. And by shutting her down, the point is … what? That extremism, whether in the climate-denial echo chamber of Republican Party elites or in the fragile zone of college faculty lounges, is the worst enemy of free speech.
Thanks to the bigots, Smith College graduates will be deprived of the thoughts of Christine Lagarde, chief of the International Monetary Fund. She withdrew this week, under pressure from people who object to the I.M.F.'s role in the "strengthening of imperialist and patriarchal systems." So, one of the world's most powerful women will not share insights with one of the nation's most prominent women's colleges because of a concern about patriarchy. Evil men — that'll show 'em.
This was followed by the swift departure of Robert J. Birgeneau, a former chancellor of the University of California, Berkeley, as a speaker at Haverford College. Yes, you heard that right: The man from Berkeley is not suitable for the sensitive souls of Haverford.
Egan goes on to point out that most commencement speeches are torturous enough in their own right, and walking down this path of filtering speakers out to accept only those who support our preconceived notions will result in an even more unpleasant outcome.
But if every speaker has to pass a test for benign mediocrity and politically correct sensitivity, commencement stages will be home to nothing but milquetoasts. You want torture? Try listening to the Stanford speech of 2009, when Justice Anthony M. Kennedy gave an interminable address on the intricacies of international law, under a broiling sun, with almost no mention of the graduates.
Give me a brisk, strong, witty defense of something I disagree with over a tired replay of platitudes. It matters little if the speaker is a convict or a seminarian, a statesman or a comedian.
This season, the left is better than the right at pressure tactics designed to kill opposing views. But who wants to claim that title?
That should put matters to rest nicely. Let's face it… the Left is the home of free speech for all, the open exchange of ideas and touchy feely inclusiveness, while the Right just wants to tell everyone to sit down and shut up. Right? So the progressive blogs quickly lined up to support Egan's clarion call for peace and harmony. Let's look at a few examples as we toast our new solidarity.
How about it, Lawyers Guns & Money?
Don't Want A Torture Facilitator to Get $35K for a Bad Speech? Why Are You A Bigot?
Leaving aside the fact that it's enormously unlikely that any public figure like Rice would give a speech of the slightest interest, there's a rather obvious problem here. What's potentially objectionable about Rice isn't her life story
Well, I suppose there will always be one or two holdouts. What say you, Jim Naureckas?
Object to a War Criminal at Your Graduation? You Must Be a 'Bigot'
It needs to be pointed out that a graduation is not the PBS NewsHour; it's a celebration of students' accomplishments. If they feel that honoring a war criminal is an inappropriate way to mark their milestone, they have every right to say so.
Hmm… I seem to be sensing a pattern here. How about No More Mister Nice Blog?
Enough of this intellectual pabulum — let's mix it up! Let's get some commencement speakers who'll really challenge these overprivileged snotnoses! Send Ted Nugent to Virginia Tech! Dispatch Donald Sterling to Howard University, or maybe George Zimmerman! And at Brandeis, in place of Ayaan Hirsi Ali, why not see if we can bail out Frazier Glenn Miller? It would be better than (ick! ptui!) political correctness, right?
There's probably nothing which will ever make the average commencement speech more than a grip and grin opportunity for the faculty and a few of the top performing students. The occasional speaker, however, may sneak through and actually deliver something memorable. But trends like the one we're seeing again this year will only diminish the chances of that ever happening. Well done, liberals! Free speech for me, but not for thee, eh?


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(1) Outside the West, Non-Western Christianity is becoming the norm (e.g. African Christianity in Africa and Mestizo Christianity in Latin America)
and (2) Inside the West, Christian Cultural Marxism is now the norm.
Fun Fact: the groundbreaking survey on masculinity by Terman & Miles found that Christian clergy were the second most effeminate group of males, next only to passive homosexuals. In short, mainstream Christianity today (aka Cuckstianity) is run by girly men. Just listen to some limp-wristed pastor or priest talking about how we need to accept and welcome Third World immigrants and refugees.
We thus decided to put up this reading list to benefit high-IQ, Uncucked Christians interested in Pro-Western Christianity. This reading list is non-denominational and promotes Pro-Western Christianity from a variety of perspectives (Protestant, Catholic, Orthodox, etc.). This reading list transcends the left/right divide to provide new direction and motivation for Western Christians. We hope you enjoy.
Cucked Christianity (aka, Cuckstianity): A form of modern Christianity that promotes cuckoldry, such as mass third-world immigration, transracial adoption, diversity, and "racial reconciliation" (i.e. reparations).
Uncucked Christianity: A traditional form of Christianity that recognizes importance of genophilia, ethno-religion, identitarian religion, and ethnocentrism. Typically practiced by alpha males and high-status females.
Genophilia: Love of one's own race. A key tenet of traditional religion, which is adamantly rejected by Christian Cultural Marxists.
Christian Cultural Marxism: A Christian form of Cultural Marxism. The doctrine that people should deny racial / ethnic loyalties. Christian Cultural Marxists support mass Third World immigration into Western countries, diversity outreach, literal cuckoldry such as whites adopting non-whites, etc.
Identitarian Religion: An older form of religion that stresses ancestral obligations. Adamantly opposed by Christian Cultural Marxists (at least for whites). Throughout nearly all human history, identitarian religion (aka, ethno-religion), has been the norm.
Scientific & Philosophical Realism: Unlike both fundamentalists and Christian Christian Cultural Marxists who reject science, Christian scientific realists are pro-science. For instance, we realists accept the obvious truth of human biodiversity, which is adamantly rejected by Christian Cultural Marxists. Since God created human biodiversity, we should pronounce and celebrate it.
Disclaimer: The function of this reading list is not to belittle other expressions of Christianity (e.g. Black Christianity in New World & Africa, Asian Christianity, Mestizo Christianity, etc.) but merely to defend and give an overview of a Pro-Western Christianity for the benefit of Westerners.
Reading List: Pro-Western Christianity
The Seven Theses of Cultural Marxism
Dennis Anderson: "Interracial Marriages In Light of the Scriptures"
Lawrence Auster: "Is It Wrong To Talk About Race?" and "Racial Conservatism"
Bible: Vulgate, King James, Luther
Frank Borzellieri: "The Church Militant: PC is the Dogma"
Bruce Charlton: "Is the Christian evolutionist an oxymoron?"[Why high-IQ Christians should accept the theory of evolution]
Christianity & Race: "Christianity & Race," "Don't harm children with interracial adoption," "Christian Cultural Marxism"
Alfred Clark: "What is identitarian religion?" "Why the religious should reject Intelligent Design" and "Are Christian Leaders Today a Bunch of Girly Men?"
Edmund Connelly: "God Helps Those Who Help Themselves: The Beginnings of White Victimization in Multicultural America - Pt I" [Pt II]
Dow Blog: Why open-borders Christian Cultural Marxist Russell Moore is wrong about immigration. Part I. Part II. Part III.
James R. Edwards: "A Biblical Perspective on Immigration Policy: Why Mass Immigration Is Wrong"
Albert Emory: "Time to end Catholic vs Racialist divide on Dissident Right?"
Walter Everly: "On the rise of Christian Cultural Marxism"
Thomas Fleming: Morality of Everyday Life
Samuel T. Francis: "The Germanization of Early Medieval Christianity"
Andrew Fraser: "'Whiteness' as a Theological Problem: J Kameron Carter on Race"
Generation5: "The Christian Case for Same-Race Marriage"
Generation5: "Defending Christian HBD"
Generation5: "Reconsidering Interracial Adoption"
Good housekeeping: "White mother returns adopted Haitian child because he was too violent"
Gregory Hood: "The God They Really Believe In"
Thomas Jackson: "Christianity Turns Brown" [Why we need Pro-Western Christianity]
James Kalb: "Anti-Racism"
Juicy Ecumenism: "The Evangelical Immigration Table Exposed As Another George Soros Front"
Kinist Review: "What is Kinism and Why Does It Matter?"
E. Christian Kopff: "On the Christian-Classical-Germanic tradition"
David Opperman: "A Biblical Defense of Ethno-Nationalism"
Nil Desperandum: "A Response to Russell Moore's Opinions on Immigration and Race"
Nil Desperandum: "On Interracial Marriage: The Moral Status of Miscegenation"
Nil Desperandum: "Bloodlines: John Piper's Assault on the Hereditary Family: Pt. I" [Pt II] [Pt III]
Nil Desperandum: "Christian Ethics and Interracial Marriage, Pt. I" [Pt. II] [Pt. III] [Pt. IV] [Pt. V]
Andy Nowicki: "Southern, White, Religious, and Racist"
Matt Parrott: "Cosmic America"
Trudie Pert: "The War on Easter"
Jean Raspail: Camp of the Saints
Refugee Resettlement Watch: "Catholic and Protestant churches getting millions of dollars from Obama to support Third World refugee invasion of the USA"
James C Russell: The Germanization of Early Medieval Christianity
Christian Talour: "Christianity and Race" and "Christian Identitarian Manifesto"
Thinking Housewife: "A Conversation About Race"
Srdja Trifkovic: The Sword of the Prophet
Chilton Williamson: "A Practicing Catholic Considers Why 'The Church' Is Wrong About Immigration"
Ehud Would: "The reality of race"
Bitchute: "The last uncucked pastor" (video)
Other Things of Interest (from secular viewpoints):
Steven A Camarota: "74.7% of Mexican immigrants use some form of welfare in the USA" and "Legal and Illegal Immigration Driving Down American Wages"
Thomas Carter: "What Race Are Hispanics?
Sophia Cochran: "What Is Cultural Marxism?"
Peter Dodds: "The International Adoption Racket"
A.J. Fisher: "Biological Problems with Mixed-Race Families, Marriages, Relationships and Adoptions"
Kathryn Joyce: "The Evangelical Orphan Scam"
Hugh MacDonald: "Group Polarization and the Fad of Ethnomasochism"
Human BioDiversity: A Dictionary
Johnny Mantraseed: "A Message From White And Normal Women"
Science Direct: "Modern genetics proves race is real and important"
Steve Sailer: "Where Dawkins Fears To Tread: Ethnic Nepotism And The Reality Of Race"
Steve Sailer: "How Diversity Destroys Social Trust"
Frank Salter: "Estimating Ethnic Genetic Interests: Is It Adaptive to Resist Replacement Migration?"
Frank Salter: "Misunderstandings of Kin Selection and the Delay in Quantifying Ethnic Kinship."
Sarich & Miele: "The Ancient Concept of Race"
Jared Taylor: "Pathological Altruism: The White Man's Disease"
Nancy Turner: "Key Characteristics of White Trash"
Winegard: "On the Reality of Race and the Abhorrence of Racism"
Important: Many good videos / documentaries debunking Cultural Marxism / Critical Race Theory (click on link and scroll down, hundreds of videos): Anti-Cultural Marxism Videos


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North Korea: Possible missile launch tomorrow?
SEOUL, South Korea -- April 25 is something of a holy day for the North Korean leadership.
It marks the founding of the guerrilla army in 1932 that they -- often romantically -- claim valiantly fought off Japanese colonials and saved the Korean race from slavery. (In reality, the army played a minor role.)
Every year, the military marks the anniversary with a lavish parade. But this year, some Korean press are reporting that there might not be major festivities tomorrow for reasons still unclear.
A test-fire is possible, following the reported movement of two short-range Scud missiles to the east coast. That's near the area where, in early April, the North also placed two medium-range missiles.
The South Korean defense ministry now claims, on the other hand, that the North could test a mid-range Musudan missile as late as July.
In addition to April 25, they cite two other possible dates: April 30, when the US-South Korea joint Foal Eagle military exercises end, and July 27, the anniversary of the armistice that halted the Korean War of 1950 to 1953.


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It's pretty minimal, but I guess we can work with this: there's still quite some unclarity, like does Sleep affect both friends and foes and if so, how? Or is the spell caster himself affected?Gary Gygax, Dungeons & Dragons (1974), wrote: Sleep: A Sleep spell affects from 2–16 1st-level types (hit dice of up to 1 + 1), from 2–12 2nd-level types (hit dice of up to 2 + 1), from 1–6 3rd-level types, and but 1 4th-level type (up to 4 + 1 hit dice). The spell always affects up to the number of creatures determined by the dice. If more than the number rolled could be affected, determine which "sleep" by random selection. Range: 24".
Now, S&W WhiteBox reads as follows:
In this description, enemies are mentioned rather than creatures. Furthermore, the Sleep spell can, rather than always, affect the number of creatures rolled. So I guess that rules out the chance of affecting friends or yourself, but looking closer at the table it appears that victims of HD 2+ and 3 can't be affected at all and both 2d6+3 and 2d6 of HD 1+ victims are affected. Is there any rhyme or reason to this..? Why was the original description altered in this way?Marv Breig, Swords & Wizardry WhiteBox, wrote: Sleep
Spell Level: M1
Range: 240 ft.
Duration: Referee's discretion
This spell puts enemies into an enchanted slumber (no saving throw is permitted). It can affect a number of creatures based on their hit dice.
Affected by Sleep
Code: Select all
Victim's HD Number Affected ---------------------------------- Less than 1 to 1+ 2d6+3 1+ to 2 2d6 3+ to 4+1 1d6


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Commission statement - situation of the Roma and EU law on free movement of EU citizens29 September 2010
by eub2 -- last modified 29 September 2010
As announced earlier this month, the European Commission has today assessed recent developments in France and discussed the overall situation of the Roma and EU law on free movement of EU citizens.
The Commission heard presentations by Vice-President Viviane Reding, responsible for Justice, Fundamental Rights and Citizenship, Commissioner László Andor, responsible for Social Affairs, Employment and Inclusion, and Commissioner Cecilia Malmström, responsible for Home Affairs.
The Commission concluded the following:
1. The right of every EU citizen to free movement within the Union is one of the fundamental principles of the EU. As the guardian of the Treaties, it is the Commission's duty to ensure its full and effective implementation by all Member States.
2. The Member States are responsible for and entitled to take the measures to protect public safety and public order on their territory. In doing so, they must respect the rules laid down in the 2004 Directive on Free Movement, the fundamental rights of EU citizens and avoid discrimination, notably on grounds of nationality or the belonging to an ethnic minority.
3. Recent developments in France have led to a detailed exchange between the Commission and the French authorities on the application of EU law on free movement of people. The Commission took note today of the assurances given by France at the highest political level on 22 September 2010 that
* Measures taken by the French authorities since this summer did not have the objective or the effect of targeting a specific ethnic minority, but treated all EU citizens in the same manner;
* The administrative instruction ("circulaire") of 5 August 2010 that was not in conformity with this orientation was annulled and replaced by a different instruction on 13 September 2010;
* The French authorities fully ensure an effective and non-discriminatory application of EU law in line with the Treaties and the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights.
4. The Commission noted equally that France reaffirms its commitment to a close and loyal cooperation on these matters. The Commission will pursue the exchange with the French authorities and is sending a letter to the French authorities with detailed questions regarding the practical application of the political assurances provided.
5. In order to provide legal certainty to Member States and EU citizens, in particular in controversial situations, it is of utmost importance that the procedural and substantive safeguards included in the 2004 Directive on Free Movement are fully and correctly transposed by and in the Member States. At this stage, the Commission considers that France has not yet transposed the Directive on Free Movement into national legislation that makes these rights fully effective and transparent. Therefore, the Commission decided today that it will issue a letter of formal notice to France requesting the full transposition of the directive, unless draft transposition measures and a detailed transposition schedule are provided by 15 October 2010. The letter of formal notice would be sent in the context of the October 2010 package of infringement procedures.
6. At the same time, the Commission is analysing the situation of all other EU Member States under the Directive on Free Movement to assess whether it will be necessary to initiate infringement proceedings also in other cases. Consequently, it will send a letter of formal notice in similar cases also in the context of the next packages of infringement procedures.
7. The Commission reiterated today that the social and economic integration of the Roma represents a common challenge and a common responsibility for all EU Member States. The Commission's Communication on this issue adopted on 7 April 2010 lists a series of important measures that need to be taken at national and EU level to improve the situation of the Roma as quickly as possible.
8. To this effect, and on the basis of the work of the Roma platform and of the Roma Task Force set up by the Commission on 7 September 2010 to analyse the use and effectiveness of EU and national funds by all Member States for Roma inclusion, the Commission will present an EU Framework for National Roma Integration Strategies in April next year. This EU Framework, based on the report of the Roma Task Force, will notably assess the use of national and European funding and make proposals for a more effective implementation of EU funds in tackling Roma exclusion for the current and forthcoming programming periods. The multidimensional problems of Roma minority will be dealt with in the context of the ten basic principles of the Communication for Roma inclusion and within the frame of enhanced cooperation among all stakeholders. In addition, the EU Framework will seek to ensure a more efficient monitoring of and support to national and European efforts with regard to Roma integration. To that end, and in the frame of the Europe 2020 Strategy, the Commission will invite Member States to present their own national strategies for the inclusion of Roma which could feature in their national reform programmes. The forthcoming flagship initiative on a "Platform against poverty" will constitute an integrated framework of actions to support horizontal priorities such as the integration of Roma citizens. The European Commission also expects Member States to be explicit and ambitious about Roma when setting their national Europe 2020 targets in the fields of poverty reduction, employment and education.
9. The Commission will closely work together with all EU Member States in the preparation of the EU Framework for National Roma Integration Strategies. The EU's Fundamental Rights Agency will be associated to this work.
10. The Commission will report on progress made to the European Parliament and the European Council before summer 2011.
Source: European Commission


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Most of us have no trouble remembering the best things we ever bought.
The worst things are another matter.
Anyway, here's my list. How does it compare to yours?
1. My first house
Purchase Date: 1990
Purchase Price: $114,000
Why it's in my bottom ten: These items are in no particular order, but this one takes the cake. I bought my first house at the top of the market. As a result, I spent the next seven years owing more than it was worth — which meant I couldn't sell it unless I wanted to shell out about $20,000 to the make my lender whole. So I chose to ride out the downturn, which is a reasonable strategy for most people. Unfortunately, the house was in a less-than-desirable neighborhood, just 100 yards from a very busy — and extremely loud — rail line that carried freight and commuter trains 24/7.
2. An ottoman
Purchase Date: 2000
Purchase Price: $400
Why it's in my bottom ten: When we finally replaced our hand-me-down sectional with a brand new leather sofa and love seat set, the Honeybee insisted on getting the optional wheeled-ottoman too. "It'll never get used," I said. She insisted otherwise. She was right; but only because the kids used it as a toy car. Otherwise, it sat in the corner collecting dust.
3. Double stack guitar amplifier
Purchase Date: 1993
Purchase Price: $995
Why it's in my bottom ten: I had big dreams in my twenties: I was going to be a rock and roll star! Of course, that meant playing the part — so I grew my hair out and bought a double-stack guitar amplifier. Talk about overkill. I could have played Dodger Stadium with that thing. The trouble is, my band was only playing small bars. Here's a picture of it:
4. My vacation in the Bahamas
Purchase Date: 1990
Purchase Price: $1000 (approximate)
Why it's in my bottom ten: An ex-girlfriend decided to surprise me with a ridiculously-priced travel package "deal" to the Bahamas. For $199 we got a romantic "cruise" to our destination in Freeport, and seven days and six nights of lodging at a local "resort." The airfare, food, and other expenses weren't included — but we didn't care because we got the deal of a lifetime! Or so we thought. Our cruise ship was a rickety fishing boat and the "resort" was a run-down apartment in the worst part of Freeport, miles from the beach. And it rained incessantly. Without a doubt, it was the worst vacation ever.
5. My Sony 400 CD player
Purchase Date: 2001
Purchase Price: $295
Why it's in my bottom ten: Remember these? The first time I laid eyes on Sony's CDP-CX400, I thought I'd died and gone to heaven. Yes, the machines were humongous and bulky; mine tipped the scales at 9 pounds. True, they also had a primitive programming interface. But this baby allowed me to store, play and shuffle 400 (!) discs, which meant I could finally dump my space-wasting CD racks in the trash. Even so, my love affair with the CDP-CX400 ended less than a year after I bought it. Why? Because Apple unleashed a brand new invention called the iPod, instantly rendering the CDP-CX400 obsolete.
6. My backyard irrigation system
Purchase Date: 1998
Purchase Price: $1500 (approximate)
Why it's in my bottom ten: When evaluating multiple contractor bids, the lowest price is not necessarily the best deal — especially when the lowest price is significantly less than the other offers. Every time one of my sprinkler pipes burst I'm reminded of that, thanks to the shoddy material my contractor used to cut corners.
7. Movie rental: The Good German
Purchase Date: 2009
Purchase Price: $1 (rental price)
Why it's in my bottom ten: Laugh all you want. This movie was so bad that if I had snuck into the theater to see it I'd still demand my money back.
8. My Los Angeles Kings Alexei Zhitnik hockey jersey
Purchase Date: 1994
Purchase Price: $120
Why it's in my bottom ten: Back in 1994, I decided to buy myself a new Los Angeles Kings hockey jersey. But rather than putting Wayne Gretzky's name and number of the back, I decided to take the contrarian route and go with Alexei Zhitnik instead. Dumb move. Less than a year later, the Kings traded Zhitnik to the Buffalo Sabres for a Zamboni machine and two used hockey pucks.
9. A whirlpool tub
Purchase Date: 1997
Purchase Price: $600
Why it's in my bottom ten: When we bought our current home, the builder asked us if we wanted to "upgrade" our master bath with a whirlpool tub — so we did. Big mistake. It didn't take us long to realize that the disadvantages of whirlpool tubs far outweigh their advantages. Ultimately, we used the tub two times. Trust me: whirlpool tubs are for suckers.
10. A disappointing dinner in Maui
Purchase Date: 2011
Purchase Price: $150.00 (tip included)
Why it's in my bottom ten: The Honeybee and I were vacationing in Maui, and happened upon a fine dining place that was showcasing photos of the owner posing with rocker Steven Tyler in the restaurant's dining room. You'd think if Steven Tyler was willing to pose for pictures with the owner, the food must be fabulous, right? Wrong. The food was terrible and over-priced — which is why I now avoid any restaurants endorsed by Steven Tyler.
Photo Credit (truck): p. Gordon


