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Difference between revisions of "Essay: 10 reasons why American atheism will see a significant decline"
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''See also:'' [[Atheism and the internet]] and [[Atheistic bullying]]
''See also:'' [[Atheism and the internet]] and [[Atheistic bullying]]
[[File:Losing.jpeg|thumbnail|250px|right|The article ''[
[[File:Losing.jpeg|thumbnail|250px|right|The article ''[://.blogspot.com///internet-atheism---.html Internet atheism: The thrill is gone!]'' points out that internet atheism has been in a significant slump since . ]]
During the period of 2008 to 2012, the [[Atheist Population|atheist community]] made a concerted effort to spread [[atheism]] through [[Atheism and the internet|means of the internet]]. However, leading atheist websites have seen plunges in web traffic during this same period and during the first half of 2012.<ref>[http://questionevolution.blogspot.com/2012/05/internet-atheism-and-skepticism-thrill.html Internet atheism: The thrill is gone!]</ref>
During the period of 2008 to 2012, the [[Atheist Population|atheist community]] made a concerted effort to spread [[atheism]] through [[Atheism and the internet|means of the internet]]. However, leading atheist websites have seen plunges in web traffic during this same period and during the first half of 2012.<ref>[http://questionevolution.blogspot.com/2012/05/internet-atheism-and-skepticism-thrill.html Internet atheism: The thrill is gone!]</ref>
Revision as of 22:40, 14 January 2020
The popular YouTube Christian Shockofgod said he believes that American atheism, which is merely a squeak in American society, will be cut by at least 50% in terms of the percentage of its adherents.[2]
Question: Is it reasonable to predict that American atheism will see a 50% reduction in its popularity or is such an idea a delusional pie in the sky prediction?
- 1 10 reasons why American atheism will see a significant decline
- 2 Atheist pessimism about the atheist movement
- 3 Baylor University researchers: American Christianity is not on the decline
- 4 Other important considerations
- 5 See also
- 6 External links
- 7 Notes
10 reasons why American atheism will see a significant decline
1. Global atheism is shrinking. In an age of globalization this will have an effect on American atheism (Immigration, global communications, etc.)[3][4] See also: Global atheism statistics
In 2012, Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary reported that globally every day there are 800 less atheists per day, 1,100 less non-religious (agnostic) people per day and 83,000 more people professing to be Christians per day.[5][6]
In 2011, the American Spectator declared concerning research published in the International Bulletin of Missionary Research: "The report estimates about 80,000 new Christians every day, 79,000 new Muslims every day, and 300 fewer atheists every day. These atheists are presumably disproportionately represented in the West, while religion is thriving in the Global South, where charismatic Christianity is exploding."[7]
In 2009, the book A sceptics guide to atheism indicated: "A worldwide poll taken in 1991 put the global figure for atheists at just 4.4% of the population. By 2006 it was estimated that only 2% of the world population were atheists."[8]
In 2012 an article entitled Atheism in decline by Nigel Tomes declared:
| The IBMR publishes yearly figures for religions (and non religions) around the globe. Their latest numbers, hot off the press (Jan. 2012) show some interesting trends.
Atheism is in Decline
In 1970 atheists (those avowing there is no God) numbered 166 million worldwide; that was almost one-in-twenty—4.5% of the globe's population. By 2012 atheists' number is estimated at 137 million. That's a decline of almost 30 million. Since world population is growing, atheists' share declined to less than one-in-fifty—under 2% in 2012. Put differently, every 24 hours there are 800 fewer atheists in the world! Atheism is in decline.
Agnosticism is in Decline
In 2000 agnostics (those who "don't know" if there is a God) numbered 666 million, 10.9% of the world's people. By 2012 agnostic's number is estimated at 661 million--a decline of 5 million. In relative terms by 2012 agnostics represent less than one tenth (9.4%) of world population. Every 24 hours there are 1,100 less agnostics in the world. Agnostics are also in decline.
Added together these two groups make up a declining share of global population. In 1970 atheists and agnostics accounted for one-in-five (19.2%) of the world's people. Based on current trends by 2025 they will represent less than one-in-ten (9.7%). Their population share will fall by half in 50+ years.[9]
Belief in God in the United States recently had an uptick according to a Gallup poll
In June 2016, American Interest reported: "First of all, religious belief is still very powerful and widespread, and there is nothing inevitable about its decline. In fact, the proportion of people who say they believe in God actually ticked modestly upward, from 86 percent to 89 percent, since Gallup last asked the question in 2014."[10]
Decline of atheism in terms of global adherents is expected to accelerate:
See also: Acceleration of 21st century desecularization
Eric Kaufmann, a professor at Birkbeck College, University of London, using a a wealth of demographic studies, argues that there will be a significant decline of global atheism in the 21st century which will impact the Western World.[11][12][13][14] In addition, Kaufmann argues that religious conservatism has a long term trend of rising and that their influence in the world will significantly increase.[15] Kaufmann is author of the book Shall the Religious Inherit the Earth?.[16][17] In the Western World due to immigration and the higher birth rates of religious people, Kaufman writes: "Committed religious populations are growing in the West, and will reverse the march of secularism before 2050."[18]
Conservative Christian immigrants to Western World countries:
The Birbeck, University of London professor Eric Kaufmann declared to a secular audience in a lecture titled Shall the religious inherit the earth (see video): "The trends that are happening worldwide inevitably in an age of globalization are going to affect us." We can already see this happening in large cities throughout the Western World in cities like London for example. Consider this article for example: Rise of biblical Christianity in UK due to immigrants is shaking up established church
Rise of Hispanic evangelicals and Hispanics in the United States
See also: Atheism and Latino Americans
In the United States, the American evangelical Hispanic population is quickly growing and in addition Hispanics are very religious and a growing segment of American society.[19][20]
Secular societies and birth rates: a historical analysis
Michael Blume, a researcher at the University of Jena in Germany, wrote "Most societies or communities that have espoused atheistic beliefs have not survived more than a century."[21] Blume also indicated concerning concerning his research on this matter: "What I found was the complete lack of a single case of a secular population, community or movement that would just manage to retain replacement level."[22] See also: Atheism and fertility rates and Atheism and sexuality
Aging populations and turning to faith in later years by the elderly
In addition, currently the Western World population is aging in terms of its demographic makeup, particularly in secular Europe, and it has been found that belief in God grows as a person's death nears.[23][24] See also: Global atheism and aging populations
Demographics and the expected decline of American secularism:
See also: American atheism and United States, irreligion vs. religion and demographics
The Birkbeck College, University of London professor Eric Kaufman wrote in his 2010 book Shall the Righteous Inherit the Earth? concerning America:
|High evangelical fertility rates more than compensated for losses to liberal Protestant sects during the twentieth century. In recent decades, white secularism has surged, but Latino and Asian religious immigration has taken up the slack, keeping secularism at bay. Across denominations, the fertility advantage of religious fundamentalists of all colours is significant and growing. After 2020, their demographic weight will to tip the balance in the culture wars towards the conservative side, ramping up pressure on hot-button issues such as abortion. By the end of the century, three quarters of America may be pro-life. Their activism will leap over the borders of the 'Redeemer Nation' to evangelize the world. Already, the rise of the World Congress of Families has launched a global religious right, its arms stretching across the bloody lines of the War on Terror to embrace the entire Abrahamic family.[25]
For more information please see: Atheist population
In addition, the world is a smaller place and secular Europe does influence America (Jacques Derrida, etc.). The Eurozone is increasingly showing many signs of decline (economy, rioting, etc.) and no doubt European influence on the world in terms of its secular ideology will also decline as people are less likely to admire and emulate failure.[26] Also, amidst the many financial and natural disaster problems Japan is having, Christianity is growing in Japan.[27]
Leading atheist websites see decline in web traffic
See also: Atheism and the internet and Atheistic bullying
During the period of 2008 to 2012, the atheist community made a concerted effort to spread atheism through means of the internet. However, leading atheist websites have seen plunges in web traffic during this same period and during the first half of 2012.[28]
In May of 2012, it was pointed out by supporters of Creation Ministries International's Question evolution! campaign that from a global internet perspective the public's interest in the views of the agnostic/weak atheist Richard Dawkins and the atheist PZ Myers and in atheism are on the decline while interest in Jesus and Christianity are on the upswing.[29]
For more information please see:
2. In China, which is an atheistic communist state, Christianity is exploding which is bad news for global atheism (see: Growth of Christianity in China and Global Christianity). Atheism is not a strong ideology when faced with fervent biblical Christianity competition. Although China and Asia as a whole may have short term setbacks, they are increasingly gaining influence in the world.
3. Christianity prevailed against state sponsored militant atheism in the Soviet Union.[30] Atheistic evolution is a state sponsored enterprise via public schools. Evolutionary belief is the air supply of atheism.
4. Some of the biggest allies of atheistic evolutionism in the United States are: public schools, academia, the liberal media, liberal Christianity, federal government funding/support for evolutionary pseudoscience
- In the Western World, the atheist community leans heavily towards the left in terms of politics (the leftist atheists community is often referred to as the secular left). [31][32]
In the United States and in Europe, the secular left has been losing power in the political realm and political parties on the right have been ascendant (Donald Trump being elected and Republicans maintaining both house of Congress in 2016, Brexit, European right-wing parties are ascendant). See: Decline of the secular left
Currently, the governments of Europe, Japan, Britain, and the U.S. are all mired in debt and there is a sovereign debt crises in many European countries in the Eurozone. [33][34] The emergence of financially struggling and bankrupt liberal governments, which often promote secularism, is probably not a positive development for the future of atheism.
- American government run public schools are increasingly facing budget cuts and there is growing criticism of public schools. Vouchers for private schools (including religious schools) and charter schools are increasingly being discussed and legislators are introducing and passing school choice bills.[35] Of course, constrained public school budgets includes constrained school legal budgets so many schools will be less able to engage in frivolous/unwarranted legal suits constraining religious free speech in their schools.
- A large percentage of U.S. college students fund their college expenses via student loans. In 2017, Forbes reported there was a student loan crisis.[36] There appears to be a higher education bubble that will burst.[37] The Wall Street Journal reported in 2013 that the percentage of Americans going to college has been decreasing for 3 years in the USA.[38] Also, college is clearly not delivering the goods in terms of intellectual development for a large percentage of its students. An American study found that forty-five percent of students achieved no significant improvement in their critical thinking, reasoning or writing skills during the first two years of college. After four years, 36 percent displayed no significant increases in these so-called "higher order" thinking skills.[39] Students, particularly those who made poor curriculum choices, are increasingly angry that college does not adequately prepare them for the marketplace and leaves them with a pile of debt.[40]
- the liberal media, such as the American liberal newspapers and television networks, continue to lose market share.[41] See the video: American mainstream media - Apostles of atheism
- Liberal Christianity has been an ally of atheists in the creation vs. evolution culture war. Evolutionism is an important ideological underpinning of atheism. Due to the explosive growth of global Christianity and conservative Christians and religious conservatives having higher birth rates and greater evangelism success, liberal Christianity is expected to continue to decline in both number of adherents and influence.
- The U.S. federal government funds evolutionary pseudoscience and the severe financial problems of Greece due to their profligate spending teaches that America cannot continue to run extremely large deficits without consequences and that cutbacks are inevitable for non-essential programs. No doubt funding for evolutionary pseudoscience will receive cutbacks and this is already happening.
For example, NASA has been obsessively and fruitlessly searching to find life on other planets and had scheduled manned exploration of Mars.[42] In February of 2012, Barack Obama announced large cuts to the Mars exploration program. [43]Phil Christensen, a Mars researcher at Arizona State University declares concerning the cuts: "in essence, it is the end of the Mars program".[44] It is probable that other government funded organizations which advocate evolutionary pseudoscience such as the National Science Foundation and the Smithsonian Institute will see funding cuts as well plus federal grants supporting pointless evolutionary pseudoscientific research will see cuts as well.
The notion that there is life on other planets is an unbiblical notion contrary to the Scriptures and to the current scientific evidence. Please see: Did God create life on other planets? and Alien/UFO answers and Origin of life answers and Evolution
5. Also, belief in evolution has this Achilles' heel:
