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Monday, February 6, 2012
Nothing more than feelings.
Through facebook, I remember learning that a nineteen year-old newspaper photographer Susanne Morrison had made some fairly unsympathetic comments about Micheala's death, by the time I found out about it, quite a lot of outrage had descended upon this nineteen-year old.
She stopped working for the newspaper shortly after.
I can honestly say I was mystified. Susanne typed in some glib facebook comments. Ill-advised, unsympathetic and most definitely grounded in some bigotry, but facebook comments nonetheless. The comments were nasty, but the only way that they would have ever been read by the amount of people that they were read by, including the people who would be most hurt by them, was by their constant reference & inclusion in articles and posts condemning the nineteen year-old author: I found the outrage directed at her in equal measure both hysterical & hypocritical, and then I forgot about it.
But it was in the back of the noggin somewheres.
When Alexander Aan was arrested it came back into my mind that maybe we need to redefine 'public' in the sense of social networking.
I ask , is it the same, to tap away on a keyboard some half-thought-out comment that should, in theory, be only visible either to one's 'friends' ( in the Micheala Harte situation ) , or to the group 'Atheists of Minang' ( in Mr Aan's case ) and then be pilloried for doing so by people who clearly not one's 'friends' ( or in the other case, clearly not atheists)?
Nowadays, thanks to google translate, I can tell you that Atheism Minang is a page that is frequented predominantly by Muslims who reckoned Mr Aan should be beheaded.
What are they doing there?
Waiting to be offended?
One contributor, Fauzi Arifin Ebs compared Mr Aan's case to the incarceration of 'Sean Duffy' in the United Kingdom. I'd never heard of Sean Duffy so I had to check him out.
And now that I know who he is, I have to concede that Fauzi has a point. Sean Duffy was a particularly nasty version of the interweb phenomena known as a 'troll'.
He was unlike either the nineteen-year-old or Alexander Aan in that he deliberately trawled the web looking for 'memorial' type pages for grieving families and then set about being an absolute shit.
The nastiest shit he could be.
Protected by interweb anonymity , he used each comment box to defame and degrade the memory of dead children, even composing crappy photoshops of the dead child's head to maximise offensiveness.
He even 'impersonated' the dead girls from beyond the grave, claiming at one point " It's hot in Hell" Sean Duffy's behaviour wasn't nice. In the United Kingdom of Great britain and Northern Ireland 'trolling' is an offence under the Malicious Communications Act, which carries a maximum penalty of six months in prison, and Sean Duffy went to jail.
My argument is that he shouldn't have been sent there, my argument is that in a truly free society, he should never have been arrested. My argument is that Trolling is an unpleasant thing but nobody should outlaw it because by doing so, that you do indeed lend validity to the Islamonazi lunatics who want Alexander Aan's head chopped off.
That Duffy was deliberately and wantonly hurtful to people he didn't know, for no reason is true, but here's the thing: Firstly, when you reach out into the big well of 'everybody', I think it's only mature to accept that among thousands of well-wishers you may also encounter the very worst type of attention-seeking idiot. Secondly, I think the hurt an attention-seeking idiot causes is a very different type of hurt than the hurt that can be inflicted face-to-face.
But finally and most importantly, if there is legislation just to protect something as fuzzy and undefinable as people's 'feelings', well then, yes, logically, A Muslim can ( and will ) claim Atheist statements hurt Muslim feelings and should therefore result in some punishment.
You could claim that neither Alexander Aan nor Suzanne Morrison were deliberately seeking to target anyone who basically 'hadn't come looking for them', and so it's different, but it's really only different in degree.
Consider this one last case, of Wayid Husayin. He lived on the West Bank and wrote a blog deliberately getting up the noses of the right wing Islamic fundamentalists around him. The NY Times says he "angered the Muslim cyberworld by promoting atheism, composing spoofs of Koranic verses, skewering the lifestyle of the Prophet Muhammad and chatting online using the sarcastic Web name God Almighty." Wikipedia claims that "The Facebook groups he allegedly created elicited hundreds of angry comments, death threats and the formation of more than a dozen Facebook groups against him. At its peak, Husayin's Arabic-language blog had more than 70,000 visitors."
I think it's fair to say that Wayid Husayin was, in a sense, 'trolling' the muslim extremists, and playing a dangerous game. He was arrested in October 2010 and remains in jail. Palestinian security source have apparently said that Husayin will continue to be kept in jail for his own protection: "It is impossible to release him because we are afraid he will be killed by his family ". Now Palestine does not sound like a free society when you read that does it?
I believe that trolls will always be with us, and that trolling is a bit sick and a bit sad, but we have to protect trolls and other fools like a Black Police officer protects the KKK from a crowd that want to kill them, not because we like 'em or agree with 'em but because this is what freedom means.
