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Bottega Veneta Spring 2013
After an unexceptional start to the Milan season that has seen runways awash with photocopied visions of the Swinging Sixties and the seventies—not to mention a plethora of none-too-subtle homages to many of the recent collections or archives of international design innovators—it was a relief to find some thoughtful, adult clothes on the Bottega Veneta runway.
Tomas Maier goes his own quiet way, making clothes, as he said in his program notes, "for women who'd rather not be summed up in a word or two"—designs that showcase the exceptional workmanship of his ateliers.
His show focused on tidy little feminine frocks (not a long gown among them). It opened with pretty flower-print dresses in an unusual palette of soft caramel, gray, vanilla, and dusty blue with charcoal, with a strong late-thirties and forties flavor that gave his girls the look of Agatha Christie heroines. But if Maier started with a historic reference, he injected his own innovations, splicing together panels of several different prints or cutting out individual flower heads and appliquéing them to form daisy chains running down the front of a dress. Panels of snakeskin were set into the kick pleats in the front of a skirt or slithering down a blossoming back.
A brace of liquid jersey dresses had virtual necklace garlands padded into the necklines, others had strips of shiny snake edging, fluted hems, and butterfly sleeves (like the signature dresses of the great British classicist designer, Jean Muir).
The house's craftsmanship was also evidenced by short evening dresses with a Madame Grès flavor—but instead of that legendary couturier's famous jersey pleats, these achieved a similar visual effect with myriad softly color-shaded rouleaux strips—a refinement of a technique that some haute couture houses struggle to achieve (and doubtless at commensurately giddy price points).
More modern were the armorial crustings of silver lozenges on the plastrons of pale cotton dresses or shirt-like tunics. The transparency and perforated effects that are everywhere this season were subtly translated for customers who may not feel comfortable revealing great swathes of flesh. A point d'esprit cardigan jacket shadowed the horizontal ribbon strips of the unfinished peach-colored chiffon of the dress beneath, for instance, or a trellis of jet beads, evaporating towards the hem, was embroidered over a flowery chiffon frock.
The house's signature butterflies alighted in clusters on buckles of belts that defined trim waists, on the toes of the thick-heeled platform shoes, and on the flat satchel purses worn, in the fashion of the season, pinioned by a firm elbow to the side of the waist—symbols, perhaps, of a certain lightness of touch and of an undeniable prettiness.


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Avanti Everglide Metal-Safe Non-Stick 24 Cup Mini Muffin Pan - Wilton
i love making mini muffins. There's something about them. maybe it's that you can eat 4, feel like a pig, but really you only had the equivalent of one muffin. also, they're so easy to just grab and pop in your mouth. i currently have one (yes, only one) 12 cup mini muffin pan, but a couple of these would make baking mini muffins so much faster.

subset: commoncrawl


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This Forum has been archivedVisit the new Forums
|Forums: Index → Narutopedia Discussion → Think spirals..
Note: This topic has been unedited for 1551 days. It is considered archived - the discussion is over. Do not add to unless it really needs a response.
Now, I've already checked but, has anybody in this site, or in any other place on the Internet, or in any other media, ever mentioned that the eyes of the elder son of the Sage of the Six Paths, the Uchiha ancestor, resembles the Uzumaki clan's symbol? Thethirdpathcometh (talk) 03:31, May 10, 2013 (UTC)
- This isn't what our forums are for.
- We don't mention obvious and unnecessary comparisons like those here. It's considered junk trivia.--Cerez365™(talk) 11:47, May 10, 2013 (UTC)
- Thank you for the info. But it wasn't trivia because I ended the sentence with a question mark, unless you thought it was a rhetorical question. I just thought I remembered a forum in Narutopedia that talks about theories on plotholes that have yet to be filled in by the author. And I did say I looked, which meant I actually searched this whole Wikia of the existence of a comparison between the eye and the symbol. Humor me, please. It was just far too obvious to be missed. Besides, I remember a page here focused mainly on the possible fillers (basically through the use of given patterns in creating theories on what constitutes what) for missing chakra nature types (see Blaze, Scorch, Magnet and Explosion Release).Thethirdpathcometh (talk) 01:54, May 14, 2013 (UTC)
- You might want to use Naruto Answers Wiki.--~ UltimateSupreme 11:58, May 17, 2013 (UTC)


text: hpdvs2 1017 Report post Posted January 4, 2013 I recently posted asking for ideas for a new RTS. Here is a key concept that I'm considering right now, and I'd love to hear feed back on it. The RTS will be split into two key areas. 1) City Building. - Safe, in your country, as a single settlement. Weak in technology. - Over time, increase the city size, built up your military base, improve your technologies. - Develop squads to send in to the battle front. 2) Battle Front. - An ongoing everlasting war. - Your squad is dropped off in the heat of battle on some random planet. AI will attempt to place you in an area that you have a balanced chance of survival. - You don't create buildings here. but you do get far better control of your troops, and they get better tactical AI's than Blizzard RTS's - Scenery can be altered. (explosions can leave dents. Ditches can be dug, Rock and dirt can be used to create Cover areas. etc...) What ideas do you have around this? What would be really useful in this environment? What changes would you make to what I suggested? Thanks for any feed back. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites


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A9 TV; 9 September 2011
His Highness Bediuzzaman made such incredibly beautiful comments. My sincere conviction is that he is the greatest mujaddid of the last thousand years. Some hodjas especially dwell on Islamic law. How are regular prayers performed, how is sajda made…Why don't you attach importance if that man has faith or not? They say, "Let them have the faith of an old woman." How would he perform his prayers with such faith? What he means by "an old woman's faith" is to have faith without giving any thought to it. Faith with blind eyes. Allah commands us to "think." In the Qur'an, Allah continuously provides us with the signs of faith and wants us "to think." How would one have faith without thinking? Would one could ever have faith without tafakkur (reflection)? You see the artistry of Allah and His beauties and they form a profound faith.
In almost 80 percent of the Qur'an Allah relates to us people's error of having doubts about faith. Almighty Allah always says; " They do not believe." Allah mentions people harboring doubts about the prophets, the Hereafter, resurrection after Death and He constantly encourages them into ways that will strengthen their faith.In the Qur'an,Allah wants us to examine the evidence in the heavens, on Earth and the human body.
Surat al-Qalam 46:
"Or do you ask them for a wage so they are weighed down with debt?"
Because the majority of people are self-seeking, Allah states, "You do not ask them for a wage" because when a wage is demanded, they immediately lose their balance. That is, "They are under a heavy load." That is, Allah stresses the problem in faith. They fail to have faith in our Prophet (saas).Notice that Almighty Allah says, "You do not ask them for a wage." He says, "They are concerned for no reason." Allah constantly threatens us and says that if we do not have faith, we will have torment in the Hereafter. If you notice, in the Qur'an, Allah draws attention to the importance of the signs of faith. They must have a rational outlook.
They constantly ask me to dwell on Islamic law. If you have faith, if you are sincere, you can go and read the catechism written by Omar Nasuhi Bilmen. Is it possible to explain Islamic law during the limited time of a TV show? There are the conditions of regular prayer, the ritual ablution, the ritual ablution of the whole body. They are very detailed. If you explain them, people may not keep them in mind very well. But when it is read from the book, there will be no room for any errors. They must read the issues letter by letter and think over them. If a person is illiterate, or under a difficult situation, in a desolate place like a mountain where he has no access to any books or Internet, if he has no opportunities, then it becomes compulsory for one to go and explain to him.
80 percent of the Qur'an is devoted to removing the doubts people have in their faith. This is indeed the essence of the trial. The Qur'an talks about the superiority of those who do not doubt, who resist against doubts and keep their faiths strong. This is the main matter. Regular prayer is very easy. You prostrate before Allah five times a day. This is a blessing, something very fine. Fasting is also easy. You eat your meal at sahur and do not eat anything until the sun sets. It is very easy, Insha'Allah. But faith demands conscience and you must use your mind.
Bediuzzaman says, "Like a secure fortress against the armies of doubt." He talks about one's protecting himself against doubts. Armies of doubt. Doubts incessantly rush into people's minds; one may doubt about Allah, our Prophet (saas), the angels and the life after death. Indeed, the struggle against these doubts is called faith. Those who become victorious in this struggle against doubts is called a Muslim, a believer. That is why he deserves Paradise. Not only because he performs his prayers. The soul of prayer, the faith while fulfilling this act of worship is important. That soul, that faith there is important. It would not be without faith. That is why we unrelentingly dwell on the signs leading to faith.
Surat al-Shuara verse 171:
"Except for an old woman who remained behind."
Why? Because there is weakness of faith; she does not believe. She doesnot believe in the Prophet, she becomes one of those who remained behind. Where ever you may look in the Qur'an, you will encounter the domination of the morality of Islam, the importance of the Unity of Islam and the signs leading to faith. Risks, dangers and errors brought about by weakness of faith. Stress is especially made on this point.
Surat Al-'Ankabut, 25-26, 31-32
"He [Abraham] said, 'You have adopted idols apart from Allah as tokens of mutual affection in this world."
Notice that there is again weakness of faith. Their lower-selves do not have faith in Allah but idolize idols, their interests, cars, homes, spouses, kids, everything.
"But then on the Day of Rising you will reject one another."
In this world they are very close, they protect one another to the end. They say, "My kids, mother of my kids…" but how about the Hereafter? They will run away from one another in the Hereafter. They will accuse one another of drawing one another into devastation.
And Lot had faith in him. He said, 'I am leaving this place to follow the pleasure of my Lord. He is the Almighty, the All Wise.'
In the Qur'an Allah dwells on faith. Again faith.
"'We are going to destroy the people of this city. Truly its inhabitants are wrongdoers.'
He said, 'Lot is in it.' They said, 'We know very well who is in it.For instance, this is also a sign leading to faith. One must know that the angels know better."We are going to rescue him and his family – except for his wife. She will be one of those who stay behind." Why does she remain behind? Because of weakness of faith.
Faith is the most important matter in this world. Having faith. For instance, the reason why we have zeal here is faith. Otherwise we have thousands of issues. We have had many cases opened against us, many plots hatched; we are threatened. We consider none of them to be significant because of our faith. We say, "The Unity of Islam should be established no matter what."If my faith was weak, I would not be able to do it. May Allah forbid.Why do we spend all we have into the path of Allah? Our sincere faith. Many people were on holiday, but we communicated the message day and night. I have not been on holiday for 30 years.Some of them are in Bodrum, Kus adası, Koycegiz (holiday resorts in South Turkey). We ask, "What do you do?" They say, "We are on holiday." Syria is in devastation, so is Libya. The world is upside down; is there a climate to go on a holiday? For a man of cause, a person who has the means, knowledge and capability, and who knows that he is influential, would it be becoming to lose three months? They say that they take a rest for a three months. Muslims are being murdered in Libya, Palestine. Will we go on a holiday while Muslims are being murdered? Is this becoming? My conscience would not let this happen, but if he is an incompetent person, has no means, no knowledge, then there is nothing to say. But while I have the means, I can not do it. My conscience would not let it. Neither Saturdays, nor Sundays. I only get three or four hours of sleep a day, sometimes at most six hours insha'Allah.
Everyone must perform his salat. It is not becoming to avoid prayers. For instance Christians have forgotten their salat; it also exists in Gospel. There is salat also in Judaism but it is forgotten. Salat is very inclusive. All the stages of salat are explicitly explained but it is forgotten. Only the ummah of Muhammad (saaas) has retained it. It is the Sunnah of all the prophets on the other hand. There is no explanation of avoidance from salat, insha'Allah. Both in the spiritual and physical sense it is beneficial insha'Allah.
Surah Taha, 130-131
"So be steadfast in the face of what they say, "
How will he persevere? With faith. Why do they say anything to him? Because he is faithful. One can not persevere in the absence of faith.
"Glorify your Lord with praise before the rising of the sun and before its setting."
Glorify Him during part of the night and at both ends of the day, so that hopefully you will be pleased."
Almighty Allah wants us to constantly remember Him.
Do not direct your eyes longingly to what We have given certain of them to enjoy."
How can one accomplish not directing his eyes to the enjoyments of this world? With faith. They are given for trial? To see whether he has faith or not. To see the profundity of his faith. This is the purpose of trial.
"Your Lord's provision is better and longer lasting."
This is a matter of faith. If Almighty Allah says that he will give provisions to him for all eternity, would an unfaithful ever believe in this? He merely says that he believes in what he sees, and tries to get his hands on whatever he can. That is why signs leading to faith are of vital importance. I wrote more than 300 books, most of them about the signs leading to faith. For instance, A9 TV channel is based mainly on the signs leading to faith. There is not a single expression that may lead to slightest doubt. We try to be sincere, honest and good-intentioned as much as we can be.
Surat an-Naml, 6
I seek refuge in Allah from the accursed satan.
None of the cities which We destroyed before them had faith. So will they?
So what is the issue? Faith and signs leading to faith. What is the problem in the world? Problems related to faith. The root of wars and conflicts are problems related to faith. This economic crisis in the world originates from weakness of faith. Weakness of faith is the sole reason underlying the terrorist acts committed by the Kurdish Worker's Party. Because they have no faith in Allah. If they believe in Allah, it will be over.
We have only ever sent before you men who were given Revelation. Ask the People of the Reminder if you do not know.
We did not give them bodies which did not eat food, nor were they immortal. But We kept Our promise to them and rescued them and those We willed, and destroyed the profligate.
Why are people unbridled? Because of weakness of faith. Notice that they are all issues that need signs leading to faith and profound faith insha'Allah.
Surat at-Tawba 115
Allah would never misguide a people after guiding them until He had made it clear to them how to have piety. Allah has knowledge of all things.
For instance this is lawful and this is unlawful; etc…
"Allah would never misguide a people. Allah has knowledge of all things.."
How does Allah drift them into perversion? By taking their faith from their hands. What does guidance mean? When a society believes.
Allah is He to Whom the kingdom of the heavens and earth belongs. He gives life and causes to die.
This is also a matter of faith. It is a matter of faith in believing that it is Allah Who resurrects and that He will resurrect. Now many people in the world believe that they will not be resurrected ? A great mass. People who have undergone materialist and Darwinist education believe that they are animals. They say that they will die as bugs. At this point the Qur'an provides an answer. That we give so much weigh to the signs leading to faith shows that we are engaging in the most pertinent and accurate act.
Surat at-Tawba, 119-121
"You who have faith! Have awe of Allah."
Be aware of what is lawful and unlawful.
"and be with the truly sincere."
What does this mean? Be with those who have faith. Be with those who have sincere faith.
It was not for the people of Medina, and the desert Arabs around them, to remain behind the Messenger of Allah nor to prefer themselves to him.
Why would a person prefer his own lower-self over the lower self of our Prophet (saas)? Because his faith is weak. Why does he consider his lower-self insignificant and the lower-self of our Prophet (saas) more important? Because he has strong faith.
"no thirst will afflict them in the Way of Allah"
Thirst; that is they can not drink any water. Thirst for five hours, ten hours. Fifteen to twenty hours.
"or weariness or weariness or hunger,"
He walks, walks and walks.... Runs, walks... and gets incredibly exhausted.
"nor will they take a single step to infuriate the disbelievers"
For instance, they take an area under their influence and those people there believed. Muslims dominate that place in the ideological sense. Notice the word, "infuriate". So why do unbelievers infuriate? Because they do not believe. Why do Muslims dominate that region in the ideological sense? Because of their faith. What lies underneath rage and anger? Due to their faith. Lack of faith. But what kind of a rage is it? Unbelievers have rage to the extent of giving their lives.
"nor secure any gain from the enemy, without a right action being written down for them because of it."
Allah says that it is to earn Allah's good pleasure. How does this happen?
"For Allah's good pleasure" says Allah. How does this happen? Through faith. Why would a person willingly face hunger, thirst and devastation? Because of faith. Why would one not face them? Because he does not believe. Allah constantly stresses faith.
"Nor will they give away any amount, whether large or small, nor will they cross any valley, without it being written down for them so that Allah can recompense them for the best of what they did."
It is in their faith. What is this? All this happens through faith. "Any amount, whether large or small" He may give away 1,000 Turkish Lira or billions of Lira. "Any valley they cross." What is meant by "any valley they cross" may be their overcoming any hindrance and managing to engage in activities. For instance the elimination of Darwinism is crossing a valley. "Without it being written down for them so that Allah can recompense them for the best of what they did. Allah says that it is in their faith". This happens through faith in destiny, and having a profound faith in Allah. A person demands Allah's good pleasure in return of what he does, because he loves Allah and has faith in Allah.
If a person has good conscience, he then looks and says; "There is Allah." It is so obvious. If there exists a bright world in his brain, if there is one that hears sounds sharply, if there is a structure that feels hardness, if one is able to smell, has 5 senses and has a soul, what would this person say? He would immediately say, "There is a Creator." There are pens, notebooks, televisions, everything. What is this? Considering that they are created in our brain, and that Allah creates them. They have their origins on the outside, but we see what He creates within our brain. In such a case he will say; "There exists Allah." That is immediately understood; not an issue that is deniable. It flows like a movie. It is not something that appears in a moment. It constantly flows before one's eyes. But those flowing images; the movie that flows exists. On one side, the movie comes before our eyes, we see, it flows. Both the incoming images and the outgoing images are ready. Think of the systems before television was invented.There is the movie. What happens in its middle? It proceeds. The proceeding sections do not disappear. This also holds true for the sections of the movie that have not been seen yet. They all exist on the film spool. We see just the related part on the movie curtain. But the passing section of the movie also exists on the film spool. The passing section as well as the sections relating to the future exist. This is also the case with this world. This is how destiny is. In this case what does a person say? He says, "Our Creatorasks for something from us."Because we look at the pen and see that it has a purpose. There is a purpose of theshoe. The television has a purpose.Everything has a purpose. A glass has a purpose. "Then I must also have a purpose, right?"Is there anything that does not have a purpose? For instance a car has a steering wheel; it has a purpose. It has a gas pedal. They all have purposes. Then there should be a just religion. Allah must have an announcement to us. We see that there are the Gospel, Torah and the Qur'an. But we look without making any pressures in our mind; with a sincere approach. It is apparently seen that the Qur'an is explicitly pure Revelation. Are there four books within the Qur'an? No, there is only one. When we look at the Torah and ask, they say, "The preliminary parts of the Torah are the real sections, the latter are not." There is already very limited information on the first section. Quite little. They say, "There are four books in the Gospel. Take the average of what the guys managed to keep in their minds." Then we look at the Qur'an. There are no four books in the Qur'an; only one. Is it what people could keep in their minds? No. It is pure revelation memorized by hafizs. The Qur'an the hafizs learned by heart at that age is the pure Qur'an. There is no addition. How are Paradise and Hell depicted? Perfectly. All issues related to faith are perfect. Is there the slightest missing issue? No. Acts of worship, obedience, lawful and unlawful acts, are they all perfect? Perfect. Is there any expression that will make one feel resentment in the heart? Any statement in the form of superstition? None. With a sincere, candid outlook without making any pressure in our minds. Without any force. It is immediately evident that it is the Just Book.
A person wants to earn Allah's good pleasure. He wants to live in Paradise for all eternity, and needs to know that Allah loves him because [in Paradise] they see the truth. There, we will have a clear understanding that Allah loves us, that He is pleased with us insha'Allah.
Surat al-Maida, 55
Your friend is only Allah and His Messenger and those who have faith: those who establish salat and pay alms, and bow.
The real friend of Muslims in this world is "only Allah and His Messenger", that is our Prophet(saas). "Those who establish salat and pay alms, and bow." Believers are one anothers friends. Almighty Allah wants us to love Allah, His messenger and Muslims.
Surat al-Maida, 56
As for those who make Allah their friend, and His Messenger and those who have faith: it is the party of Allah who are victorious!
The party of Allah. The party of Allah will triumph. That is Hazrat Mahdi (as) and his followers. The party of Allah of the End Times. The sons of Israel [who live in ]the End Times insha'Allah."They are the party of Allah." Bediuzzaman swears saying, " The morality of Islam will dominate in this century." "They will triumph." They will eliminate disbelievers and evil in the ideological sense; they will defeat the system of dajjal and sufyan in the ideological sense.
"it is the party of Allah who are victorious!."The party of Allah, insha'Allah.
Surat al-Maida, 57
"You who have faith! Do not take as friends any of those given the Book before you or the unbelievers who make a mockery and a game out of your religion."
If Jews and Christians mock your religion, do not take them as friends. Do not listen to them, do not talk to them.
"….or the unbelievers who make a mockery and a game out of your religion."
Who are they? Darwinists, materialists. They deny Allah and the religion. He may be the son of a hoja, but he may be faithless and irreligious. If one curses religion and faith, then we will not take them as guardians. We do not consider them as friends and reliable people.
"Have awe of Allah if you are believers."
But if he does not curse my religion, then I can become friends with him in this world. If he is a Muslim, then I become a friend of faith. Then I become friends with the People of the Book on the condition that he does not curse my religion, insha'Allah.
Surat al-Maida, 58
"When you call to salat they make a mockery and a game of it."
What does this mean? This is again weakness of faith. Do you see it? Wherever we look, there is weakness of faith. At this point, the importance of telling the signs leading to faith come about.
"When you call to salat they make a mockery and a game of it."
Can a person ever commit this if he fears Allah and has faith? He cannot. That means that his faith is weak. What should be done? One must tell them the signs leading to faith.
"because they are people who do not use their intellect."
If he is wise enough, he sees the signs leading to faith, examines them and because he has a profound faith, he does not commit such impertinence.
Surat al-Maida, 59
"Say: 'People of the Book! Do you resent us for any other reason than that we have faith in Allah and what was sent down to us, and what was sent down before, and because most of you are deviators?'"
They say, "We believe in the Torah and the Gospel and the Qur'an." But; "most of you are deviators." What does deviator mean? Those who fail tocomply with the commandment of Allah.
Surat al-Maida, 61
"When they come to you, they say, 'We have faith.' But they entered with disbelief." Again the importance of the signs leading to faith come into being.His faith is weak. "and left with it." They left without having faith."Allah knows best what they were hiding."They hide their faithlessness.
Surat al-Maida, 62
You see many of them rushing to wrongdoing and enmity and acquiring ill-gotten gains. What an evil thing they do!
"You see many of them rushing to wrongdoing," Look, they commit sin. "enmity" . Such people are not among the People of the Book alone. Bigots are also included in this. The verse also refers to idolaters, those who look with hatred toward Muslims, Islamic orders, communities. The insincere people among the People of the Book. Those who call themselves Muslims but are in fact insincere. All of them "and acquiring ill-gotten gains." Why does this happen? Because of their weak faith.
"Why do their scholars and rabbis not prohibit them from evil speech and acquiring ill-gotten gains?" Allah says that they had to enjoin the good and forbid the evil."What an evil thing they do!"
"The Jews say, 'Allah's hand is chained.' Their hands are chained and they are cursed for what they say! No! Both His hands are open wide and He gives however He wills." Whoever says this, he is cursed.This does not mean that the latter generations who did not say this were cursed. When he says this, then this means denial of Allah. He accuses Allah of injustice. Allah is absolutely just. He is All-Merciful and All-Compassionate. Allah does not inflict suffering on the innocent and the oppressed. He does not punish them. Allah only recompenses the evil. And sometimes if He wills, He forgives.
"What has been sent down to you from your Lord increases many of them in insolence and disbelief."
What is this? Weakness of faith.
"We have incited enmity and hatred between them until the Day of Rising."
Almighty Allah says that "People of this mindset will always live with hatred and enmity." Not all of them. For people who are of this morality.
"Each time they kindle the fire of war, Allah extinguishes it."
That is, there are Jews who stir up fitnah; who lay the basis to make war and conflict. Allah says that whenever they hatch such a plot, "Allah extinguishes it", Allah puts an end to it.
"They rush about the earth corrupting it. Allah does not love corrupters."
These atheist, irreligious, faithless "rush about the earth corrupting it. Allah does not love corrupters." This has always happened.This is not something that has happened for the first time. It happened with Christians and idolaters. The main reason of this fitnah is weakness of faith. We see weakness of faith underneath it. That is why Bediuzzaman says that we must struggle against them with the signs leading to faith.
Haven't you see that the hadith of our Prophet (saas) has come true? You have seen. You feign ignorance about it. Your faith is weak. This is where the problem lies. "What if Hazrat Mahdi (as) does not appear!", "What if the morality of Islam does not dominate!", "What if Allah does not exist, Allah forbid!", "What if there exists no Hell and Heaven", "What if there exists no angels." This is weakness of faith. What is easier than the Unity of Islam? What is more reasonable than this? Muslim countries are coming together. They want friendship, brotherhood, love, peace and democracy. They want to put an end to wars. They desire armament and not disarmament. Notice that they desire disarmament. They give messages of brotherhood to the entire world. Jews and Christians approach with compassion. They embrace them. They also pray and make effort for their salvation. This is the Unity of Islam. Why would America be against it?
Hazrat Mahdi (as) disappears. He may be in prison, he may be hidden. This is another matter altogether, but he is not in the bottom of a well. He is born from parents. He hides or remains in prison at a certain period of his life. He will be away from the eyes of people for a while. How did Prophet Yusuf (as) hide in a cave for some time? Allah hid him in a well and he remained in prison. Prophet Yusuf (as) disappeared twice. Hazrat Mahdi (as) will disappear like him. He is not a ghost in a cave.2011-10-21 20:55:06