"In 2011, the results of a study was published indicating that most United States high school biology teachers are reluctant to endorse the theory of evolution in class (see: Study: Most high school biology teachers don't endorse evolution). In 2011, eight anti-evolution bills were introduced in various states within the United States which encouraged students to employ critical thinking skills when examining the evolution issue. In 2009, there were seven states within the United States which required critical analysis skills be employed when examining evolutionary material within schools.
Johns Hopkins University Press reported in 2014: "Over the past forty years, creationism has spread swiftly among European Catholics, Protestants, Jews, Hindus, and Muslims, even as anti-creationists sought to smother its flames."[47] See also: Evolutionary indoctrination
In addition, global creationism is growing.
6. In the past, Christianity has prevailed against other false ideologies such as Gnosticism. Christianity has an abundance of evidence supporting its claims (see: Evidence for Christianity).
7. Atheism has no proof and evidence supporting (See: Atheism and its retention rate in individuals). In addition, the evolutionist Charles Darwin was plagued with doubts about the validity of evolution even in his latter years (See: Doubters of atheism/evolution).
8. Atheism is not strong in the United States and it is merely a squeak in American society plus it is frowned upon ideology with an extremely bad reputation (see: Atheist Population). Also, the New Atheism has not been successful in terms of gaining adherents to atheism. (see: New Atheism).
9. It is far easier to be a "sassy atheist" when your wallet is full. Jesus taught in a parable relating to the gospel message: "And the one on whom seed was sown among the thorns, this is the man who hears the word, and the worry of the world and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful." (Matthew 13:22 NASB). A Pew Forum study found an inverse relationship between societal wealth and religiosity (Of course, if a country has a significant amount of religious freedom like the United States, it is certainly possible for a country to have significant societal wealth and religiosity). [48]
The economy is very fragile in the United States and it looks like it may experience significantly more pain in the future given its gigantic debt and its current political disharmony/dysfunction. The United States may eventually bounce back as its society has a history of dynamism and it has overcome previous troubles, but in the meantime there certainly may be hard times for atheism as men often turn to God in times of trouble.
In addition, atheism is more often found in younger people in the United States due to a boom in American secularism in the 1990s which is waning (see: Decline of American 1990s secularism).[49] Also, indicated above, due to demographic factors, there is expected to a trend in the decline in American secularism and 2020 is expected to be a tipping point in favor of religious conservatism (See: American atheism and Culture war). In 2012, the Press Herald reported that only 55% of Americans age 16-29 were employed in 2010. In addition, in 2012 the New York Times dubbed the young generation the "go nowhere generation".[50] Also, a 2012 article entitled Teen Unemployment: A Western Epidemic (Spain, Greece, France and … USA) declared: "But the story in the US that was ignored for the most part was teen unemployment which stands at Euro Zone-like 25%."[51] Currently, youth employment is at a 60 year low.[52]
Since it is very helpful for an ideology gaining new adherents among the young, the recent economic problems which disproportionately is negatively affecting young people does not bode well for atheism converts among young people given the aforementioned inverse relationship between wealth and religiosity found in many societies. Furthermore, a more sluggish labor market that in years past in terms of labor market recovery after a recession, a poor American public education system in terms of grammar school/high school level compared to many developed nations, increased global economic competition and many unemployed young workers not having marketing job skills could cause youth unemployment to persist for a significant period.[53][54]
10. Atheism is increasingly exhibiting a bunker mentality in terms of prominent atheists refusing to accept debate challenges and its leadership is facing growing criticism of being cowardly (see: Atheism and cowardice and Creation scientists tend to win the creation vs. evolution debates). In addition, there is a lot of disharmony in the atheist movement (see: Atheist factions and Atheism: A house divided and in global decline).
So many of the pillars supporting atheism are clearly showing cracks plus the general environment is increasingly disfavoring atheism. And again, atheism is not a strong ideology when faced with increased competition from fervent biblical Christianity.
Atheist pessimism about the atheist movement
See also: Decline of the atheist movement and Atheist movement
YouTube atheist Thunderfoot said about the atheist movement after Reason Rally 2016 had a very low turnout:
|I'm not sure there is anything in this movement worth saving. Hitchens is dead. Dawkins simply doesn't have the energy for this sort of thing anymore. Harris went his own way. And Dennett just kind of blended into the background. So what do you think when the largest gathering of the nonreligious in history pulls in... I don't know. Maybe 2,000 people. Is there anything worth saving?[55]
In 2011, Georgetown University professor and atheist Jacques Berlinerblau declared: "The Golden Age of Secularism has passed."[56]
Baylor University researchers: American Christianity is not on the decline
See: Baylor University researchers on American Christianity
Other important considerations
Expansion of European creationism and global creationism
See also: Global creationism
Eric Kaufmann told a secular audience in Australia: "The trends that are happening worldwide inevitably in an age of globalization are going to affect us."[57]
Johns Hopkins University Press reported in 2014: "Over the past forty years, creationism has spread swiftly among European Catholics, Protestants, Jews, Hindus, and Muslims, even as anti-creationists sought to smother its flames."[58] See also: Evolutionary indoctrination
On October 4, 2014, the Vancouver Sun reported that evolutionism is rejected by hundreds of millions of evangelical Christians and Muslims around the world.[59]
Specifically, the Vancouver Sun declared:
| Creationism, a religious world view that adamantly rejects Charles Darwin's theory of evolution, is on the rise among evangelical Protestants and most of the world's Muslims.
It is not only the majority of residents in Muslim countries such as Pakistan, Indonesia and Turkey who strongly reject the teaching that humans and other species evolved over millions of years from less complex creatures. So do tens of millions of evangelical Christians in North America (as well as South America and Africa).
Overall, [Nidhal Guessoum, a Middle Eastern physics and astronomy professor] who teaches at the American University of Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates, estimates roughly 60 per cent of the world's Muslims are creationists, including many living in the U.S. and Canada.
Even though poll results about evolution vary based on the questions asked, Salman Hameed reported in the journal Science that strong anti-evolution majorities exist in Turkey, Indonesia, Malaysia, Egypt and Pakistan. The latter is among Canada's top six source countries for immigrants...
An Angus-Reid survey found 43 per cent of Americans accept the creationist teaching that the Earth is less than 10,000 years old, which means they reject the...view the universe began roughly 13 billion years ago.[60]
In recent years Britain, the birth place of Darwinism, has seen a large influx of Muslim immigrants. Most religious Muslims are creationists.[61] In the UK, between the years 2001 and 2009 the Muslim population increased nearly 10 times faster than the non-Muslim population.[62] See also: Islam and belief in creationism
The British newspaper The Telegraph reported in an article entitled Richard Dawkins: Muslim parents 'import creationism' into schools:
| Prof Dawkins, a well-known atheist, also blamed the Government for accommodating religious views and allowing creationism to be taught in schools.
"Most devout Muslims are creationists so when you go to schools, there are a large number of children of Islamic parents who trot out what they have been taught," Prof Dawkins said in a Sunday newspaper interview.
"Teachers are bending over backwards to respect home prejudices that children have been brought up with. The Government could do more, but it doesn't want to because it is fanatical about multiculturalism and the need to respect the different traditions from which these children come."[63]
A proponent of the anti-evolution Question evolution! campaign by Creation Ministries International wrote:
|Atheism is a religion. And atheists, time and time again, take away the religious liberty of Christians in order to promote their false religion. Evolution is the air supply of atheism. Directly confronting atheism can be useful. But, the best way for Christianity to prevail against secularism is through preventative medicine. Reaching young people with the gospel and discipling them is a first step. Yet to truly prevail against atheism, cutting off the air supply of atheism is crucial/[64]
Lack of sound leadership within atheism
Using academic studies, survey data and other information, supporters of the Question evolution! campaign maintain that there is a lack of sound leadership within the agnostic/atheist and evolutionist communities in dealing with the global decline of atheism and agnosticism.
See also
External links
- Godless progressivism will not be dominant in America's future
- Comrades, atheism cut 50% in Russia in three years!
Other resources:
- Question Evolution! by Creation Ministries International
- 15 Questions that evolutionist cannot satisfactorily answer
- 15 Questions that evolutionist cannot satisfactorily answer PDF version
- Question Evolution! Campaign webpage for Traditional Values Coalition
- Question Evolution! - YouTube video
- Atheism a house divided & in global decline - YouTube video
- 15 Questions that evolutionist cannot answer tract - USA
- 15 Questions that evolutionist cannot answer - PDF facsimile
- ↑ http://www.cnsnews.com/news/article/global-study-atheists-decline-only-18-world-population-2020 Global Study: Atheists in Decline, Only 1.8% of World Population by 2020]
- ↑ My challenge to evolutionists and atheists
- ↑ Globally the worldviews of atheism and non-religious (agnostic) are declining while global Christianity is exploding in adherents
- ↑ Thriving Christianity
- ↑ Globally the worldviews of atheism and non-religious (agnostic) are declining while global Christianity is exploding in adherents
- ↑ Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary - Status of Global Missions
- ↑ Thriving Christianity
- ↑ A sceptics guide to atheism, page 4
- ↑ Globally the worldviews of atheism and non-religious (agnostic) are declining while global Christianity is exploding in adherents
- ↑ Atheism is Rising, But…, American Interest
- ↑ Shall the Religious Inherit the Earth?: Demography and Politics in the Twenty-First Century by Eric Kaufmann, Belfer Center, Harvard University/Birkbeck College, University of London
- ↑ Eric Kaufmann: Shall The Religious Inherit The Earth?
- ↑ Eric Kaufmann's Atheist Demographic series
- ↑ Eric Kaufmann: Shall the Religious Inherit the Earth?, Australian Broadcasting Corporation
- ↑ Shall the Religious Inherit the Earth?: Demography and Politics in the Twenty-First Century by Eric Kaufmann, Belfer Center, Harvard University/Birkbeck College, University of London
- ↑ Shall the religious inherit the earth by David Kaufmann
- ↑ Early paper - Shall the Religious Inherit the Earth?: Demography and Politics in the Twenty-First Century by Eric Kaufmann, Belfer Center, Harvard University/Birkbeck College, University of London
- ↑ Early paper - Shall the Religious Inherit the Earth?: Demography and Politics in the Twenty-First Century by Eric Kaufmann, Belfer Center, Harvard University/Birkbeck College, University of London
- ↑ [http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/04/10/hispanic-evangelical-church_n_3055752.html Rise Of Hispanic Evangelical Church: Time Magazine Discusses Influence Of Latinos In America's Religion
- ↑ The U.S. Hispanic population has increased sixfold since 1970
- ↑ Atheist: A dying breed as nature favours faithful
- ↑ Atheist: A dying breed as nature favours faithful
- ↑ Belief in God grows as mortality nears, survey says
- ↑ [http://www.firstthings.com/onthesquare/2008/03/the-demographic-winter-and-the The Demographic Winter and the Barren Left
- ↑ Why are 2012 and 2020 key years for Christian creationists and pro-lifers?
- ↑
- ↑ "Stunning" Gallup Poll Reveals Christianity Growing in Japan
- ↑ Internet atheism: The thrill is gone!
- ↑
- Jesus vs. Richard Dawkins and PZ Myers - Jesus wins!
- Round 2: Jesus vs. Richard Dawkins and PZ Myers - Jesus triumphs again! Onward Christian soldiers!
- Globally the worldviews of atheism and non-religious (agnostic) are declining while global Christianity is exploding in adherents
- Internet atheism: The thrill is gone!
- ↑ How Russians survived militant atheism to embrace God
- ↑ No "true atheist defense
- ↑ I get email
- ↑ Sovereign debt is expanding
- ↑ http://seekingalpha.com/article/486851-why-the-current-bull-market-in-gold-is-bigger-than-the-one-in-the-1970s
- ↑
- ↑ Student Loan Debt In 2017: A $1.3 Trillion Crisis
- ↑ MARK CUBAN: This is just the start of the college implosion
- ↑ College enrollment shows signs of slowing which means less post high school evolutionary indoctrination. Also, the ever shrinking role of tenured evolutionist professors and evolutionary biologists
- ↑ Study of college education and critical thinking skills
- ↑ Forbes - Higher education bubble
- ↑
- ↑ http://washington.cbslocal.com/2012/02/27/researcher-obama-budget-end-of-the-mars-program/
- ↑ http://washington.cbslocal.com/2012/02/27/researcher-obama-budget-end-of-the-mars-program/
- ↑ http://washington.cbslocal.com/2012/02/27/researcher-obama-budget-end-of-the-mars-program/
- ↑ Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy - Notes to Teleological Arguments for God's Existence
- ↑ The Darwin Project - Darwin Quote
- ↑ Creationism spreading in Europe
- ↑ Pew Forum - wealth and religiosity
- ↑ Who are America's atheists and agnostics?
- ↑ [1]
- ↑ Teen Unemployment: A Western Epidemic (Spain, Greece, France and … USA)
- ↑ How Entrepeurship can fix young America
- ↑ Frozen job market
- ↑ How American schools compare to other countries
- ↑ Even atheists bash 'Reason Rally'
- ↑ Berlinerblau, Jacques (February 4, 2011). "Obama at the National Prayer Breakfast". The Chronicle of Higher Education/Brainstorm blog. Retrieved on May 29, 2015.
- ↑ Shall the religious inherit the earth
- ↑ Creationism spreading in Europe
- ↑ Evolution rejected by hundreds of millions of Muslims and evangelicals, Vancouver Sun, October 4, 2014
- ↑ Evolution rejected by hundreds of millions of Muslims and evangelicals, Vancouver Sun, October 4, 2014. 9:12 am
- ↑ Hameed S (2008). "Bracing for Islamic creationism". Science 322 (5908): 1637–8.
- ↑ Muslim population 'rising 10 times faster than rest of society' 30 January 2009, Richard Kerbaj, The Sunday Times
- ↑ Richard Dawkins: Muslim parents 'import creationism' into schools, The Telegraph
- ↑ Cutting off the air supply of atheism


