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42 Pressed
Each a botanical blend that has been inspired by life's travels, explore our special creations of nostalgic moments that burn slowly, cleanly and evenly, and relax after your hard day. As elevated by design as they are crafted with care, discover the Modern Journeyman's (and woman's) favourite Candle collection by 42 PRESSED, a trusted brand partner of ANCHOR & CREW. Each hand-poured in United States of America using a combination of traditional craft and modern techniques, this collection comprises candles made from 100% natural wax and blended with fine fragrance oils. Of exceeding quality, In Quality We Trust.
New S/S20 Bracelet Collection - Discover Our 2020 Newness
|Simplicity x Authentic Craftsmanship - New Chain Bracelets Added To Mast, Mooring & Sail Collections
International Store:


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- Shirt: Bella + Canvas 3001 unisex short sleeve jersey t-shirt
- Colors: Aqua, Berry, Gold, Heather Raspberry, Kelly, Olive, Red, Steel Blue, True Royal
- Sizes: S, M, L, XL, 2XL (see size guide below)
- Material: Solid color shirts are 100% combed and ring-spun cotton. Heather shirts are 52% combed and ring-spun cotton, 48% polyester.
- Baby-knit jersey
- Shoulder-to-shoulder taping
- Cover stitched and hemmed sleeves
- Side-seamed
- Fabric weight: 4.2 oz
This super-soft, baby-knit t-shirt looks great on both men and women. Solid color shirts are made from 100% cotton while the heather colors contain polyester.
International Shipping
Import duties, taxes, and charges are not included in the item price or shipping cost. These charges are the buyer's responsibility. If you are unsure please check with your country's custom office to see what fees may apply to you.

subset: commoncrawl


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RELEASE DAY FOR, THE LAST CALLING (Book 5 of Dragon Calling)Get ready for the epic conclusion to the Dragon Calling Series!November 13th, 202024 days to go.
Hunt for Specifics!
Latest updated Posts!
Check out the Dragon Calling series on Facebook!
Follow the Author on Instagram!
Lonely the Wolf, Illustrated Children's Book!
Tag Archives: INFP
Dragon Calling and Myers-Briggs Typing
I've been wanting to do this for some time now, and finally, finally, I've put all the pieces together and gotten it done. What am I talking about, exactly? Why, assigning Myers-Briggs Personality Types to my Dragon Calling characters, of … Continue reading
Posted in General, Information Tagged dragon calling character chart, dragon calling characters, dragon calling myers briggs chart, dragon calling series, ENTJ, ENTP, ESFJ, ESTP, fictional characters personality chart, INFJ, INFP, INTJ, isabel briggs myers, ISTJ, myers briggs character chart, myers briggs chart, myers briggs fictional characters, myers briggs quotes, myers briggs test, myers-briggs types, personality chart, personality quotes, personality types, sixteen personality types 3 Comments


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The decision by the Chairman of the Federal Reserve Board, Ben Bernanke, to inject another stimulus has become a campaign issue.
The Democrats basically approve of QE3 - that does not stand for a new ocean liner - but for qualitative easement, or in simple terms, cheap, low-interest money.
If the Federal Reserve chairman is right and jobs, rather than inflation, are the main concern of the economy, then Bernanke merits support.
Of course, given practically nonexistent interest rates, investors will be lured to place their bets on the stock market as a vehicle for securing a return on their savings. As stock prices go up and correspondingly pension assets, it will increase economic optimism and consumer eagerness to spend money, giving a positive jolt to the economy. Democrats can see the political benefit in creating a feel-good factor going into November's election.
The Federal Reserve Chairman was not the beloved of the Republicans even before the decision to buy indefinitely $40 billion a month of mortgage-backed bonds, meaning a huge injection of borrowed money into the economy. During the Republican primaries, one of the contenders, Texas Governor Rick Perry, nearly accused Bernanke of treason.
Some Republicans believe that the Federal Reserve Chairman has knuckled under to the pressures of Democratic politicians, such as New York Democratic Senator Chuck Schumer.
Economic spokespersons for the party, such as vice presidential candidate Paul Ryan, reject the decision on economic grounds. Campaigning in Tampa, Ryan claimed that the sole beneficiaries will be the banks and Wall Street, but not the people and this was the equivalent of "sugar-high economics".
Republicans charge that by effectively printing money, the Fed is generating inflation and is penalizing savers, particularly senior citizens by cheapening the dollar.
There is a 3rd school of Republicans, who while decrying the move, believe that it contains a political silver lining in demonstrating that the administration's economic policies have failed. If the country needed a third stimulus, it means that little has been accomplished and to paraphrase the old coalminer's folksong "16 Tons and whaddya get, Another day older and deeper in debt," what America has gotten is 4 years older and deeper in debt with little to show for it.


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Summary: Alternatives are fundamental to Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) and are required under the SEA Directive (Directive 2001/42/EC).1. Research Report 157 contains recommendations for the development of these alternatives
Published: 2015
Pages: 68
Filesize: 4,365KB
Format: pdf
Alternatives are fundamental to Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) and are required under the SEA Directive (Directive 2001/42/EC).1 Consideration of alternatives in SEA provides the opportunity to identify and explore different ways to deliver a plan's or programme's objectives while addressing environmental issues. In order to improve this aspect of the SEA process, this research report reviews current practice, both nationally and internationally, makes recommendations for good practice and sets out a methodology for the development and consideration of SEA alternatives.
See also Research 157: MOLAND Lite - Land use modelling for SEA alternatives development and assessment
PO Box 3000 Johnstown Castle Estate Wexford, Y35 W821 Tel.: 053-916 0600Email:email@example.com EPA locations
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1. Introduction2
2.The Monetary Union2
2.1. Advantages of a single currency2
2.2. Disadvantages of a single currency3
2.3. Conclusions for the Eurozone4
3.The British Perspective5
3.1. Reasons against joining5
3.2. Reasons for joining6
3.3. Conclusions for Britain7
The idea of a single currency has already been mentioned in 1957 when the European Union was founded.
During the following years several discussions about a Monetary Union took place, but without any achievements.
The first steps towards the EMU were only made in 1992, when the members of the EC met in Maastricht. A timetable for the development of the EMU was created there.
In the years after the treaty the preparation began.
In 1999 exchange rates were irrevocably fixed and transactions started to be possible in Euros. The Eurozone consisted of 11 member states at this time, Greece became the 12th member in 2001.
In December 2001 inhabitants of the Eurozone could get so-called "starter-kits" containing Euro-coins.
In January 2002 also banknotes were introduced and in March 2002 the national currencies became invalid. (Barber and Naimark, 2001)
Since the foundation of the European Monetary Union in 1992 there have always been arguments for and against a single currency.
Despite all criticism the Euro is reality in twelve countries now. This fact has both advantages and disadvantages.
2.1. Advantages of a single currency
The most obvious positive argument for the Euro is that transaction costs are saved. This concerns people who are travelling abroad within the Eurozone, but above all firms that import or export to other EMU countries. (Wren-Lewis, 2001)
For firms that import or export much the transaction costs are sizable and are partly passed on to consumers through higher prizes. (Eudey, 1998). So, through the single currency consumers will...


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A very nice article ran in the Oklahoman today about how the Thunder are Champions to many in our community including Lorelei. Here's a link to the online version. If any of you has a print version to spare, we'd love an extra copy!
Lorelei will undergo chemo #11 on Thursday June 28. Even though these last few treatments are the most difficult to bear, we're on the home stretch!
(The article mentions that Lorelei's tumor is 90% gone. That's incorrect but does reflect the fact that it is at least 90% dead. She'll likely keep that tumor in her chest for the rest of her life but it will just be a big bunch of dead scarred up lymph nodes.)
Tue, November 26, 2013 @ 5:50 AM
Your Name:
Your Email/URL (Optional):
Your Comment:
Comment Guidelines: No HTML is allowed. Off-topic or inappropriate comments will be edited or deleted. Thanks.
Lorelei's Journey
Background Story
New International Version (NIV)
14 "Because he loves me," says the Lord, "I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.
15 He will call on me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him.
16 With long life I will satisfy him and show him my salvation."
Copyright © 2020 Loving Lorelei. All Rights Reserved.


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About us
"EmaBride" is a long-standing manufacturer of wedding, evening and children's dresses, as well as accessories to match them.
What we provide our customers with are not just dresses from the manufacturer, these are the results of many years of work in the wedding market. Products of the "EmaBride" brand have been manufactured for more than 10 years. That is why we can say with confidence that you are visiting the site of true professionals. Our team is highly skilled craftsmen who devote all their time to creating unique and truly beautiful dresses.
In the manufacture, we put the main focus on wedding dresses, because this is the outfit that a girl puts on on the most important and happy day of her life. When preparing for a wedding, it is the wedding dress that is given the most time and requires the most effort on finding it.
We have been engaged in the manufacture of wedding dresses for many years, we follow all global trends, fashion trends and keep tabs on works of famous designers. All fashion trends novelties and changes are subsequently reflected in our collections. Our models of wedding dresses have enslaved hearts and continue doing this with thousands of brides around the world. Our wedding dresses are of high quality and do not lack distinction. We are personally responsible for each dress tailoring process, as well as the fabrics quality.
Another significant product line is our evening dresses. A beautiful dress is an essential attribute of every girl's wardrobe. A large wardrobe filled with beautiful dresses is more than just a dream for every woman. Our direct responsibility is to make this dream come true. We create a large selection of evening and cocktail dresses, of high quality and at affordable prices.
We also delight the youngest ladies who still dream of growing up and becoming real princesses. In the meantime, let them wear these queen gowns. Our collections of children dresses include a variety of clothes, which can be put on for special joyful occasions, such as birthdays or dining with a child at a restaurant. Also, our models are a good choice for matinees.
Every dress, no matter how wonderful and stunning it is, requires accessories as well. We offer our customers wedding wraps and baby coats, to look elegant even in cold seasons. We have petticoats of various volume as well for a dress to look truly royal.
"EmaBride" is seeking cooperation with wholesale buyers who care about the quality of their goods.