5 comments:
Good point.ReplyDelete
Scott Adams (Dilbert) has had similar problems with the definition of 'public comments' and has incurred the wrath of many enthusiastic pedants, conservatives, and feminists who like to get incensed by out-of-context quotations.
Maybe we should all add his well worded disclaimer to our blogs.
'Warning: This blog is written for a rational audience that likes to have fun wrestling with unique or controversial points of view. It is written in a style that can easily be confused as advocacy or opinion. It is not intended to change anyone's beliefs or actions. If you quote from this post or link to it, which you are welcome to do, please take responsibility for whatever happens if you mismatch the audience and the content.'
'a truly free society'ReplyDelete
Where is this Shangri-la?
It most definitely not the internet which for most users is a warren of competing servers and providers, none of which are remotely free and most of which are endemically compromising as far as the possibility of freedom is concerned.
Surely it does not exist, or at least it only does exist in ideal world, possibly only your own ideal world, because it definitely does not exist in those countries that you have referenced through out this blog entry.
Its a bit disingenuous to raise the rally for freedom (from a country which still dallys with blasphemy laws and copyright laws) and then serve up examples countries which are unashamedly restrictive or overly protective in their laws... you might as well complain that a prison cell restrains an inmates freedom of movement or that international borders cause undue difficulties when travelling.
I think it may be true to say that the only people who are free from the restraints of law or the rule of community are those who live beyond those laws and communities, the outlawed and the excommunicated. Living beyond the law might provide extra liberties but it also means that when things go wrong the law cannot, possibly will not, provide protection or succor.
Perhaps a more pertinent question or rehashing of your topic would be why the internet seems to incite such a verve for mob law, as if broadband pitchforks and torches were such snug bedfellows?
I'll moot a point here and suggest that the internet is simply the length of rope doled out to those unwary enough to hang themselves but that the judge, jury and executioner is in fact the traditional media of newspaper/magazines radio and television, which often serve to shore up internet tea-cup storms with an air of, if not respectability, then definitely of undeserved importance.
As ubiquitous as the internet seems to be if you study the browsing habits of most users i would imagine that you find that they trammel the same themes threads and pathways each time they log on and need some severe prodding, or poking in facebook parlance, to venture onto unfamiliar pages. It seems obvious then that if people are not only directed to choice pages that are unfamiliar to them but are also sent there with a certain sense of indignity that it leads to an ugly stew.
This is nothing new however as any writer who has been misquoted or has had their words and utterances taken out of context or who have simply been pilloried for their work going against a societies moral grain... Joyce was afraid of returning to Ireland, he feared the mobs would blind him with quicklime for his analog blogs.Replies
Thanks for the reply, certainly provided me with food for thought.Delete
I suppose I am championing a 'Shangri-La' of sorts: I certainly didn't intend to champion Ireland's laws over Indonesian ones. By way of explaination - On the back of the Alexander Aan case there was a piece in the Jakarta Globe condemning his incarceration as wrong and simultaneously condemning the French govt ( who apparently are trying to make any denial of the Armenian genocide illegal ) as wrong and wrong for the exact same reasons. Absolute freedom of speech may not be 100% practical goal in all societies but I do feel personally that the freer it is the better, and it should continue to be striven for everywhere, Ireland included. Lest we sink back into the dark Catholic Taliban era that Joyce was right to fear.
Victory for Shangri-La.ReplyDelete
Peace and Hope
What a horrible story all the same: people can be real shits.ReplyDelete


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Youth Sailing
The RAFYC and the Hamble River Sailing Club are collaborating so that our Youth members can take advantage of HRSC's RYA Training Centre. This is a most welcome activity and we look forward to seeing many of them enjoying this facility.
With a dedicated Chief Instructor, Alex Ford, there is a comprehensive programme of courses that includes Youth Stages 1, 2, 3 and 4, plus, of course, adult sailing and power boats courses, go here for the course calendar.
Throughout the summer weekends and school holidays they will be running a series of two and five day youth courses. For details of the available courses and when the are running go here.
In the spirit of our Clubs' special relationship, the temporary membership fee is waived, so that they are able to participate in RYA Courses and Cadet Programme, as if they were HRSC members. You need to mention that you are a Member of the RAFYC This is a special concession for the RAFYC which is unique.
As in previous years, children participating in our RYA courses may be eligible for a Flagstaff Trust subsidy.
When booking courses or taking part in Cadet days, a parent/guardian must complete a Cadet temporary membership form, including a mandatory disclaimer form.
Please remember on Cadet days that all Cadets must first sign in at the HRSC Clubhouse and their parent/guardian are also required to attend. If you look on the HRSC website you will see Cadet days and meeting times advertised. Please drop the Club an email if you would like more details of any specific event.