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Matthias Ilkenhans, born in 1968 in Frankfurt and raised in Bad Homburg, initially studied orchestral music in Stuttgart, Saarbrucken, and Munich, majoring in violin. This was followed by studies in cultural management at the University of Hagen.
At first as a violinist, later as project manager, he belonged to the ensemble of the Junge Deutsche Philharmonie in Frankfurt from 1994 to 2000. After a year as project manager of the Munich Chamber Orchestra, he returned to the Junge Deutsche Philharmonie in 2001 as general manager.
Since the 2004–05 concert season, Matthias Ilkenhans has been manager of the North German Radio's NDR Radiophilharmonie.

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text: Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums :: View topic - the sad fact Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums"The Internet's Meeting Place for ESL/EFL Students and Teachers from Around the World!" FAQ Search Memberlist Usergroups Register Profile Log in to check your private messages Log in the sad fact Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums Forum Index -> Opinions View previous topic :: View next topic Author Message rice07Joined: 26 Oct 2007Posts: 385 Posted: Thu Oct 02, 2008 5:53 am Post subject: the sad fact Hi The sad fact is that prejudice still exists. A lawmaker in Taiwan, saying in public few days ago that he would rather have a President alleged to launder money overseas than have an inept leader incapable of protecting the ordinary from the damage of the contaminated milk powder imported from China, simply because the former President Chen was his friend, really shocked me. I mean, it doesn't matter what is right, or what is wrong. It does matter what political affiliations you are. The destiny for Taiwan, where to go? definitely depends on when the voters wake up the fact that they have to transcend political conflict, not that they indiscriminately vote for the favored candidates who do something wrong that are still justifiable, or who are incompetent for the presidency. No matter his political affiliations, we want whoever can lead us to the promising. What we do now will pave the way for what we are in the future. Do you agree? rice07 Back to top Display posts from previous: All Posts1 Day7 Days2 Weeks1 Month3 Months6 Months1 Year Oldest FirstNewest First Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums Forum Index -> Opinions All times are GMT - 8 Hours Page 1 of 1 Jump to: Select a forum Student Forums----------------ComputersCurrent NewsCultureEnglish SchoolsFamilyFilm and CinemaFoodHealth and FitnessHelp CenterHobbiesHolidaysLearning EnglishLiteratureMaking FriendsMusicOpinionsPetsScienceSportsThe Strange and MysteriousTOEFL and Other English ExamsTravel You cannot post new topics in this forumYou cannot reply to topics in this forumYou cannot edit your posts in this forumYou cannot delete your posts in this forumYou cannot vote in polls in this forum Dave's ESL Cafe is maintained by the one and only Dave Sperling. Banner Advertising | Bookstore / Alta Books | FAQs | Articles | Interview with Dave Copyright © 2018 Dave's ESL Cafe | All Rights Reserved | Contact Dave's ESL Cafe | Site Map Teachers College, Columbia University: Train to Teach English Here or Abroad Powered by phpBB © 2001, 2002 phpBB Group