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Alright darlings,
We have another guest today ready to share something right up your alley. Today we welcome author Bill Friday from BillFriday.com. Some of you may remember Bill from my time over at Stories. Others already know him. Some of you are new to Bill completely and those of you that might be are in for a treat.
As we enter this eve of Hallow's Eve, that some may call "Mischief Night" or the foreboding, even older nickname, "Devil's Night," we will take one last nightmarish journey with our guest before our closing day, tomorrow.
This theme is dark and poetic. We hope you enjoy.
- Snapping Turtle Arts
A Ghost Story
By: Bill Friday
I am a ghost.
I, in the beginning of my time here on this plane of existence, I could not understand what it was to be invisible to the world and those living in it, as I still thought myself a part of the world that I still saw before me. I moved, I thought, I felt everything as I did before my transformation. Little seemed to change from one moment to the next. I was me, and the world was the world, and neither of us looked much different as far as I could tell. But it was different. I was different. Because now, the world looked right through me.
Because I am a ghost.
I am a ghost.
I know I am a ghost because, after what I'm guessing – since there is no clock or calendar in my world – many years of living. I say "living" with some caution because, of course, ghosts aren't alive. At least not in the way all those around me who don't see me are alive. But they are alive, every one of them. I can tell by the hurry and worry they carry with themselves everywhere they go. Constantly in motion, even when that motion seems to take them nowhere in particular. Just circles circling other circling circles, always in a rush to go everywhere, but never seeming to go anywhere. Except that none of these concentric living circles ever seem to circle me.
Because I am a ghost.
I am a ghost.
I know I am a ghost because of something I saw in a movie once when I was still alive. Those who still move in circles can hear me. They hear the same sounds I hear when I make when I choose to make them. They hear the groan, the belch, the occasional fart – although I don't know where the belch and the fart come from, because as I learned from the same movie, ghosts don't belch or fart – and also from the moving of objects that are, in my ghostly existence, important to me.
I guess, because that's what the movie taught me, that objects which were important to me in my previous life are still important to me in this life as well. It makes me question my previous life's life-choices as to why I didn't place more importance on a nice car, or maybe a big house, or even on better clothes, because the only things that must have been important to me in that other life seem to be a raggedy overcoat, the morning newspaper, and a shopping cart that wobbles at the wheels and scrapes at the pavement as I walk. Seriously, if I could give just one word of advice to those still living – but I can't, because to my knowledge, none of them has ever heard a word I have said – it would be to acquire nice things for yourself in life, because one day you might be a ghost and need them.
Yeah, the things you learn the hard way.
Because you are a ghost.
I am a ghost.
I know I am a ghost because, after a lifetime of seeing no need at all for god or the church, I live behind a church, on the edge of a graveyard – how ironic on so many levels, being a ghost because… graveyard, and an atheist ghost because… church – but they let me stay as the church folk look right through me like the rest of the living do. Oh, and they allow me to eat left-overs from the shiny dumpster next to the boarded-up back door. I even sleep behind it when the wind blows extra cold some nights, and my overflowing morning newspapers can't seem to keep the wind out of my ghost-self bones.
Like on this night.
Because that's what ghosts do.
And I am a ghost.
You can reach Bill Friday in these places as well:
Twitter: @ThatManFriday
Instagram: @BillFriday
Facebook: facebook.com/thatmanfriday
Website: BillFriday.com
This has been
Day 30


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Date(s) - 14/02/2020
11:30 pm - 12:30 am
Darlings Downunder
Come along to Darlings Downunder's cloth nappy shop in Ringwood to our Cloth Nappy Info Session on Saturday 15 February at 9:30am. We'll to help you learn a lot about cloth nappies, feel more confident in your decisions and show you how to choose your family's first cloth nappies.
We hold our workshops at our cloth nappy shop at 42C Wantirna Rd, Ringwood 3134. We're close to Maroondah Hwy, Canturbury Rd and Eastlink.
During our workshop (which usually runs under an hour), we go through the styles of reusable nappies, and chat about differences between brands, fabrics and features – sharing honest, unbiased experience – and explain how to use them, wash them and answer all your questions about what things to consider, how many you need, and the best way to get started.
A double ticket is $15.
Book here: https://www.darlingsdownunder.com.au/shop/on-sale/cloth-nappy-workshops


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Publication Date
January 2003
Discussion of organizational responses to the challenges dual-earner couples face in integrating their work and family lives and of the effectiveness of various workplace characteristics and organizational initiatives for supporting such work-life integration. Development of a comprehensive model of organizational family responsiveness that incorporates work-life policies, traditional human resource incentives, and work redesign in the context of a workplace culture that facilitates the full implementation of these policies, as well as tests of that model.
Suggested Citation
Valcour, P.M. & Batt, R. (2003). Work-life integration: Challenges and organizational responses. In P. Moen (Ed.), It's about time: Couples and careers (pp. 310-331). Ithaca, NY: Cornell University Press.
Required Publisher Statement
Cornell University Press.


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The Wooden Owl
Easter Centerpiece, spring mantle decor
Regular price $ 29.00
$ 0.00
This Easter centerpiece is perfect for your mantle or Easter centerpiece. The wooden box measures 3.5 x 28 x 5" and is stained dark walnut. Great addition to your Easter and spring decorations. Also great for spring/Easter mantle decor. The text can be changed. This listing is for the box only, the flowers and eggs are photo props only.