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Charmettes hosting breakfast fundraiser
Published: Wednesday, April 3, 2013 at 8:54 p.m.
Last Modified: Wednesday, April 3, 2013 at 8:54 p.m.
You can enjoy breakfast with entertainment and door prizes — to boot — while also helping to raise funds for cancer research and scholarships for local seniors at the "Breakfast for Madame," a benefit hosted by the Alachua County Charmettes Inc.
What: "Breakfast for Madame," a benefit for the Alachua County Charmettes Inc.
When: 9 a.m. April 13.
Where: Hilton University of Florida Conference Center, 1714 SW 34th St.
Tickets: $35.
Information: Call 352-374-7245.
"Breakfast for Madame" will take place at 9 a.m. April 13 at the Hilton University of Florida Conference Center at 1714 SW 34th St. Tickets, which are $35, are available by calling 371-8400 or 352-376-2277. The deadline to purchase tickets is Friday.
Anne Kleckley, president of the Charmettes, said "Breakfast for Madame" is a biannual benefit that raises about $20,000 for cancer research at Howard University in Washington, D.C., and for scholarships for Alachua County high school seniors. She said over the years, the national Charmettes Inc. organization has contributed about $500,000 for the cancer research center at Howard University.
"Cancer affects so many that any money raised for research is really important," said Kleckley, adding that the breakfast and the group's "Women in Religion" event are fundraisers held every other year by the Alachua County Charmettes, a social and community service organization with 29 members. Kleckey noted that "Women in Religion" was not held last year, but it will return next year.
The Miss Charm Teen Pageant, which is open to middle school girls, is part of the breakfast. This year's contestants will include Jordan McNeill, an eighth-grader at Lincoln Middle School; Kirsten Thrift, a sixth-grader at P.K. Yonge Developmental Research School; Alexis Benjamin, a seventh-grader, also at P.K. Yonge, and LeFinity Dismuke, a seventh-grader at Oak Leaf Middle School in Orange Park.
Each girl has a team consisting of Charmettes who, along with parents, sell ads and hold a variety of fundraisers. Whoever raises the most money will be crowned Miss Charm Teen at the breakfast. Kleckley said a portion of the money contestants raise also is earmarked for their college education and the girls are encouraged to put the money in a college savings account.
Leading up to the breakfast, Kleckley said the Miss Charm Teen contestants will participate in group activities, such as an etiquette workshop, and along with their parents, also attended a University of Florida women's basketball game, Kevin Anderson's adaptation of "The Nutcracker" at Gainesville High School and a picnic at Kiwanis Park on NW 39th Avenue. Kleckley said the group activities are a good way for the girls and the parents to fellowship and get to know each other.
"The girls are learning to give back by raising money for scholarships and cancer research," Kleckley said.
Candy Ramseur, the Charmettes reporter, said the breakfast also is a way to raise awareness as to the mission of the Charmettes.
"We want them (the participants) to learn about the local Charmettes and that we're about raising funds for cancer research and scholarships," Ramseur said. "And we want them to enjoy themselves."
Reader comments posted to this article may be published in our print edition. All rights reserved. This copyrighted material may not be re-published without permission. Links are encouraged.


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You are here: Kidspot Activity Corner Music for kids Kazounds musical online game
Kazounds musical online game
Have fun with this online musical memory game and watch as your kids not only enjoy playing this fun kids game, but also learn about music as they play! Log on today to help your children start learning and experiencing the wonders of music.
Number of players:
What you need:
- Computer with internet access
Visit the website now to get started!


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You won't be able to dismiss this by usual means (escape or click button), but you can close it programatically based on user choices or actions.
"I ordered these for my wedding invitations, and they came our gorgeous! I loved the design and the color options they offered. I went with the square option, and used the cream colored background and solid color for the back design. I love that the paper is already shimmery, which also adds to the design. I did think the paper was a little thin, and maybe I should have ordered a thicker paper, but overall all I was very happy with my order and my invitations! My order also arrived earlier than expected."
"Loved my pearlized invites! Didn't want them to be overly fancy but had just the right amount of delicate and they are beautiful!"
"I absolutely love my invitations! I was able to add the "Detail" section to the back of the card to save money and it turned out great!"
"My fiance and I are having a garden wedding in August 2015. I wanted a classy floral invite, and these caught my attention. Plus, unlike others, the date stood out, which I wanted. With a few background colors to choose, I went with the chenille/pink because it harmonized well with the rest of the card and the green lettering. They are absolutely beautiful, and I can't wait to hear what our guests think! Thank you WPD's!"
"Loved that I could personalize the card with my colors and wording. Also, getting to see an example of my product before finalizing the order was very reassuring!"


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fake web news sites Archives
Does Your Online Presence Pass the Truth Test?
November 26, 2012 by in Business News | Marketing
What's the fastest-growing marketing trend on the Internet? I'm sad to say it's the "fakeosphere." Yes, fake blogs (called "flogs"), fake web news sites and fake testimonials. They look like the real thing, right down to comments posted by "bloggers" and their supposed readers. Those comments appear to be written by people discussing the pros… Read More →


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The Future of the Voting Rights Act: Shelby County v. Holder
Tuesday, February 12, 2013
American University Washington College of Law
4801 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, Washington, DC
6th Floor Lounges
In Shelby County v. Holder, the Supreme Court is expected to decide whether Congress exceeded its authority in 2006 when it reauthorized section 5 of the Voting Rights Act for an additional 25 years. Section 5, initially adopted in 1965 as the centerpiece of the Voting Rights Act, requires covered jurisdictions to obtain permission from the Department of Justice or a three-judge court in D.C. before implementing any voting change. The law has been indisputably successful in combating discrimination, but its critics say that improved conditions make it no longer necessary. They also contend that the formula for determining which jurisdictions are covered is outdated. Will the Court strike down this iconic civil rights act? If so, what effect is the Court's decision likely to produce?
Presented by the Program on Law and Government, ACS and the ABA Section of Individual Rights and Responsibilities/Civil Rights Committee
WCL Alumni, AU & WCL Students, Faculty & Staff – No Charge
General Public - No Charge
(registration is required)
CLE Accreditation - $ 55.00
(1.5 credit hours) will be applied for as requested to different states.
For further information, please contact:
Office of Special Events & Continuing Legal Education
American University Washington College of Law
Phone: 202.274.4075; Fax: 202.274.4079; or email@example.com


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Driving the greenway train in the Triad is Greensboro, which currently has 32 miles of paved greenway — on its way to a goal of 300, according to Madeline Carey, assistant trails and greenways director for Greensboro P&R. The high point of the system currently is the 7.5-mile Atlantic & Yadkin Greenway, which eventually will extend from Stokesdale on the north to downtown.
The Atlantic & Yadkin will connect with the north end of the 15-mile Bicentennial Greenway being spearheaded by Guilford County Parks & Open Space. A little two miles of that greenway is done on the north end, a little over eight miles is finished to the south, in High Point.
The Triad's other significant stretch of greenway is in Winston-Salem, the 5-mile Salem Creek/Strollway Trail, which links downtown Winston-Salem with Salem Lake.


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Firms do not pass through a life-cycle, but individual opportunities do. To thrive in turbulence, organizations must rapidly shift resources from stagnant businesses to the most promising opportunities for future growth, a capability I refer to as portfolio agility. Unfortunately, reallocation of resources is easier said than done.
Opportunities at different stages in the life-cycle vary in objectives, appropriate management style, performance metrics, and predictability. A venture in the start-up stage should focus on milestones that validate customer demand and technical feasibility, for example, while success of a mature business can be measured by financial metrics. Many companies, however, apply a one size fits all management style to all businesses in their portfolio, regardless of their stage in the lifecycle.


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Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 12/2/2013 (1650 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.
There are enough schoolchildren studying in temporary classrooms in Manitoba to populate a small city.
Manitoba's Progressive Conservatives, citing statistics compiled from dozens of freedom of information requests, said Tuesday there are 525 portable classrooms in the province. At 25 students per class, the total -- 13,125 -- would rival the population of Steinbach, Manitoba's third-largest city.
The Selinger government, however, is challenging that number. Education officials say their records show only 361 portable units are in use, providing space for 8,300 to 9,000 kids to park their backpacks. That's roughly equivalent to the population of Dauphin.
No matter which city you pick, it's a lot of kids.
PC education critic Kelvin Goertzen said portable huts and trailers are not an ideal environment for learning. He said the high number in use is symbolic of a government that isn't planning and preparing for the educational needs of the future.
The situation is expected to be exacerbated by a government push to implement a cap on class sizes in kindergarten through Grade 3. By 2017, the province wants to limit classes in these grades to 20 students. The initiative will require 240 more teachers and presumably as many classrooms.
"It's one thing to say, well, we're going to have lower class sizes and more teachers. And both of those things in their own way can have value. But where are you going to teach them? You've got to have classrooms," Goertzen said.
According to figures compiled by the Conservatives, the portable classrooms are adjacent to 156 schools across the province. Data compiled at the end of 2012 showed the Winnipeg School Division had 70 temporary classrooms, Pembina Trails had 64 and Hanover School Division had 52.
Gerald Farthing, the province's deputy education minister, rejected the notion that students in portable classrooms were getting a second-class education.
"I've been in a lot of schools. I've been in a lot of portables -- modular classrooms as we call them. Nobody has talked to me about this being a quality of education issue," he said.
Farthing allowed that there is some inconvenience for students in temporary classrooms, especially in winter, when trips to the library or the bathroom mean a quick dash out into the cold.
But he said newer modular units are the size of a regular classroom, are bright, have good shelving and meet all building codes.
"What we prefer to do is to build new schools and to add on to schools, but where that's not possible, for some temporary period of time, we will move a portable in," he said.
A spokesman for the Progressive Conservatives said late Tuesday the party stood by its numbers.
Earlier in the day, Goertzen, who represents the constituency of Steinbach, said new portables "pop up like daisies" every spring in his community in preparation for the next fall.
"Even though we have a couple of new schools, none of those huts are coming down because it took so long to get the schools built that we still need all of the huts," he said.
Paul Olson, president of the Manitoba Teachers' Society, said while the quality of portables can be "extremely good," it's always preferable for students and teachers to be part of the main school.
Disadvantages for students can include reduced access to books, computers and art supplies as well as washrooms. For teachers, it involves more hauling of materials and equipment back and forth between the portables and the main building, and it can lead to a feeling of isolation from colleagues.


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- Home
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EW Branded Color Paint Chart
Item #51136 Brand: Eastwood
About EW Branded Color Paint Chart
Want to see what an Eastwood paint looks like next to your car or in the sunlight? Eastwood now has a chip chart so you can see the color before you purchase the paint. This color chart has Eastwood's single stage urethane coatings including the exterior paints in gloss, metallic, and satin finishes. Printed on 8 1/2" x 11" durable stock, this handy. Now includes our new Muscle Colors.
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You exercise your body to stay physically in shape, so why shouldn't you exercise your brain to stay mentally fit? With these daily exercises you will learn how to flex your mind, improve your creativity and boost your memory. As with any exercise, repetition is necessary for you to see improvement, so pick your favorite exercises from our daily suggestions and repeat them as desired. Try to do some mentalrobics every single day!
Most people know that the saturated and trans fats that are found in meats and processed foods are bad for their heart, but you may not know that they are also bad for your brain too! Unsaturated fats like those found in fish, nuts and most vegetable oils can actually improve your cognition. A recent study found that people who ate large quantities of saturated and trans fats had an increased risk of getting Alzheimer's disease. In the study, those people who ate the more unsaturated fats had a decreased risk of getting the disease.
In particular, eating fish has been showing to decrease Alzheimer's risk and protect other memory functions. This may be because fish are high in omega-3 fatty acids, which have been shown to have beneficial effects on health.
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While mentioning "Switzerland" may bring to mind silky chocolate, meticulously crafted watches and discreet banking options, this central European country's historically neutral grounds have much more to offer visitors.
Utilizing the world's most comprehensive network of trains, buses, boats, lake steamers, cable cars, and funiculars, guests traveling to and from their Switzerland accommodations can do so more quickly and inexpensively than almost anywhere else in Europe. This makes for fast jaunts between the Augusta Raurica Roman archaeological site, Nati football games and skiing glaciers. And in this multi-ethnic country, you're bound to hear German (the official language), French, Italian and Romansh along the way.
Guests of our accommodations in Switzerland will find they are just a brief journey from the country's picturesque plateau around Lake Lucerne, the dramatic beauty of the Sanetsch Pass and the jagged Matterhorn, one of the highest peaks in the Alps.
However you choose to spend your time as a hotel guest in Switzerland, you're certain to find something suitable to your palate among the regional dishes. Try rosti, a potato dish, along with cervelat, the national sausage. Switzerland also has the second-most Michelin stars per capita, so you know fantastic quality is the theme of Swiss cuisine.


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Did you know?
The Gauteng province's fossil-rich Cradle of Humankind is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The history of Gauteng can be traced back to the early 1800s, when settlers from the Cape defeated Chief Mzilikazi and established villages in what is today Gauteng, South Africa.
But it was really the 1886 discovery of gold in Johannesburg that sparked the developments that would shape the Gauteng province. For after those first gold nuggets were found, thousands of people streamed into the region hoping to find their fortunes.
The early, rural villages quickly exploded into shanty towns that spread out along the gold-bearing reef. These corrugated iron settlements were soon formalised, providing the infrastructure for modern-day Johannesburg.
Johannesburg's older sister, Pretoria, wasn't subjected to this same flurry of activity and exponential growth. Established in 1855 as the capital of the Boer (Dutch-speaking farmers) republic, it grew slowly and was highly regarded for its role in the South African War (1899 - 1902).
This juxtaposition still exits today; while Johannesburg is called the 'city of gold' and retains its frenetic pace, Pretoria is referred to as the 'Jacaranda city' and exudes a more laid back vibe.
One cannot talk of the history of Gauteng without mentioning is prehistoric past. Although its recent history was documented from the 1800s, archaeological evidence suggests Gauteng's roots run much deeper.
West of Johannesburg, at the Sterkfontein Caves, some of the world's oldest fossilised hominid remains have been discovered. 'Mrs Ples' and 'Little Foot' as the 2-million and 3-million-year-old fossils are known, bear testament to the fact that prehistoric man roamed this area long before the arrival of the European settlers.
More recently, Gauteng spearheaded the country's fight for freedom. It was here that the spirit of democracy took hold, fuelling protests, demonstrations and a struggle that would eventually change the course of history.
Gauteng's role in building a new South Africa, filled with hope and promise, is one that is poignantly significant and will never be forgotten.
Travel tips & Planning info
Who to contact
Gauteng Tourism Authority
Tel: +27 (0)11 639 1600
Johannesburg Tourism Authority
Tel: +27 (0)11 214 0700
Tshwane Tourism Authority
Tel: +27 (0)12 328 5961
How to get here
Fly direct from any of South Africa's major cities into OR Tambo International Airport at Johannesburg.
If you're driving, from Durban take the N3 motorway to Johannesburg and from Cape Town take the N1 motorway to Johannesburg.
Best time to visit
Gauteng is an all-year-round destination. Spring to autumn (September to May) is beautiful and warm, with hot summer days that usually bring rain. Winter days are mild, but mornings and evenings very cold.
Tours to do
The Benoni Museum, Hector Pieterson Museum, Nelson Mandela's House, Origin's Centre Museum, Apartheid Museum and Constitution Hill in Johannesburg; Sterkfontein Caves, Maropeng Visitors Centre, Wonder Cave and Lion and Rhino Nature Reserve on the West Rand; the SA Mint and historical tours in Pretoria; the Cullinan Diamond Mine in Dinokeng.
What to eat
Choose from a wide variety of cuisine, from authentic African to boerekos (farm-style food). You will also find themed restaurants offering fare from around the world, most notably Indian, Chinese, Greek, Portuguese and Italian which reflect the influences of these cultures in South Africa.
What's happening
The Johannesburg Art Fair and Easter Festival (the former, well-known Rand Show) in April and Arts Alive Festival in September in Johannesburg; The SA Mint Festival in Pretoria in October; the Vaal Show in Vereeniging in September; the Spring Wine Festival in September, Mampoer (home-brewed alcoholic spirits) Fest in February, and the Magalies Steam Train Challenge in November, all in Magaliesburg.


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Cecil Bothwell
•Located in Asheville, NC
•One of a small handful of openly non-theist politicians in the U.S., dubbed the most Courageous Elected Official of 2010 by the American Atheists. First elected to office in 2009, he was reelected to Asheville's City Council in 2013.
• Author of She Walks On Water: A novel, part of his effort to normalize non-theism in popular literature, Whale Falls: An exploration of belief and its consequences, and The Prince of War: Billy Graham's Crusade for a Wholly Christian Empire.
• Winner of national and regional awards for investigative reporting, criticism, humorous commentary and slam poetry. Author of Geoffrey Wasn't Rash (chapbook and tape) and Can we have archaic and idiot? A collection of fictitious tropes.
• Widely credited with putting a crooked sheriff into federal prison for fifteen years. Author of Pure Bunkum: Reporting on the life and crimes of Buncombe County Sheriff Bobby Lee Medford.
• Founding editor of Heartstone, the Warren Wilson College environmental journal, and 20-year off-the-grid veteran and green builder.
• Forty plus years as an organic gardener, author of Garden My Heart: Organic strategies for backyard sustainability.
Noting that the fate of dinosaurs proves the inefficacy of specialization, Cecil has embraced a Jack-of-all-trades approach to life. His career path has included green building and solar energy systems, journal and newspaper editing, radio and print commentary, house-parenting for developmentally disabled children, poetry slamming and singer-songwriter bar-hopping, oil painting and wood carving. He sits on the boards of two non-profits building libraries and schools in Bolivia and Guatemala, and is active in the Unitarian Universalist Church, participating in a non-bible jail ministry, alternative sentencing programs, homeless initiatives, death penalty repeal, drug law prohibition repeal and other social justice issues.
In the time since "Christians" attempted to block his election and investiture on Asheville's City Council, Cecil has been tapped to address audiences across the country and (via the media) around the world. Recent and upcoming venues include: the American Atheists 2010 Convention; the Minnesota Atheists 2010 convention; the American Humanist Association 2011 Convention; the University of North Carolina/Charlotte; UNC/Asheville; Secular Student Alliance 2010 Leadership Conference (Columbia, SC); Elon University forum on atheism; the Denver Atheists; and churches and civic groups. In the years before religionists tossed him into the atheist briar patch, Cecil was a regular speaker on environmental issues in schools, colleges, expositions and in the media.
Cecil would love to speak on the following topics:
-Onward Christian Soldiers: Billy Graham's advocacy for war
-The consequences of belief: drugs and sex and rock and roll and the prison-industrial complex
-Swallowing Whales: What Jonah can teach us about belief
-The social consequences of cheap energy
-Woo-Woo versus the Bunny Hug: Will we be saved by faith or works?
-Unintentional courage: How I shot the sheriff (and nettled God's deputies)
-Prudery in the Pulpit: or how politicos manage to estrange bedfellows
-Black Death, White Sugar and the Quest for a Living Wage
Cecil charges a $400 honorarium for areas that are 2 hours, or more, travel time from his area. Lodging must also be covered.
If you're interested in having this speaker come to your school and give a presentation, click here to fill out our online Speaker Request form.


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Bringing glamour and effortless chic to a bustling holiday season, OPI is excited to announce its collaboration with one of the greatest Hollywood movies of all time, 'Breakfast at Tiffany's'. Voted one of the top 25 most fashionable films by Vanity Fair, this collection brings timeless sophistication and bold limited edition shades inspired by Audrey Hepburn's impeccable style and glamour.
OPI Infinite Shine provides the rich colour and lasting wear of gels in an easytouse nail lacquer system that produces highdefinition, mirrorlike shine for up to 10 days. No LED light curing or removal by soaking nails is needed.
Infinite Shine has a 3 step system to ensure that application is fast and easy, creating a durable finish without staining nails. Apply one coat of the Infinite Shine Primer Base Coat, then apply two thin coats of the Infinite Shine lacquer. Finish with one coat of Infinite Shine Gloss Top Coat to create a durable finish that cures in natural light.


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Bamford Organics :: Bodycare For You & Your Babe.
1 Recommendation
organicglamazon's recommendation
As someone who had the indescribable fortune of giving birth to twins recently (hence the slow down in posts in case anyone noticed!), I was absolutely blown away recently by some of my experiences both with doctors and nurses who blithely (and blindly) recommend products for newborn babies that contain ingredients I wouldn't put on my dog, let alone my preemie boys!! Daylesford Farm in the UK, owned by Lady Bamford and her gazillionaire property mogul husband, is a shining example of organic farming at its' finest, with a clear focus on local, sustainable and the finest quality money can buy. Not content with simply growing their own food, developing their own gourmet food lines, and setting up an uber chic but unpretentious organic cafe (frequented by the likes of Kate Moss), Lady Bamford developed a new bath, body and baby collection called simply Bamford, that is about as good as it gets in the body care realm. If you're concerned about what you put on the skin of you and yours, and you have a penchant for luxurious products that have a beautiful aesthetic (plus they work, most importantly!)... you'll love this line. Writer :: Emma Pezzack - www.futurenatural.com: the best organic beauty products in the world.
My Collections:


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12 P in PLetter Equations are well known phrases or facts where the key words have been replaced with the first letter of that word. These are often in the form of an equation, which contain a number, an = sign and the rest of the obscured phrase or fact.
12 P in P
HintIt's a children's game.
Answer12 pieces in pentominoes.
What Next?
See another brain teaser just like this one...
Or, just get a random brain teaser
If you become a registered user you can vote on this brain teaser, keep track of
which ones you have seen, and even make your own.
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Thieves masquerading as a family on a day out have been striking at beauty spots in Otley, Bramhope and Eccup.
Visitors to Otley Chevin, Eccup Reservoir and Golden Acre Park are being warned by police to be on their guard after a spate of car break-ins.
Police believe a man and a woman in a car, accompanied by two young children, are responsible for the crimes which have seen handbags, in particular, targeted over the last few months.
The suspects, pretending they are on a trip out, are thought to watch the unsuspecting victims – mostly women – put their valuables into their car boot before heading off for a walk.
Plain-clothed officers were sent out to the car parks last week in a bid to catch the thieves and a man and a woman from east Leeds were arrested near Otley Chevin but later released without charge.
Inspector Richard Coldwell, who heads Otley-based Aireborough and Wharfedale Neighbourhood Policing Team, warned everyone visiting the beauty spots to stay vigilant. He said: "The suspects are driving a nice family car and have two young children with them. Anyone seeing them parked up in the car park would think they are an ordinary family on a day out in the country.
"Unfortunately, under this guise of family anonymity, they are waiting until unsuspecting victims arrive, watching them put their valuables into the boot and breaking into the car as soon as the victims are out of sight.
"While our efforts to catch the thieves continue, we are warning people to avoid falling victim by never leaving valuables in their car.
"Putting your handbag in the boot or your sat-nav in the glovebox, or under a seat, will not fool thieves if they have been watching you."
Anyone with any information is asked to contact the neighbourhood policing team on (01274) 471458. Anybody who spots anyone acting suspiciously in any park should call the police immediately on 101.


text: Morning everybody! The sun is trying to come out here on Martha's Vineyard, but we're planning a terrific Labor Day feast regardless of the weather. On the menu: a grill-top clambake on the beach. Grilled littlenecks (with herb butter). Grilled corn (husk off, of course). Linguica-bell pepper kebabs and smoke-roasted fingerling potatoes with onions. Grilled lobster as the main course, of course, and homemade flame-roasted marshmallows dipped in hot fudge sauce for dessert. What are YOU grilling for Labor Day? On behalf of everyone here at http://www.barbecuebible.com and Workman Publishing, we wish you all a happy, healthy Labor Day!


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NATURALLY occurring radiation was the cause of this morning's disruption at Sellafield, the nuclear processing company has confirmed.
It had been running at 'reduced manning levels' after elevated levels of radioactivity were discovered to the north end of the site.
Only essential workers were asked to report for work.
However this afternoon the company said: "Sellafield Ltd can confirm that the radioactivity detected by one of our in-air monitors overnight is not attributable to any issue or problem with any of our operations on site.
"Our in-air monitors are extremely sensitive and pick up on any abnormality. Overnight the monitoring system initially indicated elevated levels of activity. Following investigation and analysis, we can now confirm these levels to be naturally occurring background radon.
"The number one priority for us is, at all times, safe secure stewardship of the Sellafield site, which is the most complex and challenging nuclear site inEurope.
"As such we act in a safety conscious manner, and take cautious, conservative decisions, such as the one taken overnight to ask non-safety essential staff to stay at home this morning, rather than come to the site.
"All of our plants and storage facilities were quickly confirmed as operating normally, and we were always confident that the issue posed no risk to the workforce or public because the levels being detected, whilst above background radiation levels, were still low.
"This view was reinforced by the fact that none of our other installed monitors were picking up any kind of increased levels – however, we take such issues so seriously that we investigated fully to confirm that everything was okay.
"Standard weekend working operations will continue, with day staff due back in on Monday as normal.
"We would like to thank our staff and the wider West Cumbrian community for their calm and mature response to events this morning."


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When I started manning the @OmnitureCare account on Twitter and answering technical and best practices questions back in late 2008, an occasional (extremely flattering) request was for me and Adam Greco (@adamgreco) to team up and write "the book" on our analytics products. Not only did that (sort of) happen when Adam wrote a great book on SiteCatalyst last year, but there are actually now several books dealing with the practice of analytics and the use of Adobe Analytics tools available from Adobe Press in your favorite online bookstore today. Whatever you're looking to master, we've got you covered with the written word.
Read the full blog post at Adobe Digital Marketing Blog


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Win It! $100 Visa Gift Card, 'The Lost Prince' by Julie Kagawa + More!
Searching for a new fall read? Look no further! Enter for the chance to win 'The Lost Prince,' a $100 Visa gift card, and more!
-The Betty Editors
Mourning the end of The Twilight Saga with the upcoming release of the movie Breaking Dawn – Part 2? We've got something that will help! We're LOVING The Lost Prince, the latest book from the author of The Iron Fey series, Julie Kagawa. Check it out:
"Don't look at Them. Never let Them know you can see Them. That is Ethan Chase's unbreakable rule. Until the fey he avoids at all costs—including his reputation—begin to disappear, and Ethan is attacked. Now he must change the rules to protect his family. To save a girl he never thought he'd dare to fall for."
Sound intriguing? We certainly think so! Full of magic, faeiries, danger, and excitement, this Iron Fey spinoff the perfect fall read. Cozy up with a cup of warm cider, your favorite blanket, and The Lost Prince, and you've got the makings of the perfect day!
And guess what? In honor of the book's release, we've got a fabulous giveaway for our very favorite Bettys (that's you, of course)!
Here's how it works:
One (1) reader will win:
– A copy of The Lost Prince by Julie Kagawa
– A boxed set of all four books in The Iron Fey series: The Iron King, The Iron Daughter, The Iron Queen, and The Iron Knight
– A $100 Visa gift card
All in all, that's a prize pack worth over $130!
To enter:
1. First, "like" BettyConfidential on Facebook. Because you're awesome and we're awesome and clearly we both need to be awesome in the same place.
2. Then, go to THIS BETTYTALK ROOM and tell us: If you could rule over any fantasy kingdom, what would it be and what?
***To increase your chances of winning, you can follow @BettyBuzz on Twitter and leave a comment on any style + beauty article***
That's it!
To find out more about The Iron Fey series, visit its official site and connect on Facebook.
Good luck!
The giveaway runs from 10/22/2012 until Monday 11/12/2012 at 9 a.m. EST. The winners will be notified via a private message to your BettyConfidential profile. Winners have 24 hours to reply to the private message. Remember to allow for private messages for your BettyConfidential profile or we can't contact you! Meet some of our past giveaway winners HERE! Giveaway rules.


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Why I Read It: Participated in a great Read-Along over at Snobbery.
Where I Got It: Own it.
Who I Recommend This To: Fantasy buffs, classic lovers, folks with hairy feet fetishes.
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Company (1997)
Length: 256 pages
Part of me feels like this timeless classic hardly needs a review. But I am going to do it anyway. First off, say 'Bilbo' three times fast without snickering. Go on, I will wait over here for the giggles to subside.
I enjoy J. R. R. Tolkien's works, but I am not a fanatic. For those of you who take him seriously, you may want to avert your eyes from this review.
I really enjoyed The Hobbit. I had not read it since the 6th grade some 20+ years ago. I found all the singing silly and clever at the same time, which I think is appropriate for a children's book. Gandalf seemed to be a little more tricksy in this novel than in The Lord of the Rings trilogy. He did put that secret mark on Bilbo's door, marking him as a thief and burglar (just what the Dwarves ordered). The Dwarves show up unannounced, in bright, differently-colored cloaks, demanding 5-star hotel service (meal, drink, bed). In some ways, it is the Dwarves that are thieves, stealing Bilbo off to adventure with them. It's not as simple as 'get past the dragon that is sitting on our gold'. No! they have to actually make it to the mountain.
There are trolls, and elves, and werebears, and goblins and dark, spooky forests, and spiders of unusual size (SoUS) to over come. And once all that is done and the treasure recovered, the Dwarves have left a long list of ticked off folks and few enough friends. Hence, the War of Five Armies commences. Messy.
All in all, I greatly enjoy Tolkien's simple plot and expert word play with character and place names. For the linguists out there, Tolkien's works are riddled with ancient myth and cryptic language references. If you get some of these, you can sit around and feel extra superior as you read your special hardback edition at the cafe while drinking your spiffy fancy tea .
What I Liked: Hairy feet; brightly cloaked Dwarves; talking birds; dogs that can set the table; play on words; the Wargs; the singing; Smaug the dragon; Bard of Lake Town.
What I Disliked: Not a single female anywhere in the book – no female Hobbits, Elves, Wargs, Goblins, birds, ponies…. you get the point. It's a 256 page long sausage fest.


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Nikki Kimbleton is an anchor and consumer reporter for Channel 4's The Morning Show.
Even though she wakes up for work in the middle of the night, Nikki is thrilled to be working at WJXT, the station that she says inspired her to get into broadcast journalism. Nikki has hometown ties to Jacksonville. Her parents, aunts, uncles and a bunch of cousins live all over the area.
Before coming home to Channel 4, Nikki was the morning anchor for WNCT in Greenville, N.C. She also spent six years as a reporter and anchor with Birmingham's Fox-owned and operated station, WBRC.
Throughout her career, Nikki's covered everything from major hurricanes, a deadly F-5 tornado, college football coaching scandals, the 16th Street Church bombing trial, Eric Robert Rudolph's capture and prosecution and much more. Nikki was also very active in making animal cruelty a felony in the state of Alabama.
Nikki is a proud graduate of Troy State University. She loves to volunteer and serves on the board of several local charities including Blessings In A Backpack. She is also active with the Jacksonville Humane Society, Susan G. Komen Foundation, American Cancer Society, ElderSource and CHILD Cancer Fund, among others.
In her spare time, Nikki loves traveling with her husband, surfing Facebook and paying lots of attention to her two dogs: Wookie, a four-pound Pomeranian and Booger, an overweight Border Collie who's terrified of thunder.
Copyright 2011 by News4Jax.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.


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Topic: Death of a spouse or divorce which is worse
While I was in the lounge today a fellow worker was talking to another and said getting a divorce is the worse thing that ever could happen to a peron.
She also said that MAYBE losing a child maybe worse. In a divorce the pair decide that they want to go elsewhere. When you are apart of the final chapter of the couple, you both have something to do with it. When you lose your spouse to a terrible disease like cc and all the other cancers of this cruel world, we would rather have this person back at all cost. Unless you can say that my spouse went to heaven and nothing could be done, not the doctors, pastors, and anyone else breathing in this world. Don't you dare to compare.
I'm not a widow, I am a wife
We are only apart for heaven's sake
You are waiting for me at heaven's gate


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I've registered for this forum because I'm trying to decide if I am just whiny, or if I am legitimately overworked/underpaid.
I've only been working creating for the web for about six-months, and so as a profession it is still very new to me-- so new that I am not even sure how my skill set is classified if I have to find another job doing what I am doing.
Where I am working:
Currently, I am working for a firm headed by a salesman who sells brochure-ware websites via the phone to a specific industry in the US, and pairs that with some "social media marketing" training for the clients. He is a great salesman and since starting with him six months ago I have done on the order of eighty 10-page websites for folks from CA and FL.
Mostly our sites operate on a templating framework that uses a PHP data file and customizing a set of images in photoshop.
My history:
While I have really only been working solely on websites since I started to work for this specific salesman, I have a long background in doing websites, doing one or two a year back into the 1990s. I have an MA (and most of a PhD) in English and have taught at several universities. Additionally, since starting to work at this place, I have learned enough PHP to implement our basic templating system and have gotten friendly enough with mysql to feel confident about installing/migrating the joomal, wordpress, and drupal sites I have occasionally had to create.
The history of the place:
When I started, there were three other people working in the production side: a professional programmer and two ladies with no real qualifications. Since then, these two folks left (on their own), and I have hired two more people who have some tech-support background and a kid out of college who can do just enough PS and html to make revisions to the websites. In late December, the programmer left, leaving me with finishing a Flash-based site and a couple of clients who need specific, non-template designs.
So, in addition to churning out template websites, overseeing these three staff members, hunting for another person with some graphic design skills, doing telephone email troubleshooting, I now have to press what tiny amount of Flash knowledge I have into service.
I am in BFE Texas, and I do this 40+hours a week (plus 5-7/wk hours spent on lynda.com) for 30K , on a 1099 (and have to be at work 8:30-5:30 and provide a computer and software).
I am almost to the point where I feel like I ought to simply fire the salesman, though, of course, he pays my paycheck.
So-- my question:
Is this a normal working situation?If I had to find another job doing something similar, what would the job title be?In your experience, are their generally opportunities in cities like Austin or San Antonio, TX where the work is less complex and the pay is better?Should I just be grateful to have a job, as I don't have the several years of experience that most of the jobs I have been looking at desire?
Sorry to write a novel on my first post, but I am kind of struggling and after a long career in the university, I can't tell if it is just that my expectations are off a bit.
If you are spending 5-7 hours a week on Lynda in order to meet you job requirements, it sounds like you are in the learning zone. 30K doesn't sound bad considering you are transitioning to the field. After you master aspects of Web Development you will be qualified to earn more money. Sorry, but a PHD in English doesn't get you far in this field.
'Fire the salesman' always sounds good to people in your position. Then again, without the salesman would you be earning anything at all? Someone who can make websites is generally less valuable than someone who can sell websites, so increase your skills until you are sure that you are worth more than you are getting paid, then move on.
Fair enough: thanks for the perspective, from both of ya'll.
I can see the value in a sales guy. I was earning about the same for the two years I did freelance AV production before starting with the guy, but it is a lot less feast or famine with his help and that is a nice thing. When the rubber meets the road, I am lucky to be able to watch the guy and take notes about how I could start a similar business, .
From my experience I think for every 5 bad sales people there is one bad web developer. So I would agree, a good sales person is very valuable. Finding a good one that can sell according to facts, and doesn't piss your Project Manager off is very difficult.
"Finding a good one that can sell according to facts, and doesn't piss your Project Manager off is very difficult."
That is about the number we have experienced. We have gone through about 14 sales staff, and have about three (including the boss-man) that can consistently sell a site.
Of course, I am trying to hire a designer in the area, and am having very little luck.
I'm not sure I understood that ratio - bad salespeople and bad web developers are both found in abundance all over the place
But, a salesperson will by definition push facts to the limit and will always piss off a PM. I look for a salespeople that are most able to work with everyone, but in sales it's always about the numbers and if you find a real rain maker you can expect that they'll rattle some cages - and so it goes.
How can you be on a 1099 (independent contractor) if you have to be on the job at a certain time every day? That doesn't qualify you as an independent contractor.
If you can get the work on your own and make more money, then there's your answer. I worked as a programmer (non-web) while building my web dev biz at night and on the weekend. I left when I was at the point where I was so busy with web work that I did not have time to go to my day job any more.
As a 1099 the only thing your boss can dictate is deadlines, and those are agreed upon on a per-basis. If you have office hours and just work 40 hours at a regular time then you aren't really a contractor. A 1099 means you are the boss and the employee of your business. You have to pay for all your own software and hardware but you set the terms as well. Might not want to be a boat you rock but thought you should know.
That being said, making money of whipping out similar-structured websites is probably due to your boss getting the business. It sounds like his other business feeds into creating work for you. You might have done a lot of sites but it sounds like you've mastered a very specific setup only. Now that you are doing the work of the others, do you feel yourself struggling or keeping up?
You don't have to know everything to be a web developer, its mostly about how well you learn new technologies and apply them that an employer is going to be interested in.
I worked for an advertising agency for several years and it wasn't until i started doing a little side freelancing that i realized how specific my knowledge was, and how much i relied on the legwork done by the project manager and the lead developer to set up the requirements.
I've had been doing 1099 legitimate labor (mostly event A/V and some motion graphics work) before starting with this guy.
He is, as I say, an excellent salesman, and one of the things that I haven't been able to figure out (I blame newness to the profession, but in reality I might be a little thick on some points) is how much I am getting sold. When I was doing actual contract labor, I was making 5 to 7x what I am making per hour, though I was working much, much less often and usually terrified of what I would be doing in a few weeks: I would make $100 /hr shooting video for a day, and then nothing for a week or three except running sound for a crappy music.
And although he demands that I be on site, I am providing my own software and hardware and have most of the control over the how and when things get done. So I am aware that I ought to be classed as a W2 employee.
I don't know if our site process is all that normal, as I have never worked anywhere else.
He basically sells the site, and hands me a name, phone number, and email address: no production specs, all one price regardless of it being a template site that takes 4-7 hours to get through production or a custom site that takes weeks of back and forth communication with the client. And he does the billing. Those two things are big things, though.
When a site gets sold, it gets pushed into a production workflow that I setup, where a guy I hired does the discovery (using a process that I also designed). Unless it is a more specific project, I just crank out the site, and I have the other guy do minor revisions. If it is more specific, then I usually handle the entirety of the design/coding/implementation/client training. On top of that, we have had to do a lot of management, as we are hosting folks emails.
For what it is worth, I would be much happier crafting really awesome custom sites rather than cranking out brochures, but that is not the model of this business.
"Now that you are doing the work of the others, do you feel yourself struggling or keeping up?"
The thing that prompted me to post this on the forum is that when the programmer guy quit at the end of December, he was supposed to be paid hourly to finish a couple of websites, but the sales guy decided that it would be better to add them to my workload.
I will get whatever done that needs to be done, I will happily do it. Since it is the salesman's business if compromises have to be made, ultimately that is his decision. But I feel like he would happily oversell what we are capable of producing and it is no fun to deal with grumpy clients who have to wait several weeks for a very basic site.
Following Don's suggestion, I have done the math. If I could find someone to sell sites and paid them what he was paying the sales staff-- which he does entirely with commissions-- I'd be making far more than I am now. I just haven't manned up and done that, because... well, I just appreciate how hard it is to sell a site, and a regular paycheck is comforting. Sagewing is entirely correct that it probably looks like the grass is greener on the other side... but I am still trying to figure stuff out, and I appriciate all y'alls input so far.
Going into sales isn't about 'manning up'. It a skill and a talent that can be learned but also needs to be a fit for your personality and strengths.
Unless you think that you could really be good at sales, there isn't all that much benefit to moving in to it. Conversely, a good sales person should stick to sales and probably wouldn't be a great developer.
But you have to accept the fact that sales takes precedence over services in the cruel reality of business. It doesn't matter how great a developer or designer you are if there are no sales, Cinderella stories aside.
Find YOUR strongest skills, and then figure out a path to increase your freedom, income, and satisfaction!
"Going into sales isn't about 'manning up'. It a skill and a talent that can be learned but also needs to be a fit for your personality and strengths."
I don't think I communicated very clearly. On one hand, I don't think that I make a very good sales person. I understand the process a bit, but it isn't something I want to do.
However, finding and hiring a sales person is some thing that I think that I could do, and do well for both me and whoever I could get who could sell. But committing to doing that-- essentially going into business for myself would take a lot of chutzpah, and that is what I was referring to by "manning up".
"Find YOUR strongest skills, and then figure out a path to increase your freedom, income, and satisfaction!"
Definitely... but (of course) that path is not obvious and is requiring a lot of reflection.
I find that websites sell themselves. I don't have a sales person and don't advertise, and I am turning away work. And my prices are not cheap. That being said, I do have to spend of a lot of non-billable hours on administrative tasks. It would be easier to have a project manager and sales person, but then that would cut into the money I'm collecting from the client, so it's 6 of one, half a dozen of the other.
Sorry to raise a thread from the dead, but I'd like to update it.
"'Fire the salesman' always sounds good to people in your position. Then again, without the salesman would you be earning anything at all? "
Well, three and half months after leaving the job to hustle my work for myself, my provisional answer is "yes, yes I am a lot better off."
I took your advice, learned a whole lot (and as with the rest of my life before and after am still learning), and moved on.
My work is a lot higher quality, more interesting, and more useful to the people who receive it.
I got one big account for myself and one little account, and quit the job so I would have time for both of these accounts which each paid more (by themselves) and took less time (collectively) than the job.
Thanks for the thoughts folks.
Great job! I'm happy it's going well ror you. Now you have to start climbing the client ladder, getting larger and larger checks for doing less and less work You can do it!
And don't forget to start working on that cash reserve. Still the #1 thing that kills tiny businesses is the inability to cash flow, and you'll need that ability to service larger jobs so make a cash reserve plan and stick to it no matter how hard it is at first!
Almost every time I work with a small business who is struggling to grow and is cash poor they say a similar thing, "I would love to have bunch of cash saved up but it's just not possible until I get bigger business". Ah but is is possible and those who do it usually win out.


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Emma Mulholland AW12 Lookbook
Tropical rebel without a cause.
There's a reason why Emma Mulholland is the name on everyone's lips. It's because, put plainly, she is cool. A breakaway star from the TAFE Innovators show at RAFW last year, she wowed our eyeballs with her SS12 offering 'Queen Aurelia'. AW12's capsule collection 'Tropical Rebel' continues with the surf culture nostalgia, but this time is slightly more sinister with blood-hungry sharks lurking in the dark depths of the ocean. Courtney Love, The Craft and Poison Ivy act as inspirations, while there's a veritable dream team behind the lookbook, with Ollie Henderson in front of Byron Spencer's lens, and Paul Bui in charge of styling. This season also sees the incorporation of unisex pieces like fleece jumpers and t-shirts, with the 'Great White' print (which expertly combines tie dying and screen printing techniques) a key motif. The limited edition AW12 pieces are available exclusively on The Grand Social. See the lookbook and campaign here.


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New Year's Eve with Idina Menzel
Last Modified:
Part of Deck the Hall
About This Performance
Tony Award-winning actress, singer and songwriter Idina Menzel, star of Broadway's Wicked and the original stage production of Rent, will ring in the new year at Walt Disney Concert Hall with two performances of her brand new live show, on December 31, 2012, at 7 p.m. and 10:30 p.m.
Spend a Sparkling New Year's Eve at WALT DISNEY CONCERT HALL
Two shows: 7pm and 10:30pm
One party: 8:30-10:15pm in BP Hall
Toast with us! Free glass of champagne for all ticket holders.
The champagne bottle service pre-sale is closed.
Programs, artists, dates, prices and availability subject to change.


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Welcome to Whitefoord Elementary School where our goal is student success! Our learning community at school is filled with excellent students and caring professionals who work hard each day in a warm and challenging academic environment. The primary focus of our school is student learning and achievement – particularly in the core areas of literacy, math, social studies, and science. In addition to our standards-based academic program, students participate in a wide variety of assemblies, field trips, and hands-on activities.
The intellectual, physical, emotional, and moral capacities of each student are nurtured, so students feel supported. The unique backgrounds and experiences that individual students bring to the classroom are recognized and celebrated. The ultimate goal at Whitefoord Elementary is to ensure that every student will lead a fulfilling life in our society as a productive worker, concerned citizen, and thoughtful individual. The staff is committed to making sure that Whitefoord Elementary has a positive, enduring, and profound impact on every student who attends.
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