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Scott Steinberg
Parents: everything you know about video games is wrong
We know gaming can be a healthy pastime for children, but many parents see it as an unnecessary evil. Scott Steinberg, author of The Modern Parent's Guide book series, hopes to redress the balance.
Scott Steinberg headlines
Report - SCEA's Rob Dyer and Scott Steinberg exit the firm
It looks as though Sony America has lost two of its key executives: VP of marketing Scott Steinberg, and SVP of publisher relations, Rob Dyer.
Kevin Butler returns to PlayStation in new ad campaign
Did you think it was the end? This is Kevin Butler we're talking about here.
Killzone 2 fastest moving title for Sony, has sold 500,000 units
Killzone 2 has sold 500,000 units, making it the fastest selling first-party title for PS3.That's a record according to SCEA's VP of marketing, Scott Steinberg.Saying that Sony is "extremely happy with the results," the exec revealed that Killzone 2 was the highest-selling SCEA PS3 title for the first 30 days out of launch.Full thing over […]
Killzone 2 "Behind the Bullet" interactive ad to hit PSN today
SCEA's just announced that, as promised, an interactive version of the Killzone 2 "Behind the Bullet" TV ad will be released openly on PSN today."This demo will provide an inside look at the making of the commercial, enabling you to take control and slow down the action, move the camera axis and pivot, hear audio […]
Steinberg - Sony's 2009 is "relentless and AAA quality"
SCEA marketing chief Scott Steinberg's claimed 2009 will deliver an unremitting bombardment of high quality product from Sony, and that Killzone 2 is the game that will trigger many to buy a PS3."We're shipping a great lineup and it's relentless and AAA quality," Steinberg told GameDaily."Starting it with Killzone 2, we're going to arrest the […]
SCEA to release "Killzone in 4D," a "playable version" of TV ad
SCEA said today that it's to release "Killzone in 4D," a real-time version of a US Killzone 2 TV ad to "offer some insight" into the game's technology.You can watch the ad in question after the break."The Killzone 2 engine is phenomenally powerful," said SCEA marketing boss Scott Steinberg, writing on the PS Blog."To offer […]
Competing against PS3? Scott Steinberg's first-party army has "bad news for you"
SCEA marketing boss Scott Steinberg reckons Sony's first-party offering in the coming years is going to make competing against PS3 a tough business."If you're a competitor I've got bad news for you because we've got some absolute blockbusters that are in the works, some of them new IP, some of them existing IP, that we're […]
PS3's competitors look "quite dated," says Steinberg
Speaking to GI, SCEA marketing boss Scott Steinberg has claimed that consoles opposing PS3 are starting to show their age."I think that we're seeing, graphically, PS3 games starting to create some distance and some of the other competitors are going to feel that they're getting long in the tooth, looking quite dated, because they haven't […]
SCEA: We underestimated 80Gb PS3 demand
SCEA marketing boss Scott Steinberg has admitted that demand for the 80Gb PS3 SKU in America has taken SCEA by surprise, giving rise to a shortage of the machine."Our strategy at the end of the year was to offer up a $399 40Gb, which we thought was the magic price for a Blu-ray machine, and […]
SCEA belittles Xbox 360 GTA IV DLC
Bitter? In no way. SCEA's marketing boss, Scott Steinberg, reckons most people won't be bothered with 360's exclusive GTA IV downloadable content. Well, he would, wouldn't he."[Microsoft] spent the GNP of several small Latin American countries to get that [content], and if you've ever played San Andreas…there's a lot of game to Grand Theft Auto […]
SCEA: "Resistance 2 is about a 50Gb game"
Big movie here of an interview with SCEA's Scott Steinberg and Naughtey Dog's Evan Wells. Firefox is doing its freakishly annoying, "I won't play Flash movies" thing this morning, so we can't watch it, but apparently Steinberg says Resistance 2 will fill a dual-layered Blu-ray disc at 50Gb. See after the link.
Sony US staff are "high-fiving in the office"
Calm down. SCEA is so excited by the changing fortunes of PS3 that joy is spilling over into physical contact."Without question there's very much a sense of confidence and renewed enthusiasm," said Scott Steinberg, VP of product marketing at SCEA. "It happened so fast we can't help but do a little high-fiving in the office."Whoa […]
Sony sees easing of PS3 price pressure
Scott Steinberg, vice president of product marketing for Sony Computer Entertainment America, has said that increased sales of PS3 have taken pressure off the firm to cut the price of the console."We're seeing that the hard-core gamer is not afraid to throw another $100 at the PlayStation 3 because the value proposition is so rich," […]
Scott Steinberg latest
Killzone 2 fastest moving title for Sony, has sold 500,000 units
Killzone 2 "Behind the Bullet" interactive ad to hit PSN today
SCEA to release "Killzone in 4D," a "playable version" of TV ad
Competing against PS3? Scott Steinberg's first-party army has "bad news for you"


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Changhua Wu is the Greater China Director of The Climate Group. In her blog, Changhua comments on Chinese climate policy and the growth of clean technologies; in short, sharing China's own Clean Revolution. Here, she comments on the solar sector development that Premier Li Keqiang called for in China last week.
Changhua writes:
At the most recent State Council executive meeting, Premier Li Keqiang, who was chairing the meeting, announced that China will be accelerating development of China's PV industry.
Throughout the meeting, it was noted that the focus should be on steady growth and structural adjustment, and several initiatives were put forward that will go some way in expanding domestic demand and building the Chinese economy.
But while the meeting participants recognized that the Chinese photovoltaic (PV) industry is an important new energy sector -- one which is internationally competitive at that -- the downturn in the global PV market and the insufficient impact of current domestic production, aligned with management difficulties, pose a real challenge.
Because of this, we must continue to support the photovoltaic industry and nurture its healthy development by consolidating the international market, pushing for effective reform, and further focusing on demand stimulus. We should also strive to promote industrial innovation and upgrading across China.
Since the 2008 global financial crisis and economic downturn, China's PV industry has experienced new challenges in the international market. To counteract this, Golden Sun helped many PV companies by creating opportunities and experiences in the domestic market. Golden Sun is a national solar subsidy program of China's Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Science and Technology and the National Energy Administration of the National Development and Reform Commission, which provides upfront subsidies for qualified demonstrative PV projects.
In recent years, through the Golden Sun demonstration project, China has accumulated a wealth of data and experiences within domestic PV enterprises, and this has had a major impact on product quality, applications and engineering design level.
Meanwhile, internationally, North America and Europe continue to develop too, making the market more competitive: China and the EU wish to be the fuse which sparks the global fire.
As costs continue to decline, China and some EU countries have begun reducing subsidies, a policy which has allowed enterprises to continuously develop and enhance their competitiveness.
There are clearly still many lessons to be learned on solar in China, but with both government and business collaboration, we will make strides towards a strong and economically viable industry.
Read more on Changhua Wu's blog.
Related news:
China announces ten "tough measures" to combat atmospheric pollution
China unveils pioneering carbon trading scheme in Shenzhen
New Premier Li Keqiang pledges to use 'iron fist' on China's pollution
China invested $65.1 billion in clean energy in 2012
China's leadership transition: ready to drive the clean revolution


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Eighty Oxfordshire schools were warned of the possible threat of deadly "Strawberry Meth", aka "Strawberry Quick" - crystal meth disguised as mouthwatering fruit-flavoured sweets - after an officer fell for a classic web hoax.
The unnamed plod was alerted to the menace by email, and promptly forwarded the missive "via a special system connecting police and schools without checking it with colleagues", the Evening Standard explains.
Had he checked, he would have quickly realised the Strawberry Meth gag has been doing the rounds for quite some time.
West Oxfordshire's most senior police officer, Chief Inspector Dennis Evendon, apologised for the cock-up, explaining: "The officer should have double checked before taking this action, which he did take with the best intentions. We will be making sure this sort of thing does not happen again."
A Thames Valley Police spokesman said the officer "would not be disciplined over the incident", but that "internal processes would be reviewed".
If it's any consolation to the force, Florida plod last year warned on the rising use among local high school students of fermented "fecal matter and urine", known as "Jenkem", or "Butthash".
While there have been reports that Jenkem does indeed provide a high for inhabitants of the world's poorest countries, it seems unlikely pampered US kids would take to inhaling crap gas when they can so easily avail themselves of Strawberry Quick. ®


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AusNet Service manages the entire Victorian electricity transmission network, which includes power station switchyards, transmission towers and powerlines, and terminal stations.
Across our network, 12,800 transmission towers run in corridors across more than 17,500 hectares of land. We refer to these corridors of land as 'transmission line easements' or 'easements' for short.
In general, we don't own this land, so instead we compensate landowners for the rights to access our transmission network, and we restrict planting and building on easements.
Please refer to the image below for an overview of our transmission towers, including the average height and width for each.
Please note our easement widths allow for movement of electricity transmission conductors, which can be affected by factors such as wind, temperature and electrical load.
For specific details relating to transmission towers and powerlines on your property, check your Certificate of Title as easement measurements can vary.
Additional information can also be found in our Guide to Living with Transmission Line Easements.
To help us maintain clearance zones around an easement, please ensure that any planting on your property complies with the following requirements:
Clearance zones are established by Energy Safe Victoria and are outlined in the Code of Practice for Electric Line Clearance (Vegetation).
By complying with the above requirements, you will also help to reduce the need for us to access your land to remove inappropriate vegetation.
If you wish to build on or around an easement, please note that AusNet Services and Energy Safe Victoria have strict requirements, which are outlined below.
Landscaping and paving – provided there's sufficient clearance from conductors and towers, if you're planning to alter the natural surface level.
Fences (subject to approval) – provided they are no more than 3 metres in height, and suitably earthed and sectionalised (if they are metal or contain metallic materials).
Sewerage, drainage or water pipes – provided they are constructed of earthenware or plastic materials.
Tennis courts (on 330 or 500 kV easements) – subject to certain specific requirements.
Tennis courts (on 220 kV easements) – provided that metal net posts are used and the minimum distance from the surrounding fence to the nearest tower steelwork is 20 metres; an elevated umpire's chair is also permitted, provided it's of all metal construction and has a metal screen above the seating position.
Lighting poles – provided there's sufficient clearance form conductors and towers; the power supply must be underground and you must be able to lower the poles the ground for maintenance.
Playground equipment – provided it's no more than 1 metre in height.
Water storage dams – provided there's sufficient clearance from conductors and towers, and the effect on the water table has been considered.
* For 220 kV easements only – domestic garages, carports and garden sheds may be permitted a limited distance onto the easement, but only if: there's sufficient clearance from towers; the structure is no more than 3 metres in height; construction is largely of non-flammable materials; and the structure isn't attached to a dwelling.
For public safety reasons – and to ensure a reliable electricity supply – we limit the types of activities you can undertake on your transmission line easement.
Farming – agricultural and grazing.
Operating market gardens, orchards and horticultural nurseries – excluding buildings.
Parking of sedan and utility vehicles – barriers of an approved design may be required to protect towers from damage by vehicles.
Operating car, boat and trailer sale yards – for 220 kV easements only.
Operating ground level sports facilities – such as football or cricket ovals, golf courses, basketball or netball courts (subject to special requirements for the design of fences, goals and lighting).
Storing materials – including waste bins and stock-piled excavation materials.
Storing or handling flammable liquid or gas from bulk vehicles (on 500 kV easements only) – not permitted within 60 metres of the centre line of the transmission line,
Using vehicles and equipment exceeding 3 metres in height– a higher operating limit is subject to sufficient clearance from conductors.
Parking of large trucks and caravans – including for loading, unloading or adjusting loads.
Operating spray irrigators – of the large water gun type.
Detonating explosives – please contact us before storing or detonating explosives in the vicinity of your easement.