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POW/MIA UPDATE: May 17, 2017
AMERICANS RECENTLY ACCOUNTED FOR: On March 28th, DPAA statistics listed three Marines as recently accounted for: Capt John A. House of NY, Cpl Glyn L. Runnels, Jr., of AL, and LCpl John D. Killen, II, of IA. All were listed KIA/BNR on June 30, 1967, South Vietnam. Their remains were recovered in June, 2012, and identification was authorized on December 22, 2015. On March 7th, DPAA released an announcement that Capt Daniel W. Thomas, USAFR, listed MIA July 6, 1971, South Vietnam, had been accounted for. Remains were recovered by a Vietnamese Unilateral Recovery Team (URT) in August, 2014, and identified in August, 2015, as those of Maj Donald G. Carr, USA, the other person in the OV-10A piloted by Capt Thomas. Later recovery efforts by the URT and repatriation of additional remains and material in April, 2016, brought the more recent ID of Capt Thomas. DPAA also listed on its website the accounting for Col William E. Campbell, USAF, listed MIA in Laos January 29, 1969, remains recovered April 17, 2014, and identified August 29, 2016. On February 22nd, DPAA announced the ID of Capt Robert R. Barnett, USAF, listed KIA/BNR on April 7, 1966, while piloting a B-57B over Laos. His remains were recovered June 18, 2015, and identified August 16, 2016. Earlier this year, 1st Lt William C. Ryan, USMCR, was the first person since June of 2016 announced as accounted for from the Vietnam War. He was listed KIA/BNR in Laos on May 11, 1969, remains recovered January 27, 2016, and identified December 7, 2016.
The number still missing and otherwise unaccounted-for from the Vietnam War is now 1,611. Let's hope these are the first of many announced in 2017, though most had long ago been identified. Of the 1,611 still missing (POW/MIA) and unaccounted-for (KIA/BNR), 90% were lost in Vietnam or in areas of Cambodia or Laos under Vietnam's wartime control: Vietnam-1,258 (VN-463, VS-795); Laos-297; Cambodia-49; PRC territorial waters-7. These country-specific numbers fluctuate when investigations result in changes to loss locations. Since formation in 1970, the League has sought the return of all POWs, the fullest possible accounting for the missing, and repatriation of all recoverable remains. The total accounted for since the end of the Vietnam War in 1975 is now 972. Following is a breakdown by country of the 972 Americans accounted for since the April 30, 1975 end of the Vietnam War: Vietnam – 661, Laos – 268, Cambodia – 40, and the PRC – 3. In addition, 63 US personnel were accounted for between 1973 and 1975, for a grand total of 1,035. Of the 63, 9 were from Laos, 53 from Vietnam, and 1 from Cambodia. These Americans were accounted for by unilateral US efforts in areas where access was possible, not due to cooperation with the post-war governments of Vietnam, Laos or Cambodia. Added together, a total of 277 have been recovered and identified from Laos, 714 from Vietnam, 41 from Cambodia and 3 from the PRC.
IMPORTANT REALIZATION: Symbolizing international acceptance, January 8-11th trilateral defense-related talks in Da Nang that included Laos, Vietnamese Defense Minister General Ngo Xuan Lich thanked the Cambodian Government for supporting Vietnam's "search for and repatriation of the remains of Vietnamese volunteer soldiers and experts who'd sacrificed their lives in Cambodia" and agreed with Cambodian Defense Minister Tea Banh to continue this cooperation.
URGENT NOTICE REGARDING DPAA WEBSITE: In early May, DPAA's website was inadvertently carrying inaccurate, incomplete and misleading information as it related to the Vietnam War. Reportedly, this was due to an ongoing review and improvement project. There has since been partial correction and at least the Lists of Accounted for US personnel have been restored, but the unaccounted-for lists are still incorrect, including altered countries of loss. DPAA still has not provided an anticipated completion date to get its planned improvements online and available to the public. Until further notice, the League advises against relying on the DPAA website for accurate data on the Vietnam War accounting mission.
DPAA DIRECTOR SELECTION PROCESS: As of this date, a new DPAA Director STILL has not been selected, now 11 months after the surprise resignation of Mike Linnington. Advertisements seeking applicants for this crucial position were sought and the closing date was April 6th. The responsible official now "Acting in the Capacity of" Undersecretary of Defense for Policy (USD-P) is Ms. Theresa Whelan, a career DoD official. A new person to permanently fill the USD-P position is unlikely to be nominated, confirmed and in place by the time the selection must be made. Hopefully, Secretary of Defense Mattis will ensure serious consideration of recommendations provided by the League, Special Operations Association (SOA), Special Forces Association (SFA) and others. Up to now, there has been no indication that important qualifications – such as experience, character, commitment and dedication to the mission – were given consideration, nor were crucial factors such as having earned the trust and respect of affected families and Veterans, as well as foreign officials whose willingness to authorize necessary cooperation is critical to success.
VIETNAM WAR ACCOUNTING OPERATIONS REDUCED: Due to budget constraints, field operations with Vietnam have been dramatically reduced; however, Lao operations have not been as adversely impacted, and a Lao Joint Field Activity (JFA) will begin shortly, the 4th JFA this fiscal year. The earlier JFA in Laos was postponed one week due to an aircraft breakdown and delay in Guam, but a trilateral investigation reportedly began as scheduled on January 9th. The three Recovery Teams (RTs) and one Investigation Team (IT) began late. The lost time was due to US budget and time constraints, NOT any obstruction from the Lao Government. With initial plans to conduct multiple operations in Vietnam, DPAA deployed only one IT and one RT, as well as a team to handle a Field Forensic Review (FFR) and a Joint Forensic Review (JFR). Thankfully, the Vietnamese Government provided one Vietnamese Recovery Team (VRT) and one Research Investigation Team (RIT). The next JFA in Vietnam will also be significantly smaller. Though the initial plan was to field two ITs and 7 RTs, there now will be only one RT, one VRT, and one Underwater Recovery Team (URT).
DPAA BUDGET REQUIREMENTS NOT MET: As is obvious, DPAA did NOT have the funding in Fiscal Year 2017 (FY17) required to "increase the pace and scope of operations," as has repeatedly been requested by Vietnam. Despite continuing internal dysfunction, DPAA had been proceeding well since becoming fully operational in January of 2016. After assurance from Acting DPAA Director Fern Sumpter Winbush that funding was secured, though at a lower level, but adequate to sustain operations until April 28th, the reduction in field operations was a serious blow to confidence in DPAA's commitment to pursue Vietnam War accounting as a continuing priority. Now, due to inadequate funding, the damage is increasingly clear. The plus-up of $20 million to reach the necessary FY17 budget total of $132 million for planned operational requirements could not be requested until 45 days after a budget was approved. That did not occur, and it now appears there may be no budget approval this fiscal year, meaning it is already too late to receive, contract and utilize additional funds for the 3rd and 4th quarters of FY17. Of DPAA's initial funding for FY17, funds were already obligated for WWII and Korean War accounting, including recovery of remains from US cemeteries for individual identification; thus the ID count for WWII and Korean War continues to rise significantly.
YOUR HELP IS URGENTLY NEEDED! Write your elected officials, objecting to inadequate funding for DPAA FY17 operational requirements. Ask for additional FY18 funding for worldwide accounting and recovery efforts, as well as exemption of DPAA funding from any/all reductions. Funding for Veterans' care is rightfully protected by exempting VA budgets from across-the-board reductions and/or sequestration. Our UNRETURNED Veterans, America's POW/MIAs, deserve that same protection and adequate funds to return them to our Nation by achieving the fullest possible accounting.
VIETNAM WAR COMMEMORATION: The US Vietnam War Commemoration will soon send letters through the Service Casualty Offices to the families about Certificates of Honor signed by the Secretary of Defense and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. The letters will explain the program and how to request a certificates if not yet received. These Certificates have been presented at prior League Annual Meetings and DPAA-hosted Family Member Updates (FMUs). For more information, contact Yvonne Schilz or Matt Trotta at 1-877-387-9951.
48TH ANNUAL MEETING IS CRUCIAL: The League's 48th Annual Meeting, June 21st-25th, will again be held at the Hilton Crystal City Hotel, as it has been the last several years. This will be the first opportunity to hear from the President and/or senior Trump Administration officials. Since the Department of Defense (DoD) is responsible for the accounting mission and the Military Services play such key roles, Secretary of Defense General James Mattis and General Joseph F. Dunford, USMC, Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff, are also invited to this year's meeting.
Also, importantly, and for the first time, Russian Chairman of the US-Russia Joint Commission on POW/MIA Affairs General-Colonel Valery A. Vostrotin, recently confirmed his participation in our 48th Annual Meeting to DPAA Europe-Mediterranean Regional Director COL Chris Forbes, USA. (COL Forbes and his team were in Moscow for the first US-Russia technical talks in decades.) US Chairman General Robert H. "Doc" Foglesong, USAF (Ret), has also confirmed participation.
Orientation for Newcomers will be held June 21st, from 4:00 – 5:00 PM in the Patrick Henry Board Room, First Floor.
The Opening Session will be on Thursday, June 22nd, and there will be two full days of presentations by current and former US officials and noted private specialists, as well as official briefings from analytic personnel, field operators, scientists and guest presenters on the complete range of issue-related policy and operational matters. The 48th Annual Dinner & Candlelight Ceremony will be held Thursday evening, June 22nd. This year's program includes two workshops on Friday, June 23rd, immediately following the Service-hosted Luncheons. That evening, an Inspirational Service will be held in the Hall of Heroes at the Pentagon, followed by a tour of the newly opened Vietnam War Exhibit. Saturday morning, June 24th, a three-hour Q&A Session will be held with working-level DoD officials who made presentations, followed by the League Business Session and a closing League-hosted Farewell Reception, that evening, 6:30 – 8:00 PM.
Meet Your Elected Officials: It is more important than ever that elected Representatives and Senators know what POW/MIA family members, veterans and concerned citizens expect from Congress regarding support for the accounting mission. Call on your elected representatives to urge full funding and support for personnel needed to accomplish our longstanding, reasonable objective: the fullest possible accounting for America's unreturned Vietnam Veterans, our missing POW/MIAs. Make your appointment now!
Make travel arrangements to arrive on Tuesday, June 20th and depart on Sunday June 25th. This will ensure participation on Capitol Hill on Wednesday, June 21st, and the Q & A Session on Saturday, June 24th, in preparation for voting on policy resolutions during the League Business Session. These official League positions are geared toward developing League policy on the way ahead to achieve our accounting objectives. And, PAY YOUR DUES TO BE ELIGIBLE TO VOTE!
Transportation: As required by law, the Secretary of Defense will again authorize transportation for two family members of each Vietnam War missing and unaccounted-for American to attend. Service Casualty Officers have sent relevant information to the Primary Next of Kin (PNOK) about the 48th Annual Meeting, as well as forms for requesting transportation (COIN Assist), case file reviews, and attendance at Service-hosted Luncheons. In authorizing travel, original Congressional intent was to ensure that each missing American is represented at the League's annual meetings at which official government briefings will be given. All family members are eligible to attend, though some League sessions can be restricted and open only to those who register for the full League 48th Annual Meeting. Questions? Call the national office, 703-465-7432.
Registration: To register for the 48th Annual Meeting, use the Registration Form previously sent by the League or that sent by your Service Casualty Office. PLEASE COMPLETE BOTH SIDES and return the form to the League office with your check covering the cost of meeting registration and dinner (if you choose to attend). Deadline for registration is June 1st.
Credentials for the meeting will be available for pick-up Wednesday, June 21st from 3:00 – 5:00 PM and 7:00 – 9:00 PM in the Virginia Ballroom Foyer, Plaza Level. If you can't locate a Registration Form, check the League's website or call the League office. Cost to register for the meeting only is $50.00, $100 for the meeting and dinner total for League member, family and associate. For those inviting dinner guests, the additional cost is $55 per person. As noted above, registration payment can be sent by check to the League office or paid online at www.pow-miafamilies.org, thus saving check-writing, stamps, and time, if so inclined.
Reservations: This year, the hotel rate for rooms at the Hilton Crystal City Hotel is again $152.00 (plus tax), per room, per night – single or double, with a charge of $20 per night for each additional adult in the room. To make reservations, call 800-HILTONS (800-445-8667), noting affiliation with the League's 48th Annual Meeting. You can also go to www.hilton.com and use the code MIA. Deadline to secure the special rate has been extended to June 1st. The room-block is limited, first come, first served. If you have any problems with reservations, please contact the national office.
Boutique: This will again be held in the Old Dominion Executive Board Room, Plaza Level. In view of the tremendous success in years past, the League is again seeking suitable items for display and purchase. Please be selective, and either bring the item(s) with you and deliver them to League officials at Registration or send them in advance to the League office, including an itemized list noting each item's value. If you are interested in learning more about suggested donations or items that have sold well in the past, request a list from the national office, 703-465-7432.
Commemorative Program: Each year, the League publishes a special program that includes individual and organizational tributes honoring missing US personnel, organizational messages with best wishes to the families gathered for the meeting, and announcements related to POW/MIA awareness, etc. The costs are: full page – $500; ½ page – $250; ¼ page – $125; business card – $50; "In Honor of" list with name and donor, $25. Deadline for receipt of such material is June 1st. Email camera-ready artwork to Betty Bartels Murphy, [email protected], or Office Administrator Leslie Swindells, [email protected], and mail a copy with payment to the national office.
IT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO ATTEND THE 48TH ANNUAL MEETING! Funding, personnel and leadership changes and challenges within the POW/MIA community ensure information provided during this year's briefings and panels will be critical and will affect every family member.
LEAGUE ANNUAL DUES – 2017: Each year, the League asks that all League Members renew their membership by sending the small donation of $25. This supports the League and ensures your information on file is current. If you are attending the 48th Annual Meeting and wish to vote, you MUST be current on your dues. Send your check to the League's national office or use the League website: www.pow-miafamilies.org to pay electronically.
LEAGUE BOARD OF DIRECTORS ELECTION: Due to the fact that each member of the current seven-member Board of Directors for 2015 – 2017 filed an application for election to the 2017 – 2019 Board, and no other applications were received in the League's national office by the April 12th deadline, NO ELECTION WILL BE HELD. The Board (alphabetically listed) will again be comprised of Pam Cain, MIA Daughter, FL; Karoni Forrester, MIA Daughter, TX; Ann Mills-Griffiths, MIA Sister, VA; Eldon Robinson, MIA Brother, NE; Sue Scott, MIA/RR Sister, MI; Mark Stephensen, MIA/RR Son, ID; and Cindy Stonebraker, MIA Daughter, KY.
DPAA-HOSTED FAMILY UPDATES: The remaining 2017 DPAA-hosted Family Updates are May 20th, Syracuse, NY; during the League's 48th Annual Meeting June 21st-25th; and September 9th, Detroit, MI. The representational percentage for Vietnam War family members is much higher than for other wars. DEMONSTRATE YOU ARE ENGAGED AND EXPECT PRIORITY EFFORTS BASED ON THE PRINCIPLE OF FIRST PURSUING ANSWERS ON THOSE MISSING FROM AMERICA'S MOST RECENT WAR.


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Nt Etuk is the Founder of FitGrid, a ground-breaking communication and connectivity platform for fitness communities. Nt also founded DimensionU, creator of the award-winning 3D educational videogame platform. Previously Nt worked with Citigroup and McKinsey. He is a Crain's 40 Under 40 awardee, a World Economic Forum Technology Pioneer, and a Henry Crown Fellow at The Aspen Institute. He has been featured numerous times in publications such as Forbes, BusinessWeek, and The New York Times, and has been a guest on a number of networks including NBC, CNBC, and Fox, among others. Nt holds a BS in Computer Engineering from Cornell and an MBA from Columbia Business School.
Founder & CEO


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About Kabbalah
- What is Kabbalah
- What is authentic Kabbalah
- Why I should learn it
- What is a Kabbalist
- Why has its study been discouraged by some
- Can we study it before the age of forty
- What is "practical Kabbalah"
- What is the essential knowledge
- What is the Torah in the Kabbalah
- Why is G-od called "Ein Sof"
- Why is there free will for men
- What is a Tikun
- Does reincarnation exist
- What are the good and bad impulse in man
- Can non-Jews study it
Why is there free will for man
Since the intention of the Creator is to bestow goodness on His creatures, all the levels of creation were put in place so His kindness could emanate to them, yet in such a way that they would be able to receive it. Complete rigor will be the destruction of anything not perfect, while complete kindness will permit everything without restriction. However, these two aspects are necessary to make the guidance of kindness and justice and to give man the possibility of serving the Creator by their free will.
After the Shvirat HaKelim (breaking of the vessels) with the emanation of the lights of the name MaH (45) and BaN (52), G-od could have done the Tikun (repair) of all the worlds, but then, there would not have been a reason for the participation of man in this Tikun and a possibility to acquire merit.
For man to have a possibility to act and repair the creation, G-od restrained in a way, his outflow of kindness to this world, to give men the merit of doing the Tikun with their free will. It is by their free will to get closer to their Creator and learn His ways, that men merit their place in the higher worlds when they depart.


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Buon anno and welcome to 2015.
As we enter the New Year, it's time for my annual performance review. If you've never read one of these before, a word of warning: The purpose of the exercise here is not to produce a gripping yarn. Instead, it's for me to publically measure myself against last year's goals and state what I want to achieve in the coming twelve months. This should hopefully bind me to some KPIs and make them much more likely to be achieved than if I'd kept them to myself. With any luck, if you make it to the end, this post will be by far the dullest thing you read on this blog all year. That's my first goal for 2015.
If you are a real sucker for punishment, or you really want to keep me honest, last year's New Year's Resolutions are here.
Now, without any further ado, we shall begin with the electrifying topic that is visitor Stats.
The number one goal for 2014 was to be able to achieve 5,000 unique visits, as measured by Statcounter, in a good month. The average monthly tally for the year ended up being 4,260 which is satisfyingly well up from the 2,781 achieved in 2013. However, the magic 5,000 barrier was only broken twice which is slightly disappointing. Even though the goal was technically achieved it would have been nice to have broken 5,000 a couple more times.
This time last year the in-the-back-of-the.net's highest ever monthly ranking in the Open Parachute New Zealand blog rankings was 45th. In 2014, 45th was instead the average ranking (not including December which was unavailable at time of posting), a nice improvement from an average of 62nd in 2013. If that kind of improvement can be maintained in 2015, regularly ranking somewhere with a 2 at the start of it would be absolutely magnificent but would require unique visitor numbers to double to around 8,000 per month. An average ranking somewhere in the thirties (consistently over 5,000 unique visits per month) would probably be a more realistic target.
It has always been a long-term goal to see this blog become the highest ranked New Zealand sports blog, and now that it appears to have shaken off its previous nemesis, West City Darts (I don't like to talk about it), next in the crosshairs are Super Rugby Tips and Sportsfreak. In-the-back-of-the.net did beat both over a couple of months during NRFL season last year, but it would be great to be able to do this more consistently in future.
Despite the growing readership, I have to fess up and admit that the quality of my writing and analysis was a bit patchy in 2014. This was partly due to time pressures caused by my large voluntary commitment to trying to get Labour elected to government in the General Election (an endeavour that provided new meaning to the phrase 'exercise in futility'). The good news is unless something VERY unforeseen happens in 2015, this shouldn't be an issue again for a couple of years. I will venture to take a bit more time over posts from now on, rather than rushing them out, and try not to publish anything this year that I'm not 100% happy with. With any luck this extra effort will be rewarded by an increased following.
But enough negatives! One of the things I was very happy with in 2014 was the continued progress I am making with football photography. This was aided in no small part by the purchase of a monopod in August. The improvement this enabled was quite stark in my view and has really grown my confidence with the lens to the extent that I have resolved to start entering some sports photography competitions in 2015. My possibly naïve personal goal for the year on this front is to get some sort of positive result in one of them.
Another goal last year was to work up from publishing an average of one post per week to "several". With an average of 3.5 posts per week in 2014, at least in part thanks to Niall and a fair few 'guesties', that was well and truly achieved. It is still an eventual aim to be posting something every day, but not necessarily right now. Things are definitely heading along that track though. This would ideally be achieved by adding more new regular features, even though the ones that have been added in recent times have tended to fall by the wayside a little for various reasons.
'I Love This Club' started off with a hiss and a roar but then contributions dried up. Quality writing for this series is still being sought so if you can contribute a piece, please get in touch.
The fictional football serial promised this time last year is still in the pipeline but moving slower than anticipated. It won't be published until I'm happy with it and there's a way to go yet. Maybe this year, maybe not.
The definite features ripe to make comebacks this year are the weekly Photoshop posts that proved somewhat popular for the start 2014, and the videoed post-match interviews that previously appeared at the end of NRFL posts in 2013. In terms of the Photoshop posts, the key is probably to not try to do them every week. With the post-match interviews, I just need to rediscover the confidence(!)
Only one long-form interview was done in 2014. That number should triple in 2015.
I also have an idea for a great pre-season NRFL feature that I won't mention in any detail just yet in case it can't be done as it relies on info from outside organisations which may or may not be obtainable.
As I have said a few times before, it was always the original intent for this to eventually become a group blog with multiple contributors offering their various perspectives on different football matters. That possibility remains open and I'm thrilled to have Niall Anderson on board as the first step in that direction. In the meantime, most guest posts that get thrown my way will continue to be run. Again, feel free to get in touch if you'd like to contribute.
That just leaves one more thing – the annual refresh of the look of the place.
Every year up until now I have been pretty much the Tinkerman of blog themes and layouts. Not this time. In Kent a WordPress theme has at last been found that I am 100% delighted with, and with all due respect to Claudio, if it ain't broke don't fix it.
What has been done to keep things fresh however is a swap out of the 18 header images that appear on the left at random. Last year's 2013 shots have been replaced with some of the best in-the-back-of-the.net photography from 2014. This will be an annual New Year ritual from now on. Hopefully you will enjoy the new images, all of which are also on display below in their original form captioned with the games they were taken at just in case you were wondering. If you'd like to reminisce about last year's images, they are all here along with the three previous headers used since the blog's inception.
You might also have noticed a new logo to replace the site title and also a very subtle change in colour scheme.
As the old cliché goes, a picture is worth 1,000 words. Hopefully the logo reflects what this blog is about more than the old strapline did. There are also plans afoot for this being available in t-shirt form to compliment the current merchandise offerings.
And that's about it! if you're somehow miraculously still here after those preceding 1,280 insomnia curing words, thanks for your support to date and I look forward to bringing you more romance and entertainment form New Zealand lower league football and beyond to read about in 2015.
Ciao belli!
Categories: Uncategorised
Enzo Giordani
A grassroots sports photography enthusiast based in Auckland, New Zealand, and a fan of the most magnificent football club on earth - A.S. Roma.


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Halloween is always a favorite at the clinic. This year's theme was Favorite Baseball Movie. Can you guess the movie? And then not baseball related…but which movie is this?
Posts Tagged: KC Eye Clinic
Trolley Run 2018
KC Eye Clinic is a proud supporter of CCVI and the annual Trolley Run. We had 35 employees and their families participate this year.


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The lxbycoms.exe is a Lexmark Communication System.
Lxbycoms.exe is developed by Lexmark International, Inc.. Lxbycoms.exe is usually located in the %SYSTEM% folder and its usual size is 462,848 bytes.
Most probably it is safe file.
Author: Lexmark International, Inc.Process: Lexmark Communication SystemPart Of: Lexmark Communication SystemCommon path(s): %SYSTEM%Filesize(s): 462,848 bytes
No comments found


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Life After ERP Implementation – Tips For Maximizing the Return on Your Dynamics ERP Investment
When embarking on the journey that is business transformation, everything is going to be better when the "new system" is live...at least that is the hope. More often than not, there's that small list of technical or operational goals that aren't quite living up to the hope: an integration that didn't make the implemented phase, for example. While every organization has the ability to be smarter tomorrow then they were yesterday, we must make sure the transformation doesn't feel like Groundhog Day.
During our session we will discuss and review the measurements and metrics that Microsoft Dynamics ERP customers should put in place before, during and after an implementation project. We will examine the keys to continuing improvement after implementation, including real-life examples of how companies are having success. Questions explored during this session will include:
- Have you realized the planned ROI from the transformation, both operationally and technologically?
- Are your business processes the same today as they were before?
- Have you set up your business to focus on core competencies?
- How are you measuring customer profitability related to their experience?
- Are there performance improvement initiatives aligned with business strategy?
- Which KPIs are operating to quantify and maintain gains?


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It is with great sadness that we bring news of the passing of Marty Wolfhagen, an exceptionally talented furniture maker, gifted designer, and generous friend. Marty was supportive to all of his friends and has made a huge contribution to Design in Tasmania. He always used Tasmanian timbers, a particular favorite being casuarina which is not often considered a furniture grade timber. Marty always made it look fabulous. His design aesthetic was refined, well-proportioned, and beautifully crafted.
We will miss you Marty.
Best wishes to Alison, Philip and Catherine, and Quentin, and their families.


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The BLOCH Bun Builder helps effortlessly shape a perfect, neat bun for class or performance. Durable and reusable and available in three different shades — black, brown and pick — to suit a range of hair shades. Contains one product per package.
Instructions for use:
- Pull ponytail through the centre of the builder
- Slide it to the base of your ponytail
- Arrange your hair around the builder
- Secure with hairpins and finish with a hair net
World Ballet Day - Free UK Standard Delivery
This option is a courier service and will be delivered anytime between 8AM and 6.30PM weekdays only.
For further delivery information & European delivery prices please refer to our delivery page.


