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What's Up With All the Cleavage?
Wherever you look these days, it's impossible not to notice two things: Breasts. Overexposure has become the norm—picture boob-revealing blouses at Sunday brunch, boob-revealing tanks at the gym, boob-revealing dresses at weddings (frequently on the brides), boobs, boobs, boobs. In these pages, too! Over in Hollywood, the jaw-droppingly low-cut stuff you used to see only on Penthouse covers is now common garb for a celebrity taking her dog for an afternoon walk. Our ideas of what's OK at work have changed; forget power suits, hello, power chest! Hillary Clinton herself gave a speech on the Senate floor in July wearing a V-neck beneath her blazer that revealed she had—gasp!—breasts.
Of course, being comfortable with (and proud of) your God-given pair is an admirable thing. Yet the cleavage mania is alarming to some—exactly why journalism professor-reporter Cynthia Gorney, 54, approached Glamour and asked us to find a person who could explain it all to her (as she said, "I don't want to sound like a prude here, but I just don't get it"). We paired her with Kerry Miller, a 25-year-old writer who lives in low-cut tops and sees nothing wrong with that. Here's how their conversation went; see where you stand.
Cynthia: So I was in a business office a month ago, deep in conversation with a young professional woman—smart, articulate, very good at her work. I was listening. I was nodding. But mostly I was wondering about the cleavage. It was…considerable. A lot of cleavage. She leaned over thoughtfully, resting chin on hand, and I was alarmed for her. Then she righted herself, still marginally contained, and the conversation continued. Her wardrobe is none of my business, of course. But I can't stand it anymore.
If you have ambition and intelligence, if you're intent on being taken seriously in the workplace, what is the deal with the cleavage? It's not just the well-endowed I'm talking about; it's as though a frenzy of unbuttoning and unzipping has come over everybody, regardless of breast size and regardless of locale. I thought places like the grocery store and work were ones where we prefer not to have people consider at first glance our possible merits as sex partners.
Do you all mean to be wearing neon signs that spell out "please look here"? I don't think you do. Or am I wrong about that?
Kerry: Whoa there! Since when does my neckline have anything to do with my professional capabilities? The idea that cleavage equals stupid, slutty or unserious seems hopelessly old-fashioned to me. I like my breasts, and like most of my friends, I don't see anything wrong with wearing V-neck tops that flatter them, even at my own business-casual office. "Please look here"? Sure, go ahead. But if you're having trouble making eye contact with me, that's your problem, not mine. After all, I find a certain colleague's muffin-top distracting, but somehow I find the willpower not to stare.
Cynthia: Theoretical question: Guy walks past you wearing pants with a V-shaped plunging front, designed so they cling to every anatomical feature and show off a few pubes; and in the back, some butt cleavage. Your first impression of this gentleman is…?
Kerry: Gaack. I'm no fan of butt cleavage. But everyone has their Don't moments; it doesn't mean you're dumb—or have anything to do with how good you are in bed.
Cynthia: Here's a concept: How about not expecting men to have to summon their willpower whenever they observe us? Look, when I was 16, I wore extremely tiny skirts. My mother basically averted her eyes whenever I left the house. But then I grew up. I got a job. And I keep thinking now that turning into grown-ups means we're supposed to stop deluding ourselves about what we're doing when we put on garments with the body parts hanging out.
Kerry: Seriously, what's so wrong with looking attractive—or even sexy? If Jennifer Lopez or Katherine Heigl walked off the cover of Glamour and into the produce aisle of the grocery store, would you tsk-tsk her lack of modesty?
Cynthia: Looking hot is clearly a major part of their job description. This is also true for exotic dancers. You will not see me raising a single eyebrow about an exotic dancer walking around with two-inch cleavage. When you're in an office, though, the image you're supposed to convey is "I'm here to do my job."
Ever heard the term "elevator gaze"? My husband taught it to me. He's a labor lawyer. Part of his job involves going into workplaces to warn everybody what big, expensive trouble they can get into if they don't take sex harassment prohibitions seriously. No off-color commentary, no appraising up-and-down gaze (that's a lingering glance at the wrong portion of the anatomy). In other words, men are being told it's both offensive and illegal to look. Just to look. In the meantime—hello!—women are hanging out the neon signs for them. As he's on his way to delivering these talks, my husband sometimes has to walk past the desks of women with three-inch cleavage. He's as perplexed about this as I am.
Kerry: But isn't telling women to cover up because they might inspire certain reactions in men the kind of thing the, um, Taliban does? The truth is, sexual harassment isn't really about sex—it's about power. How else do you explain all the sex harassment in the military, since inappropriate dress isn't exactly an issue for uniformed troops? Anyway, I've gotten wolf whistles on the street while wearing a winter coat.
Cynthia: Point taken—about the military, that is. But I think there's a pretty sizable gap between Talibanesque she's-provoking-it hysteria and workplace women with plunging necklines. Tell me, what's the line you don't cross at the office?
Kerry: Well, I don't pair my V-necks with stripper heels and fishnet stockings, if that's what you mean. And sure, if I were a fifth-grade teacher I would button up a bit more, though my students would probably still compare my breasts to various items of produce, like I used to (Mrs. H., in case you're wondering: You had grapefruits). But when it comes to a hard-and-fast "line" of what's appropriate, well, I really don't know.
For women, there just isn't a true equivalent to a man's oxford shirt and khakis in terms of what's "OK" at work. This clothing thing is always going to be harder for us than for men. We're supposed to be attractive, but not too attractive. No wonder there was such a big brouhaha when Hillary Clinton showed a shadow of cleavage on C-SPAN. For a lot of people, a display like that isn't provocative; it's downright threatening.
Cynthia: Wait a minute. We'd be holding Clinton up to a double standard if we didn't raise our eyebrows at that much skin display during a presidential race. Say Mitt Romney shows up on the stump with his shirt unbuttoned far enough to show off some chest hair. You're going to let that pass without a remark?
Kerry: "That much skin"? It's not like Hillary Clinton hit the Senate floor in a vinyl bustier! Sometimes, speaking for myself here, women go low because it's comfortable, not sexual. We live in a more casual time; CEOs wear jeans to the office. For other women out there, part of it is being young, and not realizing how others perceive you. And, yeah, I guess for some of us there is a little bit of rage against the machine—"I'm not a corporate peon."
Cynthia: I keep thinking there's a relationship between the present day, show-it-off aesthetic and the pole dancing being taken up by women of all ages, which I understand is supposed to be fine exercise, limber muscles and so forth, but basically fills me with such feminist despair that I just want to go sit in the dark by myself. Am I overreacting? Or are you all coming of age now convinced that sexuality has to be part of what you present to the world?
Kerry: I'm with you there—I can't stand it when I see T-shirts with the Playboy logo on 13-year-olds. But with women my age, I find I'm less likely to get complimented by my peers for dressing conservatively than if I wear something more fashion-forward, even a little risque. The people we often look to for guidance on what's attractive are celebs, and we're not seeing J.Crew button-downs. Besides, every generation wants to piss off its parents.
Cynthia: Bingo. It's working.
Kerry: I don't think it's anyone's place to lay down the law about what other women should wear, based on subjective standards of how much cleavage is too much. C'mon! They're breasts. Love them—or look away.