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19 June, 2013 | (01 hr)
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EU-banks have been tightening credit supply and increasing credit prices as a result of the financial crisis and new regulation like Basel III. As a result, companies have severe difficulties in financing their investments, further deepening the crisis.
There's now a clear trend in the EU to move away from bank financing and turn to capital market financing (bonds), just like in the US. Should this trend be supported? What are the risks for companies?
Learning points for audience:
• Impact of new bank regulation on credit supply and prices
• Pro's and con's of financing channels: bank credits vs. bond issuance
Kasper Peters
Kasper is a Principal at Roland Berger Strategy Consultants, Brussels office, specializing in the financial services industry. He advised top banks in a wide area of strategic domains, such as lending, Basel III, shared services, mortgages, payments, distribution channels, etc.
Kasper hol...Full Bio
Andrew Tank
Andrew Tank is responsible for The Conference Board's membership in Europe, the Middle East and Africa. Associate Members receive on-going research in the fields of productivity, corporate governance and organizational effectiveness, information services and access to exclusive peer g...Full Bio


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Events Calendar
Cardinals in Connecticut
Dinner and drinks with fellow Fisher alumni!
Date: November 7, 2019 - November 7, 2019
Time: 5:30 p.m. cocktails, dinner at 6 p.m.
Location: Salute Restaurant, Hartford, CT
Office of Institutional Advancement
Fisher alumni and a guest are invited to join fellow Connecticut-area alums for dinner and drinks.
We'll treat you to dinner and your first drink. Cash bar available.
Cocktails at 5:30 p.m., dinner 6-8 p.m.


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Uber is worth more than BarbieJune 6, 2014: 2:34 PM ET
The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Paul R. La Monica. Other than Time Warner, the parent of CNNMoney, Abbott Laboratories and AbbVie, La Monica does not own positions in any individual stocks.
That's one expensive cab ride! Uber disclosed Friday that it had raised $1.2 billion from investors. The latest round of financing values the company at a whopping $18.2 billion.
To put that in perspective, Uber -- which for those not in the know runs an app that lets people connect with car service drivers -- is worth more than these 12 companies in the S&P 500 that you probably have heard of.
- Alcoa (AA). Market cap: $16.4 billion. Maybe Alcoa can hitch itself to the Uber bandwagon by touting that more cars are being made with aluminum.
- Harley-Davidson (HOG). Market cap: $15.5 billion. Does Uber have a fleet of motorcycle drivers? Sons of Uber-chy?
- TripAdvisor (TRIP). Market cap: $14.7 billion. Merger of equals. Uber picks you up at airport after you find flight on TripAdvisor? Synergy, baby.
- Whole Foods (WFM). Market cap: $14.7 billion. The organic food company has struggled. Maybe it should partner with UberX on kale deliveries?
- Campbell Soup (CPB). Market cap: $14.6 billion. If Andy Warhol were alive would he do a multi-colored print of the Uber logo? Don't think so.
- Ralph Lauren (RL). Market cap: $13.7 billion. I think the company needs to do a deal with Uber to make Polo shirts the official Uber driver uniform!
- Mattel (MAT). Market cap: $13.3 billion. If Uber driver Barbie isn't in stores by the holidays, that's a wasted opportunity for the toy maker.
- Hormel (HRL). Market cap: $13 billion. SPAM! The perfect meal for a busy Uber driver.
- Nordstrom (JWN). Market cap: $12.9 billion. If you can afford to shop here regularly, then you have no right to complain about Uber's surge pricing.
- Tiffany (TIF). Market cap: $12.9 billion. If you can afford to shop here regularly, then you have no right to complain about Uber's surge pricing.
- Bed Bath & Beyond (BBBY). Market cap: $12.5 billion. Frank the Tank would have had time to shop there if he got an Uber driver to take him.
- Molson Coors (TAP). Market cap: $12.1 billion. Uber drivers deserve a frosty Coors Light after a hard day's work. Just not during their shift please!
It's also amusing to note that Uber is now worth almost as much as the combined market value of car rental "giants" Hertz (HTZ) -- market value of $12.4 billion -- and Avis Budget (CAR) -- market value of $6.3 billion.
What's next? Airbnb worth $10 billion? Oh. Wait.


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Hi there, Joe here. A few months ago, I started using a product called Spartagen XT. Maybe you've heard of it; Spartagen XT has been getting a lot of press lately.
But maybe you're a little confused by what it is. Is this a testosterone or anabolic steroid product or a natural supplement? Is it safe to use? Does it do what it says, or is it too good to be true?
I decided to find out for myself. Let me tell you, I did a frustrating amount of research and invested a lot of time into figuring out how to boost my testosterone production without taking dangerous controlled substances.
That is not my thing – been there, done that, never doing it again. I'll tell you about that in just a bit. But first, let me answer the most common question …
What Is Spartagen XT?
Spartagen XT is a completely natural, healthy dietary supplement manufactured by a company called Edge Bioactives. Spartagen XT contains a blend of herbal ingredients and vitamins specifically formulated to boost your body's own natural production of testosterone.
Please note, this product does not contain steroids! It is completely safe and organic, and will not upset your body's hormone balance. On the contrary, it will re-balance your hormone production.
Here is what Spartagen XT is supposed to be able to do for you:
- Boost your energy levels so that you can stay active throughout the day – whatever your age!
- Increase your libido so you can enjoy a healthy sex drive.
- Get more out of your workouts so you can go back to packing on lean muscle mass in the gym.
- Increase the fullness and hardness of your erections.
- Boost your sexual stamina, leading to a lot more fun in the sack and more intense, explosive orgasms for you and your partner(s).
- Help you regain confidence and enjoy feeling like yourself again.
What Spartagen XT will not do for you:
- Pump anabolic steroids into your body.
- Deliver questionable additives into your diet.
- Get you addicted.
- Fix a broken relationship – that is up to you.
- Restore your self-esteem. This supplement can help you to feel younger, stronger, and more energetic, but it cannot give you your sense of masculinity. That always comes from within. Being a man goes way beyond testosterone
Click here to learn more…
My Story
I want to tell you a little bit about myself before I tell you all about Spartagen XT – what's in it, how it works, and what happened when I tried it. If you've found this page, there is a pretty good chance you are going to be able to relate to my story. I think it's important to share this, because you need to know you're not alone, and there is an answer out there for guys like us.
I'm 55 years old. Yep, I'm pushing it a bit, I know. I still think of myself as middle-aged, but I know pretty soon I'm going to be thinking of myself as "older." What really bothered me though wasn't the number, it was that I was starting to feel old. I'd wake up tired every morning, and only feel more fatigued throughout the day.
My workouts in the gym just weren't the same anymore. I was starting to see the numbers climb on the scale too, but not because I was putting on muscle. When I looked in the mirror, I hated what I saw.
And the worst was what happened in bed – or rather didn't happen in bed. My wife's sex drive is still pretty high, but it was getting to the point where we didn't have sex more than a couple times a month, or even less sometimes than that. I could see how disappointed she was, even though she tried not to say anything about it.
And here's the thing – I was really disappointed too. I like sex. I love sex. And I love my wife. And not being able to have fun with her like I used to took a huge toll on both of us, and on our relationship. Why should I have to give up sex just because I'm older now?
My Dirty Secret
Now … here's the worst part, and I'll keep this brief. I did what a lot of guys do and don't tell anyone … I resorted to steroid abuse. A few years back I started taking anabolic steroids. At first … I looked and felt great. But after a while, the problems started, and it's hard to talk about them.
I started losing hair, and my body actually started to look more feminine instead of more masculine! I started reading about the serious potential side effects of anabolic steroid abuse, and that really freaked me out. Testosterone abuse can kill you.
Let me tell you, withdrawal was no walk in the park either. The fatigue and mood swings were terrible. I was constantly restless but had no energy. My libido plunged even further. And you know what? I never felt like I really recovered. I began to get severely depressed.
That's when I realized I needed to take action. I had to do something to get things back under control and get my testosterone levels back up to a healthy level. So I started investigating natural supplements that might be able to help me. Eventually, that search led me to Spartagen XT.
What Does Spartagen XT Contain?
The first thing I looked at with Spartagen XT were the ingredients. I'd been checking out a lot of different products, and most of them freaked me out because I couldn't recognize half of what was on the list.
But Spartagen XT contains a lot of ingredients I recognized straight away. The rest were easy to research.
These herbs not only provide your body with essential nutrients necessary for healthy hormone production, but also boost your cardiovascular health, muscle growth, and nerve cell communication. That means more energy, better workouts, and a return to success in the gym.
Then there's the Proprietary Testosterone Activation Stack:
- Tongkat Ali: This is an herb that helps to stimulate your libido and boosts your semen production.
- Tribulus Extract: This is another herbal extract which boosts your sex drive and your performance.
And the Proprietary Sex Drive Amplification Matrix:
- Asian Ginseng Extract: Ginseng is so effective in treating erectile dysfunction that it's sometimes called "herbal Viagra!"
- Maca Root: This Peruvian herb can boost sperm count and fertility, and can also boost your sex drive. It can play a direct role in re-establishing a healthy balance of hormone production.
All of those ingredients are contained in the capsules. You take two a day, and that's it! It's that easy. The ingredients are designed to help your body to stimulate testosterone production. You kickstart the process back on, and your body returns to a healthy, balanced production cycle.
What Does Spartagen XT Not Contain?
What isn't in Spartagen XT is just as important as what is in it. There are a lot of products out there with really questionable ingredients. After my bad experience with steroids, I am very careful about what I put in my body. Spartagen XT contains:
- NO Testofen
- NO animal byproducts
- NO gluten or wheat products
- NO dairy products or eggs
- NO lactose, dectose or sucrose
- NO high fructose corn syrup
- NO peanuts, allergens, or yeast
On top of that, Spartagen XT is produced according to the highest-quality standards in supplement manufacturing. It was very important to me that I be able to trust the company that makes this product. The supplement market is widely unregulated, and as you know, that means that a lot of products aren't really up to snuff. Spartagen XT is manufactured in the United States in an FDA-Registered Facility.
Batches are tested to make sure they are pure and provide the quality and potency that the package promises. They are laboratory certified to contain vitamin D, which is a huge deal. Why? Vitamin D is incredibly important for boosting natural testosterone production, but a lot of supplements for libido and erectile dysfunction don't even contain it!
Now for what you've been waiting for …
Did It Work???
And the answer is …
YES. Spartagen XT absolutely worked for me!!!
The first thing I noticed when I started taking Spartagen XT was how much better I felt overall. I woke up feeling less tired, and I actually felt an energy boost throughout the day, and my mood was starting to feel a lot more stable – especially since I finally had the energy to head back to the gym more again and go out and do the things I enjoy.
I also started noticing the numbers on the scale going back down – what a relief. I burned a lot of fat during the first couple of months, and believe it or not, I'm finally starting to build muscle again.
Most importantly, though, my sex drive is back, and I can finally get an erection again. Not only that, but my erections are rock hard – and I can last longer in bed than I could thirty years ago! I never would have believed it was possible without drug abuse. Oh yeah, and there are no nasty side effects. This is even better than I felt before the steroid use went awry. In fact, it's the best I think I've felt since I was about 30!
It is so great being able to be intimate with my wife again. We are both so much happier, and it feels like we're young again. Our relationship is finally starting to come back together, and it feels great knowing I can satisfy her again – and myself! We're having sex several times a week now, and sometimes a couple times a day! I keep telling all the guys I know to try this stuff, because it's really turned my life around.
Yeah – you get older, but you don't have to give up the activities you enjoy! You don't have to give up on sex or working out or feeling great. Actually, sex is better than ever now. We both know what we want more than we did when we were younger, and with Spartagen XT, I can last twenty or sometimes thirty minutes. I used to only be able to go about five or ten!
What Do You Get When You Order Spartagen XT?
A month's supply of Spartagen XT costs only $69 right now. But you need to get the 6-month supply. That way you'll grab a 51% discount, which is an awesome deal! And once you try this stuff, you'll love it, and you'll never look back. You also get five FREE bonuses:
- Kama Sutra – The Lost Chapter
- Spartan 300 Top Secret Workout
- Healthy, Happy, and Hung
- Superstar Stamina
- 33 Innocent Words Turn Her On
All of the bonuses are awesome! I can't imagine what they would cost if they weren't included for free. There is also a program you can sign up for called "Keep Your Edge" Exclusive Coaching Sessions. It's not cheap – you pay around $19.95 per week. I couldn't afford to do it every week, but I enjoyed it for the trial period. If I could, I'd definitely stick with it.
So, to sum up …
Pros of Spartagen XT:
- Amazing energy and mood enhancement
- Rock-hard erections
- Incredible libido and sexual performance
- Get back in the sack and enjoy your sex life again
- Get back to doing all the active things you enjoy
- Build muscle again
- This product is 100% natural and safe
- Restore your body's natural hormone production
- Get back to feeling like yourself!
Cons of Spartagen XT:
- It does not work right away; it takes at least a week to start kicking in. A lot of the benefits don't show up until you have used it awhile.
- Those Keep Your Edge sessions could be cheaper, and would be great to continue with.
- I didn't discover it sooner!
Click To See If You Qualify For A Discount
So what are you waiting for? If you're ready to get back to living your life to the fullest, give Spartagen XT a try. I wish I'd known about this a decade ago and avoided that whole nightmare with the steroids. Whether you're in your 20s or your 80s and you need a boost, Spartagen XT is the way to go. It's safe, it's natural, and it's effective. Getting older doesn't have to mean feeling that way or living that way. Not when you have Spartagen XT!