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Polish Priest Shockingly Claims 10-Y-O Children in Pedophilia Cases Chose to Go to Bed With Adults Because of Broken Homes
Polish Priest Shockingly Claims 10-Y-O Children in Pedophilia Cases Chose to Go to Bed With Adults Because of Broken Homes
As investigations of alleged sexual abuse of multiple young boys by two Polish clerics continue, one Polish priest, Father Ireneusz Bochynski, of Piotrkow Trybunalski in Central Poland, claims he is aware of 10-year-old children who "went to bed with adults, wanting to be fulfilled, and it was the choice of the child."
In a recent Polskie Radio report, Father Bochynski insisted that "now that we have so many broken marriages, where most often there is a lack of a father, it will happen more and more often that children without such figures will cling on to men."
The report highlights that Bochynski's statement is in line with those held by head of the Polish Episcopate Archbishop Jozef Michalik. He argues that children involved in pedophilia cases are often "searching for love" because of its absence in their broken homes.
Poland's attorney general's office is currently examining 650 documents pertaining to allegations of sexual abuse of multiple boys in the Dominican Republic by two Polish priests.
"A cursory look at them has confirmed that they will be of value in the case, as we had hoped," said Maciej Kujawski, spokesman for the attorney general.
"All the documents are in Spanish, and we cannot refer to their contents until the translation has been carried out," added Przemyslaw Nowak, another spokesman for the office.
Father Wojciech Gil, who has been reportedly staying with family in a village near Krakow is accused of sexually abusing at least seven boys while he was at a parish in a highland town called Juncalito. Another priest, Archbishop Jozef Wesolowski, an ex-Vatican nuncio in the Dominican Republic, faces similar allegations but it is uncertain where his is right now according to the report.
Archbishop Wesolowski possessed diplomatic immunity as a Vatican ambassador and was replaced by the Vatican, which is currently carrying out its own investigation, in August.
Recalling the nuncio "is by no means an effort to avoid taking responsibility for what might possibly be verified," a spokesman for the Vatican noted in early September.
The Dominican Republic's attorney general Francisco Dominguez Brito, said in late October that "the guilty must bear responsibility.
"What has happened is inexcusable," he added while emphasizing that he wants charges to be made "as quickly as possible."


text: Stephen F. Austin State University MINUTES OF THE BOARD OF REGENTS Nacogdoches, Texas August 11, 2012 Volume 277 Stephen F. Austin State University Minutes of the Board of Regents Special Meeting Nacogdoches, Texas August 11, 2012, 12 noon Meeting 277 Austin Building, Room 307 A special meeting of the Board of Regents was called to order in open session at 12 noon on Saturday, August 11, 2012, by Chair Bob Garrett. Board Members Present: Mr. Bob Garrett, Chair Dr. Scott Coleman Mr. James Dickerson Ms. Jourdan Dukes Ms. Brigettee Henderson Mr. Steve McCarty Mr. Ralph Todd Ms. Connie Ware President: Dr. Baker Pattillo General Counsel: Mr. Damon Derrick Regents Carlos Amaral and Ken Schaefer were absent. The chair called for an executive session to discuss the following items: Consideration of Individual Personnel Matters Relating to Appointment, Employment, Evaluation, Assignment, Duties, Discipline, or Dismissal of an Officer or Employee, including but not limited to, the Director of Intercollegiate Athletics and Vice President for University Affairs. Consultation with Attorney Regarding Legal Advice or Pending and/or Contemplated Litigation or Settlement Offers, including but not limited to, reported complaints, EEOC complaints, Christian Cutler v. Baker Pattillo, et al., and policies and procedures. The executive session ended at 1:20 p.m. and the board meeting was immediately adjourned with no action taken.


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Is this a joke? Just when you think it cannot get any crazier, Greg Bedard reports, citing a story from WTMJ in Milwaukee, that Packers offered Brett Favre $20 million to stay retired.
I'm speechless. I have come up with any number of completely ridiculous solutions to this fiasco, but it never once crossed my mind to pay Brett Favre money that he is not owed in order to convince him to stay on his farm.
Those who have not followed the many twists and turns of this entire drama cannot understand why Ted Thompson is refusing to bring Favre back. As someone who originally wanted Thompson to do just that and has been pushed to the point where I now want Favre gone, I found myself increasingly sympathetic to the arguments the Packers were making. Favre's inability to tell the truth and his public, low-class trashing of Ted Thompson have made him a most unsympathetic figure in all of this.
But he still deserved better than a bribe. As Bedard writes: "If WTMJ's report is true, it could potentially cripple the Packers in court of public opinion as it could be interpreted as a bribe to Favre, a player that has said he wants to continue his career."
There is little doubt that Favre's camp leaked this and, as noted, they have been known to shade the truth at every opportunity. So it's probably wise to reserve judgment until the Packers provide their side of the story — something they'd better do damn quickly.
Here's an idea: Don't talk to Favre or Bus Cook again. Seemingly every time they do — think of the Thompson-Favre conversations this weekend — the Packers end up disputing one or more of the claims Favre and his representatives make in the media. And then trade him to the Vikings, end this compounding disaster, and beat him twice this year.


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Play now free mobile games on mobixml.flashgames.it
Devil's Triangle
Aye – for this adventure you don't only need to talk like a pirate, you also need to act like one if you want to find all of the treasures of the Seven Seas. The sea is full of dangers and they will come to get you, so gear up and face them head on. Arrr.
Action Games
Viking King
Viking King is a fast paced arcade game in which the player tries to avoid Odin's wrath. The allfather is smashing down fists to slay the mortals and he is raining down ice and fire on them. But luckily these Swedish pagans are forged in Valhalla by the hammer of Thor himself and so they can nimbly avoid attacks. The game gets faster and faster while Odin gets more and more angry. But fear not, you know if you fall your comrades await in Valhalla! Do not hesitate to play Viking King now, it is completely free and the first Viking to the battle will also be the first to the feast!


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Want no-BS insights on building a highly profitable freelancing business?
✓ FREE 5 Day Course on Winning Top Paying Clients
✓ Q&A - Send In Your Questions, I Answer Them Here
✓ LIVE Webinars
✓ The Chance to Win a FREE Coaching Call
I guarantee 100% privacy. Your information will not be shared
Today's question comes from Tyler who's just starting out.
I have just started trying to work on freelancing, I don't have any experience or clients just a blog (www.IamTheFutureMe.com) I started and hope that I can start freelancing to make some additional income. What's the number one thing I should do?
Hey Tyler, thanks for the question.
The number #1 (and only) thing you should be doing right now is talking to potential clients.
Here's a link to how I moved from employment to freelancing.
You say you've started a blog – what do you plan to do with it? Is it going to be a personal blog or do you hope to get business through the site at some point?
You didn't say what your skills are, so let's assume you haven't got them mapped out yet. Check out the "How To Win High Paying Clients" free series. That covers selecting your most profitable skills, finding a targeted niche, packaging your service to that niche, understanding and speaking to a clients specific needs, and how to make contact.
You want to find clients with problems, make sure that those problems that are profitable, and that the clients your targeting have the means to pay.
There's no point in running a $1250 course on teaching college kids how to travel the world and earn money on the side – they might be interested, but they probably don't have the money to pay.
There's also no point in running a course for senior citizens wanting to train as bodyguards – they probably have the money to pay, but they're not interested.
I've picked two particularly extreme examples, but hopefully you get the idea.
To summarize – talk to people, find their needs and problems, charge to solve. (But the 5 day mini course will give you far more detailed steps on exactly what to do and how)
Comments? Questions? If I didn't cover anything, just leave me a note in the comments box.


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WASHINGTON -- With less than six weeks to the election, President Obama is benefiting from a curious paradox. Although the economy remains weak by most indicators, consumer optimism has registered a distinct, though modest, gain. The stock market is up, as are the three main confidence surveys -- from Gallup, the University of Michigan and the Conference Board. The contrast suggests some possible explanations: (a) the economic indicators are backward looking and the economy is stronger than the numbers suggest; or (b) something else -- the political conventions, falling gasoline prices, the Federal Reserve's latest credit easing -- has made people slightly more optimistic.
Either way, it's good news for the president. The rise in consumer optimism has coincided with gains in his approval rating and a widening of his lead over Mitt Romney in most opinion polls. Of course, there's no assurance that either will last. If September's unemployment figures, scheduled for release Oct. 5, are poor, economic sentiment -- and the president's prospects -- could reverse.
But for now, a better mood is clearly helping Obama. In September, the Conference Board's confidence survey rose to 70.3 from 61.3 (on an index of optimism with the year 1985 equaling 100). Though the index is still historically low, it has regained levels of earlier in the year. Consumers are "considerably more optimistic about the short-term outlook for business conditions, employment and their financial situation," according to the Conference Board's Lynn Franco. Similarly, the Gallup and University of Michigan indexes rose sharply in September and are now close to yearly highs.
Economist Gail Fosler, a consultant who once headed the Conference Board, attributes the improvement to "the combination of [a higher] stock market and rising housing prices. People are beginning to see houses move in their neighborhood." The job market could also be stronger than a string of weak monthly employment reports indicates. The Labor Department reported that last week's new claims for unemployment insurance dropped 26,000 to 359,000 -- a level often associated with falling overall unemployment, because job gains significantly outnumber job losses.
Still, downbeat economic indicators abound. On Thursday, the Commerce Department lowered its estimate of economic growth for the March-June quarter from an already-weak 1.7 percent to an anemic 1.3 percent. (The figures are annualized growth rates for the quarter.) About 0.2 percentage points of the reduction reflected the effects of the Midwest drought; the heat has cut grain harvests. But there were also downward revisions of consumer spending and exports.
As troubling, the government reported on Thursday a steep 13.2 percent drop in orders for durable goods -- machinery, vehicles, computers, telecommunications equipment -- in August. Two-thirds of the decline stemmed from lower orders for commercial aircraft, which are typically volatile month to month. But even excluding transportation -- which also covers cars and trucks -- new orders fell 1.6 percent. And overall shipments to customers fell 3 percent, the largest decline since January 2009 at the depth of the Great Recession.
What partially explains the slump is the reluctance of businesses to commit themselves to major new investment projects, says Nigel Gault, chief U.S. economist for IHS Global Insight, a consulting firm. "There's a lot to worry about -- the fiscal cliff, Europe, how much China is slowing." For the July-September quarter, IHS forecasts a meager growth rate of 1.5 percent. U.S. manufacturers are suffering from weakness in both exports and business investment, he says.
What's more, adds Gault, businesses' restraint in undertaking new investments suggests skepticism about a spurt of job creation. "If businesses are so cautious about investment spending, it's hard to see why they'd be optimistic about hiring," he says.
So there's a puzzle: Stronger consumer optimism is at odds with weaker business behavior. The election's outcome could hang on how that puzzle resolves itself between now and November.


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text: Dress up your landscape with these elegant, self-watering planters. They are rather tall planters at 28" high, adding some drama to your patio. With clean lines and raised panel detailing, they have the look of fine woodworking. But, unlike wooden planters these are virtually maintenance free because they're made from high quality polyethylene — there's no need for annual painting or staining. With the best UV protection in the industry, these planters have a 15-year guarantee against fading. They have built-in reservoirs to supply a slow, steady supply of water to plants — just what plants need for healthy, stress-free growth.


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The UTS Library Rare Book Collection consists of individual items of relevance to the University's teaching and research interests and a small number of thematic collections. Particularly noteworthy is the Children's Literature Collection.
Collection development
Rare books are collected for their value to the teaching and research purposes of UTS and for their cultural value. Growth of the Collection is consequently limited. Items may be acquired through donation or purchase. Acquisition requires the approval of the University Librarian or nominee. Donations are accepted in accordance with the UTS Library Materials Donation guidelines.
For the purpose of these guidelines Rare Book is defined as meeting one or more of the following criteria:
- Australian editions published before 1900
- other editions published before 1820
- limited edition less than 250
- known significant provenance - preferably including textual evidence
- other special categories eg children's books published up to the 1950s
Access policy
Rare books are listed in the UTS Library Catalogue and identified as located in the Rare Book Collection. The Collection is accessible to all staff and students and associate members of UTS Library and members of the broader community on application. Those wishing to access the Rare Book Collection should enquire at the Service Desk on Level 7.
The following conditions of use apply:
- rare books must be used in the Library
- rare books must be used under supervision
- photocopying and scanning of rare books is not usually permitted
- The Collections are normally accessible between 10 am and 6 pm Monday to Friday or by appointment
- special arrangements may be requested by application in writing to the University Librarian
Obtaining copies
Other libraries wishing to obtain digital copies of items in the UTS Rare Book Collection should email the Digitisation staff who will verify the copyright status and condition of the book. Copies of items approved for digitisation can then be requested via the UTS Library's InterLibrary Service on a cost recovery basis.


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Has your company not been very successful? Is it not making you enough money? If so, you may be thinking of liquidating it. But before you go for it, you need to understand what this process is. Let's know more about it.
As far as the liquidation is concerned, you may want to answer some basic questions first. For instance, you should find out what it is and why business owners have to consider this process. As the name suggests, it involves the conversion of the asset of a business into cash so that the credits could get paid. This is a simple definition of the term.


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Did you hear the one about the C.E.O. who told the radio show that women make less money because they menstruate? Yeah.
Head of the New Zealand Employers and Manufacturers' Association Alasdhair Thompson was discussing a proposed salary transparency bill that would allow employees to access information about rates of pay in their workplace, in order to check that they aren't being discriminated against on the basis of sex or race. (This is why it's important for women and men to talk about what they're getting paid.) Thompson seemed to deny that a wage gap existed, saying:
"Why do they take the most sick leave? Women do in general. Why? Because once a month they have sick problems, not all of them but some do. They have children that they have to take leave of therefore their productivity...(it's) not their fault. It may be that they have not got it sorted with their partners where the partners take more responsibility for what happens outside work."
Thompson said that because of ''a lot of these issues," statistics that show evidence of a wage gap aren't actually true. Women have periods, see. It's not like it's their fault, but it happens! QED. Never mind that the wage gap that people talk about is the one that persists after things like differences in education, qualifications, and experience have been taken into account. And that the number of sick days an employee takes has no bearing on their salary, or on any wage gap, anyway.
It's more than a little odd to hear this kind of 50s-style sexism voiced in New Zealand, a country where discrimination on the basis of sex is not exactly commonplace. There, where I grew up, women have held virtually every position of prominence in both the public and the business sectors. In 1893, we became the first nation to extend the franchise to women. We elected our first women mayors and Ministers of Parliament in the same year, and have since had women chancellors of our major universities, women Prime Ministers, and women business leaders. Our women writers have won the Booker Prize, and our women directors have won Palme d'Ors. For a period in the late 1990s, the Prime Minister (Helen Clark) was a woman, the Leader of the Opposition (Jenny Shipley) was a woman, the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court (Dame Sian Elias) was a woman, the attorney general (Margaret Wilson) was a woman, the mayor of the largest city (Christine Fletcher) was a woman, and the C.E.O. of New Zealand's largest privately held company (Theresa Gattung) was a woman. I've learned to like living in the U.S. very much, but it has to be said: the day President Barbara Obama goes golfing with Speaker of the House Jane Boehner, names Erica Holder her attorney general, consults with Chief Justice Jenny Roberts, and verbally spars with Senate Minority Leader Michelle McConnell — bonus points for electing a mayor Maryanne Bloomberg — I'll eat my gender-neutral New Zealand-made hat.
Of course, solving sexism isn't just a matter of a handful of women making it to the top. New Zealand still has issues with domestic violence and there is a 12% wage gap. (No, Thompson, there really, really is.) But the U.N. still ranks New Zealand as the fifth most gender-equal society in the world, behind only Iceland, Sweden, Norway, and Finland. (For comparison: The U.K. was ranked 15th, Australia was 20th, and the U.S., where the wage gap is a whopping 23%, came in at 31st.) So to hear the head of the Employers and Manufacturers' Association — a fairly mainstream pro-business lobbying group — say that women are bad employees because they're, like, always getting their periods and stuff is just bizarre.
Thompson has already apologized, and been roundly criticized by leaders of both major political parties. (The current — and center-right — Minister for Employment and Social Development, who happens to be a woman, said Thompson "sounded a bit like a dinosaur.") He's probably typing his resignation letter already. This kind of bullshit really doesn't fly with the Kiwis.
Women's Sick Day Comment Outrage [Stuff.co.nz]


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Uriah Bentick
Senior defender Uriah Bentick has been named to the 2012 National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) Division I South Atlantic Region team.
It is the third consecutive season that the defender from Port of Spain, Trinidad has been selected to the team. After being chosen to the squad's second team in 2010, he has been named to the third team each of the past two seasons.
Bentick played a key role for the 2012 Flames, who finished the year with an 8-7-3 overall record and a 6-1-3 Big South mark. After a slow start, Liberty closed its regular season with a nine-game unbeaten streak (6-0-3), the team's longest since 11-game streak (8-0-3) which spanned the 2008 and 2009 seasons.
Bentick received his third consecutive Big South All-Conference selection in 2012. He was selected to the second team this season, after earning first team honors in 2010 and 2011. Receiving a starting nod in every Liberty contest this past season, Bentick scored one goal and recorded a team-leading four assists. In addition, he helped anchor a defense which allowed 1.11 goals per game. The sport management major also earned inclusion on the Big South All-Academic squad.
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i think fixing them is best, it will take ages (while we are ) fixing them
English Teacher
i think fixing them is best, it will take ages (while we are ) fixing them
It will take ages to fix them.
I put the verb some other way to find out the right answer but I am not sure I did it well.
It will take some time to fix them.
I know that a gerund form usually refers to the past.
e.g. It took me ages fixing them.
Is my answer correct?
Thank you.
Not a teacher.
We use these two structures to say how long to do sth:
-It + take + period of time + (for sb) + to do sth
-S + spend +period of time + doing sth
So I think 'to fix' is the best answer for the question. 'ages' here means great length of time (Ages Definition | Definition of Ages at Dictionary.com)
ages to ...
To fix them.
Ages + to inf.
St takes time (for sb) to do st.
If you want to use "Verb-ing", you can use the word "spend" for instead.
For instance, "I will spend ages fixing them"
For me it's '..fixing them.' It sounds good.


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Heading to a conference at the Green Valley Ranch Resort outside Las Vegas a few months ago, Carol Margolis was pleasantly surprised when she snagged a discounted rate of around $100 per night. Unfortunately, she was also surprised upon arrival to discover that the rate didn't include a mandatory $24.99 resort fee for amenities including shoe shines, complimentary newspapers and access to the gym and Internet.
"That's 25 percent of what I paid for the room!" said the consultant, public speaker and founder of SmartWomenTravelers.com, all for services she had no intention of using. "I had no time for working out; I didn't need my shoes polished, and I have an AirCard so I didn't need their Internet."
None of which, of course, made a difference, since resort fees, like à la carte airfares and invasive security procedures, are getting harder to avoid all the time.
Resort fees gone wild
This week, for example, the Bellagio in Las Vegas will begin charging a mandatory fee of $22.40 per day for in-room Internet access, fitness center privileges, local and toll-free calls and airline boarding pass printing. Down the street, Vdara recently raised its daily resort fee from $15 to $18. Both resorts are owned by Las Vegas-based MGM Resorts International.
But it's not just MGM or even Las Vegas. Last summer, Starwood Hotels and Resorts began levying daily fees of $12.57 to $20.94 at its four Waikiki properties (Sheraton Princess Kaiulani, Moana Surfrider, Royal Hawaiian and Sheraton Waikiki). And in November, the Westin Kierland Resort & Spa in Scottsdale, Ariz., eliminated several individual fees and began charging a single $19 daily charge.
You don't have to have a degree in revenue management to understand why more and more properties are relying on resort fees. "It's like the airlines," said Anthony Curtis, president of LasVegasAdvisor.com, an online newsletter. "It's as if they're saying, OK, the rate is $50, but we're going to hold $15 over here and advertise a rate of $35."
The results look like great deals, especially on third-party websites where hotels can improve their rankings with low base rates and where full disclosure is often lost in the fine print. "Hotels are trying to drive occupancies by rate, not by value or the experience," said Glenn Haussman, editor in chief of the industry website HotelInteractive.com. "The fees are designed to make up that difference."
And, perhaps, enhance it. According to John Lindelow, owner of Travel Hawaii LLC in Kailua, Hawaii, resorts in his state further bolster the bottom line because the fees are exempt from both travel agent commissions and the state's 9.25 percent hotel tax. The fees, he added, are "disingenuous, misleading and anti-Aloha."
Meanwhile, back in Las Vegas, the new fees at Bellagio and Vdara are part of MGM Resorts' plans to introduce resort fees at all its properties on the Strip. "We're bundling together our most commonly requested services and putting them all into one low daily charge," said spokesperson Yvette Monet. "We've found it to be a matter of convenience for our guests."
Reasonable or a rip-off?
Surprisingly, perhaps, some travelers feel the same way. As national sales manager for a natural skincare products company, Derek Hunter would rather deal with one daily fee than pay individual charges for the gym, Internet access and bottled water. "It's not always nickel and diming," he said. "Sometimes it's to pay for the cost of the extra service. Add it all up and it isn't such a bad deal."
Others suggest that the fees can make sense in select situations: for example, at the Sheraton Waikiki, which used to charge separately for parking and Internet access. "If you have a car and you use the Internet, the resort fee ends up being a pretty good deal," said Lindelow.
Most travelers, however, feel otherwise. "I don't mind paying $200 for a hotel room," said motivational speaker Barry Maher. "I don't even mind it when that $200 room becomes a $229 room because of taxes and government fees. But I abhor it when my $110 room becomes a $124.95 room because of mandatory resort fees."
Unfortunately, fighting the fees is generally a losing battle, although some travelers have had success negotiating their way out of them. "I always ask to opt out," said Teri Gault, founder of TheGroceryGame.com. "I'm not always able to [avoid] this bogus package deal. But I do ask for the manager, and sometimes they have been able to waive it for me." Another option is to try contesting the charges with your credit card company after receiving your statement.
But, according to Curtis, the only guaranteed way to avoid the fees is simply to stay at resorts that don't charge them. In Las Vegas, for example, Caesars Entertainment doesn't charge resort fees and removed pre-existing fees when it bought two local properties, Planet Hollywood and Westgate Towers, last summer. The company has even launched a Vegas No Resort Fees page on Facebook to promote its fee-free offerings.
"They're making the same kind of play that Southwest Airlines is," said Curtis, referring to the airline's contrarian no-bag-fees policy. "A lot of our customers are considering Caesars over other places because of that very policy."
Others, like Carol Margolis, have already acted on their anger over resort fees. "It's so frustrating that we've started staying at other resorts," said Margolis. "We decided it was just stupid to be paying this extra fee when we can just as easily stay somewhere down the street."


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The opinions expressed herein are my own personal opinions and do not represent
my employer's view in any way.
Sorry for the lack of updates, but I have been very busy with several things. First, our server with the Subversion repository and the project issue tracking broke. Then there was a lot of job to do in these last days. Also I had to go to the hospital several times because of family problems. Finally I have been planning a trip to the Hyde Park Calling (23rd and 24th of June) in London (as Aerosmith isn't coming to Spain). I'll probably be three days in London. If for some strange reason you are there and you want to talk with me send me an email.
Talking about .NET technologies… I took a quick look at Microsoft's Silverlight but I won't be touching it more until there is a linux version (by Microsoft or by the mono team).
Hopefully everything will be back to normal in a couple of weeks…


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tree history | KCET
tree history
KL Featured Category
Lost L.A.
These Boundary Trees Are Remnants of California's Lost Mexican-Era RanchosPost date:
Ancient oaks and sycamores marked the boundaries of many Mexican-era rancho land grants.
tree canopies
Lost L.A.
How Did L.A. Become a City of Palms? And Other Questions About California's TreesPost date:
Q&A with historian Jared Farmer, author of "Trees in Paradise: A California History."
Lost L.A.
When Pepper Trees Shaded the 'Sunny Southland'Post date:
Long associated with Southern California's romantic mission past, the pepper tree was once the region's most iconic tree.
Lost L.A.
Majestic Mammoths: A Brief History of L.A.'s Moreton Bay Fig TreesPost date:
Spreading giants imported from Australia, Moreton Bay fig trees have become a cherished part of Southern California's arboreal heritage.
Lost L.A.
Who Eucalyptized Southern California?Post date:
The eucalyptus, or gum tree, is an invader from an alien botanical world. It arrived from Australia in the 1850s.
palm trees
Lost L.A.
A Brief History of Palm Trees in Southern CaliforniaPost date:
Despite the diversity and ubiquity of palms in the Los Angeles area, only one species, Washingtonia filifera, is native to California. How then did the palm tree come to represent Southern California in the popular imagination?


text:
Evernote 5.0 for Android Adds Shortcuts, Photo Features
Evernote released a major update to its Android app today, bringing a revamped design and more camera-related features to the note-taking app.
Evernote 5.0 is available now from the Google Play store, and offers a new Multi-shot Camera mode that allows you to take multiple pictures at once and save them to a single note.
A feature called Page Camera also turns the camera into a scanner, and lets you save a digital version of paper notes and documents into Evernote, simply by taking a photo.
I got a sneak peek at Evernote 5.0 over the weekend, and Page Camera worked great. I was worried when my notes looked dark and blurry in the camera's preview pane, but the final result was bright and clear. I was able to read my notes without a problem (well, aside from trying to decipher my illegible scribbles).
Of course, those who invest in an Evernote Smart Notebook from Moleskine will get even more functionality, including the ability to tag notes using the included Smart Stickers. Premium account holders will also be able to search for any files created in Microsoft Office, iWork or Open Office by keyword.
Shortcuts are also new to Evernote 5.0 for Android. The feature, which gives you the ability to quickly access notes, notebooks and tags, was first introduced to the Mac version of Evernote in January. But this will be the first time it's available on any of the company's mobile apps.
Other changes include a redesigned Notes list, new icons and tag support for Evernote Business.
Evernote has about 50 million users and is available on multiple platforms, including Mac, Windows, iOS and Android. Earlier this month, the service suffered a security breach and required all of its users to reset their passwords. The company has since announced that it plans to roll out two-factor authentication later this year.


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'Housewives' Table-Flipper -- Under the Gun
Teresa Giudice is on the verge of losing her spot on "The Real Housewives of New Jersey" -- TMZ has learned the reality star's money demands are holding up contract negotiations ... and Bravo is losing patience.
Sources close to Giudice tell TMZ, the table-flipping housewife feels like Bravo's giving her the short end of the stick ... because she's under the impression that the other women in the cast are earning significantly more money than she is. As we previously reported, Teresa wants double her salary from last season.
We're told Teresa -- who's famously dealt with money issues in the past -- is ready to walk if Bravo doesn't cough up the cash. Bravo insiders wouldn't comment on the current state of negotiations, but did say the network is looking at possible replacements.
We're told Teresa -- who's financial issues have been a major plot point on the show -- is the most adamant about the contract situation ... asking for a cut of the DVD and merchandise sales ... freedom to make more paid appearances ... and her salary DOUBLED.
A source extremely close to Teresa tells us, "She would like to be paid more equivalent to what the 'Jersey Shore' kids are getting" .... adding, "If she's not treated better by Bravo, she's ready to walk away."
FYI -- the "Jersey Shore" kids are reportedly pulling in around $30k per episode.
A rep for Bravo tells us they don't comment on contract negotiations.
As for the other girls -- we're told they're all a safe bet for next season ... minus Danielle, of course.
Brad & Angelina Lock Lips on Set!
Brad Pitt stopped by Angelina Jolie's set in Budapest again over the weekend -- where they shared a romantic kiss for the cameras!
As we previously reported, the Jolie-Pitt clan has relocated to Hungary while Angelina directs her first film in the area -- and the couple's kids will even be going to school there while she does.
Check out the cuddly pics!
Uma Thurman -- Powder Your Nose
Uma Thurman showed up to an event in NYC last night ... in white face.
Forget Bill, kill makeup artist.
Guess Whose Sexy Stems!
Can you guess which Hollywood hottie was spotted wearing kitten heels and showing off these gorgeous gams in Beverley Hills yesterday?
Celebrity Pumpkin Carving Stencils -- Cut IT Out!
If you are feeling extra creative this Halloween season, download one of our free celebrity pumpkin carving stencils and give it a stab!
**Click through the gallery and download a PDF file of your favorite stencil -- trace the black parts of the stencil onto your pumpkin -- carefully cut out the black portions to reveal your perfect celeb carving!**
Junior Seau Drives SUV Off a Cliff, Survives
Junior Seau drove his SUV off a cliff in Carlsbad, CA this morning -- and survived -- this according to law enforcement.
We're told the retired NFL superstar sustained injuries in the wreck -- cops are on scene. TMZ obtained these photos of Seau's Cadillac Escalade which landed at the bottom of a cliff several feet from the beach.
Seau has been transported to a local hospital. The accident happened just south of Oceanside, CA ... where the former San Diego Charger had just been released from jail hours earlier.
As TMZ first reported, Junior Seau was arrested early this morning for domestic violence.
What's the Big Frigin' Difference?!
Grab your glasses and clean out your contacts 'cause these sneaky pictures have some seriously hidden differences... can you spot 'em?
**HINT -- There are THREE differenes in the above photo!**
Celebrity Scramble!
Can you guess which Hollywood hottie got a nasty celebrity scramblin'?!
Waiting for your permission to load the comments.


text:
Scientific Name: Glandularia bipinnatifida
Common Names: Dakota Mock Vervain, Purple Prairie Verbena
Slender, erect plant, often hard to identify. 1 - 2 1/2 feet tall, small flowers with blue or lavender petals cover the branches in loose clusters. Among the most abundant wildflowers in Texas.
Bloom Color(s): pink, purple
Bloom Width: 2 in. cluster
Bloom Height: 2 in. cluster
Foliage Color(s): Green
Plant Width: 8 - 12 in.
Plant Height: to 8 in.
Duration: Annual,Perennial
Bloom Period: March to December
Plant Family: Verbenaceae
Growth Habit: Forb/herb
Sightings: Lake Whitney State Park , Corral Ln. at I-35 S. in Austin, TX , I-35 s. of Little Texas Ln., Austin , Grand Av Pkwy+Picadilly Dr, Pflugerville , Shady Hollow West Nature Preserve , Shady Hollow West Nature Preserve , Shady Hollow West , Bleiblerville, Nelsonville, Industry , San Antonio inside loop 410 , Nelson City Dance Hall (Boerne, TX)
Other Photos
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