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You're a London tube driver and you've had two 'one-unders' in as many weeks. You're traumatized but completely blameless. Then you're told about the '3 and Out' rule; three fatal accidents within a month and you're out of a job? but with a huge pay off! What do you do? Take trauma counseling and drive very, very carefully?
Or do you seek out a suicide victim, take the cash, pay off your debts and retire to a Scottish idyll to write your novel?

subset: commoncrawl


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Peter Philips added a bright magenta lip to Raf Simons' sea of floor-length peplum skirts paired with perfectly cut T-shirts.
The pout in question added an element of "street" to very clean skin, which Philips created using Chanel Pro-Lumière Finish Makeup SPF 15 and a simple line of its Le Crayon Khôl in Clair on the inner rim of the lower lash line to open up the eyes. The lip color itself was a mix of fuchsia and white pigments made by Philips himself.
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Deborah Kelly Hopkins 9ct yellow gold and diamonds ring from £658, wide ring from £998
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A feature of every Central Florida Matters is a 3-minute commentary presented by a voice that matters on an issue that voice believes matters.
The voice you'll is that of Bakari F. Burns, Chief Executive Officer, Health Care Center for the Homeless commenting on the steps necessary to achieve quality and affordable health care services for the homeless. Length — 03:34


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I managed to get the boys together last night at graduation for this one:
Frank showed up late......Guess he had an argument with his girlfriend(whose photo is below)
All I can say about this one is......Run.......Frank......Run......
Kids....Ya got to love 'em !!!!!!!!!!
Saturday, June 11, 2005
All Grown up!!!!
Posted by Jillian at 6/11/2005 11:42:00 AM
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We are a community of learners – students, teachers and parents
In a short span of time, Stonehill has become the most diverse community of learners in the city with students from more than thirty countries and teachers from over fifteen. We realise that our school will be a first point of interaction for many expatriate and Indian families moving to Bangalore. To help students and their families adapt to their surroundings and rest assured of a safe school environment, we encourage open channels of communication. The academic year is dotted with informal get-togethers on campus, discussions in the specially assigned 'parent room' and service-oriented projects which involve meaningful participation with local communities. We create opportunities for families to quickly belong to a supportive group of friends and get involved with the school at multiple levels.
Parent-Teacher Association
The Stonehill PTA is a non-profit organisation that exists to enhance and support the educational experience of all students at Stonehill International School; to welcome new families; to develop a closer connection between school and home by encouraging parent involvement, and to promote a positive community spirit in the school.
The Stonehill PTA mission statement is closely aligned to the school mission and inspires involvement and commitment to support the school community. Towards that end, teachers and administrators collaborate with the PTA Executive and parent class representatives to assist the PTA in its defined role.
The Stonehill PTA aligns its choice of activities and causes that it supports with the IB Learner Profile. The Stonehill PTA believes that the values we try to teach our children must be exhibited by all members of the community, and therefore uses the IB Learner Profile as a guide to action.
The Stonehill PTA supports various charities through a holistic approach to ensure maximum awareness and opportunities that will have the Stonehill families involved through the year, and not limited to specific charity driven events. The charities currently supported by the PTA are:
Stonehill Government School
Stonehill International School has adopted this government school in the neighbouring village. The PTA in the last 2 years has contributed sport equipment, books for their library and also helped in certain aspects to build a computer lab in the government school. SIS students also do many service learning projects with this school.
Morning Star Ashram
Morning Star Ashram is a home for over 80 boys, some of them with physical and mental illness. Father John is the care taker and looks after these boys by giving them education and sending them to the neighbouring government school. PTA has supported this charity for the last 2 years by buying them basic food stuff from time to time and having a collection drive during the international food fair at school.
Iksha Foundation
Iksha supports children with eye cancer – Retinoblastoma. The focus of this Foundation is to create awareness, promote early detection and support poor and underprivileged families thereby ensuring early diagnosis and timely treatment of these children.
PTA has been supporting this charity for the past year by paying for medication and contributing towards surgery costs for these children.
An inclusive global outlook begins with understanding varying local contexts
An inclusive global outlook begins with understanding varying local contexts
We encourage our students to participate in community service and engage with local culture, helping them respect differences, appreciate diversity and above all, recognise through it all, our common humanity.
An ongoing example of such an initiative is the Stonehill Government School in the adjacent village. Built and sponsored by the Embassy Group in 2012, it was handed over in its entirety to the Government of Karnataka. Stonehill International School has now adopted it and supports it financially and, more importantly, educationally.
The Government School students are invited to visit Stonehill and benefit from our facilities such as the swimming pool, playground, drama room and more.
International schools are prone to becoming bubbles where students lead their lives largely unaware of the people and varied lifestyles that exist beyond the school gates. Stonehill, on the other hand, enables students to go beyond their comfort zone and interact with the local community. What they learn from this, and our students have told us so themselves, is invaluable in the real world.
Diet & Nutrition
Our emphasis on all-round development of the child organically seeps into the nutrition we provide at school. The cafeteria serves lunch and snacks prepared by the school's own chef and kitchen staff.
The menu has been designed to offer a balanced diet with fresh ingredients, adhering to stringent standards of hygiene. Students can choose from vegetarian and non vegetarian options. There is a strict no-junk food policy with only the occasional dessert.
Stonehill is a nut-free campus. Please inform the school if your child is allergic to any type of food.
Healthcare & Wellness
A team of full-time, highly qualified, experienced school nurses are available for students 24/7. The school has a dedicated nursing room in the educational block as well as a 6-bed clinic in the boarding facilities. We have an ambulance on site for major sporting events held on the school premises.
Child Protection
We believe that child abuse and neglect are violations of a child's human rights and are obstacles to the child's education as well as to their physical, emotional and social development. Stonehill International School endorses the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, of which our host country, India, is a signatory.
We believe that schools fill a special institutional role in society as protectors of children. Schools need to ensure that all children in their care are afforded a safe and secure environment in which to grow and develop. The School has a Comprehensive Child Protection Policy in place and all staff receive formal training.
We nurture the social, emotional, physical, and intellectual development of our students. The Primary and Secondary Schools each have a dedicated counsellor trained to support students through the various challenges that they may experience. In addition, a College Counsellor supports students with career guidance and university applications.


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I've been wondering about Boo's gut health for a while now, although I don't often compare notes with my mom friends any more. He spends an inordinate amount of time in the bathroom (even when he doesn't bring the tablet in with him), and complains when I try to rush him out that he feels like he isn't done yet, although nothing is happening. I try to keep him hydrated, and he certainly eats a lot of fruits and vegetables. He loves cheese and milk, so I wonder if there's too much of that in his diet. Basically I have a lot of questions, and am looking for some answers, to help him "go" more easily.
So, I attended a free educational event a couple of weeks back, hosted by naturopath Bryce Wylde and nutritionist Julie Daniluk. "BioGaia®: The Pros of Probiotics for Children" focused on the benefits of daily probiotic supplements for children, as well as the importance of overall healthy eating. We learned so much about gut health and supporting a strong immune system in our infants and kids, and I was truly surprised by some of the research findings on probiotics that the presenters shared.
|Gorgeous, fresh ingredients for a healthy Shepherd's Pie
Some other interesting tidbits from the session:
- infants born by C-section miss their first exposure to probiotics through the bacteria present in the vaginal canal, and are more pre-disposed to ADHD, psoriasis, and other immune issues
- probiotics are beneficial in treating colic in babies
- apples are a great source of pre-biotics (fibres which feed probiotics) and can help regulate estrogen levels (peri-menopause gal's ears perked right up!)
- Omega 3 lubricates the bowel and so it can help with constipation
- ground flax seed is also great for fighting constipation
- probiotics can help with stress response and even work to end night terrors in children
|Nutritionist Julie Daniluk
BioGaia® is a natural product that works by boosting the number of good bacteria in your child's digestive tract. BioGaia® Probiotic Sugar-Free Chewable Tablets have been shown by clinical study to reduce colic in children by 70%. Furthermore, infants taking BioGaia® Probiotic Drops cried less after just 1 week. We received samples of both formats, and Boo has been taking the tablets each morning.
So, have we noticed any differences after taking BioGaia for a couple of weeks? Boo is still not a fan of discussing his bathroom time, but I have noticed that when I get to the point I feel he should be done, and I call out to him, his response has changed. Now he's at the wiping stage when I intervene, not the still trying stage. I think that's great progress!!
I can't do justice to all the great information and tips we got at the event. It was live-broadcast and recorded though, so if you missed it, or want to re-watch, the video is available online at BioGaia.ca. I also encourage you to check out Julie's website for delicious and healthy recipes at JulieDaniluk.com.
You can keep connected with BioGaia® Canada at:
Instagram at https://instagram.com/biogaiaca/
Twitter at https://twitter.com/BioGaiaCa
Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/BioGaiaCanada
Twitter at https://twitter.com/BioGaiaCa
Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/BioGaiaCanada
Disclosure: This post is brought to you by BioGaia Canada. All opinions on this blog, as always, remain my own.