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text: A New Way to Look at Your Bucket List That big list of dreams and goals isn't the only way to look at your bucket list. Share | Have A Question About This Topic? Name Email Address Question Thank you! Oops! Related Contents Acres of Diamonds In life it often happens that the answers to our most pressing questions are right in our own backyards. Countdown to College Preparing for college means setting goals, staying focused, and tackling a few key milestones along the way. Managing Your Lifestyle Using smart management to get more of what you want and free up assets to invest.


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reoccurring doodle. this time aztec banger. the type was fun to play with.
hey folks, this site is a place for my personal projects and the like. see i push pixels for a living but for fun too. this being a place for the latter. that is when i'm not too occupied with the former — i.e., not often. >.<
if you'd like to see any of my professional design work just reach out.
© Copyright SuperFortress 2020.
You can find me bumming around Twitter


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Just What Is A Hostile Work Environment?
We have all heard the term "hostile work environment", but do you know what it means? Unless you are an attorney, you may not quite understand everything that constitutes a hostile environment under the law. The problem is that many people need to learn what this means and why it matters to you as an employee. A hostile work environment creates a liability on the employer's part for employee lawsuits, harassment claims, and other legal issues. On top of these serious problems, it can also lead to lower productivity, a high turnover rate, and very unhappy employees. Let's take a look at what makes an environment hostile and what can be done about it.
To begin with, let's go through some of the areas that do not make up a hostile work environment. Most people think that a hostile environment includes things like a rude coworker, a mean supervisor, or a single incident. However, these areas do not make a work environment hostile. The U.S. Equal Opportunity Commission, or EEOC, lists a hostile work environment as the following:
Involving "unwelcome conduct that is based on race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy), national origin, age (40 or older), disability or genetic information"; or
It occurs when "enduring the offensive conduct becomes a condition of continued employment" or the conduct creates a workplace environment "that a reasonable person would consider intimidating, hostile, or abusive."
Now that you have read what the EEOC says defines a hostile work environment, let's take a look at what that actually means to you as an employee.
Here are some general examples of offensive conduct in the workplace:
- Offensive jokes – including racial or sexual jokes,
- Name calling – including racial slurs, epithets, and other offensive names,
- Physical threats or assaults based on race, color, sex, etc,
- Intimidation because of race, color, sex, etc,
- Ridicule or mocking of any person in the workplace based on race, sex, color, etc,
- Insults and put downs based on color, race, sex, etc,
- Offensive pictures and objects based on sex, race, color, etc.
All of these items constitute a hostile work environment and can be on the part of a coworker, supervisor, agents of the employer, or even non-employees, such as a vendor or customer. The conduct may not always be offensive to the employee or person that it is directed towards, but it may be offensive to the people or employees around that observe the actions.
The very best way to ensure that you are not contributing to a hostile work environment is to take an active role in preventing any of these areas on your part as an employee. If you have concerns or feel unsafe or offended in any way, go through the proper channels at your workplace to report them to a supervisor and document any issues, threats, problems, or other offensive behavior when it happens.