If any of your members are interested in the Adult RYA Courses, email HRSC for information or see training programme on website.
For all cadet or adult courses, please contact Alex at the club office on 02380 452070 or email HRSC.
For further details click on Flagstaff Trust

subset: commoncrawl


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With 43 percent of social media referrals, StumbleUpon recently beat out Facebook and Twitter as the largest social media referrer, according to StatCounter. However, many experts don't put much credence in the information, and for good reason.
StumbleUpon likely counts social media referrals from its URL shortener Su.pr. Those URLs refer traffic not just from the StumbleUpon site but also from Twitter and even Facebook, which can skew the data a bit.
Regardless, the information is interesting and raises an interesting question: are websites losing out on social media traffic by not using some of the top social media referrer sites?
Top Social Media Referrers
Driving traffic from social media sites can be the most important part of your social media marketing campaign. Determining which online portal is going to drive the most qualified traffic, or combination of sites, can be tricky.
What are your overall goals with driving qualified traffic to your site? The answer to this question will help you decide which of the below are right for you.
Regardless of the data you look at, clearly StumbleUpon is a great site to help drive traffic.
There are a few downsides to this portal compared to others that should be known. For instance:
- A higher than usual bounce rate.
- Less average time on site.
- Less pages per visit.
- Less qualified traffic.
The site does offer some benefits, including:
- The ability to build backlinks using the system.
- It's an engaging platform.
- The ability to build a network of friends can come in handy.
Even though less qualified traffic is being generated, there is still likelihood that someone unfamiliar with your brand or services might "stumble" your site and find what they didn't know they were looking for. While the chances of this are slim, some may see it as a benefit.
Comparatively, driving traffic with Facebook isn't as easy as StumbleUpon. However, when looking at the pros and cons you'll soon find that Facebook might be a better fit for your efforts.
With Facebook, you must build a fan base. That fan base then has the ability to influence others, but dissimilar from StumbleUpon your information is less likely to be seen by a user who isn't somehow already connected to your brand without some help.
StumbleUpon facilitates the "browsing" of websites more easily than Facebook. Facebook can drive much more targeted traffic to your site, however, and offers the ability to engage more with your fan base, more customization, and in general better options to optimize your traffic driving potential.
Growing a following on Twitter is similar to growing a fan base on Facebook. While it isn't easy, you have the ability to influence others when your followers re-tweet or @ reply you. Because of this fact, utilizing engagement is necessary to increase your influence.
Driving targeted traffic to your site requires some effort, but can be done more easily than with StumbleUpon at least. In addition, users are likely to stay on your site longer, and not necessarily negatively affect bounce rate, pages per visit, and time on site.
The year of 2010 showed growth for the social bookmarking site Reddit. Over half a million more page views per month, and almost 3 minutes more spent per visit were reported in December 2010 over January 2010.
Similar to other bookmarking sites, the pros and cons don't vary greatly. The underlying fact here, however, is that traffic can be generated using Reddit when great content is produced.
But targeted traffic? Not so much.
YouTube, MySpace, Digg, and Others
StatCounter currently monitors the top seven social media referrers, which include the above sites examined, as well as YouTube, MySpace, Digg, and others.
You're bound to find some of your intended audience on each of these social media sites, but the trend here seems to be: a site that offers the ability to customize who will actually see your content can likely draw more targeted traffic back to your site.
Best Practices
Content is often the key to driving social media targeted traffic. Simply having your information on the above referenced sites isn't going to do much except draw a small amount of traffic.
To get the best targeted traffic possible, you must think about where exactly that traffic is funneled to, as well as the audience on that particular site. Here are a few best practices that might help along the way:
- Listening is important. Whether or not you have existing profiles on the above referenced sites, it's imperative to take a look at how content is currently being shared in your niche or industry, the dynamic of influential users on the sites, and the best approach to get the furthest reach out of your efforts.
- Development of targeted content. Target the content you publish to your intended audience. Sometimes, it might require customization of a piece of content for a particular social media site. If you know that primarily your fans on Facebook like to read, share and discuss research or technical based pieces, try only promoting it to that site. Another piece of content meant for a Reddit audience might contain more humor, images, and a less technical underlying message, unfit for your Facebook audience.
- Keep analytics in mind. When monitoring targeted social media traffic, use analytics programs to match up to your approach. If you've never targeted content, but integrate it into your approach in January, look at data after a few months have passed to see if the new approach has changed the overall number of targeted visitors to your site.
- Change tactics with the growth of your visitors. As your traffic grows, your approach may need to grow as well. Don't assume that what works today will work in a year. Continually evaluate data, and make changes as necessary.
Are you driving traffic currently from social media sites? If so, how have you optimized your efforts to drive targeted traffic to your website?