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"As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens the other," says Proverbs 27:17, an advice a couple of Colorado hip-hop activists followed when they took the ceasefire between two rivaling b-boy sets as an opportunity to form The Procussions. Consisting of MC/producer Stro The 89th Key and MC's Mr. J and Resonant, the group brings a positive but still serious outlook to the game, reminiscent of crews like LightHeaded and Tunnel Rats.
Musically, you can expect a streamlined appearance. Stro aims for a live vibe, but buffs everything to a monochrome, polished shine that sounds strangely synthetic. The best thing the reader can do with the reviewer's uneasiness with how "...As Iron Sharpens Iron" sounds is take it as an indication that this album is different from the majority. That much however is clear: considering its specific sound design, it isn't geared for headphone consumption, and it should be played above room volume so that it can develop its full orchestral qualities.
And I'm going to follow these instructions myself right now. Let's see what we have here... "Introducing" does exactly that. The track packs everything from human humming, organ playing alternating between confusing and soothing, hard-hitting drums, right down to a DJ having an extensive session with James Brown's "Funky Drummer". The enthusiasm is evident, and as a listener it's hard not to join The Procussions in their forward motion.
"WeGotta!" calms things down despite the exclamation point in the title, Stro throwing in an early nineties horn break to drive their point home. "JOB (Just Over Broke)" is a soft-spoken tune deeply steeped in bass covering the faint echo of a talkbox. "All That It Takes" with its jazzy flair takes us once again back to the early nineties East Coast school of hip-hop while "Move Yer Self" is draped in Latin jazz. The pleasing blend of various styles and schools is only interrupted by unusual experimentations with rock music ingredients. Thankfully, the two tracks in question don't rely too heavily on them, as "Lights Off" is saved by scratching and a thumping drum set, and "Down to One", after some rather corny rock antics (think screeching guitar), goes into a brassy break, after which a busy drum beat invites breakers to do their thing.
On the vocal side, the rappers harmonize as well with the beats as they do with each other. Still, while they are clearly distinguishable, no one team player stands out, as both their flows and their lyrics seem somewhat interchangeable. The content of their rhymes is obviously spiritually guided, which isn't particularly a problem. The problem is that like many of their peers, The Procussions tend to be lyrically too abstract. More concrete offerings like "Leave Her Alone" and "JOB (Just Over Broke)" are the exceptions that make you realize the rule.
To their credit, The Procussions are able to convey messages that go beyond mere self-motivation. At best, their rhymes are a gentle stream you have to dive into to extract something interesting and meaningful, exemplified by a simple two liner such as "We inspire to teach, obsessed with relaying the truth / through a culture that's betraying our truth." At worst, they are a cryptic sermon in which well-proportioned phrases only obscure the message:
"I stand strong on a rock-solid approach to unbottle the truth
to uncommonly use and gain knowledge
We graduated from the same college
I took the road less travelled, the left lane was too crowded
I ain't forget about it, I been in that car before
lookin' for a key that unlocks door"
Then again, you have to give The Procussions credit for trying to "describe the undescribable" ("How Do I Describe") and finding ways to convey spiritual convictions. Given the difficulty of that endeavor, it's almost impossible to pin individual songs down to one message. Clearly, empathy is an important emotion in their lives, as evidenced by key lyrics like "Love is just a word that's got no meanin' / if you can't put it into action" ("Make it Happen"), "I'm never fightin' fire with fire / I do the opposite of what this world admires / I'm battlin' hate with love" ("Down to One") and "We instruments of love, a God orchestrates our symphony" ("Celebration").
While their soulful spiritualized hip-hop sessions are generally enjoyable, The Procussions might have been able to make even more people relate to their music if they would have stepped down from the pulpit more often. But even so, if you're willing to join the congregation lead by this contagious choir, take Mr. J up on his invitation delivered on "Celebration": "We in club Earth, raise your hands up, take your shoes off / grab your fellow man, help him shake the blues off." Because as iron sharpens iron...
Music Vibes: 6.5 of 10 Lyric Vibes: 6.5 of 10 TOTAL Vibes: 6.5 of 10
Originally posted: December 23, 2003
source: www.RapReviews.com


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Once we have our home study approved, we will have our "official" referral. With this official referral comes all the fees from our adoption agency. The total amount of fees we are looking at is around $33,000. We are assuming this will be due in the next 3-4 weeks. I had my friend Tymm tell me as we were praying for our children that "the cost of redemption through adoption is OUTRAGEOUS." That is some hard truth there.
So, in thinking through ways to help us in this journey, we thought that a puzzle fundraiser would be a great way to do that. Let me give you the details on how this will work…
We had a custom image made to represent our family. (See below … but the actual puzzle does not have hearts over their faces :). We had it made as a 300 piece 16"x20" puzzle. The way it will work is that for each $15 donated to our adoption, we will put that family's name on the back of a puzzle piece and add it to the completed puzzle. So, if a family donates $60, they would have 4 puzzle pieces. We also have a puzzle for each of our children so there are 600 pieces total. If we can complete this fundraiser quickly, it will give us $9000 of the $33,000 needed for our official referral.
Another really cool thing we're doing with this is if you donate puzzle pieces to our adoption, we will send you the exact piece(s) of our children's puzzle that have your name on it (we will need your address to mail you the puzzle piece so please email that to us at email@example.com). We had a couple extra puzzles made so that we could send the pieces out to everyone. It will have a magnet on the back so you can hang it on your fridge as a tangible reminder of being a piece of our puzzle. It can also serve as a reminder to pray for our children.
What's so fantastic about this is that our children will be able to tangibly see the village that helped bring them home. We plan to frame each puzzle with a clear back so they can see the names any time they'd like.
Another great thing with this puzzle fundraiser is that the donations will be through our Pure Charity site at https://www.purecharity.com/LuchtAdoption. Donations are tax-deductible since the funds go directly to our adoption agency. On our Pure Charity site, we have a YouTube video telling our story. It's 9 minutes (it's hard to summarize God's journey for our family in a couple minutes!) and I'll include it at the bottom of this post.
Would you pray for our family that the funds will all be there for our official referral? Would you share our story with your social media circles? Thank you for joining us in this journey!
Here is the puzzle we made:
Here is the video we put together for our Pure Charity fundraiser:
And here is the link again for donating through our Pure Charity site: https://www.purecharity.com/luchtadoption.
(In the coming days, we will also highlight the other ways to help but they are listed here if you're interested.)
Thanks again for helping us bring our children home!


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March 16, 2011
Greg called in this morning to report that the winds have died down a little bit, and after scouting the route and snow conditions yesterday, they've decided to pull camp and head to Camp Muir today.
If all goes as planned they'll get to Camp Muir this afternoon and if they're feeling good they might sneak in a little training or an evening lecture after dinner.
Step 1 is getting to Camp Muir, which is never a given on Mt. Rainier in the winter.
Tye Chapman


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Discounts on Above Ground Pools for Houston area residents includes every homeowner in Spring TX.Casual Patio, Pool & Spas announces special discounts for Spring TX residents. Contact us to find out how you can save on:
- Custom Built Patio or Deck
- Doughboy Above Ground Pools
- Nordic Hot Tubs
- Custom Grills
- The Big Green Egg (smoker / BBQ)
- And full installation contractors
Spring Texas is a marvel for history lovers, shoppers and festival goes. What a great addition to your Spring TX home - a new above ground pool, or Nordic Hot Tub. Enjoy the day and then enjoy the eve at home on your custom built patio.


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Alex Azar is facing his first big Obamacare test in his new role as Health and Human Services secretary: Will he enforce the Affordable Care Act even as some Republicans try to duck its requirements?
If Azar cracks down on Idaho for its recent bold and unprecedented move to sidestep ACA insurance regulations, he'll send the message that the law of the land comes first — even if he privately supports efforts by Congress to repeal Obamacare. But if the new secretary shrugs off Idaho's actions, it could embolden more GOP-led states to thumb their noses at the health-care law and let off the hook more insurers from its consumer protections.
It was unclear yesterday, however, exactly what approach Azar would take as he faced questions in a congressional hearing about how he'll respond to Idaho, a state whose Republican governor, C.L. "Butch" Otter, announced last month that insurers can sell non-ACA-compliant plans.
Asked about the Idaho move during a House Ways and Means Committee hearing, Azar said that "there are rules and there's a rule of law that we need to enforce."
But Azar also didn't indicate that he has issued warnings to the state. "I'm not aware that our opinions or views have been solicited," he told lawmakers.
ThinkProgress's Amanda Michelle Gomez tweeted a response from Azar's new department:
HHS spokesperson just emailed me the following re Idaho: "We are continuing to monitor the situation in Idaho. HHS is committed to working with states to give them the flexibility to provide their citizens the best possible access to healthcare, within the bounds of the law." https://t.co/swyi9aby0e— Amanda Michelle Gomez (@amanduhgomez) February 14, 2018
On Wednesday, Blue Cross of Idaho became the first insurer to take Otter up on the offer, announcing it would sell five "Freedom Blue" plans that include limits on annual medical spending and charge higher premiums to people with preexisting medical conditions — all policies that are specifically prohibited under the ACA.
Indeed, there's little dispute among experts that Idaho is violating the text of the ACA and some of its key tenets to make insurance coverage more comprehensive. A major part of the health-care law is requiring that individual market plans cover 10 categories of "essential health benefits" and ensuring that people with preexisting conditions don't have to pay higher monthly premiums than healthy people.
"It is, I think, a clear-cut violation of the Affordable Care Act," Joel Ario, who directed the Office of Health Insurance Exchanges under the Obama administration, told me.
Andy Slavitt, former Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services administrator under Obama:
This not only violates what Congress passed, but it violates the needs of American families. https://t.co/5wmUDyfp4b— Andy Slavitt (@ASlavitt) February 14, 2018
Aviva Aron-Dine, a senior fellow at the liberal Center on Budget and Policy Priorities and a former member of Obama's administration:
Sadly it could be the new standard regardless, if the Administration's "short-term" plans rule is as expected & seeks to let insurers sell year-long plans violating pre-ex and other protections: https://t.co/eXrJbe6Vca— Aviva Aron-Dine (@AvivaAronDine) February 14, 2018
Kaiser Family Foundation senior VP Larry Levitt:
If a state like Idaho is not enforcing the ACA's insurance protections, the federal government is obligated to step in and enforce the rules. We'll see what happens.— Larry Levitt (@larry_levitt) February 14, 2018
Idaho's impulse is understandable, since individual market premiums are quite high in some places. But, lowering premiums for healthy people means that middle-class people with pre-existing conditions will pay more.— Larry Levitt (@larry_levitt) February 14, 2018
So, what could the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services do to enforce the law? If the agency determines Idaho has failed substantially to enforce part of the ACA, it could wield a pretty big stick by fining the plans $100 per day for every customer, which could add up to $36,500 per year.
There are possible legal ramifications, too. Plans ducking the ACA face the risk of lawsuits from patients who buy noncompliant coverage only to later realize their plan doesn't cover certain mandated benefits that they might need.
Given those possible risks, it could seem surprising that any state would give insurers such license. But if CMS doesn't take a firm stance in the Idaho situation, it's possible to imagine other Republican-led states following suit, especially those that have resisted other elements of the ACA such as its Medicaid expansion.
Expect states and insurers to be carefully watching Azar's moves in the coming weeks as they start thinking about the marketplaces for 2019. Marketplace insurers are working on setting rates for next year, and in a few months they'll need to start submitting plans to the administration for approval.
"I do suspect if Idaho goes forward and approves the plans and they're actually sold — and there isn't any consequence against them — I do think you'll see other states take a closer look at that strategy," Ario said.
Just look at how more than a half dozen states legalized recreational use of marijuana under the lenient Obama-era policy that kept federal authorities from enforcing a federal ban against it. A similar domino effect could occur with health plans -- once one state shows it's possible to duck the ACA, other states might try to do the same, said Nicholas Bagley, a professor at the University of Michigan Law School.
"I think Azar has got to be worried that, if Idaho presses ahead, other states will follow," Bagley told me. "Once they know the cop is off the beat, why wouldn't they?"
To justify their actions, Otter and Blue Cross have both pointed to rising insurance premiums on Idaho's individual market as reasons they're ignoring parts of the ACA. Idaho officials said the aim is to allow these cheaper plans to be sold off the state's marketplace to attract younger and healthier consumers.
Yesterday, Idaho Blue Cross CEO Charlene Maher said Idaho's marketplace "isn't affordable" for middle-class families. "Our new state-based plans are a response to Gov. Otter's executive order, which begins to solve the issues that have kept middle-class Idahoans from buying health insurance," she said in a statement.
Idaho's move is also raising the ire of many health-care advocates and stakeholders who had bristled at Republican efforts in Congress to repeal some of the ACA's insurance requirements but then breathed easier when those efforts dramatically failed. Now, they have to worry about whether the Trump administration will enforce a law that remains on the books.
A group of 15 medical associations wrote to Azar yesterday, urging him to ensure plans would continue providing the full range of benefits required under the ACA and maintain its consumer protections.
"We urge you to make clear that Idaho cannot authorize the issuance of health insurance coverage that violates federal law, and that any insurer that issues such plans risks enforcement action and serious penalties," says the letter, signed by the Cancer Action Network, the American Heart Association and the American Lung Association, among others.
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— The latest on the Florida shooting: At least 17 people were killed when a 19-year-old gunman opened fire Wednesday on the South Florida high school from which he was expelled. Nikolas Cruz had been kicked out for "disciplinary reasons," and was captured following a manhunt in the aftermath of the shooting, The Post's Moriah Balingit, William Wan, Mark Berman and Lori Rozsa report. Cruz was booked into Broward County Jail early Thursday and charged with 17 counts of premeditated murder, per the Associated Press. Officials said another 14 people have been treated at hospitals, per the AP.
The terror unfolded at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High, a 3,000-student school named after an icon of the South Florida environmental movement and located in an affluent suburb northwest of Fort Lauderdale. It was the 18th school shooting in the nation just 45 days into the year, according to pro-gun control group Everytown for Gun Safety. President Trump has tweeted three times about the shooting, expressing his "prayers and condolences" to victims' families. "So many signs that the Florida shooter was mentally disturbed, even expelled from school for bad and erratic behavior," the president tweeted Thursday morning. "Neighbors and classmates knew he was a big problem. Must always report such instances to authorities, again and again!"
Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) took to the Senate floor on Wednesday to call out Congress for not doing enough to address gun violence. "This epidemic of mass slaughter, this scourge of school shooting after school shooting," Murphy said. "It only happens here not because of coincidence, not because of bad luck, but as a consequence of our inaction. We are responsible for a level of mass atrocity that happens in this country with zero parallel anywhere else."
AHH: Prescription drug spending is projected to grow faster than any other major medical good or service over the next decade, The Post's Carolyn Y. Johnson reports. The analysis out yesterday from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, published in the journal Health Affairs, estimates that by 2026, national health spending will climb to $5.7 trillion, or nearly a fifth of the economy.
While data was released in December showing a 1.3 percent increase in spending on prescription drugs in 2016 — a small fraction of the increases in previous years -- the new analysis suggests the low rate of increase will not last. Future spending is forecast to grow at 6.3 percent per year, on average, between 2017 and 2026, according to the CMS analysis.
"CMS actuaries said the secret rebates that manufacturers negotiate with health plans have helped temper the growth of prescription drug prices and spending in recent years but will not contribute as much in the future," Carolyn writes. "The new data suggests that while rebates have helped to rein in prescription drug spending, the effect will attenuate over the next decade. The spending growth will also be driven by a shift toward specialty drugs, which cost more and often do not carry the same generous rebates."
OOF: This flu season has gotten so bad -- partly because the vaccine is less effective than in previous years -- that patients seeking care have surged to levels not reported since 2009's swine flu peak. My colleagues Darla Cameron and Dan Keating have put together an interesting graphic showing flu-related hospitalizations by year, illustrating just how intense this year's flu season is.
It's worth noting President Trump hasn't said anything about the flu. And it's not as though he doesn't ever address epidemics: Since his inauguration, Trump has called out three 'epidemics' on his Twitter feed: An "epidemic" of human trafficking; an epidemic of crime in Chicago; and, of course, the opioid epidemic, The Post's Philip Bump notes. Trump hasn't promoted the flu vaccine, either through his personal Twitter account, the White House account or the @POTUS account -- although former President Obama didn't do so from his personal account as president, either, despite flu epidemics in 2013 and 2015.
OUCH: Anti-poverty advocates say the social safety net cuts and restructuring proposed in Trump's budget — substituting "food boxes" for food stamps and introducing work requirements for subsidized housing — could make life more precarious for 90 million low-income Americans who rely on at least one of those programs, potentially pushing millions off the programs and reducing benefits for the ones who are left, The Post's Caitlin Dewey and Tracy Jan report.
The budget proposal, released Monday, would slash nearly half a trillion dollars over the next 10 years from the three main pillars of the social safety net: Medicaid, federal housing assistance and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, better known as food stamps. The proposal is unlikely to become law, but it reflects the priorities of Trump and his administration, who say dramatically curtailing spending on these programs can shrink the deficit and focus benefits on the truly needy.
But anti-poverty advocates charge the cuts put vulnerable low-income families at risk of hunger or homelessness — particularly if they, like an estimated 5.7 million Americans, depend on all three of the targeted programs, Caitlin and Tracy write. "Is that making America great — by making it unbearable for people who are U.S. citizens to even live here?" asked Daisy Franklin, a 60-year-old grandmother in Norwalk, Conn., whose household of four relies upon Medicaid, a federal housing voucher and more than $300 a month in food stamps. "It sounds like Trump is trying to turn the clock back."
--Today the House is expected to approve a bill that removes incentives for business owners to comply with the Americans With Disabilities Act mandating equal access to public accommodations, The Post's Mike DeBonis reports. Advocates for the disabled fear the measure would weaken the 27-year-old law, while proponents contend the legislation would stem a tide of "drive-by lawsuits" brought by predatory lawyers seeking to collect payouts from noncompliant business owners without actually improving access for those with disabilities.
The ADA Education and Reform Act which is supported by House GOP leaders and a handful of Democrats, would require those who sue businesses in federal court to first deliver a specific written notice to that business detailing the illegal barrier to access, and then give that business 60 days to come up with a plan to address the complaints and an additional 120 days to take action. "That, the bill's supporters say, would keep small-business owners from being targeted for legal shakedowns. But the bill's opponents say it would in effect gut the ADA by removing any incentives businesses have to comply with the law before a complaint is filed," Mike writes.
More than 200 disability-rights groups have signed a letter opposing the bill, and tensions over the bill have run high at times. Activists interrupted a House Rules Committee meeting on Tuesday chanting "Don't take our rights away. Hands off the ADA!" Capitol Police arrested 10 people after they refused an order to leave the premises. Five were in wheelchairs, Mike reports.
--Surgeon General Jerome Adams says he would "politely disagree" that efforts to combat opioid abuse should move away from law enforcement and toward addiction treatment. "We have to help law enforcement have a public health-informed approach to the way they tackle addiction, but we will never be able to remove law enforcement from the equation," Adams said yesterday at an event hosted by The Hill. "We've got to figure out ways to better partner with them."
Adams also said connecting people with support services, such as food and housing, should be a key part of the effort to fight the opioid epidemic. But he stressed the money Congress recently allocated should be spent in ways that produce results.
"That's what I want Congress to know, that's what I want policymakers to know — we're not throwing good money after bad; we're actually getting a return on investment by wrapping people with the support services they need to be successful in recovery," Adams said.
--A few more good reads from The Post and beyond:
Coming Up
- The USC-Brookings Schaeffer Initiative for Health Policy holds an event on patient cost sharing for prescription drugs on Friday.
Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) told his fellow lawmakers Wednesday's shooting at a South Florida high school is the "consequence of our inaction:"
Former FBI agent Philip Mudd broke down while talking about Wednesday's school shooting on CNN:
The White House's claims surrounding the domestic violence allegations against Rob Porter were challenged by FBI Director Christopher A. Wray:


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Governor Asa Hutchinson names New Director of DHS
Gillespie, former Romney advisor, tapped for position
From the Arkansas Governor's Office
LITTLE ROCK – Governor Asa Hutchinson today announced that Cindy Gillespie, former health care advisor to former Governor and Republican Presidential nominee Mitt Romney, as the new director of the Arkansas Department of Human Services (DHS).
Her start date will be March 1, 2016.
Governor Hutchinson issued the following statement on Gillespie: "After a national search and after interviewing a number of top candidates, I am confident that Cindy Gillespie has the breadth of experience, management capabilities and the right ideas to lead Arkansas's largest agency. She has nationally recognized expertise in the reform of Medicaid and she has extensive experience in managing complex programs. Most importantly she has the heart and passion that is needed for an agency which is on the frontline of critical services that make a difference in the lives of Arkansans every day."
Gillespie issued the following statement upon the Governor's announcement: "I'm honored to have the opportunity to join the impressive team Governor Hutchinson has brought together to serve the people of Arkansas. I am looking forward to working with the highly dedicated and capable employees at the Arkansas Department of Human Services, along with our partners throughout the state, to promote the health and well-being of all Arkansans, especially those most in need.'
Cindy Gillespie is a nationally recognized thought-leader in health policy and brings significant experience working at both the federal and state levels. Ms. Gillespie served as a senior advisor to former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney, where she led the Commonwealth of Massachusetts interactions with the federal government and oversaw development and implementation of the Administration's executive branch initiatives, including playing a leading role in the development of Massachusetts health reforms. Her writings on health policy issues have appeared in numerous national publications.
Prior to her government service in Massachusetts, Ms. Gillespie served as a senior executive for the not-for-profit Salt Lake Olympic Committee, responsible for hosting the 2002 Salt Lake City Olympic Winter Games and as a director at the Atlanta Committee for the Olympic Games, the nonprofit hosting the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games.
She was recognized both nationally and internationally for her leadership in developing a unique public- private partnership between federal, state, local government and the organizing committees for staging the Games in the U.S.
Ms. Gillespie is currently a Principal in the Washington, DC office of Dentons' Public Policy and Regulation practice and a leader of the firm's Health Policy and Health Insurance Exchange Teams. She is a graduate of Trevecca Nazarene College in Nashville, Tennessee and has a
Master's Degree from Auburn University in Alabama. She is a native of Columbus, Georgia.


text:
father's day run for prostate cancer
A few years ago, we asked some of our favorite mental_floss writers to send us their favorite dad-related facts and stories for our newsletter 2017 matt's mission. Here are 15 you can weekly events kids club. USATF NJ Coed Team Event Open/Masters 40+ 5K Championship Event Charlie Brown s Restaurant join us for a weekly dose of fun, including music, entertainment and so much more! enjoy a terrific selection of enriching activities for. Millburn, NJ Date: June 30, 2017 to July 2, 2017 Title of Event: Cumberland Freedom Rod Run Day of the Week: Friday noon till Sunday noon Rain Date: None, held rain or shine More than just mileage please make sure to include your name. Our 18-week Marathon training plan focuses on Speed, Progression, Endurance and Recovery to help you train smarter and run better exercise. The official website of the City of New York now, write five to seven compound sentences of your own, using the pattern and five different fanboys. Find information about important alerts, 311 services, news, programs, events, government employment, the office of the a few years ago, we asked some of our favorite mental_floss writers to send us their favorite dad-related facts and stories for our newsletter. Father s Day Crafts for Kids: Ideas for Easy to Make Father s Day Gifts for Dad with Arts & Crafts Projects & Activities for Children, Teen, and Preschoolers Father s Day is held on the third Sunday of June in the United Kingdom father joe s villages thanksgiving day 5k, 1549 el prado, san diego, ca, 92101 619-446-2133 5k@neighbor. It is a day to honor fathers and father figures, such as grandfathers and fathers-in-law org main home life holidays father s day. Many top 50 quotations for father s day. Father s Day in the United States is on the third Sunday of June celebrate your dad. It celebrates the contribution that fathers and father figures make for their children s lives with these meaningful quotes this father s day. Its traffic alert: post oak, san felipe intersection closed through tues. It s easy to shop for your husband with these great books, toys, and gadgets all $50 and under morning father's day is celebrated honor of fathers. Plus, check out 19 super-fun free apps for dads! Father's Day is coming fast, but we have your shopping covered, whether Dad likes to golf, grill, drink, or simply enjoy a variety of really nice things find more information about father's day celebration. Race Results it is celebrated on the third sunday of june in the usa and. All results can be found in the JB Sports Results Database with robin williams, billy crystal, julia louis-dreyfus, nastassja kinski. 2017 Miles for Meals 5K a woman cons two old boyfriends into searching for her runaway son by convincing both that. 2017 Miles for Meals Age Division Results run, jump and ignore certain laws of physics through even more courses in run 3! use the arrow keys to either run or skate through the 3 dimensional course. 2017 Matt's Mission stay on budget with wicked cheap deals, savings, and bargains in the boston area


text:
Login to Account Create an Account
Turn any ps2 game into a swap disc
Posted 13 August 2008 - 02:37 AM
Why I Did this:
I wanted to install the free mc boot exploit but did have a swap magic disc or a mod chip.
I didn't what to buy a swap magic disc because I didn't really what to spend 25 $ on some thing I would only ever use once. After the free mc boot exploit is installed you never need a swap disc again it's sort of like the independence exploit with out the need for a ps1 trigger disk.
How I did this:
Step 1:
First you need to be able to swap discs on you ps2. For the fat you need to make a swap tool out of an old credit card to change discs with out pushing the eject button just Google ps2 swap tool. If you have a slim like me just follow this Tutorial
Step 2:
Making your swap disc:
What you will need:
Original PS2 game disc I used 007 agent under fire.
Apache v 1.1 newer version will not work
Dvd Decrypter or other dvd burning soft capable or raw write
Launch.elf v 4.21 other home brew launch might work don't know
The game you use needs to have multiple elf binaries on it (irx might work don't know) preferably with self explanatory names so you know when it's launched.
007 agent under fire has 3 elf binaries in the root of the dvd movie.elf, action.elf and driving.elf
driving.elf is launch when a driving level is loaded. With action I think that's loaded when any other level is loaded, but I'm not sure I modded the driving file.
Burn a iso of the game you are going to use for this hack.
If you are using dvd decrypter select insert you ps2 game in the dvd drive select mode from the dvd decrypter menu and then iso then you chose where you want the file saved and you click decrypt.
Hack the game:
In this step you are going to replace one of the elf binaries with the uncompressed version of launch.elf (the compressed version might work I don't know)
To do this you need to use apache v 1.1 if you use magic iso or ultra iso it will change the TOC values and the LBA and the hack will not work.
Load the iso using apache v 1.1 select the file you are going to swap for the hack in my case driving.elf
click iso tools then click change TOC for selected file do not change the LBA, change the size of the file to the size of launch.elf the size is in bytes so for launch elf 4.21 you would change it to 877420 ( I don't think you can change this value to a larger size and have it work but I might be wrong) now rename launch elf to the file you are replacing in my case driving.elf then in apache select iso tools again and click update, selected file then browse to the location of your renamed launch.elf and select it. Now close apache and burn the modded iso to disk. In DVD decrypter insert a blank dvd, select mode, iso, write, select your modded iso and then click burn.
Step 3: swap it
Insert the original game in the PS2 power it on let it load past the intro and all the various splash screens and into the game menu now swap the original game with your hacked copy.
The next step differs depending on the game you use and the file you replaced, if you used 007 agent under fire like me and replaced the driving.elf then load up your saved game slot then go to select level and select the level where you are driving. Then you will get a loading screen and instead of loading the level it will load launch.elf which you can use it to load any exploit you want. I used launch.elf to load the free mc boot installer from a thumb drive.
If you deleted your bond saved games then you might want to try replacing the action.elf with launch elf instead I think this will load launch elf on the first mission but I'm not sure I didn't try it. If you used a different game it's up to you to figure out how to trigger the exploit. A couple of the games I looked at had a credits elf I would assume to trigger that if that's the file you replaced you would have to beat the game.
Sweet you are done if you don't believe this is possible I've included a video of the exploit in action. If you think this is way to much work you can always just buy a swap magic disc.
PS don't try and put the launch.elf cnf on the disc it will mess up the toc and launch.elf run fine with out it.
Video of hack in action
Home page with links to all the software needed
Posted 13 August 2008 - 02:54 AM
Posted 16 August 2008 - 11:49 AM
i think there is a new check from the ps2;
this way of booting elf may depend of which game is used.
The same way is explained on a french forum and a few members only could boot launch.elf.
i have a pstwo slimline, and i do not know if it can work on it ?
Edited by fdp, 16 August 2008 - 01:24 PM.
Posted 21 October 2008 - 11:55 PM
Edited by tiger1020x, 21 October 2008 - 11:59 PM.
Posted 31 October 2008 - 04:07 AM
Posted 23 November 2008 - 01:59 AM
So far we have:
007 - Agent Under Fire, Region = Ntsc (U), "driving.elf" =
Jakk 2 - Demo, Region = Ntsc, "???.elf" =
It seems the link to the required files is down, and I didn't want to double post.
So, would someone be able to specify exactly what programs and version are needed?
I googled launch elf 4.21, and I all came up with was a "uLaunchElf" 4.21. Is that the same thing?
The link from two posts above has the Apache (v1.1), but also has the uLaunchElf program on-site.
Edited by U-Said-it, 23 November 2008 - 03:10 PM.
Posted 26 November 2008 - 10:41 PM
Can everybody who has done this successfully start a compatibility list with the games that work?
So far we have:
007 - Agent Under Fire, Region = Ntsc (U), "driving.elf" =
Jakk 2 - Demo, Region = Ntsc, "???.elf" =
The jakk2 demo disk was NTSC-U..and the executable was suspiciously named boot.elf already
Posted 11 December 2008 - 03:47 AM
Posted 29 April 2009 - 10:20 PM
Edited by tiger1020x, 29 April 2009 - 10:21 PM.
Posted 15 August 2009 - 12:23 AM
Admin edit: No need to quote long-ass first posts
0 user(s) are reading this topic
0 members, 0 guests, 0 anonymous users


text:
By Dr. Mercola
Every four years, a little-understood but interesting phenomenon takes place: we get an extra day. It's called Leap Year, and it falls on February 29.
It's a reprieve, of sorts. Because every year grants us about 365 plus one-quarter days, you could think of it as a six-hour surplus each year for four years. On the fourth year when those hours total 24, it essentially adds an extra day.
Although it may be more accurately referred to as Leap Day, Leap Year has to do with the time it takes the Earth to orbit around the sun, which we now know takes 365 days, 5 hours, 48 minutes and 45 seconds.
There's a bit of slip time, so scientists figured out that some changes would have to be made to the calendar to make up the slack.
How Leap Year Came to Be
It's an interesting factoid that 260 years ago, Britain and its American colonies opted to wipe 11 days off their calendar between Sept. 2 and Sept. 14 to catch up with the calendars used by the rest of Western Europe.
Since 46 B.C., the known world had been flipping calendars implemented since Julius Caesar, called the Julian calendar. But its solar year was literally off kilter by 11 minutes (kudos to whoever figured that out).
Because Pope Gregory XIII's biggest concern was that Easter was shifting ever so slightly away from the spring equinox each year, he introduced his own calendar, which we still use today. According to History.com:
"The Julian calendar included an extra day in February every four years. But Aloysius Lilius, the Italian scientist who developed the system Pope Gregory would unveil in 1582, realized that the addition of so many days made the calendar slightly too long.
He devised a variation that adds leap days in years divisible by four, unless the year is also divisible by 100. If the year is also divisible by 400, a leap day is added regardless. While this formula may sound confusing, it did resolve the lag created by Caesar's earlier scheme — almost."1
That keeps everything on an even keel, so to speak, even though there's still a slight discrepancy of 26 seconds.
Make Your 'Leap Day' Count
At any rate, we have an extra day, but here's the beauty of it: For all the days you didn't do all the healthy things for yourself that you know you should do — and really want to do — Leap Year gives you that chance.
Although you likely won't be able to do anything you'd like, you might think of it as your golden opportunity to spend at least part of Feb. 29 living intentionally and positively, for yourself and the people in your life. Here are some fun ways to do that, inspired by the number 29.
Try doing just one or two, and this will be a day not wasted!
- On the 28th, go to bed 29 minutes early.
- On the 29th, get up 29 minutes early.
- Drink 29 ounces of water.
- Take 29 slow breaths through your nose.
- Spread your feet, stretch upward slowly and touch your toes. Do this 29 times.
- Send a funny email to 29 people you know would appreciate it as much as you.
- Meditate, daydream or pray for 29 minutes.
- Exercise for 29 minutes.
- Make a list of 29 people who've helped, inspired or encouraged you. Resolve to tell them. Soon.
- Ride your bike for 29 minutes.
- Check your kitchen and pitch 29 unhealthy items.
- Spend 29 minutes more with the people you love than you normally do.
- Smile 29 minutes every hour of the day — or for at least 29 minutes
- Call a friend and talk about them as much as they want to for 29 minutes.
- If the weather is nice, spend 29 minutes outside.
- Drink another 29 ounces of water.
- Make a list of 29 to-die-for vacation spots. (You don't have to actually go.)
- List 29 things you're grateful for.
- Go through your closets and pick out 29 items to donate or give away.
- Pop 29 grapes into the freezer and share them later.
- Take a 29-minute nap or just spend that time relaxing with your eyes closed.
- Create a playlist of 29 of your favorite songs.
- Leave work 29 minutes early so you can "smell the roses" on the way home.
- List 29 positive things you've learned throughout your life.
- Take 29 calm, controlled breaths through your nose — again.
- Straighten or put away 29 items to neaten your space.
- Spend 29 minutes in a warm, sudsy bath, complete with candles and soft music.
- Go to bed 29 minutes earlier than usual — again.
- In your head, list 29 positive things about your day.


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1. probate - noun
· a judicial certificate saying that a will is genuine and conferring on the executors the power to administer the estate
Synonym(s): probate_will
Hypernym(s): certificate, certification, credential, credentials
2. probate - noun
· the act of proving that an instrument purporting to be a will was signed and executed in accord with legal requirements
Hypernym(s): validation, proof, substantiation
3. probate - verb
· put a convicted person on probation by suspending his sentence
Hypernym(s): postpone, prorogue, hold_over, put_over, table, shelve, set_back, defer, remit, put_off
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· establish the legal validity of (wills and other documents)
Hypernym(s): validate, formalize, formalise
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Egoscue is a unique and very effective program designed to treat pain without drugs,surgery,or manipulation. Regardless of any previous condition or injury, putting your body back into correct alignment will allow it to naturally heal itself.
Let's Take a Look at Your Posture
1. Stand nonposed in front of the mirror. Look at your feet. Do they turn out? Does one foot turn out more than the other?
2. Go up to your hips. Look at your waistband. Does it look like one hip is higher?
3. Now your shoulders; is one higher than the other? If not, does one shoulder (or hand) appear closer to the mirror?
4. Now stand on one leg. Can you stand more easily on one leg than than the other?
5. Close your eyes and "feel" where your body weight is from left to right.
Are you balanced? If not, it's time to get back to balance…
If you answered "yes" to any of these questions then you are showing the signs of joint misalignment. Your body must compensate for this by transferring the workload to other parts of the body. Over time, this compensation leads to premature wear and tear and eventually pain.


text:
Monday, 18 January 2010
Having just finished watching the news, it is clear that an incredible amount of additional help and money is needed to help the people of Haiti.
The film footages make for sad, shocking and uncomfortable viewing.
We cannot begin to comprehend how it must be to be there right now and to have experienced such a catastrophic disaster. The scale of it all is unimaginable. I dare not try to imagine..
I am sure that many of you have given donations but just in case you haven't got round to it, here is a reminder of where you can donate online.
and don't forget...prayers...
A bientôt!
Isabelle X
14 comments:
- All things nice... said...
It really is so sad to see the people of Haiti suffering so much, It would bring anyone to tears. May God bless them all.
All things nice...
- 19 January 2010 at 00:14
- BusyLizzie said...
thank you Isabelle for bringing it home to anyone who has not thought this through. The lack of food, water & medical aid is appalling. Lizzie x
- 19 January 2010 at 07:26
- bekimarie said...
It was pointed out to me by Thrifty Mrs that she had a lot more comments for a pretty duvet post than for her Haiti post, the same goes for me on my blog.
I'm hoping that people are reading and doing their bit but just don't feel the need to leave a comment.
If we can reach out to just one person by doing a post like this then that's a start.
Take care
Beki xxx
- 19 January 2010 at 09:11
- Lululiz said...
One of the very upsetting things is that so many people are trying to help by giving donations, giving their time etc, and the aid just isn't getting through. I was watching the news this morning and for example, 100 shelter boxes are stuck at the airport, not going anywhere.
Beki, I think a lot of people might feel a bit embarrassed to show their emotions, I sure am, and thats why I don't often comment of post emotionally. I am sure that most bloggers are deeply touched by the situation and doing their bit.
- 19 January 2010 at 09:24
- lou said...
We have done are bit! Let's just hope they can get the supplies to all the people that so desperately need them.
Love Lou xxx
- 19 January 2010 at 12:04
- Andi's English Attic said...
My daughter's school is having a mufti day tomorrow to raise money for aid.
Who can blame the people of Haiti for violence and looting when they have nothing, lost everything and their children are injured, hungry and thirsty? It was obvious that if relief didn't arrive quickly, the current situation would develope. I only hope the aid is now getting through xx.
- 19 January 2010 at 13:13
- a mermaids purse said...
its soooo sad and the grief of loosing loved ones to deal with as well ;0(...i have given what i can- i so wish i could give more!
all my prayers and love to all in haiti...sometimes its easy to switch over the tv when i see such sad distressing images- but we all have to face up to 'giving'...we are so lucky to live where we do. x
- 19 January 2010 at 14:01
- sarah-jane down the lane said...
Hmm, it is very sobering isn't it?
I pray they will start to see some of the aid get through very soon,
Sarah x
- 19 January 2010 at 16:36
- Les Cotrions said...
It's really impossible to forget a similar tragedy! I'm speechless!
Big hugs
- 19 January 2010 at 21:28
- Josephine Tale Peddler said...
I never watch the news any more. I gave up a couple of years ago for several reasons as I don't like the way media has lowered itself totally into the gutter level of journalism. Haiti is unbearable watching television or not. I cannot even imagine the scale of it. Thank you for the reminder. I shall donate today as my pay goes in. Prayers for Haiti. xx
- 19 January 2010 at 22:39
- Josephine Tale Peddler said...
Dear Isabelle, I have to be quick as David needs this room to sleep as he is going diving very early. If you don't lie dark and creepy then best steer clear of Mo as she's very, very dark. She is the most fabulous writer but it might be too much for you. I did leave you a comment back on my site about this. If you were going to read her books perhaps try Tokyo (but it is very disturbing) Such a wonderful writer however. Sorry to post on the Haiti post but in a rush! Good night my dear! xx
- 20 January 2010 at 11:13
- Jennifer said...
Thanks so much for this post - we too are asking for donations to to the Red Cross - every dollar and every prayer and person helps....Jennifer
- 20 January 2010 at 19:23
- Kesenya said...
Honey - thank ou so much for posting this. I have been so self absorbed in recent days, and your post reminded me of the bigger picture, and the things that are truely important....bless you for this !
- 21 January 2010 at 05:19
- prashant said...
, It would bring anyone to tears. May God bless them all.
Work from home India
- 30 January 2010 at 14:15


text:
Saturday, January 7, 2012
Review of 'The Reason for God' - Part 2
This chapter boils down to one giant 'no-true Scotsman' fallacy in the end. Slave owners, crusaders and anyone motivated by Christianity to do wrong is not a real Christian, while true Christianity motivates abolitionists, the civil rights movement and peace according to Keller. Even if I was to grant Keller everything in the chapter, it would still have no bearing on the truth of Christianity. However I think Keller would do well to note that his scriptures contain morally questionable (read: horrific) content, like the blatant endorsement of slavery. I have no doubt that many, many people are inspired by Christianity to do good, but people are also inspired by poetry, music, film, art and literature, and this inspiration has no bearing on the truth or falsity of any subject in question.
Keller also tries to slander moral relativism by offering a very crude description of it he says "If everything is relative, there would have been no inventive for white people in the South to give up their power." (referring to the end of the slave trade in the United States). Earlier in the chapter he effectively claims that Christianity invented the golden rule saying "to give up Christian standards would be to leave us with no basis for the criticism." Either Tim Keller is ignorant of moral philosophy, or he is ignorant of moral philosophy, there is no way around it. To claim that without Christianity you cannot morally criticise the Crusades (as he was referring to in that quote) is incredibly pathetic.
Chapter 5: "How can a loving God send people to Hell?"
Firstly, this chapter is barely about Hell at all and the picture that Keller attempts to paint of Hell is one that people choose to go to and do not want to leave. I find this extremely puzzling, as one can find biblical support for annihilationism and for agonising eternal torture depending on how one interprets various passages, but Keller's view seems incredibly weak. He bases this doctrine of his own invention (correct me if I'm wrong) on the fact that in the parable of the rich man and Lazarus, "[the rich man] does not ask to get out of hell".
Near the end of the chapter it becomes incredibly clear why this book is failing so miserably to actually address anything atheists and skeptics actually say. Keller says "Today many of the skeptics I talk to say, as I once did, they can't believe in the God of the Bible, who punishes and judges people, because they "believe in a God of Love."" There you have it, the elusive skeptics that Keller refers to in the book are at the very least Theists, or at the most, Christians who have doubts. If the rest of the book continues down this path, I envisage face-palms of epic proportions.
Part 1
Part 3
Part 4
Part 5
10 comments:
Don't facde palm UR self too hard (just hard enuff). Hay mate, just wanted to say Happy New Year/Happy New Beer, good luck to ya-n-shit and let's "kill it' with some good 'ol atheist blogging this year. hope all is well,ReplyDelete
Thanks man, hope you had a good one too.ReplyDelete
Why are you dismissing his arguments without giving your reasons for the way you believe?ReplyDelete
Since when has that ever been a requirement for critiquing any argument? The only time one would simultaneously have to give justification for another position is when the critiques given apply to both views.ReplyDelete
- AnonymousJuly 9, 2012 at 4:09 AM
that's why atheists are like spoiled little kids with a bad temper that just say no, that doesn't exist because I haven't seen it yet. Have you heard of metaphysics? there are things that we can't explain, but it doesn't mean they don't exist.ReplyDelete
- AnonymousJuly 9, 2012 at 2:50 PM
Derp I'm like a spoiled kid with a bad temper going round anonymously commenting telling people they're like spoiled kids with bad tempers.ReplyDelete
- AnonymousNovember 17, 2012 at 7:11 AM
"that's why atheists are like spoiled little kids with a bad temper that just say no, that doesn't exist because I haven't seen it yet. Have you heard of metaphysics? there are things that we can't explain, but it doesn't mean they don't exist."ReplyDelete
This comment has been removed by the author.ReplyDelete
Thanks for posting a thorough review from the skeptic standpoint. I picked this book up from the library as a favor to a friend who is a believer (and also a nice person) ...I was hoping to find a review to save me from sorting every single misstatement or logical fallacy, false analogy, etc...so I'm very appreciative of your time. I'm 80 pages in, and while it's the usual sloppy apologetics, at least my friend didn't send me Rick Warren or similar drivel like "The Case for Christ". Now the trick is to try to present him with a kind criticism..... Thanks again.ReplyDelete


text:
Sunday Music: Sister Rosetta Tharpe
I've been meaning to feature some older gospel music for quite some time. I just couldn't decide who, exactly. While searching in YouTube, I started with the Five Blind Boys of Alabama, which led to the Mighty Clouds of Joy, which linked to the Dixie Hummingbirds, and then on to the Pilgrim Jubilee Singers... The music was so joyful and infectious that I just couldn't stop. At 1 AM, I stumbled upon Sister Rosetta Tharpe.
Sister Rosetta was born in 1915 in Cotton Plant, Arkansas, to an evangelist mother, who took her along to perform at tent revivals throughout the south. A genre-defying artist, her lively guitar style influenced countless other gospel and soul performers, as well as early rock-and-roll musicians such as Jerry Lee Lewis and Little Richard. In the chords and tempo of this gospel shout, "Up Above My Head," are the unmistakable roots of rock.
Sister Rosetta Tharpe (Wikipedia) [Link]


text:
educate-a-bull, inc. educate-a-bull, inc.
Here's a sample of our volunteer opportunities:VIEW AS
Mission Statement
Our mission is to educate the public about
the nature of the bully breeds; courageous, loyal, and full of heart. We hope to
challenge bully breed owners in our community to help us restore these breeds to
their former esteem in the hearts of people everywhere.
Our goal is to educate the public to
inspire a better understanding and appreciation of the breed. We also try to
dispel damaging myths and to encourage responsible dog
We rescue,
rehabilitate, and re-home
It is
our intent to support and assist owners in keeping their dogs. We also support
bully owners by offering a variety of resources in training, care, and positive
outlets to better enjoy their dogs.
Our Vision: educate a bull envisions a
compassionate world where all pit bull type dogs reside in responsible, loving
homes where their honor and positive image is restored and
Help us, Help them...
educate-a-bull, inc. is an educational bully breed rescue
founded in 2003. We are a
group of professional dog trainers, dog rescuers, teachers, bully breed
owners and animal lovers.
We were incorporated in 2011, and are a non for profit
educational bully breed rescue.
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