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MOVE-IN READY home, VERY well maintained, Can past the white glove test! STAINLESS steel appliances, GRANITE countertops, Abundant amount of cabinetry ,custom backsplash, wood floors, Formal living room & open kitchen/dining area. Plus FINISHED family room that is a WALKOUT to beautifully landscaped backyard. Oversized Deck with Iron Spindles Master bedroom features a spa like bathroom & large walk-in closet. Finished Lower level sub basement: storage room w/ shelving & sump pump Professionally epoxied garage floor
Finished,Garage Entry,Walk-Out Access
DISCLAIMER: The information displayed on this page is confidential, proprietary, and copyrighted information of Heartland Multiple Listing Service, Inc. ("Heartland MLS").
Copyright 2020, Heartland Multiple Listing Service, Inc. Heartland MLS and Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Kansas City Homes do not make any warranty or representation concerning the timeliness or accuracy of the information displayed herein. In consideration for the receipt of the information on this page, the recipient agrees to use the information solely for the private non-commercial purpose of identifying a property in which the recipient has a good faith interest in acquiring.
By searching, you agree to the Terms of Use.
Listing information last updated on October 31st, 2020 at 8:25pm CDT.


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Kendrick Brothers film 'War Room' out on DVD and Blu-Ray Dec. 22
Nov 10, 2015
Staff Reports, Albany Herald
ALBANY — "War Room," the first film to be released through Kendrick Brothers Productions, debuts on DVD and Blu-Ray on Dec. 22.
The movie will be available in the Christian bookstore market on Blu-Ray and DVD from Provident Films and Provident Distribution. Officials said church site licenses were made available for pre-purchase beginning Monday, and shipping is set to begin Dec. 8. The products available will be the Collector's Edition DVD and the Blu-Ray/DVD Combo Pack, both including special content only available in Christian bookstores.
The Collector's Edition will include outtakes, the "Warrior" music video by Steven Curtis Chapman and "The Art of Jumping Rope" featurette. Bonus materials also include deleted scenes, commentary from Stephen Kendrick and Alex Kendrick and "behind-the-scenes" featurettes, such as "The Making of War Room," "The Heart of War Room," "Modern Day Miss Clara," "From Auditioning to Acting," "Investing in the Next Generation," "War Room in 60 Seconds," "The Church On Its Knees," "Behind the Scenes: Color Grading," "A Pastor's Call to Prayer."
Exclusive features on products available only to the Christian bookstore market include devotions by brothers Stephen Kendrick and Alex Kendrick, and featurettes "Wall of Remembrance" and "Redemption For the Mitchell Home."
The film, meant to demonstrate the power of prayer, centers on a seemingly perfect family who find needed help for their problems from an elderly widow named Miss Clara. Directed by Alex Kendrick, produced by Stephen Kendrick, and written by the two brothers, "War Room" stars Priscilla C. Shirer, T.C. Stallings , Karen Abercrombie and Beth Moore, Alex Kendrick and comedian Michael Jr.
"War Room" was the fifth film for Alex Kendrick and Stephen Kendrick. Four prior films — "Flywheel" (2003), "Facing the Giants" (2006), "Fireproof" (2008) and "Courageous" (2011) — were products of Sherwood Pictures while they were pastors at Sherwood Baptist Church.
The movie released in theaters on Aug. 28 and has earned a domestic total of $66.85 million with a production budget of $3 million. It earned $11.35 million its opening weekend, and eventually expanded to 1,945 theaters, data from Box Office Mojo shows.
Showings are still going at the Carmike Wynnsong 16 on Nottingham Way. Showtimes for today are at 1:10 p.m., 4 p.m., 6:50 p.m. and 9:40 p.m.
Overseas, the film was released in Argentina, South Africa, Australia, New Zealand, Guatemala, Costa Rica, Panama, Honduras, Nicaragua, El Salvador, Puerto Rico, Mexico, Ecuador, Peru, Dominican Republic, Canada, Paraguay, Colombia and Chile.
"War Room" is being distributed by AFFIRM Films/Sony Pictures Home Entertainment in the general market, and Provident Distribution in the Christian retail market. It has a run time of approximately 120 minutes and is rated PG.
For information on showtimes or pre-orders, visit warroomthemovie.com.


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"The Plan is for the United States to rule the world. The overt theme is unilateralism, but it is ultimately a story of domination. It calls for the United States to maintain its overwhelming superiority and prevent new rivals from rising up to challenge it on the world stage. It calls for dominion over friends and enemies alike. It says not that the United States must be more powerful, or most powerful, but that it must be absolutely powerful."
Report of the Defense Science Board Task Force on Strategic Communications
In a ten month study, written before the attacks on the Pentagon and World Trade Center, the Task Force..The October 2001 Task Force recommended America's leaders give higher priority to strategic communication...Three weeks after 9/11, a Defense Science Board Task Force sponsored jointly by the DOD (Pentagon) and Department of State issued a report on U.S. civilian and military information dissemination capabilities.
Report of the Defense Science Board Task Force on Managed Information Dissemination, October 2001, http://www.acq.osd.mil/dsb/. The report was briefed to the Secretary of Defense, the Under Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs, the Under Secretary of State for Management, and the NSC's Senior Advisor for Strategic Communications and Information and Senior Advisor for Democracy, Human Rights, and International Operations. The Executive Summary appears in Appendix D.
The strategic environment has changed radically since the October 2001 Task Force report. We face a war on terrorism, intensified conflict within Islam, and insurgency in Iraq. Worldwide anger and discontent are directed at America's tarnished credibility and ways the U.S. pursues its goals. There is consensus that America's power to persuade is in a state of crisis. Global transparency, driven by new media and low cost technologies, shape the strategic landscape.
This Task Force re-examined the purposes of strategic communication and the salience of recommendations in the earlier study...
What should be done about public diplomacy and open military information operations?
...The Task Force met with representatives from the National Security Council (NSC), White House Office of Global Communications, Department of State (DOS), Department of Defense (DOD), Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG), and the private sector (the schedule of meetings, briefings and discussions is contained in Appendix C). Based on extensive interaction with a broad range of sectors in the government, commercial, and academic worlds, as well as a series of highly interactive internal debates, we have reached the following conclusions and recommendations. This Task Force concludes that U.S. strategic communication must be transformed. Strategic communication is a vital component of U.S. national security. It is in crisis, and it must be transformed with a strength of purpose ...
Terrorism is a National Security frame. September 11, 2001 a catalyst in creating a new way to think about national security. The Global War on Terrorism replaced the Cold War as a national security meta narrative. Governments, media, and publics use the terrorism frame for cognitive, evaluative, and communication purposes. For political leaders, it is a way to link disparate events; identify priorities, friends, enemies, victims, and blame; and shape simple coherent messages. For journalists and news consumers the terrorism frame conflates and appears to make sense of diverse national security stories – Al Qaeda, Jihadists, Iraq, Afghanistan, Israel, Iran, Chechnya, Indonesia, Kashmir, the Philippines, Kenya, Spain [...]
No more ISIS JV (or as GWB sais "a rock band"} psyops now under 'whole government' strategic communications strategy (US retools message strategy below)
War with ISIS: The West is wrong again in fight against terror
Patrick Cockburn | The Independent | Jan 4, 2015, 06.34 PM IST
ISIS has its own state machinery and is conscripting tens of thousands of fighters to replace casualties, enabling it to fight on multiple fronts from Jalawla on Iraq's border with Iran to the outskirts of Aleppo in Syria....a growing power as the Syrian government of President Bashar al-Assad loses its advantage of fighting a fragmented opposition now uniting under the leadership of ISIS and Jabhat al-Nusra, the Syrian al-Qaeda affiliate. Yet only a year ago President Obama dismissed ISIS... last January, he said "the analogy we use around here sometimes, and I think it is accurate, is if a JV [junior varsity] team puts on Lakers uniforms it doesn't make them Kobe Bryant [famed player for the Los Angeles Lakers basketball team]." ...that at the time must have been the majority view of his national security staff.
US Director of Defense Intelligence Agency Report Aug. 2012
'The Salafist, the Muslim Brotherhood and AQI are the major forces driving the insurgency in Syria … There is the possibility of establishing a declared or undeclared Salafist principality in eastern Syria (Hasaka and Der Zor), and this is exactly what the supporting powers [The West, Gulf monarchies and Turkey] to the [Syrian] opposition want, in order to isolate the Syrian regime' (DIA 2012).
DIA Intelligence Report 'R 050839Z Aug 2012' Judicial Watch, 287-293 (291) JW v DOD and State 14-812, 18 May< http://www.judicialwatch.org/document-archive/pgs-287-293-291-jw-v-dod-and-state-14-812-2/> from: Evidence: U.S. Supports ISIS, by Professor Timothy Anderson, http://www.globalresearch.ca/author/tim-anderson
ISIS the Peacemaker
12/18/15 By Joshua Keating, http://www.slate.com/blogs/the_slatest/2015/12/18/middle_east_foes_makin...
The world may be a long way off from defeating ISIS, which showed its resilience Thursday launching its first major offensive in Northern Iraq in months, but the chaos sown by the group is also putting pressure on longtime foes to resolve some seemingly intractable conflicts so as to be more united against the ISIS threat....
A lot of priorities are being reordered in the Middle East and North Africa now thanks to the new threats that have emerged over the past year...Unfortunately, given the scene in New York Friday, with major powers struggling to reach agreement on a plan to resolve the conflict in Syria, progress on the problem that most directly applies to fighting ISIS is still frustratingly elusive...
"We are going to have a war on terror which you can never win, and so you can keep taking people's liberties away. The media is going to convince everybody that the war on terror is real. The ultimate goal is to get everybody in the world chipped with an RFID chip, have all money be on the chips, and if anyone wants to protest what we do, we turn off the chip."
Nicholas Rockefeller to producer Aaron Russo - eleven months before the 9/11 World Trade Center attacks 2011
" The owners of the Washington Post long ago acknowledged the Post is the government's voice to the people. In 1981, Katherine Graham, who owns the Post and Newsweek announced that her editors would "cooperate with the national security interests." National security in this context means "CIA.""
-- John Stockwell, former CIA official, author
White House retools U.S. message on Syria strategy
12/31/15 https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/to-explain-his-sy...
Karen DeYoung, Washington Post associate editor and senior national security correspondent
Terrorist attacks in Paris and California prompted a White House message blitz after the president ordered US "uptick in communications tempo" efforts.
As he flew home from Asia aboard Air Force One in late November, he scolded his aides about how poorly the administration was communicating the U.S.-led strategy against the Islamic State... There had even been suggestions that France, with tough talk and a series of retaliatory airstrikes, was now leading the anti-terrorism fight. ordered what official called an "uptick in our communications tempo."...
digest added NYT + 2 'France' links & quotes (and as usual, all emphases):
Response to Paris Attacks Points to Weaknesses in French Police Structure
New York Times quote, unable to find op-ed author's identity:
"If the New World Order agenda is not realized by the terrorist attacks on America and if Americans don't agree to give up their weapons and relinquish their sovereignty to the New World Order, the next attack will be the use of chemical, biological and/or atomic warfare against the American people. The architects of the New World Order will not hesitate to use as a last resort an atomic or hydrogen bomb in a major American city."
Source: Reference Op Ed page, New York Times, 24 Sept. 2001 http://quotes.liberty-tree.ca/quote/new_york_times_quote_e424
"We want to keep Europe from developing their unity as a bloc against us. If we keep the French hoping they can get ahead of the British, this would accomplish our objective... if they know we have another option, they might buck up"
To be an enemy of America can be dangerous, but to be a friend is fatal"
Henry A. Kissinger
Within days deputy national security (strategic communications) adviser Ben Rhodes [official title: "Assistant to the President and Deputy National Security Advisor for Strategic Communications and Speechwriting": digest- read his CV:] drafted a memo ... outlining specific tasks for officials at all levels, starting with the president...to talk more in public about all elements of the strategy...media need more briefings...all needed to become more comfortable with Twitter.
[ WaPo: Inside the surreal world of the Islamic State's propaganda]
The campaign, beginning with firm presidential words at a news conference with visiting French President François Hollande and a public statement after a meeting with top national security aides, was barely underway when a terrorist couple burst into a public building in San Bernardino, Cal ... "With that, obviously, concerns about [the Islamic State] came much closer to home for Americans," said the senior official, one of several who spoke on the condition of anonymity about internal administration discussions.
Since then, the new communications campaign has gone into overdrive....
Dec. 6, four days after the California attack, Obama made a rare nationwide address from the Oval Office to discuss the many-pronged campaign against the militants: coalition airstrikes in Syria and Iraq and military assistance to anti-Islamic State local forces; cutting off the group's financing and stopping the flow of foreigners rushing to join it; counter-messaging to block the group's online appeal; and humanitarian aid to the millions fleeing its brutality on the ground. All those efforts, along with intelligence collection, had already been expanded after an internal strategy review in the fall; a diplomatic push to end Syria's civil war was also underway. Counterterrorism at home had been stepped up in the wake of the San Bernardino attack. "Let's not forget that freedom is more powerful than fear," Obama said in conclusion. "America will prevail."
"The Sunday night address kicked off a new chapter," the senior official said. Over the next two weeks, Obama would make highly publicized visits to the Pentagon and the National Counterterrorism Center for anti- terrorism briefings capped with public remarks. He began a series of media interviews and delivered a Dec. 12 radio address titled "Standing Strong in the Face of Terrorism."
[ WaPo: In a propaganda war against the Islamic State, U.S. tried to play by the enemy's rules]
In twice-weekly conferences with the communications officials across national security agencies, Rhodes has emphasized the need to step up their messaging activities. Early attention focused particularly on Defense Secretary Ashton B. Carter, whose news conferences were considered lackluster and who tended to limit substantive media encounters on overseas trips. On a mid-December swing through Iraq, Turkey and Afghanistan, Carter was both visible and voluble, holding several news conferences and background briefings. "It's fair to say that DOD will be doing more," the senior official said of the Defense Department. "What you saw of Carter, you will see of other Cabinet principals...It's something that we're all going to be focusing on, certainly going into early [this] year."...
The lack of comprehensive understanding of the strategy can also extend beyond U.S. shores, "Another thing that became really clear to us is that the 65-member" anti-Islamic State coalition is very different from previous international groupings. The Afghanistan coalition was organized by NATO, which provided a legal and bureaucratic framework. "We don't have a coalition secretariat that can speak on behalf" of the current coalition...Secretary of State John F. Kerry is in near-constant motion, holding overseas meetings with his coalition counterparts. An additional attempt to remedy the problem came in mid-December, when Treasury Secretary Jack Lew traveled to New York to chair an unprecedented meeting of UN Security Council finance ministers
As the new communications effort began... Robert Malley, in charge of the Middle East for the National Security Council (NSC) became the president's newly minted senior adviser for the Counter-ISIL Campaign in Iraq and Syria... consolidating 'whole government' efforts across departments and agencies in charge of military, diplomatic, intelligence, financing and other aspects of the communications strategy....Because Malley was not known as a prolific practitioner of social media... Malley inaugurated @robmalley44 on Dec. 11... Malley approves his own postings, most of what appears under the handle is compiled by the half-dozen members of the White House Office of Digital Strategy, which retweets virtually every other tweet, chart, release, speech and statement on anti-Islamic State efforts from across the government. The last week of the year sparked a virtual flood of emails, releases, tweets and retweets from the White House, State and Defense departments, and the military and coalition allies hailing the Iraqi military's success in driving Islamic State forces from the city of Ramadi... Dec. 8 the NSC press office began emailing a long list of reporters a daily roundup [to] "aggregate key developments across the various lines of effort in our unyielding campaign to degrade and destroy ISIL."
"You're going to see more of all of it in the new year...see the president continue to be the chief messenger...also see Carter, Kerry, military generals, Lew, Szubin — the whole cast of characters...speak in a very concerted way... to ensure" the message is getting out.
So far there is little evidence the messaging campaign is succeeding in changing opinions of the overall strategy
As if that was the point, and not, as Kissinger said, perception is more important than objective reality
US knows itself well in advance:
When terrorists lose ground, they typically lash out with greater violence.
Nov. 2015 RAND U.S. Analysis by Seth G. Jones
Seth G. Jones director of RAND International Security and Defense Policy Center and author of the forthcoming Waging Insurgent Warfare.
As ISIS faces stepped-up air and ground campaigns in the aftermath of the Paris attacks, there is a good chance the it will lose more territory in Iraq and Syria. But if history is a guide, ISIS will resort to more terrorist attacks in the West as it loses ground, making it a more dangerous and unpredictable enemy in the months to come....
ISIS faces an uphill battle in the long run. It has to deal with a reinvigorated military campaign by the world's major powers, neighboring states like Turkey and Jordan, local allies such as Kurdish militias, and the Iraqi and Syrian regimes. While ISIS has made some gains in such areas as Homs and Damascus, the trend lines are straightforward: ISIS is losing ground, and this decline will likely continue. Territorial control is the raison d'être for ISIS... establishing a loose Islamic caliphate that extends from Africa through the Middle East, South Asia, and parts of the Pacific...When insurgents lose ground, it frees up some resources to conduct terrorist attacks. Territory is critical for ISIS to operate the "state" its leaders envision, making it more like an insurgent group than a purely terrorist organization. It needs to govern local populations, establish sharia in areas that it controls, and finance itself through the local economy. ISIS has its own governance structure with committees that cover the media, administrative issues, military operations, Islamic law, and other matters. It raises money from such activities as smuggling oil, selling stolen goods, kidnapping, and seizing bank accounts—all of which require territory. But watch out if ISIS's stronghold continues to shrink in Iraq and Syria. The history of insurgent groups is sobering: Most increase terrorist activity when they lose territory....
The lesson with ISIS is straightforward. Western populations should be prepared for an upsurge in violence if ISIS continues to lose territory. There has already been a growth in attacks and plots across the West with operational or inspirational ties to ISIS. These include the attacks in Paris last week; Garland, Texas, in May; Copenhagen in February; Paris in January; Sydney in December; Ottawa, Canada, in October 2014; and Brussels in May 2014.
ISIS leaders have now threatened the United States that it could be next. "I swear to God, as we struck France in its stronghold Paris, we will strike America in its stronghold, Washington," an ISIS fighter declared in a video released this week. Chances are they mean it.
U.S. ISIS Influence on Web Prompts Second Thoughts on First Amendment
12/28/15 http://www.nytimes.com/2015/12/28/us/isis-influence-on-web-prompts-secon...
Cass R. Sunstein, Harvard law professor and former Obama administration official, broached the subject in November in an article on Bloomberg View. In view of Islamic State's successful use of the Internet to nurture terrorists, it's worth asking whether that test may be ripe for reconsideration."
Obama information regulatory czar Sunstein: government should 'infiltrate' social network sites, chat rooms, message boards.
Just prior to his appointment as President Obama's regulatory czar, Cass Sunstein wrote a lengthy academic paper suggesting government should "infiltrate" social network websites, chat rooms and message boards. Such "cognitive infiltration," Sunstein argued, should be used to enforce a U.S. government ban on "conspiracy theorizing."Among "conspiracy theories" recommended for ban by Sunstein :
"Global warming theory is a fraud."
"Central Intelligence Agency was responsible for the assassination of President John F. Kennedy."
"1996 crash of TWA flight 800 was caused by a U.S. military missile."
"The Trilateral Commission is responsible for important movements of the international economy."
" Martin Luther King Jr. was killed by federal agents."
Conspiracy Theories
Cass R. Sunstein Harvard Law School, Adrian Vermeule Harvard Law School
Harvard Public Law Working Paper No. 08-03, U of Chicago, Public Law Working Paper No. 199, U of Chicago Law & Economics, Olin Working Paper No. 387
Jan. 15, 2008 Social Science Research Network http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=1084585
Many millions of people hold conspiracy theories; they believe powerful people worked together in order to withhold the truth about some important practice or some terrible event. A recent example is the belief, widespread in some parts of the world, that the attacks of 9/11 were carried out by Israel or the United States. Those who subscribe to conspiracy theories may create serious risks, including risks of violence, and the existence of such theories raises significant challenges for policy and law. The first challenge is to understand the mechanisms by which conspiracy theories prosper; the second challenge is to understand how such theories might be undermined. Such theories typically spread as a result of identifiable cognitive blunders, operating in conjunction with informational and reputational influences. A distinctive feature of conspiracy theories is their self-sealing quality. Conspiracy theorists are not likely to be persuaded by an attempt to dispel their beliefs; they may characterize that attempt as further proof of the conspiracy. Because those who hold conspiracy theories typically suffer from a crippled epistemology, in accordance with which it is rational to hold such theories, the best response consists in cognitive infiltration Various policy dilemmas, such as whether it is better for government to rebut conspiracy theories or to ignore them, are explored in this light.
"... imperialism as the slave system of the West is called... It's one huge complex or combine, and it creates what's known not as the American power structure or the French power structure, but an international power structure. This international power structure is used to suppress the masses of dark-skinned people all over the world and exploit them of their natural resources."
Malcolm X
"People who shut their eyes to reality invite their own destruction, anyone who insists on remaining in a state of innocence after that innocence is dead, turns himself into a monster."
James Baldwin
"We think too small. Like the frog at the bottom of the well thinks the sky is only as big as the top of the well. If he surfaced, he would have an entirely different view."
Mao Tse Tung


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More warrants unsealed in case against doctor accused of sex assault (document)
MIDDLETOWN -- Three more warrants were unsealed Wednesday in the case against a Clinton doctor accused of sexually assaulting his patients.
Tory Westbrook, 43, 1107 Manchester Road, Glastonbury, is charged with 25 counts of fourth-degree sexual assault, eight counts of second-degree sexual assault and one count of illegal sale of narcotics.
Westbrook was arrested June 5 after three patients from the Community Health Center in Clinton came forward with complaints against him. Three more victims stepped forward later that month.
Westbrook pleaded not guilty to seven counts of second-degree sexual assault and one count of fourth-degree sexual assault on July 17.
In one of the original warrants released Wednesday, Westbrook is charged with five counts of second-degree sexual assault. The victim in that case is a 36-year-old woman who reported to police that she had been sexually assaulted by Westbrook from October 2011 through January 2012.
The victim said she had gone in for pelvic pain in October and told Westbrook she was having problems with lactating. Westbrook allegedly made the victim show him her breasts and lactate, then did an internal exam of the victim that she described as moving his fingers in and out, in a "non-medical way," hurting her according to the warrant. She told him it hurt and asked him to stop, according to the warrant.
The victim returned for prescription refills and continued pain and each time Westbrook allegedly performed an internal exam the victim said was "for his sexual gratification," according to the warrant.
Westbrook never diagnosed her with any condition, but kept prescribing strong pain medications, occasionally upping the dosage, the victim told police. She also said that on at least two visits, Westbrook had his cell phone out and she was concerned he may have taken pictures of her.
Westbrook is also accused of throwing a urine sample at the victim in front of other people in a waiting room after she did not give enough of a sample, according to the warrant.
The victim also told police she met with the office manager and Westbrook and confronted the doctor for being disrespectful.
The victim eventually sought out another OB/GYN and told her new doctor what had happened with Westbrook. The doctor told the victim that was not going to happen again.
Police confirmed with other doctors the victim saw that what Westbrook is accused of doing had no medical purpose.
Correction: In an earlier version of the story it was incorrectly reported that Westbrook pleaded guilty to seven counts of second-degree sexual assault and one count of fourth-degree sexual assault on July 17. He pleaded not guilty to those charges. We regret the error.


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UOO, MEE, Weee! - the title may be taken from nonsense talk, but this show is significant. It is the first production by the Baboró festival, in conjunction with Branar Téatar de Pháistí, and premieres at the new Wide Eyes festival.
Uoo, mee, weee! is non-verbal show about Uoo and Mee who walk, talk, and do everything the same…until one day, when one of them decides to do something different. It features actors Neasa Ní Chuanaigh and Jay Ryan, with original music by Micheal Chang. It is directed by Lali Morris and Marc Mac Lochlainn.
The show previews this Sunday as part of Small Size Day, at 1pm and 3pm; Wednesday January 31 at 3pm; and on Thursday February 1st at 10am, 11.30am, and 3pm as part of Wide Eyes. All performances take place in the O'Donoghue Centre at NUI Galway. The show is aimed at children aged from three to six. Each child must be accompanied by an adult.
Tickets are €5 from the Town Hall Theatre on tht.ie or 091 - 569777.


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A considerable part of my stash is the result of supply vs demand. I've cut out emotional spending… you know, work life getting you bummed or you didn't make it to the butchers on time, so you open the wallet for some new plastic to fill that empty black hole. And I'm not one to buy the cheapest kit, usually meaning very old, as they're not usually the extra effort to bring them up to modern standards. Though the last couple of years, it's been the former. Case in point would be the Star Wars kits by FineMolds. I knew the license was going to be transferred to another company and whatever stock was left was it. Any time wasted would mean purchasing them at a premium. So, I picked up as many as I could tuck away (more like hide from the missus). And when the 1/72 MF was re-leased a 3rd time, I clicked 'add to cart' without any hesitation.
'So, I picked up as many as I could tuck away,
more like hide from the missus.'
'So, I picked up as many as I could tuck away,
more like hide from the missus.'
While I respect Bandai's offerings (of which I also purchased whatever I could), I will always yearn for more FM kits and relish/savour the ones I have. Fine Molds were the first mainstream manufacturer that treated the sci-fi community of builders with kits that were of a high level of detail and refinement, and fit and finish on par with the likes of Tamiya. Major castings weren't amalgamated as a single blob of detail but rather treated as a blank, where each detail, whether a pipe or transmission casing, was its own part. Just like how the original ST studio models were built. Though FM kits weren't perfect, they raised the bar for all future sci-fi kits to come.
I'll have to admit that the rate of growth of my stash also comes down to my foam-at-the-mouth addiction for new releases by the big T. LaFerrari, pre-ordered that one, thank you very much. New Panigale? Put me down for two please. It's the 'I want it, I want it now!' syndrome.
'I want it, I want it now!'
Will I build them all? Who knows and who cares! I'm content in knowing that I am set for retirement.
Check out the SPRUE CUTTERS UNION facebook page to learn more about the union and other write-ups by fellow modellers.


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It's the Festival of British Archaeology so come along and try your hand at all things archaeological!
Take part in a mini dig then rescue the precious relic as you race through the obstacle course. Can you follow the clues to work out who was buried where?
Get hands-on with history this summer and travel through time to learn the exciting skills of old – see if you've got what it takes to be a secret agent, roll your sleeves up in an archaeological dig or get caught up in some mayhem Medieval style!
Make your trip to the Castle an awesome family day out for the kids to remember! A must for all children up to the age of 12. Join in the adventures at Bolsover Castle…
Ever wanted to become a spy? Now is the chance for the kids to give it a try as they have fun cracking the codes, trying on disguises and getting some tips on becoming the ultimate spy in this hands-on training academy.
- Bolsover Castle is set on a hilltop overlooking the Vale of Scarsdale and enjoys panoramic views over the beautiful Derbyshire countryside.
- Children will love the fairytale Little Castle, designed as a fantasy entertainment house with magnificent wall paintings.
- Visit the indoor Riding House where William, Duke of Newcastle indulged his passion for training horses in balletic movement.
- Wander round the beautiful Venus Garden, with its secluded love seats, 23 statues and fountain which plays again for the first time in centuries.
- There are also intriguing audio-visual displays to enjoy in the Discovery Centre. The Castle is an English Heritage property.
Adult £7.00
Concession £6.00
Child £3.50
Family £17.50 (+ £1 for every child over 5)
Mon 10 – Fri 14 Aug 2009
11:00 to 16:00
Bolsover Castle
Castle Street, Bolsover, Chesterfield, Derbyshire, S44 6PR


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How do plan on celebrating your next anniversary? A dozen roses? A box of chocolates? Another piece of jewelry? Don't you think your wife is getting a bit bored with all of that? Well, we have got something fresh for you to try this year: a Blue Ridge cabin rental.
Escape the noise and stress of the city. Find your way out to the mountains and enjoy a weekend in seclusion with your wife. You'll set the stage for romance and a weekend she will never forget.
How much privacy do you get normally? If you're like most couples then not a whole lot. Especially if you have kids or live in an apartment building. But when you drive out into the mountains, you'll discover a world of utmost tranquility—and in it you and your wife will be the king and queen. Nestled in such seclusion, when you opt for a Blue Ridge cabin rental, you don't have to see another living being for an entire weekend if you choose. Instead, focus on one another.
Is there anything more relaxing than staying out in the mountains? You get the fresh mountain air, the sounds of nature, the lack of city noise—it's almost too good to be true. And to make it even better, why not spring for a private massage session? When you choose a Blue Ridge cabin rental, there are licensed massage therapists waiting for the word to visit your room and work out that city stress.
Wine and Dine
Envision a full day of touring local wineries. Sipping local favorites with your significant other while staring dreamily together at the mountain scenery. Has the mood ever been this set for romance? Now imagine getting back to your cabin and having a private chef prepare a gourmet dinner—right there in your own kitchen. You feast and retire while they remain behind to clean up the mess. This is true luxury.
Finding the perfect Blue Ridge cabin rental for your anniversary
Okay, you're sold right? You wish you could fast forward to your anniversary right now. Well, not so fast. You have to rent a cabin first! And you need to know how to find the perfect place. Follow these quick steps to get the best Blue Ridge cabin rental:
- Google "Blue Ridge cabin rental."
- Search through various results and check out the web pages.
- Look for a company that shows pictures of their rooms.
- Look for a well-written cancellation policy–just in case.
- If you have pets, make sure you opt for a pet friendly Blue Ridge cabin rental.
- Call the proprietor that looks best and ask about pricing and any other questions you may find relevant.
- Book it!
Things to Remember
Once you're set for your trip, remember to research activities in the area first. Sure you'll be spending plenty of time alone on your anniversary, but there may come a time when you and your wife want to get out and explore. Print out a list and keep it handy and you're sure to enjoy your Blue Ridge cabin rental!


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Infinite Manic Sadness: DFW's Universal Inner Child
If you're a fan, you'll probably find some interest in the interview transcripts with David Foster Wallace that David Lipsky published under the title Although of Course You End Up Becoming Yourself. You'll probably also find it frustrating that, over several days of taped conversations that would yield a 300-page book/transcription, Lipsky spent most of his time prompting poor self-consuming DFW to stew in the heat of his own building fame – the interviews were done during Wallace's 1996 tour for Infinite Jest – and almost no time engaging him on substantive matters of literature and aesthetics. I know these interviews were for a profile (never published), and I know it was to be for Rolling Stone, but, still, you'd think just by chance they'd have drifted into at least one sustained discussion of, I dunno, books. Alas, if you want to get to literature from these interviews you almost have to do so via symptomology. For example, this curious snippet of Wallace talking, the sole excerpt printed on the book's back jacket, left on its own, without comment, as if patently exemplary:
If you can think of times in your life that you've treated people with extraordinary decency and love, and pure uninterested concern, just because they were valuable as human beings. The ability to do that with ourselves. To treat ourselves the way we would treat a really good, precious friend. Or a tiny child of ours that we absolutely loved more than life itself. And I think it's probably possible to achieve that. I think part of the job we're here for is to learn how to do it. I know that sounds a little pious.
I know that sounds like the sort of apotheosis of the self as a therapeutic object that is widely and mostly well-derided around these parts. It even seems to flirt with something so kitschy as an injunction for us to unforget and then be nice to our inner children. When I first read it, I'll admit I winced, too. I thought, of all the things to pick out for back-jacket immortality…. And maybe Lipsky or the publisher thought that such an apparently middlebrow and bathetic sentiment would make the recondite author more approachable. But fairly quickly I changed my mind and decided it actually gets at what made Wallace such a curiously potent modernist writer: the combination of generosity and solipsism – a sort of megalomania of the heart – that informed his outsized technical skills.
Here you have a guy who – as of 1996 – has established himself as an extreme outlier in both intellectual achievement and, well, depression. He's been lauded as a genius in both literature and academic philosophy, and he's done a stint at McClean Hospital – a history that might convince a person his is a uniquely grand and challenging predicament, especially when he's in the midst of a huge literary ego-stroke. But throughout the Lipsky interviews, you see Wallace insisting on how unexceptional he is. Part of it sounds of false modesty, and part of it sounds of fear. But then you read the seemingly cornball quote above and you have to concede that at least some of it is sincere. He's speaking in the first person plural – throwing down something like a moral injunction – but what "we" are enjoined from doing is the sort of thing that mainly only people like David Foster Wallace need to be told not to do. You can hear him speaking as a seriously depressed person who, in his dark moments, succumbs to self-laceration and -recrimination, who inflicts terrible violence on his own spirit, who is not nice to himself at all. He has to know that not everyone is depressed like he is. But when he thinks of people in general, what he sees and worries about is their vulnerability to the kind of extreme pain he lives with.
This gets me to an odd thing about the reception of Infinite Jest. I write as someone who was entirely charmed by the formal novelties of that book. The footnotes, the digressive narration, the freight-train sentences steaming over entire pages all struck me as entirely authentic. (And as someone who struggles with the visual and cognitive mechanics of reading, I found all the surface static to provide, as a source of ongoing pleasure, the attention-incentives that I otherwise have to gird myself with through manipulations of lighting and environment and blood chemistry. For some of us, reading is a highly complicated, vexatious game. For me anyway, Infinite Jest felt like a gift.) I've written of a sort of pomo-fatigue in post-Tarantino American film criticism, wherein irony and formal recursiveness, after an initial grace period, are now treated as inherently suspect, irrespective of what they contribute to a film aesthetically, as if critics live in fear that certain crafty filmmakers are out to show them up, pull something over on them, hoodwink them. Literary criticism has shown the same dynamic, specially after the hoodwinking the critics suffered at the hands of Infinite Jest itself.
And so the fate of Infinite Jest was, inevitably, to have its initial adulation corrected by the literary version of pomo-fatigue: The hoodwinking stops here! We are onto your tricks! But maybe that was the trick, to get you to focus on the tricks. (I don't think it was a trick, on the author's part, but it's a nice reversal to claim to have discovered.) Because the aspect of that novel that most deserves a serious critical conversation and possible reassessment is hardly even spoken of. The formal inventiveness is organic to the subject matter and comic voice and emotional pitch, I think. But what about that emotional pitch, the outsized pathos, the melodrama, the courtly romance, the almost-super heroism? (Infinite Jest's Don Gately seems linked to Henry Burlingame of Barth's The Sot Weed Factor in a late-modernist lineage of heroic overstatement, but, tellingly, Gately is a far more earnest creation.)
I'm not saying I don't like this kind of thing. I am (1) a sap and (2) a sucker for heroic stuff. So heroism and melodrama are not suspect categories for me. What I'm saying is that the stylistic overflow of Infinite Jest is a creature of its very ripe-hearted story. At the same time, this manic, brimming style is an ingenious vessel for the melodrama. You might say it's because having the volcanic feelings represented symptomatically in the prose works, or you might say it disarms the status-aware reader into buying a sack of schmaltz he would otherwise be too hip to be associated with.
Either way, for Wallace, the formal extremity underwrites (aesthetically, I would say) a set of extremes of melodrama and pathos. Infinite Jest is a hilarious comedy, but it is also a sad, sad book of bitter pain and textbook addiction and abuse, and it is an old-fashioned romance that stages a demure courtship between its Prettiest Girl of All Time and its Bunyanesque hero, both of whom have sad, sad stories to tell of textbook addiction and abuse. You could see someone thinking it's all a bit too tear-stained, too schlocky. But for the postmodernism monitors, the formal extremity obscures the emotional extremity. In How Fiction Works, James Wood, the dean of these monitors and highly-pleased author of the phrase "hysterical realism," writes: "Wallace has many ardent followers (his name is just 'DFW' on some college campuses), but surely no one has ever claimed to be moved by him." Um. Allow me, just in case it hasn't been done yet, to claim to have been really moved by him.
This dig means Wood has entirely missed the aesthetic gambit entailed in Wallace's approach in Infinite Jest and thus the much more interesting critical discussion (than Wood's recurrent waving-about of his 19th Century realism-calipers) that would come from grappling with it: That extremes of feeling can be made both more intelligible (psychologically and aesthetically) and more dramatic and beautiful through extremes of structure, syntax, and tone, and, maybe, vice versa. I'm not saying this is a closed question. Well, it is for me, in this case, but then, as I said, I'm pretty ripe-hearted myself, a sap, and also, as I said, kind of a crappy reader.


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Journalist Megan Mackander discovers the natural wonders of southern China
DUNK, dunk, dunk. Tink, tink, tink. It's the familiar sounds of someone making a warm cup of tea that makes you want to sit down and take it easy for a while.
WITH every drop of water trickling down the jaggered limestone mountains, Mother Nature is carving away at a masterpiece, five million years in the making.


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Tuesday, February 6, 2018 12:21:55 PM Asia/Calcutta 0 Posted in News Pregnancy Baby Toddler By OSK Admin…. And now you've got your little bundle of joy and are adjusting to being a mother. Amidst sleepless nights, feeding and getting used to this little life you've given birth to, eating right is the single most important act that will recuperate your body and get you back into shape. "One of the main things a healthy diet can do is give new moms energy," says Kathy McManus, RD, a FITNESS advisory board member and director of the department of nutrition at Brigham Women's Hospital in Boston. "It's important to spread food throughout the day so that you get an even amount of calories. This will give you lasting power to take care of your baby and yourself." Read More
Tuesday, January 30, 2018 1:05:46 PM Asia/Calcutta 0 Posted in News Baby Toddler Big Kid By OSK Admin
Babies are beautiful blessings that bring in newer roles in our lives. From being a couple, the baby makes us into parents. We experience the different facets of ourselves, some we didn't know even existed inside of us. And even as we work towards adjusting to this new reality of being a mother or a father, its only too fair that we remain sensitive to the world we live in. This same world our little one will be inheriting from usRead More
• Nearly all infants are exposed to television every day for a couple of hours nowdays.
• A report of mothers suggest that their children are exposed to watching television on a regular basis every day.
• If include background television children are exposed to for about 3 to 4 hours of television effects which is not beneficial for their health.Read More
Wednesday, January 10, 2018 1:10:10 PM Asia/Calcutta 0 Posted in News Baby Toddler Big Kid By OSK Admin
Toys keep toddlers and children engage and is a great way of teaching them new things in the early stages of their life. Toys are a good way to learn and good way to educate them, some toys and games are more intellectual which helps them develop their brains to the next level. So it's the sole responsibility of parents to select the best toys for their kids and toddlers…..Read More
Babies develop at their own speed however that should not discourage parents effort to stimulate their brain. Babies develop large muscle control during the early stages and with course of time they start to recognize familiar faces and communicate with gestures like crying,babble etc.
All parents can make mistakes and no one is impeccable especially a new parent. If you know some of the most common and important mistakes that new parents tend to make, it'll help you in avoiding them.Read More
Monday, October 16, 2017 5:03:23 PM Asia/Calcutta 0 Posted in News Baby Toddler Big Kid By OSK AdminDiwali, our festival of lights is the biggest festival in India when everyone, from all religions, all walks of life come together to share and celebrate joy together. I have come to realise this especially since I moved out of the country a few years back, the time around Diwali is very nostalgic and I start to miss the fun and celebrations together as a family and as a community and enjoy the very joy of giving! Read More
Being a parent is very tough job and especially when your child is crying, kicking and creating all types of havoc and you have no idea how to stop it. You think giving in to their tantrum may solve the issue, or you may think giving in to their demands may increase problems so you keeping guessing while they keep crying. So let's discuss how to resolve this issue which will stop the tantrum and also help you to avoid any future issues.Read More
Parents to their child are everything. They are their Mom and Dad, they are their guardians, they are their protectors, and they are their counselors. That is why as a parents we should always remember that how we raise them is how they will raise their kids one day. We should always remember that how we carry ourselves in their presence is how they carry themselves in our absence. And most importantly how we treat them is how they treat others.Read More
Parents worry endlessly how to protect their child from external dangers that they often forget that the biggest threat to their child's safety is always around them… Their own house. A normal house is always loaded with potential poisons and other threats that may harm your child like disinfectants, knives, match-box etc. That's why it is so important to child proof your house.Read More