Join us for SES London 2011, the Leading Search & Social Marketing Event, taking place February 21-25! The conference offers sessions on topics including search engine optimization (SEO), keyword analysis, link building, local, mobile, video, analytics, social media, and more. Register now.
Related reading
How to optimize your Instagram account for search engines
Instagram accounts are notoriously difficult to have displayed in search results. Instagram actually blocks search engines from indexing the images, but the profiles themselves can still be indexed. It may be a hurdle, but not an insurmountable one.


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How To Avoid Work at Home Scams: 5 Precautions to Take
People seek out work from home opportunities for a variety of reasons such as a yearning for better work-life balance, the aspiration to reduce their carbon footprint, or the desire to be more productive by spending less time commuting and more time working. While more opportunities to work from home exist than ever before, there are challenges and pitfalls of finding a work at home job that can complicate a job search. So if you are looking for home-based work, take these precautions in order to guard yourself from online job scams, and then you can focus on landing a fulfilling, legitimate job opportunity!
Here are 5 Tips to help you avoid work at home scams:
1. Protect your social security number (SSN).
If someone steals your social security number (SSN), they can obtain credit cards, apply for loans, and other activities that can damage your reputation, credit, and financial security. Because of these risks, it is highly important to use it only when necessary.
For tax reasons, you do need to provide your SSN to be paid by a legitimate employer. However, you may run into a number of scenarios when someone who does not need your SSN requests it – from scammers posing as employers to legitimate employers requesting it on job applications. It is in your best interest to provide your SSN to an employer only after you have accepted a job. By that point, make sure you have collected and confirmed complete contact information for the employer including contact names, company name, website, street address, phone, and email. In addition, never send your SSN to anyone via IM, email, or an unsecured form on a website.
Security expert, Robert Siciliano, CEO of IDTheftSecurity.com suggests that "people even consider incorporating as a business, so that they can provide the employer with a federal employer identification number (EIN) as opposed to an SSN. Otherwise, for tax purposes you will ultimately have to give out your SSN either before or after you get paid…. preferably after." Mr. Siciliano also recommends that after you provide your SSN to anyone, you think about applying for a credit freeze or fraud alerts as protection from identity theft.
2. Consider how you disseminate your contact information and work history.
For any resume, and especially ones you use to apply for work at home job, consider the following recommendations:
Limit your contact information – Limit the contact information you place on your resume to your name, an email address, and if necessary a cell phone number. Use an email address that you setup specifically for your job search, and keep it professional (such as "jane at yahoo.com" vs. "wackyjane at yahoo.com").
Remove work history specifics – Consider including company descriptions instead of including employers' names (e.g., "mid-sized online advertising agency"). Forego specific dates, and instead include the length of time you worked for an employer (2 years and 4 months instead of April 2005 – August 2007). If you choose to do these things, it is worth mentioning at the bottom of your resume that "specific work history information can be provided upon request."
Posting your resume online – Read the privacy policies of any website where you post your resume. Don't include unnecessary personal or contact information on an online resume. Keep track of everywhere you post your resume, and go back and delete your resume/account if you are no longer looking for a job.
Never include unique identity information– such as SSN, driver's license number, alien registration number, passport number, employer identification number, or even birth date – on any resume, cover letter, or job application. Only provide this information on an as needed basis, and only after you've confirmed the company is legitimate.
Employer requests for information – If you ever feel pressured to provide personal or sensitive information in order to apply for a work at home job, ask the employer for an explanation about why the information is being collected. If you are not satisfied with their explanation or don't receive one – it could very well be a scam.
3. Defend your computer.
This is for anyone who uses a computer, but especially if you're using your computer to look for an online job. Most attacks on computers come from the Internet, and through the popular browsers and operating systems, but no operating system or browser is safe from attack. Malware, malicious software installed without a computer owner's consent or knowledge, can have devastating results for their computer and privacy. If a keylogger, for example, is installed on your computer, it can reveal your passwords, credit card numbers, and other sensitive information by capturing and reporting back to the 'bad guys' every keystroke made on your computer.
All computer users should regularly activate an antivirus scanner and a dedicated web scanner. Affordable products such as AVG Anti-Virus (which even offers a free version) provide crucial protection. Browsers, operating systems, and software need to be update regularly with the latest patches to protect them from the thousands of new malware released daily.
Other smart ideas:
- Regularly back up your hard drive, so that if something did happen to your computer, you wouldn't lose all of your data.
- Consider using an alternative browser to Internet Explorer (which is known as a more likely target for attacks), such as Firefox which offers an array of security features and add-ons that can enhance browser security.
- Install a firewall on your computer.
4. Protect your financial information.
Your financial information can be compromised online in a number of ways, but you can take steps to protect your bank accounts, credit card numbers, and other financial information. Some of this is redundant, but worth mentioning again:
- Guard your SSN number and contact information (we can't say this enough!).
- Defend your computer on an ongoing basis.
- Monitor your statements and report and suspicious activity immediately.
- Check your credit report, or enroll in a regular credit monitoring service which will notify you if there's anything suspicious or irregular activity in your name.
- Never provide your passwords or security question answers to anyone. Ever. Not by phone, email, or IM.
- Don't store login information in your browser, especially if it's a shared computer.
- Do not provide credit card or bank account information to a potential employer as part of a job application process.
- Before making a payment to a company- research the legitimacy of the company, read its privacy policy, and make sure that it is a secure website.
5. Consider your online behavior.
For many of us, much of our professional and personal lives take place online. Email, blog, social network, and tweet with an awareness that predators and scammers do use these online tools to get information about their victims. A few guidelines:
- Avoid posting information like contact information or your resume in any publicly accessible online location.
- Read terms of use and privacy policies to determine how websites will handle or share private information you provide them.
- When in doubt, opt out. This is to help prevent websites from selling or sharing your information with other sites or companies.
- Never post or say anything you would not want your family, employers, prospective employers, colleagues, or neighbors to see.
- Use privacy settings as appropriate.
- Don't inadvertently reveal information on a blog or social networking profile that can be used to break into your accounts. For example, answers to common security questions such as your mother's maiden name, high school's name, pet's name, favorite sports team, or the place you met your spouse could easily come up in online interactions. If they do, change your security questions.
Sara Sutton, CEO of FlexJobs, advises, "Unfortunately a lot of scammers try to prey on job-seekers, especially in the work at home niche. You should always exercise caution online, and while you are looking for a work at home job be particularly careful." Make use of these precautions, common sense, and persistence so that you can become one of the millions of people who successfully, and safely, work from home.
Additional Resources for Protecting Yourself Against Online Identity Theft
- Scared Safe: Life's Little Identity Theft Prevention Handbook by Todd M. Feinman, CEO, Identity Finder
- The Tech Herald articles: Security Myths Your Should Know, Anti-Virus and other layers of protection (Part 1), Anti-Virus and other layers of protection (Part 2)
Readers, how do you avoid work at home scams? Let us know in the comments section below!Tags: job scams
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12 Comments
zenia grossi on April 09, 2016 at 11:03 pm
Fantastic article ! I was fascinated by the analysis . Does someone know if I can access a fillable a form copy to fill in ?
sheo narayan suman/ranchi/jharkhand/india on August 08, 2013 at 3:49 pm
good precaution to be taken
Ankit on July 30, 2013 at 10:40 pm
Thanx for the above infomayion…..
but plz let me know that is it right to give account no. online to any company ??
Carol Cochran on July 31, 2013 at 10:09 am
Hi Ankit,
Great question. There are as many answers to it as there are scenarios. As a blanket statement, I would err on the side of caution and say no. However, there are situations where legitimate employers, who have explicitly hired you for a specific position, which you have accepted, may need your info in order to pay you. Again, I can not stress enough the need to be conservative in giving out any personal information.
заправка картриджей HP on February 02, 2013 at 10:48 pm
Thank you for some other fantastic post. Where else may just anybody get that type of info in such an ideal manner of writing? I've a presentation subsequent week, and I'm at the search for such information.
Yvonne on February 01, 2013 at 2:10 pm
Thank you so much for this information – very good to have!
Charles on January 31, 2013 at 9:59 pm
These are great reminders even for traditional office jobs. Your computer should be secure even if you do not work a telecommute job or keep financial information on it.
Casey Harris on January 31, 2013 at 10:26 am
Great pointers! Thanks for this
Melinda Jones on January 31, 2013 at 7:25 am
Good reminders on guarding identity
Uttam Gupta on January 31, 2013 at 4:10 am
I really liked the point #2 that talk about hiding identifying information. I was always scared that my employer could find about my job search and could potentially take action against me.
Thanks flexjobs for this input.
Gaby S. on January 30, 2013 at 7:59 pm
When it looks too good to be true, do not hesitate, it is too good to be true. Trust your gut feeling, don't let them seduce you, even though it is so tempting, there is no easy, magic way to make money. Walk away, do not fall for it and never, ever give your personal information.
Morissa on January 30, 2013 at 7:09 pm
These are certainly some very scary pits to avoid. I appreciate the advice for how to steer clear of them! Thank you!!
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Jersey Central Power & Light (JCP&L) is closely monitoring Tropical Storm Hermine and is making preparations should possible heavy rain, high winds and flooding interrupt service to its northern and central New Jersey customers during the Labor Day weekend.
Some of the aggressive storm preparation steps that are being taken include JCP&L crews setting up specially designed flood barriers and pumps in several key substations as an added precaution should rising water levels cause any issues with the localized electrical system.
JCP&L also has contacted International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Locals 102 and 400 about securing additional hazard responders to assist with storm restoration activities, especially protecting the public from downed wires.
"As we prepare for this storm, we are implementing many of the lessons learned from previous weather events, including using new technology and processes to help accelerate the restoration efforts," said Tony Hurley, JCP&L vice president of Operations. "We also are working to secure additional linemen and other personnel to assist with outage restoration efforts."
Based on weather forecasts from company meteorologists about the projected impact of Tropical Storm Hermine, JCP&L can quickly staff additional dispatchers and analysts at its regional dispatch offices, and has put additional line, substation and forestry personnel on notice that they will be needed should severe weather occur. In addition, contractors have been notified they could be required to assist with storm restoration efforts over the Labor Day weekend and beyond.
Other steps JCP&L is taking to prepare for Tropical Storm Hermine include:
- Preparing to activate its Emergency Command Center and Incident Command System
- Communicating with emergency management officials, state officials, regulators and local officials about our storm preparation efforts
- Communicating with customers regarding storm preparation tips and safety
- Beginning preliminary planning for staging areas for outside crews and equipment
- Securing helicopters to provide aerial inspections of power lines
- Working with mutual assistance groups to arrange for outside utility crews to assist in New Jersey.
In the event of severe weather, customers should immediately report downed wires to their utility or their local police or fire department. Customers should never go near a downed power line, even if they think it is no longer carrying electricity. Extra caution should be used in areas where downed lines are tangled in trees or other debris. Motorists are cautioned to treat intersections with inoperable traffic signals as four-way stops.
FirstEnergy customer call centers will be fully staffed. Customers who are without power are encouraged to call 1-888-LIGHTSS (1-888-544-4877) to report their outage or click the "Report Outage" link at www.firstenergycorp.com.
FirstEnergy customers also can subscribe to email and text message alert notifications to receive important storm information. Customers can also use two-way text messaging to report outages, request updates on restoration efforts, and make other inquiries about their electric accounts. More information about these communication tools is available online at www.firstenergycorp.com/connect.
Prior to storms impacting New Jersey, the company encourages customers to plan ahead for the possibility of electric service interruptions by following these tips:
Keep flashlights and fresh batteries in your home. Avoid using candles to light your home, especially around children and pets.
If you have a water well and pump, keep an emergency supply of bottled water and/or fill your bathtub with fresh water.
Stock an emergency supply of convenience foods that do not require cooking.
Have a hard-wired telephone or a charged cell phone handy in the event you need to report your electricity is out. Mobile phones can be charged in your vehicle using a car charger when the power is out.
Gather extra blankets or a sleeping bag for each person.
Do not use gas stoves, kerosene heaters or other open-flame heat sources indoors. These can cause deadly carbon monoxide gas to build up in your home.
Keep a battery-powered radio with extra batteries on hand. Tune to a local station for current storm information.
Customer Generators
Emergency power generators offer an option for customers needing or wanting uninterrupted service. However, to ensure the safety of the home's occupants as well as that of utility company employees who may be working on power lines in the area, the proper generator should be selected and installed by a qualified electrician. When operating a generator, the power coming into the home should always be disconnected. Otherwise, power from the generator could be sent back onto the utility lines, creating a hazardous situation for utility workers.


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Title: Depending on You
Author: J.E. Birk
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Release: 4th February 2015
Genre: M/M (contemporary)
A prequel to The Twinkie Ignition
It all started with a diabetic kid who wouldn't stop eating cookies. And a best friend who'd just announced his bisexuality and hit on everything that moved. And a kind pediatric nurse with an amazing rack, a lying ex-boyfriend, and a nasty case of the chicken pox.
But mostly, it started at table 42.
When Benjy Moreland almost collapses during his restaurant shift, Dr. Kyle Penners wants nothing more than to take care of him... but if there's one thing former foster kid Benjy values, it's his independence. A dying man and a sick little boy force Kyle and Benjy to work together, and both of them have to make some important choices about what it means to depend on someone.
Guest Post
"Stay Weird"
As you probably know, the Oscars were on earlier this week. I only tuned in briefly to enjoy some Neil Patrick Harris time before I fell asleep, so I didn't actually see when this brilliant acceptance speech moment happened:
Until I saw this scroll across my newsfeed, I had no idea who Graham Moore was. And right now, he is basically my personal hero. And likely a personal hero for many others.
This acceptance speech got me thinking about how about almost all of the characters I write are characters who feel different and weird. In Depending on You, Benjy feels like his lack of a family makes him somehow strange and unworthy of love. He feels like no one else could possibly understand what he's gone through. When he encounters a young boy, Brandon, who's also losing his family, Benjy's convinced no one else can understand what life is like for Brandon. In this scene, he tries to explain how different Brandon must feel to his boss, Alex.
Benjy squirmed, uncomfortable with how much sense Alex was making. "It's just… Kyle doesn't really get it, you know? Doesn't get what this is going to be like for that kid. Not really."
Now Alex put down the paper again and focused all of his attention on Benjy. "Of course he doesn't. How could he? But that's why you're here." Then he went back to his paperwork, and Benjy stared at the horrible flowered wallpaper, thinking for a long time about what it meant to get something.
I write about characters who feel different because I think feeling different is such a key part of the human experience. After all, in a world of so many individuals and individual experiences, does anyone ever fully "fit in" all the time? That doesn't seem possible. And yet we're all convinced that we're the ones who don't have a place somewhere—that everyone else is normal except for us.
Depending on You is very much about finding the people who appreciate and get your differences. Because, as Alex reminds Benjy in that scene, we won't ever understand everyone else's experiences or thoughts. But if we can find people who do understand us, or want to understand us, they'll make a space where we can be ourselves. Where we can stay weird.
Chapter One
IT WAS the Saturday before Thanksgiving, and Benjy Moreland knew he was getting sick the moment he opened his eyes. He had that taste in his mouth. That weird, off-putting, slightly-metallic-but-not-really-maybe-more-like-old-milk taste that made him groan and bury his head back under the covers.
He couldn't be getting sick. He just couldn't. Thanksgiving break had started, and he finally had a chance to put in some serious double-shifts at the restaurant. And he needed those shifts—paying off next semester's tuition was already putting holes in his food budget, and he had to make big tips over this coming week.
Nope. Getting sick was definitely not an option.
He washed his mouth out with Scope, telling himself he must not have brushed his teeth very well the night before. No big deal. The taste would go away.
He showered and made coffee, only to discover that swallowing it hurt his throat. So he abandoned the coffee in favor of orange juice, telling himself that if he was getting sick, surely the Vitamin C would take care of things. Then he pounded more orange juice and headed out the door for the early shift at Morissey's.
Morissey's was a higher-end restaurant in one of the ritzier parts of Denver. It was a bit of a hike from Benjy's apartment near campus, but the extra commuting time was worth it for the extra tips working there brought. Even a lunch shift could be lucrative.
Benjy got through the lunch shift without too much trouble—his throat still hurt, and his head was beginning to throb a bit, but not so much that he couldn't concentrate on taking orders and carrying plates. The shift did confirm for Benjy that it was a stroke of good luck that this thing, whatever it was, had held off attacking him until vacation. There was no way he could have put up with this headache during one of Dr. Habanstaff's lectures.
"You doin' okay, kid?" Lewis, the manager on lunch duty, was a nice guy, and Benjy generally really liked him. He'd been the one who'd hired Benjy three years ago, when Benjy had just been a college freshman who was hoping for some work bussing tables. Even so, Benjy wasn't in the mood for Lew's question.
"Of course. Why wouldn't I be?" he snapped.
Lewis threw his hands into the air. "Whoa. No reason. You just look a little tired, that's all."
Benjy shrugged and went back to dropping off food.
By the time the lunch shift had ended, four more people had asked Benjy if he was feeling okay; he'd nearly lost an entire tray of food—but saved it at the last minute, thank you very much—and he'd horribly screwed up one of his regular's orders. She'd been fine about it, patting his hand and telling him he should really go home and get some rest.
Which didn't make Benjy feel any better.
He wasn't exactly hungry, so instead of eating on his break between shifts, he used the time to walk to the pharmacy down the road from Morissey's and buy some non-drowsy flu medicine. He wasn't totally sure this—if it was even anything at all—was the flu, but he figured the orange syrup couldn't hurt.
By the time he'd chugged down some of the disgusting stuff and headed back to the restaurant, the dinner crowd was already piling in.
Saturday night shifts at Morissey's were no joke. Benjy had worked at the place for over a year before he'd been granted the privilege/curse of working a Saturday night. Sure, you could bank hundreds working that shift, but you were usually run off your feet doing it. The first Saturday night Benjy had worked, he'd required a nearly twenty-four hour recovery period afterward.
Benjy shook the cobwebs out of his head, told himself the taste in his mouth was all his imagination, and that actually, his throat didn't hurt at all. Then he started taking orders.
He made it through the first hour or so pretty successfully. Everyone was getting too busy to ask him how he was, and he didn't mess up any orders or drop anything. But then the headache started getting slightly more drastic, and swallowing (as little of it as he was doing) started to hurt a little more, and Benjy began to wonder if that flu medicine he'd chugged was actually just a placebo of some kind.
The second hour got progressively worse. Benjy botched an order from a woman who called him an idiot and demanded to see Lew. Lew ended up comping part of their bill and giving Benjy a weird look. Then Benjy lost a whole tray of drinks when his legs got a little shaky on him. It was in the kitchen, so it wasn'tthat big of a deal, but it wasn't exactly a shining moment. Benjy was sure Lew would have sent him home at that point if they hadn't been totally and completely slammed.
The third hour began with Benjy swallowing as much Sprite as he possibly could, hoping the sugar would help, and the hostess Leslie yelling that she'd just sat 42. His table. Wonderful. Benjy took a deep breath and hoped he'd make it through this order without spilling something all over his new customers.
"IT WAS okay, I guess. I mean, we had a decent time and all. But she wouldn't stop talking about her alternator." Kyle tapped his hands impatiently on the side of the bar. Even though he expected to wait for a table at Morissey's on a Saturday night, he'd still been disappointed when the hostess had told them it would be around thirty minutes before she could seat them. He'd only had a sandwich from the vending machine for lunch, and he was starving.
"Her alternator?" Daniel stared at Kyle blankly.
"Yeah, I guess her car had just broken down the day before. She kept telling me all about this new mechanic she just found who was looking at it for her, and how he was worried it might be the water pump." Kyle shook his head. "It was pretty much all she talked about. I kept trying to ask her about what books and movies she liked, stuff like that, but it always somehow ended up going back to the water pump. Not the most interesting first date conversation ever."
Daniel laughed. "Was she at least hot?"
Kyle shrugged. She'd been okay. Short, fit, but not anorexic-skinny. Dirty blonde long hair that had fallen out of its ponytail and into her face all night. That had been kind of cute. And she'd spent a lot of time jutting her not-insignificant chest out at Kyle.
"Great! You did her, right?"
Kyle slugged him in the arm. "Perv. Nah. She gave me some line about how she had to work early this morning, so I dropped her off at her place after dinner." He shrugged again. "Don't think she was much more into me than I was into her."
Daniel shook his head. "I don't get you, man. You're thirty-two and a doctor, for crying out loud. You have a nice pad, a solid bank account, and you can drop words like fait accompli into conversations. Correctly. Well, at least I think you use them correctly. You're the most charismatic dude on our floor at the hospital. And whenever the two of us go out to eat, you take me to fancy-ass places like this, so I can't imagine where you take people who might actually give you some action. Why aren't you getting laid at least five nights a week?"
Kyle chugged the rest of the beer in his hand. "This place has great steak. And yes, I do take them to decent places. I dunno. I have a busy schedule. And I guess I'm just not dating the right people." He narrowed his eyes and smirked. "Why, you want in?" Daniel was the person Kyle was closest to at the hospital, one of the only nurses Kyle trusted implicitly, (which was probably because Daniel knew more than most of the doctors they worked with), and he'd accepted Kyle's bisexuality exactly the way Kyle had thought he would when Kyle had come out to him a few years ago: he'd shrugged, suggested Kyle not hit on the eighty-year-old doctor they were working under at the time, and immediately began making fun of Kyle's love life every chance he got.
"Yeah, like I need you to get off," Daniel said. "I just meant that it's been awhile since Luis, you know?"
Yeah, Kyle knew. Luis, with his perfect skin, runner's body, and soft laugh, had been Kyle's first realattempt at a relationship with a guy. And it had been a good one. Luis was a friend of Daniel's, and they'd met at one of Daniel's parties a year ago. And the relationship had been great. Amazing, even. Until about five months ago, when Luis's mother, back in Guatemala, had gotten very sick and Luis had gone home to take care of her. And when Kyle wanted to fight for Luis, to bring his mother to America, to help pay for a caregiver, to help pay to send Luis back and forth, to do anything but let Luis leave, Luis had left anyway.
"I've seen people spend years of their lives trying to make a relationship in two countries work, or destroying their own lives trying to find a home in a place that doesn't want them or where they don't want to be," Luis had told Kyle. "I don't want us to be like that. I don't want that for you, and I don't want that for me." And then he was gone, just like that. Disappeared off Kyle's Facebook, and out of his e-mail contacts, and his phone number had stopped working. Just like that.
It was as if he'd been a ghost. And Daniel was right. Ever since then, Kyle hadn't had a date go beyond a kiss goodnight.
"I mean," Daniel went on, patting Kyle on the shoulder patronizingly, "you got the entire population to work with, right? Someone somewhere's gotta take."
"Fuck you," Kyle ribbed. "I told you, I'm busy. It's not like I have a lot of time to date, Daniel. You of all people know how much I work."
"Oh, I know, