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Keyword View: gay
News Disney and Marvel threaten to pull film business from Georgia over religious liberty bill
Posted by: News Editor - March 24, 2016, 5:36 am - News
PR The Phantom of the Opera with Lon Chaney Blu-ray & DVD Oct 13
Starring Lon Chaney, the original film version of the celebrated Gaston Leroux story about a mysterious phantom who haunts the chambers and catacombs deep beneath the Paris Opera House, which has inspired countless remakes and adaptations over the years. Digitally restored two-disc collection includes both the 1929 theatrical version, restored from 35mm archival elements, and the original 1925 theatrical cut, packed with bonus features including choice of alternate music scores and lengthy excerpts of the 1930 sound re-issue.
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News Jury Finds Pharrell, Thicke Copied Marvin Gaye Hit for 'Blurred Lines'
Posted by: News Editor - March 11, 2015, 6:41 am - News
PR American Masters: August Wilson: Ground on Which I Stand on DVD Feb 24
Film and theater luminaries, including Viola Davis, Charles Dutton, Laurence Fishburne, James Earl Jones, Suzan-Lori Parks and Phylicia Rashad, share their stories of the career- and life-changing experience of bringing August Wilson's rich theatrical voice to the stage. Wilson's sister Freda Ellis, his widow and costume designer Constanza Romero, as well as friends, colleagues and scholars trace Wilson's influences, creative evolution, triumphs, struggles and quest for cultural determinism before his untimely death from liver cancer.
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PR Elsa & Fred on Blu-ray & DVD Dec 30
Michael Radford directs, Christopher Plummer, Shirley MacLaine, Marcia Gay Harden, Chris NothScott Bakula in the story of two people who, at the end of the road, discover that it's never too late to love. Elsa bursts into Fred's life like a whirlwind, determined to teach him that the time he has left to live--be it more or less--is precious and that he should enjoy it as he pleases.
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PR The Midnight Special Collector's Edition on DVD Sep 9
In the period between American Bandstand and MTV, several shows tried to bring rock 'n' roll to television. In the wake of Elvis Presley and the Beatles' debut on The Ed Sullivan Show, '60s series like Hullabaloo, Shindig and The Music Scene featured rock and pop performers. But it wasn't until The Midnight Special premiered on August 19, 1972, that rock 'n' roll found its own home on the air.
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PR The Dave Clark Five And Beyond: Glad All Over on DVD & Blu-ray May 13
Great Performances presents a look at the British invasion 50 years after both the Dave Clark Five and the Beatles hit our shores. Features newly filmed interviews with Sir Paul McCartney, Sir Elton John, Bruce Springsteen, Steven Van Zandt of The E Street Band, Stevie Wonder sharing their memories of how the music of the '60s and the cultural revolution of 1964 changed their lives forever.
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Award-winning documentary filmmaker Jeffrey Schwartz turns his camera on the plus-sized "cinematic terrorist" turned international icon of bad taste when Harris Glenn Milstead, a.k.a. Divine, comes to life in this complex documentary that traces his humble beginnings as an overweight, teased Baltimore youth to internationally-recognized drag superstar.
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News 'Duck Dynasty' Dad Suspended Following Anti-Gay Remarks
Posted by: News Editor - December 18, 2013, 7:25 pm - News
PR Phineas and Ferb: Mission Marvel on DVD Oct 1
After Dr. Doofenshmirtz's latest scheme accidentally removes the powers of some very well-known Marvel Super Heroes (Spider-Man, Iron Man, Thor, and Hulk), the heroes enter the world of Danville and team up with Phineas and Ferb to relocate their powers, defeat the Marvel Super Villains.
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News Sara Gilbert knew she was gay after making out with Johnny Galecki
Posted by: News Editor - September 13, 2013, 6:27 pm - News
Writer/Director Ash Christian's Critically-Acclaimed Independent Film features an All-Star Cast, Including Thora Birch, Brittany Snow, Tobias Segal, Eddie Kaye Thomas, Academy Award(R) Nominee Christine Lahti and Michael Urie.
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PR War on Whistleblowers: Free Press & The National Security State on DVD Jul 30
The whistleblowers featured in the film continue the tradition of brave men and women who have come forward to tell the truth without looking for any personal gain - Daniel Ellsberg (The Pentagon Papers); Jeffrey Wigand (tobacco industry); Karen Silkwood (power plant health and safety procedures) and Mark Felt (Watergate).
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DVD Review CHINA BEACH: THE COMPLETE SERIES
China Beach is an outstanding television show with great production, writing and acting. It is dramas like this that make the DVD format worthwhile. There is a delicious opportunity for those who didn't see it, hardly remember it or loved it to experience the show all over again. Highly recommended.
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News GLAAD: Bill Clinton Credits Chelsea for Turnabout on Gay Marriage
Posted by: News Editor - April 22, 2013, 4:58 am - News
News Son of Magic Johnson talks about being gay
Posted by: News Editor - April 16, 2013, 6:57 am - News
News James Franco Defends Explicit Gay Movie Banned in Australia: Sex Is Such a Big Part of Our Lives
Posted by: News Editor - March 5, 2013, 10:09 am - News
News Hugh Jackman On Gay Rumors: Why They 'Bug' His Wife
Posted by: News Editor - February 14, 2013, 8:35 am - News
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About Toronto Diabetes Care Connect
Toronto Diabetes Care Connect (TDCC) (previously known as the Toronto Central Diabetes Program) is a program of South Riverdale Community Health Centre (SRCHC) that is funded by the Toronto Central Local Health Integration Network (TC LHIN).
Since 2013 TDCC has worked with healthcare providers and organizations across the Toronto Central Region to make it as easy as possible for people living with or at risk of diabetes to get the high quality care they need. Some of the ways that we do this are by:
- Collaboratively working together with diabetes programs across the region to support equitable access to and delivery of high quality diabetes care for those living with or at risk of diabetes;
- Operating the Toronto Central Referral Service (TCRS) – see below for more information;
- Operating this website to provide a place to easily find out about and get connected to diabetes-related support; and
- Supporting diabetes-related competency development among healthcare providers working in the TC LHIN (e.g. Case-based Discussions, New Hires Program).
Click on the image below to see highlights of our work over the last 5 years (April 1, 2013 to March 31, 2018)
The TDCC team is made up of the following members:
- Dr. Jeremy Gilbert – Endocrinology Lead
- Justyna McLeod & Julia Nau – TCRS Administrators
- Lori Sutton – Regional Facilitator
- Shannon Wiens – Director of Organizational Health Systems
About the Toronto Central Referral Service
The Toronto Central Referral Service (TCRS) can easily connect individuals living with or at risk of diabetes to a number of diabetes programs across the Toronto Central Region and in some cases across Ontario. The TCRS is able to connect individuals to the following types of diabetes-related supports:
- Diabetes Education Programs – within Ontario
- programs supporting type 2 diabetes management and prevention (led healthcare providers)
- 17 community-based programs are located in this region including the Diabetes Education Community Network of East Toronto (DECNET), located at South Riverdale Community Health Centre.
- Diabetes Eye Screening (Teleophthalmology Program) – within the Toronto Central Region
- yearly diabetes eye screening for people with type 2 diabetes at a number of locations across the city, including South Riverdale Community Health Centre
- Choose Health Self-Management Program – within the Toronto Central Region
- peer-led group workshops that support people around improving their skills around self-management
- Diabetes Prevention Programs – within the Toronto Central Region
- healthcare provider-led group programs that help people learn how they can lower their risk of developing type 2 diabetes
- Special programs are available that focus on Aboriginal, Caribbean, East African, Latin American, and South Asian populations
Anyone can get connected by completing a referral (e.g. person living with or at risk of diabetes, caregiver, community support person, healthcare provider, etc.).
Referrals can be made on-line, through the mail, or over the phone.
All referrals are confidential and measures have been taken to ensure on-line forms are secure (all forms are enabled with 128 Bit SSL Protection). More information about how we protect people's privacy is outlined in South Riverdale Community Health Centers' Privacy Policy.

subset: commoncrawl


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About Our Tours
1. What is a Set Itinerary?
A Set itinerary is a tour with a fixed departure date, and you will be travelling in a group of up to 25 people from all over the world. We will arrange the itinerary to make sure that everyone is included in all activities and that each has ample access to a tour guide. We can accommodate for special requests if given notice in advance, such as arranging vegetarian meals etc.
2. what is a Private Tour?
A Tour with a fixed itinerary but without fixed departure dates, you can take it whenever it is convenient for you, there will be only you and your friends in the group, this also includes many of our Theme Tours or City Tours;
3. What is a Tailor-Made Itinerary?
A Tailor Made Itinerary is a private tour that gives you the opportunity to design your own itinerary with the guidance of our highly experienced travel consultants.
4. What is Single Supplement?
The price for each tour on our website is based on double occupancy (two passengers share a hotel room or cruise cabin). A single supplement is an extra fee for those who stay in a hotel room by himself, not sharing with another passenger.
5.Which languages do your guides speak?
Our office staff and trip advisors all speak fluent English and Chinese, so unless you speak or read Chinese, our correspondences with you will be in English.
Our tour guides are able to speak many different languages. Just let us know which language you would prefer to communicate in and we shall ensure an appropriate guide is assigned to you.
For any groups with multi nationalities, we only provide English tour guides, unless it is otherwise specifically requested.
6. What is the difference between a National guide and a Local Guide?
If you choose to book one of our Set Itinerary Tours, a National Guide will accompany you throughout the duration of your trip. Our National Guides will be responsible for collecting you from and taking you to airports, train stations, hotels etc. In each city or town you visit you will also be met by a Local Guide who will only accompany you during the section of your itinerary spent touring his/her own city or town.
If you choose to book a Tailor Made Itinerary, we will ensure that a Local Guide is there to look after you in each of the destinations on your itinerary. A National Guide is not required for traveling groups smaller than 10 people.
7. Do you offer any group discounts if we have more than 10 people traveling together? If not, how many do you need for a group discounted rate?
We do not offer any discounts on Set Itinerary Tours for a traveling group of more than 10 people owing to the fact that prices for these tours are based on a minimum of 10 people in each group.
For private tours, if you have larger groups of more than 10, special prices can be arranged, please contact our travel consultants directly for further information.
More information on tour prices:
Our Tailor Made Tour prices are calculated according to the number of people traveling in each group, which are in accordance with the regulations outlined by the China National Tourism Administration (CNTA), and are as follows:
a) One person
b) 2-5 people
c) 6-9 people
d) over 10 people
8. Can I just book flight/train/cruise tickets only?
Yes, we will be happy to help. Prepare a list of the tickets you want to book and ring us for quotation.
9. How much time in advance do I need to make a booking?
Late reservations cannot be guaranteed for hotel rooms and late bookings may affect total tour prices, especially tours during peak season. We usually suggest to our clients that bookings are made at least two months before the departure date. If you intend to travel in China during September and October, we recommend that you make the booking for your trip three months prior to your departure date.
However we do understand that sometimes booking in advance is not always possible for our clients. Therefore we do accept late bookings and we will do everything possible to make sure your itinerary includes everything you want. We can arrange itineraries with as much as up to 15 days before the intended departure date, and we encourage you to call us directly by telephone if you intend to make a late booking.
10. How can I pay?
We accept payment by cash, cheque, and Credit card while PayPal is most welcomed. For detailed information please refer to Payment.


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Triedstone Church of Chicago
Sunday Services 9am & 12pm Monday Night Bible Class 7pm
A Message From Bishop Gordon
On behalf of your Triedstone Church family, I extend a warm greeting to our new members and those touring our website. In the purest sense, Triedstone Church is, "A Church for all People" and as such it is your house of prayer, praise and worship. I truly believe that our relationship represents a divine partnership ordained by God expressly for the purpose of manifesting His, "will be done in earth, as it is in heaven". Matthew 6:10.
Because it is not uncommon for new members to experience a certain level of uncertainty with adjusting to their Christian walk or the church environment we are here for support. Our leaders serve as mentors who are committed to assisting you by answering your questions and offering guidance. Its important that we stay connected so expect the occasional phone call or two inviting you to our many teaching and fellowship events.
As you become familiar with Triedstone, you will discover that in addition prayer, evangelism and Christian based church-wide education, we offer a host of resources to address the physical and social needs of people. You are encouraged to share in those resources or get involved with one of the many ministries that support our mission.
We look forward to our getting acquainted so before the New Member Orientation stop by after service for a meet and greet.
Until then, SHINE in the revelation of deepening your relationship with God and uniting with your new church family!
Sister Tracy Small heads the Members Care Ministry and is your "go to person" for all things related to your successful integration. You can reach Sister Tracy at 773-881-7710 or
To view our many volunteer opportunities Click Here and again welcome!
Tracy Small, Lead Servant
Messenger Lillie Stewart, Co-Lead Servant
Sister Cheryl Rosario, Support
Return to Home Page


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Yesterday, Judah had his 9 month check-up with the pediatrician. He was so good while we waited for the doctor and he "walked" over to the nurse when she was asking the routine questions.
Judah now weighs 24 pounds and is 30 inches long. He is in the 90th percentile in both weight and height. What is kinda' funny is the fact that Judah loves his veggies and usually acts like you've given him a lemon when we try to give him fruit. The doctor said he has heard that conversation so many time but under opposite terms. My DH said that Judah will be the most popular child in the lunch room saying "I'll trade you my cookies for your broccoli". Judah scored really well in the development test we did. He is right on track, which translates into Judah being interested in everything around him and now having the capabilities to try to check said items out. At least the falling over has slowed down ever so slightly.
I just can't believe my precious boy is 9 months already.
Thursday, July 15, 2010
Three Quarters of the Way to One...
Yesterday, Judah had his 9 month check-up with the pediatrician. He was so good while we waited for the doctor and he "walked" over to the nurse when she was asking the routine questions.
Posted by Charree at 7:02 AM 0 comments
Tubes and Tunnels...
On Monday evening after dinner, we walked over to the playground by our house. Judah did his best to climb around.He tried out the tube slide and the tunnel tube. He was a big fan of the latter and he crawled back and forth from my DH to me and back again.
When Judah would get near the end of the tube, he would start holding one of his hands up for me to hold and then he would stand up as he exited the tube.
We also walked on the moving bridge thing (I am not sure what the real name of it was). Judah thought that it was fun and managed to keep his balance pretty well, holding on to my fingers of course. I can't believe how big he is getting.It was so nice to be out is the fresh air, even if it was a more than a little warm.
Posted by Charree at 6:38 AM 0 comments
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
A Zoo Day...
On Sunday, we went for a family outing to the zoo.
It was extremely hot out, even though we tried to get there before the hottest part of the day. Here I am trying to bring sunhats back into style and avoiding a sunburn at the same time.
We think that the fish are Judah's favorite part of the zoo. He tends to recognize them and they manage to hold his attention the best.
We also figured out that Judah can last about 1/2 of the zoo. Before we were finished, he was zonked out.Matt and I did manage to get a pretty good self-portrait while the little man was napping though.
Posted by Charree at 6:55 PM 0 comments
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
Mom aka Grandma...
My mom came for a week long visit over the Fourth. It was so nice to have her here and our time always flies by.
We got to brainstorm ideas for Judah's birthday and do a little bit of crafting. Of course, my mom (aka Grandma) also got to play with Judah as well.
We also went out to dinner to celebrate my mom's birthday, which was on the 11th. Judah helped her open her cards and her gift. We got her the Pioneer Woman Cookbook. I ordered one for myself as well so that we could cook some of the recipes together across the miles. Mine hasn't come in yet, but I can't wait to start cooking from it, I have heard so many good things about it.
I just love this picture, I think it is really good of both of them. I think my mom is so beautiful.
Posted by Charree at 10:00 PM 0 comments
Saturday, July 3, 2010
My Messy Office? Not Anymore...
I survived the office mess. To start with I thought that I might have bitten of more than I could chew, but I managed to get it all put away after all. Here is the after picture of the office. The lone box you see is my donate box.
For the record though, my house cannot hold another piece of furniture in it and I am pretty sure that all of the storage space is maxed out as well. My laundry/storage room is filled to the ceiling.
I did manage to keep my crafting stuff somewhat accessible, which my DH said was a must. He said if I put it all away in crates, I wouldn't touch again. So, with his help we reworked the bookcases in the office so I could put the books that were in the below bookcase out in the office. Then I filled the recently emptied bookcase with fabrics. One of these days I am going to start on that long list of projects I have to complete. For now, I am trying get crib rail covers sewn for my teething little boy's crib.
I also found some great sheets that I am wanting to use to redo our bedroom with. I am doing a room makeover on a tight budget and I was sooo excited to find some twin Ralph Lauren floral sheets (the same print as the comforter in the picture) for $8 each at Marshall's. I am wanting to make some pillowcases, a bedskirt, and some valances out of them. I was thinking about trying to find a queen sheet to make a shower curtain out of, but my DH said we might should do our bedroom first and make sure it isn't too much of the same print. I will have to put some before pictures of our room and then some after ones (once I actually change it up).
Speaking of before and after pictures, I had to wonder what possessed me to put up pictures of the office in such a mess. However, I figured out that it served to be great motivation to get the office finished. I needed to be able to post the cleaned up after pictures quickly so that my office didn't go down in blog-infamy looking the way it did in the before pictures. So, you just might see more before after pictures around here.
Posted by Charree at 12:28 AM 0 comments
Labels: The House


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About Us Chiropractor Alpharetta & ARP Wave Therapy AtlantaAtlanta Spine & Sport is dedicated to providing patients in the Alpharetta and Johns Creek community with the highest level of care possible.
Our experience in treating professional and amateur athletes has allowed us to be more effective in helping people with all of their physical needs. From the professional athlete to the weekend warrior, our state of the art facility offers a wide array of treatments designed to get the fast results you are looking for. We are committed to providing service that is impossible to find elsewhere and strive to create caring and lasting relationships with those that honor us with the privilege of caring for their most prized possession, their health.


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Will Head Lice Go Away Without Treatment?
What happens to a case of head lice if you ignore it? Will the lice eventually die out? Unfortunately the answer is a definite NO.
As seen above the head lice infestation will get worse over time.
Oh No! My Child has Lice!
You see the tell-tale signs. You see your child scratching. Maybe you see some sticky things in the hair. But really? Maybe it isn't head lice. Please let it not be head lice. I do not have the time or stomach for this. Maybe it will go away on its own? After all, the bugs don't live forever, right?
Here's what happens: head lice live for about 30 days. Over that period of time, they lay 6 to 10 eggs (nits) a day. After about 10 days, each of those eggs hatches. The baby that comes out of the egg is called a nymph. Within about two weeks, that nymph is mature and ready to start laying eggs. You can see what will happen. Basically the number of nits and bugs increases exponentially over time. When left untreated, you will eventually have thousands of nits and hundreds of bugs in the hair.
Above is case that has gone untreated for months.
You had Better Oil Up that Scalp ASAP
The first thing that we at LiceDoctors do is apply oil to the scalp. The viscous oil works to suffocate the bugs and loosen the eggs. Then we go to town combing and wiping and combing and wiping and combing and wiping the nits onto a paper towel. We do this methodically and thoroughly. This job cannot be done haphazardly or you will leave nits behind. What happens if you leave a few nits in the hair? Those nits will hatch and if left untreated, the number will increase and you will be back to where you started: with a head full of lice and nits.
The next step is critical and requires expertise. We wash and dry the hair and go back through sections of the hair, checking every strand. If we find an egg that was left behind with the combing, we physically extract it. You have to be able to see the eggs, identify them, and remove them. This is an exact science and there is unfortunately not room for error. As we said before, if nits are left behind, they will hatch.
When We Finish You are LIce-Free!
Here is the young patient post-treatment….no more lice or nits in the hair!
While you may experience a desire to hide in a hole or run for the hills upon finding head lice, the fact is you need to confront the lice problem "head on"! That is where LiceDoctors comes in. With 350,000 lice treatments under our belt, we will take the burden off of you and make sure that you are lice-free when we leave your home. No case is too tough for us! Give us a call today at 800-224-3527 and we will help you out. That's a guarantee.


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We spent this last weekend at our cabin above Sonora, and in the middle of our usual tasks of cleaning up and fixing things, we found time for a nice hike down to the North Fork of the Stanislaus River.
It's a nice time of the year to get out on a trail---as the cooler temperatures make some of these lower elevation hikes a lot more fun. This was a pretty steep trail, and in mid-summer this would have been a hot one!
And yes, there were nice fall colors on the trees...
The river was now calm and sedate. Quite peaceful all the way around.
And we even found some old mining tailings in the area---and we're already planning to explore those more extensively in the future.
What fun!
As always, clicking on the photos will take you to our Picasa page for the hike...and more photos.
Welcome to Backpack the Sierra > OUR BLOG >


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Sturdy coiled bowl in natural kaisa grass is hand-woven in Bangladesh. Great for a variety of home décor arrangements or as a gift basket. Kaisa is a wild grass used in Bangladeshi basket-making. A very sturdy grass, it dries from its natural light green to a very pale almost tan color.
Dhaka HandicraftsDhaka Handicrafts is a craft producing and exporting organization that has expanded its business throughout the world on the basis of fair trade principles. The organization promotes craft products through enhancing the skills of rural artisans in Bangladesh. Read more.
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Darryl P. Jacobs, Panelist at 4th Annual Ho'okupa'a Conference
March 23, 2016 — Darryl P. Jacobs will speak on a panel at the 4th Annual Ho'okupa'a Conference at the University of Hawaii at Manoa William S. Richardson School of Law.
The conference will focus on the state of the market techniques for the structuring and financing of increasingly high demand developments, such as capital improvement and energy projects for communities, non-profit organizations, and businesses. These techniques include the federal New Markets Tax Credit program, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) as well as the State of Hawaii, in which have been highly successful locally and in other parts of the country.
To find out more about this conference, please click here.
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Argentinian veterans of the 1982 Falklands war are planning to use civilian ships to mount protests in front of the British rig that has begun drilling for oil off the islands.
They say that their mission is to "spread Argentina's position in international waters". The group also plans to "enlighten" staff at the Argentinian offices of the Chilean airline LAN about the need to halt all flights from Chile's mainland to the islands. It is also calling for a national boycott of all British companies and goods.
The fighting talk of the public communiqué issued by veterans last week reflects the rage of Argentina's 30,000-strong veteran community over what they consider another act of "piracy" by Britain. "We believe that collective action… can provide an effective contribution to strengthening the capacities of our country to face the looting of our natural resources by the British aggressor," the group says in its communiqué.
Veterans' associations came out strongly in support of their government's continuing diplomatic efforts to claim sovereignty over the islands in the South Atlantic. There were regular, if small-scale, protests in Buenos Aires last week, with ex-combatants and left-wing groups burning British flags and shouting their support for the president, Cristina Fernández de Kirchner.
"The oil platform and the start of oil drilling is a blatant act of aggression on the part of the UK. For us it is not about the oil, it is simply about the fact that the islands are part of our territory and you should give them back," said Juan Carlos Ianuzzo, the administrative secretary of the Association of Malvinas Veterans. "Many of us died trying to protect Argentina's rightful sovereignty in 1982. This is just like a kick in the face for all those who died."
The arrival of the Ocean Guardian oil rig in the waters north of the Falklands last Monday has seen tensions between Argentina and the UK rise to their highest level in almost three decades. Argentina has gained the support of Latin American states in its calls for the UK to enter into discussions over the sovereignty of the islands, an idea that London has so far rejected.
Some 649 Argentinians died during the 1982 war, with more than 300 estimated to have killed themselves since the end of the conflict. Despite decades of battling for the right to war pensions and healthcare, veterans' associations have always backed the government's continuing claim over the Falklands.
Last week's communiqué reminded Argentinians that the cause of recovering the islands that they call the Malvinas from the British is part of Argentina's national constitution.


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A North Carolina Preserve
The North Carolina Chapter, led by executive director Katherine Skinner, is supported entirely by dues from its 26,000 members, foundation grants and tax-deductible donations from individuals and corporations.
The N.C. Chapter works with the state-supported N.C Natural Heritage Program (located within the Division of State Parks) to identify and inventory unique natural areas and habitats. The chapter sets protection priorities based on information gathered by the Heritage Program.
Generally, Lynch said, Conservancy work falls into one of two categories -- preserves and projects. Most Nature Conservancy preserves are only open for visitation through a year-round, guided field trip program that is advertised in the membership publication, North Carolina Afield. Volunteers lead most of the trips so the schedule varies from season to season. Some Conservancy-managed preserves allow people to visit on their own. Nags Head Woods Ecological Preserve and Grandfather Mountain are readily accessible to visitors and have self-guided trail systems and visitor centers. The Black River and Roanoke River and swamps may be explored on your own by boat.
North Carolina's largest preserve is the Green Swamp Preserve, a 15,907-acre site in Brunswick County. In 1977, soon after the N.C. chapter was formed, 13,850 acres of the Green Swamp, a National Natural Landmark (NNL), were donated to the Conservancy by the Federal Paper Board Co. (The company donated another 2,577 acres in the late 1980s and the Conservancy purchased even more later.)
Experts say the Green Swamp Preserve contains some of the nation's best examples of longleaf pine savannas. These open savannas are special because they have a diverse herb layer with many orchids and insectivorous plants (plants that rely on insects as food). However, almost 13,000 acres of the preserve consist of a thick evergreen shrub bog, or pocosin, that is dominated by gall berry, titi trees and sweetbay (an American magnolia).
The Green Swamp is said to contain at least 14 species of insectivorous plants, including large populations of Venus's-flytrap, sundew and four species of pitcher plants. The life cycles of many of the preserve's plants are tied to fire, scientists say. For example, pond pine cones burst and release seeds when they are exposed to extreme heat. And in order to germinate and grow, longleaf pine seeds require bare ground and plenty of sunlight -- typical traits, experts say, of plants that evolved in a landscape with frequent (often lightning-ignited) fires. (That's why the scientific re-introduction of fire into these areas through prescribed burning is important.) The grasses, orchids and insectivorous plants have roots that are protected from the hottest fires.
Among the rare animals making their homes in the preserve are the American alligator, the fox squirrel, Henslow's sparrow, Bachman's sparrow and Hessel's hairstreak butterfly. The (federally listed) endangered red-cockaded woodpecker (it takes its name from the male's tiny red spot behind the eye) is one of the rarest inhabitants of the swamp.
Interestingly, this bird nests in old-growth longleaf pines with red heart disease. Scientists say the woodpecker prefers this home because it can drill a nesting cavity in the softened core of the trees. The woodpecker's tree of choice is easily spotted because of the shiny, sticky resin around the cavity that keeps eggs and young safe from predators. It takes these birds from one to five years, returning to the same tree as long as sap continues to flow around the opening, to complete their nest. "Since they are so picky about their living quarters, protecting their habitat is critical to ensuring their survival," Lynch said.
Conservancy staff from the nearby Wilmington office manages conservation efforts at the preserve -- efforts that include installing red-cockaded woodpecker nest boxes, conducting prescribed burning and restoring pine plantations to longleaf pine savannas. (This management is supported by the estate of Harry Patrick Gold and Erma Green Gold.) Check the N.C. chapter's Web site for directions to the preserve.


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Frances Henderson, youngest of four children of Bob and Midge Henderson, was born May 23, 1955, in Houston, Texas. On August 17, 1974, in Tulsa, Oklahoma, she married Alan Lloyd Woodside (born April 14, 1949, in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma).
Frances and Alan had three children: Heather Ann Woodside, born May 21, 1975; Brett Alan Woodside, born May 21, 1978; and Jared Lee Woodside, born May 5, 1983. All three were born in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Note: Story from 1996 Arthur Jones Family Scrapbook.
Frances grew up in Texas, Colorado, North Dakota, and Minnesota. She graduated from Grapevine (Texas) High School in 1973 and now lives in Tulsa, Oklahoma. She was a homemaker for 15 years. She then went to work for J.C. Penny and works there still. She is a Sunday school teacher and sings in the choir at Plainview Baptist Church. She enjoys crafts, books, movies, and swimming in their backyard pool.
Alan lived in Oklahoma City until 1971. He graduated from Northwest Classen in 1967. He works for Burlington Northern Railroad. He enjoys hunting.
Heather is married. Brett is a senior at Union High School and enjoys classical music and opera and swimming. Jared will be in 7th grade in fall 1996. He enjoys playing Nintendo and chess and swimming.


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Cats pounce onto our counters and into our hearts. Redecorate your kitchen with cat-themed kitchen items. Put on your cat apron, pull out recipe cards, and make some kitty goodies with cat cutting boards, cookie cutters, and cake pans. Dry your hands with kitty kitchen towels. Serve guests with paper cat napkins, coffee mugs, coasters, tea cozies, and more. Not in the mood for company? Hang up your keys on the wall hook and relax with a nice glass of wine from a cat wine bottle stopped with a cat. Clean it all up with a cat scrubby and kitchen brush.
Cat Apron, Cat Recipe Cards, Cat Scrubby, Cat Key Hook, Cat Towel Hook, Cat Wall Hook. Cat Wine Bottle Stopper
Apron With Cats, Cat Recipe Cards, Cat Scrubby, Serving Tray With Cats. Cat Key Hook, Cat Towel Hook, Cat Wall Hook, Cat Wine Bottle Stopper
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If you haven't seen the announcement, a new version of the SQL Server 2005 Best Practices Analyzer is available for download (dated July 2, 2007). The BPA will run on Windows XP, 2003, and Vista. It requires the Microsoft .NET Framework 2.0 as well as the SQL Server 2005 client tools.
If you're not familiar with the BPA, it uses defined templates on best practices to analyze the configuration of both the server and any databases you might select. For instance, if your server is set to Mixed Mode authentication and not Windows only authentication mode, BPA will flag this configuration. It's a great tool to run to take a look at where your SQL Server differs from best practices and make a determination if such a deviation is acceptable (for instance, a 3rd party app uses a SQL Server login, therefore Mixed Mode is required).
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Bristol City Council is working to bring empty school caretaker properties back into use as affordable family housing.
Initially, five former caretaker properties, which have sat empty for a long time, will be refurbished and renovated and brought back into use.
The homes will then become available for those in priority need on the housing waiting list HomeChoice, providing much needed affordable accommodation in the city.
Alongside building 800 new affordable homes per year by 2020, the council is also committed to making the best use of its current stock.
Councillor Paul Smith, Cabinet Member for Homes and Communities, said: "Having houses sat empty is a complete waste when there are so many people in the city without a suitable place to live.
"Five additional properties might not seem like a lot, but every property that we can bring back into use can be used to house a family and give them a chance to rebuild their lives.
"There is a severe lack of housing in the city, and we have to do all we can to reduce the amount of time any of our properties are sitting empty.
"We hope that we can continue to bring more properties like this into use and make the best use of the stock we already have, while we continue to work on hitting our house building targets."
The properties are located across the city, and work is due to start on the houses in August, with the aim to have them completed and ready for families to move in before Christmas.
Following the renovation of the first five homes, there is a wider aspiration to review the council's Educational Estate and more homes may become available to house families on the housing waiting list.
None of the five homes are within the school grounds and all are accessible from the public highway.


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Methane has been getting a good run these days due to it being the energy ingredient in a little-known resource we call "natural gas".....
Yet, while the gas boom has been a silver lining in the cloud of the US economic recovery, it comes with a price: methane is not going to help the effort to curb greenhouse gases. In fact, it has 21 times the heat retention properties as carbon, so hurting it seems more likely.
|This chart shows the many sources of methane by-product
Unfortunately, in every case, the gas is too contaminated
for energy use.
That's where Craig Criddle, professor of civil and environmental engineering at Stanford University, comes in. Criddle has a different idea for methane; while its energy seems near impossible to draw on a cost-efficient scale, turning it into plastic is very doable.
|Groundwater bacteria munching on methane.
While it's not going to solve energy issues, this method makes a solid argument that methane, not petroleum, should be looked at as the chief source of our plastic products. Criddle himself gives an economic reason:
"From a business standpoint, it makes far more sense to use methane as a polymer feedstock than to burn it for power production...PHB sells for $3 to $4 a kilogram on today's market, while methane burned for electricity production would return from 40 to 80 cents a kilo." - Craig Criddle to Glen Martin, Stanford Engineering
In addition, converting methane to a polymer sequesters all the carbon that would usually and eventually make its way into the atmosphere under our current petroleum-based process. Thus using methane-based polymers are not only cheaper, but have a direct effect on greenhouse gas emittance, as well.
Seems like a pipe-dream? Not at all. Stanford alum Molly Morse, PhD, is the CEO of Mango Materials, which has just recently been permitted to operate a PHB production facility at a wastewater plant in the Redwood City area of San Francisco County. If all goes well, methane-based polymers could be a commercial product- and a welcomed innovation- within a few years.
Donal Thoms-Cappello is a freelance writer for Rotor Clip Company.


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Red Cedar in Australia
Through historical photographs, art works, furniture, crafts and interiors, Red Cedar in Australia provides an engaging scholarly account of this beautiful and highly valuable tree.
Australian red cedar, Toona ciliata, has played an important part in Australia's natural and cultral history and early economy. Red Cedar in Australia traces the story of this remarkable tree - from its European discovery in 1788 and the arguments about its identification, to the growth of the cedar timber industry in the 19th Century and the use of wood in furniture, interiors and craftwork.
'Beautifully illustrated, it traces the discovery of the once plentiful cedar in New South Wales and Queensland, the growth of the cedar industry and the wood's use in furniture, interiors and craft.' Australian Country Style, August 2004.
Edited by John McPhee
Published 2004
128 pages
210mm x 270mm
Published 2004
128 pages
210mm x 270mm


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snaptra on June 10, 2017
Towns which in its lovely position in South West on map of Europe are so interestingly, with whole area, interwoven ,into mighty thousand years Polish history . These urban complexes , beside Polish history , present also riches of Hapsburg Empire bygone days . For all these who enjoyed and possibly still enjoy the clever […]
Continue reading about LANCUT , RZESZOW , PRZEMYSL AND LVIV ,


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*Hollywood, California ? The International Academy of Web Television will host its 6th Annual IAWTV Awards at a gala celebration honoring the best in streaming series starting at 8 p.m. on August 24, 2018, in the Ahmanson Ballroom at the Skirball Cultural Center in Los Angeles. Red Carpet will start at 6 p.m.
The IAWTV (www.iawtv.org), a division of The Caucus of Producers, Writers & Directors (www.caucus.org), will recognize the finest creators, cast and crew of web series from around the world. The IAWTV Awards 2018 returns the ceremony to its second year at the Skirball Cultural Center.
Open to IAWTV members and non-members through the festival submission site FilmFreeway (www.filmfreeway.com), the show itself will recognize the contributions of creative professionals in 29 separate categories that run the gamut of genres and crew positions. The entire ceremony will be streamed live online. Former hosts for the show include Emmy-winners Kim Estes, Chris Hardwick and Carrie Preston; and Tony-winner and SAG Award-winner Roger Bart. The IAWTV will announce its 2018 host soon.
The submission Deadline is: Thurs, May 31st. Continue reading


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Dream EZ is an app designed to help users cope with nightmares, a common symptom of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). The app uses principles from Imagery Rehearsal Therapy (IRT) for nightmare reduction, and aims to change nightmares into less disturbing dreams and reduce the frequency and intensity of nightmares. Users are encouraged to visualize and describe a nightmare via audio recording, then rewrite the plot and ending and record the rescripted dream description. Although the app can be used alone, it is intended for use in conjunction with a therapist. The app has four main sections: practice, dream log, summary and sleep tools. Practice is the main focus of the app and is where users practice recording detailed nightmare visualizations and rescripted nightmares. Some pre-recorded examples are provided. Users are asked to rate their mood on a ten-point scale every time they listen to a visualization or rescript. The dream log is where all dream visualizations and rescriptions are stored and tracked; the summary section provides a compact view of progress through the app; and sleep tools provides two guided relaxation exercises, a Muscle Relaxation tool and Breathing tool. The app is available free of charge on both Android and iOS platforms.
Overall Score: 7/14
Research Base: 0/3
Research Support: 2/2
Proposed Intervention: 3/3
Consumer Ratings: 1/3
Clinical Input in Development: 1/1
Software Support: 0/2
Rating Date: July 2017
Learn more about the Credibility Rating
User Experience
Subscale scores:
Engagement: 3.40
Functionality: 3.00
Aesthetics: 3.67
Information: 3.42
Subjective quality score: 3.44
Perceived impact score: 3.50
Rating date: September 2018
Rated by: PsyberGuide
Learn More about the User Experience Rating
Not Yet Available
More Information
Available for: iOS 8.0 or later (iPhone, iPad, iPod touch)
Developer: National Center for Telehealth Technology
Type of Treatment: Cognitive Behavioral Principles, Imagery Rehearsal Therapy (IRT)
Targeted Conditions: PTSD
Target Audience: Adults (especially military personnel)
Designed to be used in conjunction with a healthcare professional: No, but recommended
Languages Available: English
Get it on: iTunes
Research on this App
There have been no evaluations of Dream EZ although it is based on Imagery Rehearsal Therapy (IRT), which is a well-researched and effective treatment for addressing nightmares (Krakow & Zadra, 2006), especially in the context of PTSD (Davis & Wright, 2007). In a study of 168 female sexual assault survivors with self-reported nightmares, insomnia, and PTSD symptoms, participants who received 3 sessions of IRT (two 3-hour sessions and one 1-hour session) showed a substantial decrease in nightmares, disturbed sleep and PTSD (Krakow et al. 2001). Therapeutic effects occurred at 3-months follow-up and were maintained at 6 months in comparison with a control group. Research on the use of IRT specifically with military personnel has shown significant reduction among veterans in frequency and intensity of nightmares, following a full course of IRT, which included 4-5 sessions facilitated by a clinical psychologist, lasting one (individual) or two (group) hours, (Nappi, Drummond, Thorp, & McQuaid, 2010). IRT also led to reductions in insomnia severity and PTSD symptoms.
• Davis, J. L., & Wright, D. C. (2007). Randomized clinical trial for treatment of chronic nightmares in trauma-exposed adults. Journal of Traumatic Stress, 20, 123–133.
• Krakow, B., & Zadra, A. (2006). Clinical management of nightmares: Imagery rehearsal therapy. Behavioral Sleep Medicine, 4, 45–70.
• Krakow, B., Hollifield, M., Johnston, L., Koss, M., Schrader, R., Warner, T. D., et al. (2001). Imagery rehearsal for chronic nightmares in sexual assault survivors with post-traumatic stress disorder: A randomized trial. Journal of the American Medical Association, 286, 537–545.
• Nappi, C. M., Drummond, S. P., Thorp, S. R., & McQuaid, J. R. (2010). Effectiveness of imagery rehearsal therapy for the treatment of combat-related nightmares in veterans. Behavior Therapy, 41(2), 237-244.


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Begin With A Single Step
I had breakfast with a good friend of mine the other day, and as we were catching up she told me about the various business ideas she's been toying with. They all sounded credible, some even downright exciting. Yet by her own admission she was scared to give any of them a real go. "I'm stuck in my comfort zone," she told me. I think this is a position that many women find themselves in – they have big dreams and really juicy ideas, but the risks associated with stepping out seem far too great. It is easier to stay stuck, waiting for the day when they will feel "ready". Here's the thing: the comfort zone is usually not very comfortable at all. It doesn't feel good to know that where you're at is not where you want to be, or to feel that you aren't making the most of your potential. I think it's a fundamental human drive to want to fulfil our life's purpose, and it is...Read More


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I am always looking for crafts, kits, and ideas for my kids to do on a rainy day or just when I need a few minutes to talk on the phone. Here are some great Etsy Kids Team Member Shops that have just what I am looking for.
Children's Woodland
This shop has a great variety of kits for kids. From ABC craft kits to Elmo, Thomas, and Dora ones.
"All the colorful and creative children's items that you see in my store are created to help young children learn important skills while having fun at the same time! The enjoyment I get from creating my work is increased by knowing that my creations are being enjoyed by someone that is special to you!"-Children's Woodland
And Then
This shop has some classic kid kit crafts. Such as: Stain glass butterfly, hand print sun, fish aquarium, and rocket ship to name a few.
And Then "craft kits are made with love and kid-tested. I have done all the parent grunt-work (research, shopping, prep-work, organization), and assembled most of the craft supplies in a cute reusable box (you might need to supply something simple like scissors or a little tape). All you need to do is sit down with a kid kit and the special little person in your life and have some quality time!"- And Then
Baby Kays Boutique
Has some oh so cute no sew tutu ebooks! We are all about tutus in our house! Even if your child can not manage this diy tutu you (or an older child) can create it and your little one can help embellish it.
And to make things ever better this shop is having sale on there ebooks. Visit her sit for details.
And lets not for forget the older children
Fabric Boutique
Here are some DIY Fabric Flower Brooch/Pin or Hair Clip Kit. I have been eyeing these for a while. They come in every color you can imagine.


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Have a company event planned? Why not capture it through video? Creating a video of events is a great way to update your clients and potential clients, on what is happening at your company. It is also a great way to provide information to your clients through filming the talks that happen at your event.
Through video you can make sure that as many people as possible can watch the special guests that are speaking at your event. Make your event as valuable as possible by using video captured during the event on your YouTube and Facebook pages. Your events can also communicate how professional your business is, and also show your company's importance within your industry.
&Video will ensure we capture the invaluable content of the guest speeches for you to use on multiple platforms. &Video will ensure that your company event is shown in the best way, communicating to your clients that your business is an industry leader.


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The Conservative manifesto sets out a definite imaginative and prescient for the future of the internet wherein an anarchic world run by non-public corporations is supplemented by substantial government intervention. At its worst it was infinitely exchangeable with any other piece of content material on the Net 2.zero Internet and at its worst it might be needlessly snarky, poorly structured, or just plain unsuitable. Alternatively, the 2 younger teams of adults are more likely than older adults to show to online platforms for news – 50% of 18- to 29-year-olds and forty nine% of these ages 30-49 often accomplish that.
But Americans see clear distinctions between news organizations, friends and family, and extra distant people. The portion of Individuals who ever get news on a cell system has gone up from fifty four% in 2013 to seventy two% at present. Boxed anecdotes all through the textual content allow the authors to share their actual-world experiences writing for television, radio, and the Web.
Sharyl Attkinson is a writer, correspondent, and substitute anchor for CBS news, CBS Radio, and the CBS Net Web site, and Don Vaughn has worked in small markets as a radio and tv information writer and reporter. The writing I did was coyly known as service journalism" and typically I was able to floor niblets of reports that truly changed someone's mind or helped a small enterprise.
The less newsy are more likely to say friends and family are necessary pathways to news: 69% of those who observe information less typically say friends and family are important, in contrast with fifty seven% of those who observe information all or more often than not.
New applied sciences like RSS newsreaders had been each damaging to our backside line and helped unfold our information far and wide. This includes loyalty to news sources, belief in info from information organizations, discussion of stories with others and stage of engagement with news on social media.


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We struck a match that lit a wick A flame that we consumed in a moment stolen from forever But now we are just shadows dancing on the cave wall You and I
We struck a match that lit a wick A flame that we consumed in a moment stolen from forever But now we are just shadows dancing on the cave wall You and I
The first time I took flight Superman had just single bounded Black and white across the screen of A tiny TV topped with rabbit ears so Tying a towel around my neck, I Ran across the living room Winding swishing the cape behind, Leapt into the air and Hung there Suspended mid-air for an eon before Landing on the mattress
A man I knew died today. He had driven himself to hospital Sweating and shaking From heart failure, The way some diabetics do. The attack was just a symptom. Too much of his liver had died, His body buoyed with toxins. One by one His organs faltered. He lasted long enough For the family to gather, To make their apologies
You're 01011010 And I'm 3.14 to ∞ Which is why you're all Yes/no, yes/no, yes/no. And I'm all about the Maybe.
So you want to be the wolf, She says with fangs bared. You want to hunt with the pack. The scent wild in your nostrils, The taste of prey in your mouth. You want to stalk silent
My fight or flight response is broken Or the flight gene never coded my DNA. When an Everglades catfish ripped the cane pole From my hands and I dived into Okeechobee After it and into the personal space Of a swamp gator who hissed and chuffed a warning, I punched the gator on the snout
This is what happens when you get too much coffee and not enough exercise. This morning I awoke speaking Australian To a mob of high school kids who Loved my books and the TV series Based on them. They wanted to know How I allowed this certain actress To play the ballerina assassin. So I asked, what actress? What TV
The Yamaha that summer money Bought two seasons and a half ago Rests easy on her knee, a foot tucked beneath As she strums a bright chord Then sings, you be you and I'll be me, And that's all I ever wanted for her. Mind if I play another one? As if she has to ask. She can play for
Shall we gather at the river? Shall we gather stones To place on the graves Of those we've lost? Shall I open myself Like a spigot turns A fountain flowing Deep and wide? Or shall we walk Hand in hand, speaking To the voices that whisper From the mist?
The nicotine coating your truck windows so thick it took us vinegar and old paint canvas to cut through it. The snap of your Zippo lighter like the snap of a worn leather belt when you let me fill it with fluid. The ember of your Pall Mall dancing in the night when you told Uncle Joe that jacks bounced


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It's been a really long time since my last post on this blog. That was caused by a number of things: recovery from surgery was slower than I expected, at least in terms of getting back the energy to do things during the day. For awhile there it was all I could do to go to the park and sit for an hour while the dogs walked around. It took almost six months to get up the energy to walk any distance myself, but once I started doing that, my energy started coming back at a faster pace. Now I can do 3 or 4 hours of (mostly non-physical) work a day after walking the dogs.
But once I had the energy, more things intervened. Our Lhasa Apso, Jemma, suddenly (over the course of 2 or 3 weeks) went blind. We spent some time going to vets and not getting a definitive diagnosis until we saw a veterinary opthalmologist. He diagnosed SORD (Sudden Onset Retinal Disorder), a disorder whose etiology and mechanism are pretty much unknown, but whose prognosis is 100% blindness in almost all cases, and which has no treatment. Jemma has been blind now for several months, and has mostly acclimated herself to it. Dogs aren't as strongly affected by blindness as humans, because smell and hearing are so much more acute for them. Jemma's only serious problem (aside from a non-related eye infection that lasted several weeks) is that when she gets excited or upset she gets disoriented and gets stuck in loops between obstacles, going back and forth until she accidentally goes off at an angle and misses one of them. We''re working with her on that, but she is a very stubborn dog (a breed quality) and is having trouble taking direction when she gets that way. Spencer, our Rat Terrier, has been very solicitous of her, following her and trying to help her (though not very consistently). He has come to get us a couple of times when she got into trouble in the back yard.
The other thing that's been keeping me from the blog is a project I've started. Now that I'm able to do useful work at least part of the day, I've decided to come partially out of retirement and create software that, with a little luck, I can sell to bring in a little extra money; at least enough, I hope, to pay for the additional hardware and software I've had to buy for the development work (that's not really a lot, but retirement hasn't been quite what it was supposed to be, thanks to the Current Financial Unpleasantness). I've got a project that I think I can do myself, one that I've been thinking about off and on for a year or so. It will start out as a Macintosh application, sold through Apple's Mac App Store, and if that's successful, I plan to port it to the iPad. Details in a near future blog post.
I'll continue to post here, but probably not as often as I was doing last fall. I'll be spending about 20 hours a week on the software project, and that will include some postings on a new blog I'm setting up now along with a website for the company that will sell the software. I'll post the details for the new site and blog here soon.
Saturday, May 28, 2011
Still Here After All This Time
Posted by Unknown at 9:37 PM 0 comments Links to this post
Labels: apple computer, dogs, family, personal news, promises
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I've never understood why farming seems to have such appeal in a digital form. I've done some real farming, sweating my ass off in the Texas summer to try and get hay out of the ground using nothing but prayers and cow manure. It's simple honest work, but I don't think anyone could call it "fun." Then again I don't remember fairies or ice princesses or villages full of attractive and available women in my grandparents' back 40, so maybe farming is different in Japan, home of the venerated Harvest Moon series.
Harvest Moon has been entertaining would-be farmers for decades on a succession of consoles and handhelds, but before today it wasn't available on Android. Seeds of Memories is the first Play Store version from developer Natsume, following an iPhone version last year. It translates all of the classic mechanics of the franchise into touch-enabled actions, including planting, tending, and harvesting a variety of crops, caring for animals and collecting eggs, milk, and the like. You'll also have to go into town and scour the countryside, making friends with the local villagers and possibly starting up a romance with a comely young lass or strapping young lad (depending on your gender choice). Also there are fairies and witches and little Tingle-looking guys, which I don't recall from the SNES version of Harvest Moon, but whatever.
The good news is that Seeds of Memories is a real Harvest Moon game with no in-app purchases - pay the rather hefty $10 entry fee and you can literally farm until the cows come home. The bad news is that the game looks really terrible. Harvest Moon has never been a graphical powerhouse, but the flat, barely-shaded bobbleheads in Seeds of Memories lack all of the charm of the old pixelated designs, and the environments look like they were made in Photoshop in about ten minutes. If that doesn't bother you, then by all means get crackin' and start planting your turnips. If it does... well, you can always emulate the old games, or hold out for an Android version of Stardew Valley.


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Introduction / HistoryThe Dong of Nigeria are located in the Binyer district of Adamawa state. Some also live in and around Donga in Taraba state. Their area of habitation is watered by many rivers, making the soil quite fertile. Although mountains are located throughout the area, the people are concentrated in the plains, engaging in subsistence agriculture.
Hundreds of years ago, the Dong, included in the larger Chamba people group, migrated from the Middle East and traveled through Chad and Borno state to the Benue Valley of Nigeria. They were driven away from there by the Bata and eventually settled in Yeli in Cameroon.
In the early nineteenth century, the Dong lived in harmony with the Fulani and often intermarried with them. A few decades later, however, the Fulani suddenly attacked them, killing their chiefs and forcing them to flee from their settlements in Cameroon. The Dong eventually settled in their present locations in both Nigeria and Cameroon.
What are their lives like?The Dong are divided into clans or kindreds. Each kindred has a leader or head, who is chosen not for seniority, wealth, or power, but for knowledge of traditional customs and religious rites. This leader is responsible to the chief for the members of the kindred that he leads.
When a Dong youth is near fifteen years of age, he is circumcised, along with other boys from the same age group. The boys remain camped outside the village in the bush for two months following the circumcision, where they are taken care of by the priest until they are healed. During this time, the boys are taught different crafts and are trained for war and difficult times. Initiation into the ancestral cult also occurs. When the boys are healed, they return to the village, where a festival celebrating their circumcision and entry into manhood is held. At this time, the process of selecting a wife will begin.
A girl and her paternal aunt decide which proposal of marriage the girl will accept. When a young man is chosen, he will bring many gifts to the girl and her family and will work with his friends in the girl's parents' farm until the marriage is consummated. The girl's aunt collects the bride-price and sets the wedding date. She is also responsible for the naming of her niece's children. Much respect is given to a paternal aunt, as she is believed to have the power to bless or curse.
The Dong are an agricultural people, growing guinea corn, millet, and a variety of vegetables. Each October, when the grain on the stalks of the guinea corn crop first begins to show, the Purma Festival is celebrated. This is a large, important festival to which the Dong invite some of the people from neighboring tribes.
Instead of reflecting an agricultural significance, this festival is more of a traditional, warlike event. The warriors of the Dong are given a royal review by the head chief of the tribe. Much beer drinking, music, and dancing are included in this festival, along with mock battles and attacks.
What are their beliefs?Many of the Dong have become Muslim, due to Fulani influence; however, many still practice their traditional ethnic religious beliefs and practices. The Dong view God as though he were far away , and they believe that they can reach him only through the gods and through the spirits of their ancestors.
Each god is worshipped through its own cult. The strongest of these occult powers is the vera god, to whom the Dong sacrifice when things go wrong with a family member. Belief in a women's cult also exists. This cult is believed to prevent war and epidemics and is thought to protect the chief on his journeys. The voma cult is the rain cult. When there is a shortage of rainfall, a flute-like instrument called a voma is blown to summon rain.
What are their needs?Though the physical needs of the Dong are many, their spiritual needs are even greater. Pioneer evangelistic works must be launched in order to reach the Dong.
Prayer Points* Ask the Lord of the harvest to send missionaries to work among the Dong of Nigeria.
* Ask God to raise up prayer teams who will begin breaking up the soil through worship and intercession.
* Pray for the few known Dong believers to stand firm in their Christian faith.
* Pray that the Lord will bring forth a strong and growing Dong church for the glory of His name!


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I recieved the picture below in an e-mail and thought, "What the animal world can teach us !"
It reminds me of how our Father in Heaven shelters us when life is rough; how he seeks to protect us and how he shows his love for us.
Praise God !
mission shaped ministry course
Fresh Expressions mission shaped ministry was launched in 2007. Since then, it has been presented in 56 centres across the UK with more
than 2,000 people taking part in the one-year, part-time learning journey.
Individuals or teams, leaders and members, clergy and lay people learn side by side in the sessions to make msm a major contributor to lay and ordained ministry training.
The course's 24-units are usually presented over:
Course content includes the mission of God, vision and values, gospel and culture, evangelism, discipleship, leadership and team
roles, spirituality, worship and the sacraments, how to keep going when things get tough, and what is Church?
Andrew Roberts, director of training for Fresh Expressions, says, 'It is a joy to see mission shaped ministry equipping people from a great
range of all Christian backgrounds to share more effectively in God's mission. In many cases, those involved have seen calls and visions clarified. Some have gone on to launch fresh expressions of church whilst others have been enabled to sustain them in their work. Many have helped existing churches to become more mission-shaped.'
Revd Loraine Mellor, Chair, Nottingham & Derby Methodist District, says 'I wholeheartedly endorse msm as a tool for equipping, sharing, resourcing and encouraging mission. As a part of the Fresh Expressions vision and the Methodist Church priority (with our ecumenical partners) for missional engagement in our communities, it has equipped over 2000 people for new, creative work as well as awakening a sense of mission in many others.'
Right Revd Dr Alastair Redfern, Bishop of Derby, says, 'msm provides one of the most exciting and creative ways in which God's gifts can be
nourished and focused to have maximum impact for the Gospel in our times. I hope that many will take advantage of this important opportunity – I commend the course warmly. God ever calls us to be agents of His new and surprising life.'
Course timetable and venue
Saturday 3rd September 2011
Monday 19th September 2011
Monday 17th October 2011
Friday 4th to Sunday 6th November 2011
Monday 12th December 2011
Saturday 14th January 2012
Monday 20th February 2012
Monday 19th March 2012
Monday 16th April 2012
Monday 21st May 2012
Saturday 16th June 2012
Saturdays run from 09.30 to 15.30, Mondays from 19.30 to
21.15, both at St Andrew's LEP, Station Road, Langley Mill, Nottinghamshire, NG16 4BP.
The residential weekend will be at Bawtry Hall, Bawtry, Doncaster, DB10 6JH.
£299 per person, which covers all materials, refreshments and the weekend away. Financial support may be available.
David Fidler, Course Administrator
I went to see my first match of the football season; our local club, Alfreton Town were promoted to the Blue Square Premiership last season and I enjoyed a few games with them. However I am determined to try to get to more games this year and with that in mind Rebecca and I went off to see them play Forest Green Rovers. I suspect that we may be in for a rough ride as they managed to end the game with 10 men (someone was injured, after all the subs had been used up) and were soundly beaten 1-6.
However we enjoyed ourselves and it was good to be cheering a local club on again.
Now I know that to the non footballing people who read this you will wonder what the excitement is all about, but to me football is a fascinating game and I genuinely love the passion, the atmosphere, the creativity and the sheer breathtaking ability some people have.
It makes me reflect on the difference between a football supporter and a church-goer (I deliberately make the difference between a church attendee and a Christian).
A football supporter will follow his/her team in all weathers whereas some church goers will have a morning off if there is a rain cloud in the sky; a football supporter will walk a mile or so to the ground but some church goers consider it difficult if the they can't park their car next to the entrance; a football supporter will follow his/her team all over the country in many cases (and to other countries sometimes) but try getting a church goer to attend another church for a joint activity and there could be all sorts of trouble; a football supporter will pay tremendous amounts of money to watch the game but many church goers object to being reminded that more money than the standard £2 is required to keep the Church going; football supporters will sing and chant at the top of their voices but many church goers sing in an almost embarrassed fashion and also complain if it isn`t their favourite hymn that they were taught as a child on grandma`s knee.
Now I realise that this is a ridiculously over simplified picture of church attendance, but it serves to illustrate that when we have a passion for something then many of us will travel, put up with weather, pay what is necessary and we will band together for the experience. Well, I have a passion for Jesus Christ as my Lord and Saviour and that is what drives me to seek out similar and like-minded people with whom I can share my passion. It is with such people that I can converse about the one who means more to me than any other and it is they who help build up my knowledge and love of Jesus.
The challenge to my readers is this "Where is your passion and what will you do/pay/endure to fulfill it ?"
Skegby Methodist Church, on behalf of the Borders Mission Circuit, held a prayer and fasting period today to pray for the state of our nation. Moved by the recent riots on the streets of our towns and cities one of the Church members proposed a time of fasting and prayer from 11 until 2.00 p.m. today. Although I could only attend a part of it, it was certainly a worthwhile initiative and many turned out for it. The picture below is the centrepiece of the Church wall, a stunning picture of an anchor with the promise of Heaven.
As I prayed over the recommended Bible verses my eyes kept being drawn back to this image, and I felt as though I was being reminded that the only way for this world to find piece is when it is truly anchored in the love and peace of Jesus Christ.
When people feel that it is necessary to rely on looting so-called luxury goods, phones, computers and so on in order for them to have a better life then we really do have problems. Even amongst those who have successfully managed to get away with stolen goods, they are still going to be temporary and will at some stage wear out and be gone.
The anchor reminds us that there really is only one lasting thing within life and that is the love of Jesus Christ. In Matthew 6:19 Jesus said "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal." (New International Version). The things of earth cannot last and therefore we shouldn`t rely on them; however Matthew 6:20 records Jesus as continuing to say "But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal."
In other words we should be looking for spiritual treasure which is lasting. I feel as though the anchor (with its similar shape to the cross) was a reminder that we need to hold the spiritual treasure of Jesus which will last in both this world and the next. I have attached a picture of a cross from Gateshead to remind us of the need in society for the cross to be out of our buildings; however, I also see that on the pub behind there is an advert for a free function room. What better advert for the free (to us) function room of Heaven paid for through the cross of Jesus.
"Lord, I pray that those who looted and rioted last week may come to know you and put their trust in spiritual treasure that they may store in Heaven"
What a dreadful week its been, watching the riots unfold in different parts of the country; I found myself praying for my Godchildren in London, even though there was no evidence of any disturbances in their area, praying for my closest friends in Oldham and Manchester and then suddenly confronted by the news of the disturbances in Nottingham, especially in the Victoria Centre where my daughter Vikki and her friend work. Without wanting to you begin to worry in case the violence spreads down to her part of Nottingham. Thankfully not, but if we`re worried this far away what about those people caught up in the areas where the riots are taking place ?
Its hard, at this stage, to pinpoint the cause etc. of it all. I certainly feel that there is a large element of criminality involved (it seems too organised not to be), a fresh way of anarchy caused by those who simply want to cry against the Government (whichever one is in power), a mob mentality running on adrenalin and a certain amount of anger fuelled by poor living conditions and a disenfranchised youth. However, whatever the cause is there is no need for the mindless violence, burning and looting and it is noticeable how many of these supposed `hard` guys manage to cover their faces so that they can't be identified.
Facebook has run a few entries from people comparing the looters hiding behind scarves with soldiers fighting in Afghanistan and places and pointing out that the latter are `real` men, and to that I would say "yes, that's right !"
However we need to look deeper, I feel, than simplistic reasons and I believe that we need to realise that what we are seeing and sadly see in many other countries at different times is a symptom of a fallen world. Now I know that is in itself a simplistic answer but it is a part of Christian theology that is often forgotten. When God made the world he created it perfect but the selfishness of humankind (and I`m not one in favour of the Eve bit the apple as literal) spoilt the world leading to a falling away from all that God intended of us. Hate, selfishness, prejudice, greed and so on are consequences of that falling away from God, and in turn they lead to mob mentality, starving in Africa, sexually transmitted diseases, grief, broken relationships and in short a world which is struggling to maintain any semblance of true civilisation. When the relatively peaceful people of Norway are hit by Christian fundamentalism, the streets of our cities hit by manic mobs and people starving on the horn of Africa one can only conclude that there is something terribly wrong with our world.
So how to put it right ? I truly believe that the answer largely falls within the hands of the Christian Church. We, who profess to love Jesus Christ, ought to be like salt and light within this world (Matt.5). We should be flavouring the world with good things not getting sucked into the worlds standards and we should be the ones bringing the light of the Gospel of Jesus which will push back the forces of darkness. Jesus said in Matthew 28 "Go into all the world………………. make disciples of all nations, and lo I will be with you to the close of the age"
It is only when this world turns truly to God through Jesus Christ that we will see the world that God originally intended. As Revelation points out, there will be "a new Heaven and a new earth".
However, sadly, many parts of the Bible speak about hell. Lets be certain about this there really is such a place and the tragedy is some will go there, BUT that is not Gods plan. He wants to be reconciled to people and I believe in a God who weeps for every soul that doesn't join him in Heaven and so it is up to us to share the good news of a loving God, to live in a loving way and to show that there really is good news for people to aspire to.
Please pray for the streets of our cities tonight that there may be a move of the Holy Spirit sweeping through this nation and this world.
"Coincidences are just the miracles we forget to thank God for"
I came across this in an e-mail the other day. Firstly I thought it was hilarious but then I thought it challenging………………………….


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André Villas Boas plays down Roman Abramovich visit
André Villas-Boas has played down the significance of his meeting with Roman Abramovich yesterday, after the Chelsea owner visited the club's Cobham training ground for the second time in four days.
The Russian billionaire was accompanied by Eugene Tenenbaum, a club director, as he held talks with Villas-Boas, the manager, to discuss a series of issues, including Sunday's 3-3 draw with Manchester United - a match with Chelsea had led 3-0 at one stage.
Abramovich also met Michael Emenalo, Chelsea's director of football, before watching the first team train and went on to hold further meetings with coaching staff in the afternoon. Villas-Boas, however, insisted that the meeting was a positive one and that the Russian's presence had had a "good impact" on his squad.


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The Run Down
As a city of over 2.7 million people, it's the people of Chicago and their stories that make living here unlike any other place in the world. That's why we recently launched the My Block, My Hood, My City series which features city guides that focus on the people of Chicago and the neighborhoods they live in. For this guide, we'll be telling the story of Danny Mota. He's an artist, photographer, creative director, and Logan Square resident, who in matter of a few short years, went from working in strategy/finance to directing big budget commercial shoots. Here are the details.
1. Morning workout @Unanimous Boxing Gym
2. Choose Your Own Breakfast Adventure
3. Drones @ Rooftop
1. Unanimous Boxing Gym
For our first stop, we're taking the Blue Line to Logan Square and starting off with an early morning workout at Unanimous Boxing. There's an abundance of crossfit gyms, cycling centers, and yoga studios, but true boxing gyms aren't as prevalent. This place is a legit boxing gym with a full sized ring. When you feel the urge to punch or get punched, this place is the spot to strap on the gloves.
Downstairs is a more traditional crossfit style studio, which is where I'm meeting Danny. This is his typical Saturday morning routine. When he's not here, however, you'll catch him running around Chicago with a camera, and using the backdrop of the city as a canvas to create mesmerizing digital works of art. For a quick detour from this guide, you can check out his Instagram at dannymota.
Here's a picture of a typical Saturday morning workout. When the workout scheme includes doing 100+ reps of different exercise movements, that's my cue to turn around and have a cheeseburger. For you more disciplined people, kudos you.
2. Choose Your Own Breakfast Adventure
After this early morning workout, Danny and I walk down Milwaukee Ave., cutting through the heart of Logan Square — a neighborhood Danny has called home for nearly his entire life–to grab breakfast.
It's hard not to notice all the cranes and construction along the street. Compared to the Logan Square he knew growing up, today's Logan Square is almost unrecognizable. The Logan Square he knew growing up was rougher around the edges, and made up of mainly a Hispanic immigrant population that arrived in the 1960s. The beginning of that population wave brought Danny's parents who eventually settled here.
Logan square, as of late, is going through a development boom with what seems like a new crop of coffee shops, eateries, and condo developments springing up in the area each month. The topic of gentrification is on the top of everyone's minds down here. What does it mean for the folks in the neighborhood that have lived there for decades and are now feeling the financial pressures of rising costs? Aren't outside money and investments into a previously neglected neighborhood a good thing?
Questions about whether this change is good or bad are conversations worth having. But these aren't new questions or new problems. It's been happening for as long as people have been living, and Chicago isn't immune to that. As we chatted, I don't think Danny or I really knew a good policy solution either. It's complicated, but what we both seemed to agree on was that when a neighborhood becomes "hot," it attracts big business and big money. If you're up against that, it's tough to resist.
For now, Logan Square is a mix of old and new. To highlight that dynamic, we're playing a "choose your own adventure" game with breakfast.
Option 1 is to grab biscuits and gravy at Cozy Corner, a no-frills corner breakfast place that's been serving the neighborhood for over 30 years. Option 2 is a cold brew coffee and healthy fish taco bowl at Lonesome Rose, a new Mexican joint that opened up in 2017. We take a look at both places below.
Option 1: Cozy Corner
Our first option is right at the California Blue Line stop, and by that, I mean it's visible from the train platform. This is a place that's been around for over 30 years and even with all the new places popping up around it, I don't think it's going anywhere anytime soon. I get that sense, because there is a massive line going out the door every weekend morning.
Don't get discouraged by the line, however, because efficiency is the name of the game at this place and they get your food in quick and people out fast.
As far as the food is concerned, this is a no-frills breakfast place. Strong coffee, a mean biscuits and gravy, and a few Mexican inspired breakfast choices that undoubtedly has been influenced by the neighborhood's large Hispanic population.
Option 2: Lonesome Rose
Our second option is a few blocks off the California Blue Line stop at lonesome Rose. This is the place we ended up at instead of Cozy Corner. It's a new restaurant serving Tex-Mex and Mexican fare that's designed in the familiar minimalist and modern mold as many other new bars and eateries in the area.
The food here is exactly what you want after a hard morning workout. The ingredients are fresh and the dishes are light. Pictured above is the baja fish bowl. It's big chunks of avocado, salsa, fresh greens and grilled fish on a bed of rice.
Wait times can get long here, so if you're not in the mood to wait, grab a seat at the bar where it's first come, first served. We sat at the bar and it's where I got to know a little more about Danny and his story.
Danny's experience is the all-American dream if I ever heard of one. It's the reason parents like his immigrate to the U.S. It's the promise that if you come here, work hard, put in the hours, and take chances, then you can find success.
Today, Danny works for Havas, a mega global branding and advertising agency. He directs and shoots national commercial for big companies and manages big-time advertising budgets. It was only some years ago, however, that Danny was a new graduate from DePaul who started his career in a corporate finance/strategy role at Pepsico and then later as an account executive at the advertising agency, Leo Burnett.
While toiling away in his office job, there was an itch to exercise his creative muscle. He drew in his spare time, read design books, dabbled in photography, but he wasn't a creative professional. So instead of languishing in his cubicle, he did something about it. With the grit and discipline of person willing to wake up early on a Saturday morning to go through a 1000 rep workout, Danny got to work.
Before most people even got out of bed, Danny was already in his office cubicle watching Youtube tutorials about Photoshop, After Effects, Premiere and any other design software he could get his hands on. As people strolled into the office, he was already there 2 hours before taking notes and working on projects like he was in school again. He eventually started putting what he learned into practice and started posting his work on Instagram. He was an Instagram pioneer and was one of the earlier users to go beyond food pics and really transform his images into interesting surrealist landscapes.
He started to build a small following of maybe a few thousand people, and then one day his phone was blowing up with thousands of notifications of new followers. Out of nowhere and unaware, an article from a national publication listed his Instagram profile as one to follow in Chicago. Now this is the part in Danny's story where things start to snowball.
He tells me the rest of it as we walk to one of his favorite spots to snap pics.
4. Rooftop Views
As I mentioned before, there are a bevy of new condo developments along Milwaukee and Danny happens to live in on of them. Our last stop is the roof of his building, and I don't know if I've seen a better view of Chicago. We're up here for the view and because Danny's got this sweet ass drone that we're flying around.
For all you photographers out there, while this rooftop isn't a public space, Danny gave me a tip if you want to get into rooftop photography. Getting access to a roofs can be as easy as e-mailing building managers or management companies and asking. Sometimes you get lucky and they are cool about letting you shoot. It helps if you shoot for a publication or are affiliated with something photography related. For all you subscribers, just say you're taking pictures for Project Nande if that gives you any bit of pull.
As we fly his drone around, he tells me how his new found Instagram "fame" led to a very fortunate encounter that would change his life. Sometime after he started to gain a large following, he got a message from the Chief Creative Director at Havas, Jason Peterson. It was a short message along the lines of, "hey, lets's shoot some pics around the city." Peterson is basically at the top of the advertising agency pyramid. To put this in context with a sports analogy, I get the sense that it would be the same as Lebron James asking if you'd be interested in shooting some hoops.
They ended up meeting in Chinatown spending a few hours snapping pics of the city. For Danny, he thought that was the end of it, but a few weeks later, Danny ran into Peterson again at a party. Peterson was there with his wife and they both chatted it up with Danny. By the end of the night, Peterson's wife mentioned that Danny should work for Peterson. It's one of those "haha, but please don't be a joke" sort of things. The next day Danny got an e-mail that read, "so you want a job?"


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"When setting out on a journey,
do not seek advice from someone who has never left home."
~ Rumi
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text:
Quebec will forge ahead with plans to tax Netflix with or without the support of Ottawa, the province's finance minister has said in a letter to his federal counterpart.
"Our sales taxes have to apply to the realities of the 21st century," Carlos Leitao wrote in the letter dated Tuesday to Bill Morneau.
Calling it a matter of "fairness," Leitao said "Quebec will have no choice but to act alone" if the federal government doesn't budge.
An agreement Ottawa has reached with Netflix allows the U.S. web-streaming giant to forgo paying sales tax by investing $500 million in Canadian productions over the next five years.
Leitao says the deal gives Netflix an unfair advantage over Quebec-based companies that offer similar services.
Quebec's position did nothing to sway Morneau.
"We have been clear – our government has no plans to introduce a new tax on middle class Canadians," his spokeswoman, Chloe Luciani-Girouard, wrote in an email Wednesday.
"Should (Quebec) determine they want to move forward on imposing a sales tax on Netflix, they can proceed."
In Quebec City, Leitao told reporters he doesn't require Ottawa's permission to proceed but that he still needed to inform the federal government because the province's sales tax is harmonized with the federal GST.
Leitao said his government has been given indications by the company it is willing to pay taxes to the province.
"(Netflix) is telling us, very honestly and clearly, that they will co-operate," he said.
A spokesperson for Netflix said in an email, "Netflix pays all taxes where required by law."
Leitao intends to introduce the measure as of 2018.
Last month, all Quebec political parties voted unanimously in favour of a motion to ensure the provincial sales tax is quickly imposed on all foreign companies that offer products and services online, notably in the cultural sector.