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Your letters:
I'm in a fantasy league with twelve teams. One team is run by two guys. This is stupid, right?
Sure is! There are only three good excuses to share a fantasy team:
1) There's only one spot left in a league that you and a friend want to join, so you decide to share a team so that you can both get in.
2) It's an expensive league and you're too broke to join on your own, so you split the fee with your friend. (NOTE: If you join an expensive league with an entry fee of, say, a thousand dollars, you are a fucking moron. You just gave away a thousand dollars. Why would you do that to yourself? Head back to the low roller tables, dummy. Trust me, it's just a miserable when you lose $20 in your stupid league.)
3) You joined a league with your kid to teach your kid about fantasy football so that they can like football so that they won't bitch when you put football on the TV. Also, you can bond with your kid as you chew out David Wilson together.
That's it. If you're sharing a team just because you like the idea of sharing a team, you're awful. Are you trying to split GM duties? You'll spend more time trying to get a hold of one another for approvals then you would if you ran the thing yourself.
The whole point of fantasy football is to run the whole show—to be the deranged Jerry Jones and run your horrible team into the ground. You pick the players, you make the lopsided trade requests, and you troll the waiver wire hoping Arian Foster appears there magically. And you do it ALONE, with no friends or allies. Just you in a dark room staring a computer screen, toggling back and forth between flex starters. It's a lonely, miserable, awful exercise and it's meant to be that way. What are you gonna do, sit in a room with your co-GM and bounce a tennis ball off the wall while cooking up zany team names? You're not some Hollywood screenwriting duo. You go to hell.
This fucking 'Final' in yellow on CBS bottom line is driving me nuts. It looks like there is a flag on every play. Fuck these assholes. And fuck Nantz.
It used to be red. Why isn't it red anymore? Red is the perfect color for the FINAL graphic. Oh, how I dread it when I have a subpar fantasy performer and I see his game go to FINAL on the crawl, and I know for certain that he will still no more points that the piddlyshit 3.56 points he got over four quarters. God fucking damn you, FINAL graphic. The red graphic makes it feel like breaking news about someone dying, which is appropriate!
A duck charged at my mom's bike last week. It did not end well for the duck.
HOLY SHIT! Christ, that poor duck. Bike duck got it worse than rocket frog.
A few weeks ago I was at visiting a beach on Lake Michigan in Gary, Indiana. On the way in, I saw a beast of a man walking with his wife and kids leaving the beach. The dude had several tattoos, but the one that particularly stood out to me was one of barbed wire around his bicep. Each spike of the barbed wire included tattooed blood pouring out. Above the barbed wire was a crudely drawn Star of David tattoo, and under that it simply said, in threatening text, "JEW BLOOD."
Did the tattoo artist need to be coaxed into designing this, or demand extra payment? When the artist was done, did he feel any guilt? Also, what is the home life like for this guy's kids? Do you think he got the tattoo before or after he was married? It was the most insane tattoo I've ever seen. I wanted to snap a pic but the guy was terrifying.
So was he Jewish then? Like, is the barbed wire pricking his skin and making him bleed his own imaginary Jew blood? Or is his bicep some kind of metaphorical neo-Nazi death camp, and a handful of Jews tried to escape from it, only the bicep was too big and strong and full of Aryan pride? I'm going to assume it's the latter because I don't trust neo-Nazis to think these things through. This is what you get for going to a beach in Gary, Ind. Is the sand made up entirely of used needles?
I assume that the JEW BLOOD tattoo artist was a fellow neo-Nazi and/or prison inmate. When getting a tattoo like that, it's the thought that counts. You're not looking for artistic precision. You just want it clear enough so that people know you're serious about JEW BLOOD. Also, you and the tattoo artist are probably high as shit on meth at the time of application.
Maybe that was Jathan Sadowski you saw! ASK TO TOUCH THE TATTOO NEXT TIME!
Lately I've been thinking about how many potential Hall of Fame players have been passed over in the NFL draft. On the one hand, coaches study obscene amounts of film for months and months before the draft. With the amount of time dedicated to scouting, combining, and wonderlicing, it's tough for anyone to slip under the radar these days. On the other hand, you have guys like Tom Brady and Kurt Warner who were passed over repeatedly in the draft and then only given a chance to play in the NFL due to luck and favorable circumstances. There has to be more HOF caliber players like them that just never caught that break.
My question is: how many Hall of Famers have gone undrafted in the last 20 years? Is it maybe 1 or 2 players? Something crazy like fifteen? Did we miss out on the greatest offensive tackle of all time? Is Greggggg really on to something?
I doubt there are scores of them out there. You're assuming that an unheralded player out there would magically become a Hall of Famer if they just got a chance to play, but that's not how it works. Circumstances mean a great deal. If the player has good coaches (as Brady does) and good offensive talent surrounding them (as Warner did), that obviously makes a huge difference. Success in the NFL is always a mixture of talent and intelligence and hard work and fortunate circumstances, and it's impossible to know what the exact proportions are for every player, which is why it's tiring to sit in a fucking bar and argue with someone about whether Joe Montana made Jerry Rice or the other way around.
I'd like to say that the best players always find a way to break through, but obviously that's not always true. Coaches and GMs will shun good players for any number of reasons: they can't see their talent, they dislike them personally, they paid a shitload of money to some stiff ahead of a better player on the depth chart and can't go back on it, they caught them banging the help, etc. You can be like Greggggggg and believe far too many players get repressed like this, or you can be like Cowherd or some other jackass and be like DURRRRR IN 'MERICA THE PEOPLE WHO DESERVE TO BE SUCCESSFUL ALWAYS RISE TO THE TOP FOLKS DURRRRR, but the truth almost certainly lays somewhere in between. Historically, NFL draft classes have yielded anywhere between zero and 10 Hall of Fame players. If a single draft containing over 250 players can yield such a low percentage of Hall of Famers, then I think the rest of the field has an even lower percentage. I think over the past 20 years, maybe two or three potentially great players got hosed. Poor Elroy McKigginstockings. He was so gritty!
My wife and I are new parents and her best friend has a 2 and a half year old and I do not exaggerate that this child is awful. We're talking little discipline and no boundaries. Nothing is off limits. Closed doors are simply speed bumps, not barriers. Far be it for me to criticize someone else's parenting (patenting: the most competitive sport!) but have you ever had to deal with a great friend who is a horrible parent? It's hard to be the heavy with your own child when another child is allowed to run around and have free rein. Do we just have to resign ourselves to the fact we can't hang around her anymore? Saying something to her is not an option, no?
It's not an option because criticizing another person's parenting does nothing except make them angry and defensive. Saying "you are a bad parent" is essentially telling them "you are a bad person." There's no way to make that pill easy to swallow. Shitty parents are like alcoholics: They have to WANT to stop being shitty. You can't badger them into getting better or else they'll simply end up worse. And it takes every last ounce of strength to NOT say anything, especially when their asshole kids are rubbing off on your own. Just being in that situation can be remarkably stressful.
This is the kind of thing that ends up driving a wedge between friends, colleagues, and even family members. I've seen it happen and it's painful. You want to say something to the bad parent, but instead you end up keeping your mouth shut and passive aggressively cutting them out of your life. You still like them as people, but having a friend who is a bad parent is essentially the same as having a friend who takes a feral wolf around with them wherever they go. You have to prioritize.
Over 4th of July week my wife and I tried to get a picture of us and our 20-month-old. We sat 3 times for this picture, attached is the best we got. The first one he completely slipped through my legs and he was choked fiercely by his own shirt and arms, and I guess my legs. The second he actually wasn't in the picture, by the time it was taken it was just my wife and I and he was halfway down the block. This is the 3rd, we nailed it.
Not bad! The fact that you got him in the frame is victory enough. Most Christmas cards are now iPhoto-created postcards that consist of five separate shots of family members arranged in a tasteful wreath-shaped collage, because no one could get the kids to stay still in a single shot together. You may as well try to get a picture of fucking Big Foot. And frankly, this is okay. You don't want a GLORY KID who is enthused about having his or her picture taken. That's how you end up with a child star/drug addict.
Every year, my old lady starts thinking about potential Christmas card shoots sometime around, oh, March. If we're ever on vacation or traveling close to some sort of scenic highway lookout, she will become fiercely determined to get a family shot together. And we never succeed. No one sits still. The kids start complaining instantly. My back starts to ache. Posing for pictures BLOWS. I know everyone makes fun of models for saying they have a tiresome job, but I bet it's true. I bet standing there in a frigid lake with your tits hanging out all day and Terry Richardson barking pose orders at you gets old fast.
What is the proper etiquette for changing your relationship status on Facebook in the event that your significant other passes away? What variables go in to deciding the time frame?
My guess is that you would leave your status as MARRIED until you felt you were ready to start dating again. You would leave it unchanged for a long time after the death because A) you still felt married in spirit and were uninterested in announcing otherwise; and B) people grieving over the death of a spouse usually don't give a flying shit about their Facebook profile after that.
If my wife died, I would have a nervous breakdown and then go climb a mountain. And then Facebook would use its various spying techniques and elaborate algorithms to discover that my wife had passed away, and then send a message saying WE NOTICED THAT YOUR WIFE IS DEAD. SWITCH TO TIMELINE AND HONOR HER MEMORY! And then I would hunt down Mark Zuckerberg and kill him with my bare hands.
And then, after a year or so of proper grieving, I would switch my status and write a KILLER Match.com profile, with just the right blend of humor and pathos. A real winner! I bet any young male widow on Match.com pulls insane numbers. Oh my God, his wife died! THAT'S SO ROMANTIC.
My wife was cooking a meal for some friends coming over, and was preparing some kind of zucchini recipe. I offered to help, so she asked me to peel and slice the zucchini. 10 bat-sized zucchini, peeled and sliced potato-chip thin. Filled two gallon-sized ziploc bags. My hands were covered with green zucchini-peel residue the whole night. Even after washing and scrubbing four times.
It's true: NEVER agree to peel zucchini. Whatever green slime lurks inside its flesh sticks to you like sea barnacles. I feel like an alien plant is slowly colonizing my body any time I peel one. It's not worth it. Zucchini belongs in the same class as sweet potatoes and taro roots: vegetable-type things that people fry up in a cheap attempt to make healthier junk food. A basket of fried zucchini has fifty million calories. You're not fooling anyone, local Greek taverna.
Professional athletes usually have "a guy" for most everything (driver, food, haircut, clothing etc.). Do you think some super baller would ever think it was beneath him to wipe his own ass, therefore hiring "a guy" to be his full time butt wiper? Furthermore, if this did happen, how much money would it take (Per wipe, per day, base salary?) for you to be the full time turd remover for someone like, Rasheed Wallace?
I think that some athlete out there has almost certainly had a lackey flush toilets for him. It would be a way for the athlete to protect himself from germs AND it would be fun to degrade your childhood friend by paying him to flush your turds for you. DON'T LEAVE ANY SKIDMARKS, SHINEBOY! (throws wad of hundreds at loved one)
But I don't think any athlete has hired a butt wiper. I believe that there ARE athletes out there lazy enough to hire someone for the task, but I think they'd all be too gay panic-y to go through with it. Johnny wiped my ass. Does that makes us gays? OH NO!
For two thousand bucks per wipe, I would wipe the hell out of Rasheed Wallace's ass. I would even spit shine his anus if he required it. Nurses wipe asses all the time for far less money. That's good work for a good price, so long as Rasheed doesn't stiff you on your paycheck (and he would)! I would also double my rate for any soft stool output.
I'm 31 and I've never smoked a cigarette in my life and I've never had the desire to. Yet, when I imagine myself relaxing, or celebrating some professional victory almost invariably I'm lighting up and this goes as far back as I can remember. What the fuck is wrong with me? It's all the Joe Cool and Marlboro ads from my youth isn't it?
Yep. You're not alone. I hate smoking, but when I see people do it, I think it looks cool as shit. Whenever I use a toothpick, I treat it like a cigarette until my wife sees me and is like, "What the hell are you doing with that toothpick?" CAN IT, DAME. Same with pretzel logs, toothbrushes, lollipop sticks, and any other small phallic mouth object. I also picture smoking a victory cigar any time I pretend-coach the Vikings to eight consecutive Super Bowl victories, and cigars are fucking gross. They smell gross. They get all wet with spittle after three minutes. And people who smoke them are complete assholes. Go to any golf course and find the guy smoking a cigar on the putting green. That guy will ALWAYS be a prick. Always. But I'm so socially conditioned to view the cigar as a symbol of success that I visualize it anyway.
One clever wrinkle is to just swap a blunt into your fantasy and you'll instantly make it both more realistic and more alluring. I want one of those two-page magazine spreads with me puffing on a blunt and exhaling a gorgeous cloud of smoke, Rick Ross-style. That would be fucking awesome.
How cool would it be if the last 5 yards before the endzone was just one long strip of trampoline?
You know how some players will leap at the two-yard line and somersault into the end zone on a long score? This would make that somersault cooler. Also, three broken necks per game.
My roommate and I have endured a lengthy philosophical debate. He says if a man had a door slammed on his penis, he would be better off with the penis flaccid. I say it would be better for it to be hard, with the thinking that it will put up a little resistance that way. He says erect would be more sensitive and, therefore, painful. So what do you say? For the purpose of the argument, assume that the door is closing at no more than a moderate speed, and leave the balls out of it.
Erect. With an erection, your penis is larger, and therefore you're spreading the impact out over a greater area, thus reducing potential damage. Also, I want my penis to be awake for the impact. I don't want it to be caught napping. Best to know that it was ready to put up a real fight.
I know that an erect penis is more sensitive, but it's not like a limp dick can't feel anything. Ever zip up a limp dick? It's PLENTY sensitive. You're at a greater risk of blood loss with an erect penis getting hit by a swinging door, but I'll take my chances.
What if your Vikings had actual viking-helmet horns on their helmets instead of just decals — advantage or a disadvantage overall? Assume the horns are treated like facemasks for the other team's penalties (15 yds for pulling on one), and treated like the crown of the helmet for Vikings penalties (can't violently spear with them, but ordinary contact with the horns is fine).
Advantage. More defenders would avoid contact with a horned runner coming at them. And if you get low, you could ram your horn up through the opponent's chin and impale him on your helmet, bullfighter-style. He's not going anywhere after that. But the Vikings would still go 7-9 because Ponder sucks.
I think pretty much every NFL team would have something of an advantage if they adopted the physical attributes of their mascot. The Eagles would dominate if they had big eagle wings. The Lions would dominate if they had razor-sharp claws. And the Packers would dominate if they ... were good at packing things.
Email of the week!
So, I fly a decent amount. I don't mind it, it doesn't particularly scare me (typically). That said, every time I'm in the middle of the plane and we're making our descent into wherever, I make sure I listen in for the landing gear's deployment. I swear, even when everything goes well (which is every time so far, at least for me), the landing gear sounds godawful. Every. Single. Time. It always sounds terrible, like some plane mechanic just said, "Fuck it" about that maintenance check he was supposed to do last week and decided to go eat lunch instead. What the fuck was that noise? Did a wheel fall off? Then all I can think about is to wonder whether or not we're going to have to fly around for hours to get rid of our fuel and then land on the belly of the plane U.S. Airways style.
But really, the landing gear always really sounds like shit. As an aside, I also always make sure to look out the window, just in case I can catch a glimpse of a frozen stowaway who hid in the landing gear compartment and is falling from the sky Dave-Chappelle-in-Con-Air style.
I just worry about tripwires. Someone will tripwire this plane!
Drew Magary writes for Deadspin. He's also a correspondent for GQ. Follow him on Twitter @drewmagary and email him at email@example.com. You can also buy Drew's book, Someone Could Get Hurt, through his homepage.


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A 69-year-old man, one of 14 victims of this week's fire at the Palos Verdes Inn in San Pedro, has died from severe burn wounds, Los Angeles police confirmed Wednesday.
The man's name was not released pending notification of family. He died at a local hospital on Wednesday afternoon.
Detective Gus Villanueva said that because the fire was deliberately set, a murder charge can be filed against the arsonist who started it.
There is no suspect in custody.
Officials believe accelerant was used to ignite the fast-burning blaze. Heavy smoke was spotted by firefighters at 3:30 a.m. Tuesday.
One woman suffered a fracture after jumping out of the building. Firefighters were able to raise ladders to the second-story windows before anyone else jumped.
Altogether, 14 people were taken to hospitals.
The 14-room motel on Palos Verdes Street near 10th Street offers low-cost rooms. Most of the inhabitants live there for months or years, according to residents.
The Long Beach chapter of the American Red Cross provided housing and food for the displaced residents who were not injured.
The cause of the fire remains under active investigation by the Los Angeles Police Department's Robbery-Homicide Division and the Los Angeles Fire Department's Arson Section.
Anyone with information is urged to call Robbery-Homicide Detectives Louis Zorrilla or Maria Perez at 213-486-6890 during regular business hours. During nonbusiness hours or on weekends, calls should be directed to 1-877-LAPD-24-7.
Those who wish to remain anonymous can call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (800-222-8477). Tipsters also can contact Crime Stoppers by texting to phone number 274637 with a cell phone.
All text messages should begin with the letters "LAPD."
Tipsters also may go to LAPDOnline.org, click on "webtips" and follow the promps.
Follow Donna Littlejohn on Twitter at http://twitter.com/donnalittlejohn


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MVC fan's $50,000 shot that doesn't pay - in cash, that is
ST. LOUIS – Alex Permann hit a half-court shot before the Missouri Valley Conference championship game Sunday and cost himself $50,000.
That probably needs explanation.
Permann, a 24-year-old optometry student at the University of Missouri-St. Louis was selected for one of those popular shooting contests; make a layup, free throw, 3-pointer and half-court shot in the allotted time to win a prize – 24 seconds, in Sunday's case, and $50,000.
Permann hit the layup, nailed the free throw, then dashed to the midcourt line and buried a half-court shot, waving his hands in joy as the crowd roared, thinking they had just seen the big winner of the weekend.
"When I hit that shot," he said later, "I was thinking about 50 grand."
About that 3-pointer -- he forgot.
"I guess I don't listen too good," Permann said.
By the time he realized his mistake, he had time to rush off a couple of 3-point attempts, but missed.
Rules are rules. MVC officials huddled and came up with a compromise. Permann will get four tickets for life to the MVC tournament and four VIP passes and a three-day hotel stay in St. Louis for next year's tournament.
"I've got to tell you, I'm just sick," MVC associate commissioner Jack Watkins said of Permann losing his jackpot.
"Either way, it's been awesome. I just can't believe I made it," said Permann, whose main experience with basketball is playing in an intramural league once a week. He'll have the memory, anyway. Just not $50,000.


text: x (Unused) > John Harralson The Voice-Tribune's Best Dressed 2012 September 6, 2012 Share Tweet The Voice-Tribune's Best Dressed of Louisville presented by Churchill Downs was held Aug. 25 at the Louisville Marriott Downtown. Tonya York Dees, Steve Wilson, Dana Robinson and Gill Holland. Glenn Hogan and Jessica Green. Fain Brooks and Tina List. Kristen and Hunter Wilson with Angie and Dr. Ben Gaddie Billy Minor and Ashley Blackburn with Cindy and Ray Carcione. Dana Robinson and Brian Thieneman. Lowrey Watkins and Alison Mann. Laura Frazier and Harry Dennery. Rebecca and John Y. Brown III with Lisa and Jonathan Miller. Michelle Beam, Leeann Zoller, Elizabeth Lecocco and Sarah Brown. Charon Fowler and Ned Bass. Helen Dashti, Jennifer Rice, Chelsea Knipp and Charity Beck-Ghali. Karen and Dr. Jerry Buchanan. Lynda Lambert and Stephen Lannert. Gary and Allison Hirsch, owners of the Highland Fish Market in Middletown. Dr. Juan L Quintero and his wife, Dr. Margarita Terrassa. Bill and Becky Lamb. Winny Wearren. Hadley Hartz and Tommy Gift, Jr. Helen Grimes Vaughan and son Tyler. Dr. Donald and Susan Bennett. Jennifer Rice, Chelsea Knipp and Merida Thompson.


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How Shall I Live
Young Women Selected Songs: A Song of the Heart
How shall I live?
What can I do?
When will I ever know?
How can I feel close to the Lord?
Where shall I go?
The Savior has said, "Draw near unto me, and I will draw near unto you."
Searching the scriptures must be the key. This I can do.
I will seek him daily through constant prayer,
Keep his commandments too.
Follow his servants, love and share;
This I will do.
May I live my life in harmony
To have thy spirit dwell with me.
Then I shall find thee!
I shall find thee!
Text: Marjorie C. Kjar
Music: Pat Brown


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No matter how much we enjoy our work - we all need to get away or to have time to do those very necessary personal or family tasks. VA offers an excellent array of programs that will give you the time you need. Among them are:
Each calendar year, enjoy 10 paid federal holidays:
You will accrue leave that can be used as paid vacation time that allows you to rest, relax, and recharge.
Full time employees initially earn 13 days per year. You can earn up to 26 days per year after continued service.
Full time nurses, nurse anethetists, physician assistants, and expanded function dental auxiliaries earn 26 days annually.
Physicians, dentists, podiatrists, chiropractors, and optometrists recieve 26 days per year.
Accrued annual leave can also be used as time off, allowing you to attend to personal business, emergencies, and family needs.
All full-time employees accrue 13 days of sick leave a year. Physicians, dentists, podiatrists, chiropractors, and optometrists earn 13 calendar days of sick leave.
Situations may arise that take you away from work for an extended period. VA allows up to
Joining VA gives you team members you can count on in times of trouble.
VA encourages you to meet your civic responsibility as a juror or witness. Court Leave is excused time away from work, during which time you will be fully paid.
You are entitled to use up to seven days of excused absence from work with full pay each year to serve as a bone marrow donor.
If you're a serving member of the Armed Forces, you'll find VA a supportive and appreciative workplace.
The VA Child Care Subsidy helps parents afford quality child care.
If you regularly commute to and from work using mass transit, you may be eligible for transit subsidy. The amount of subsidy authorized is based on your monthly public transit commuting costs up to a monthly dollar limit.
Find Out More About VA Job Benefits: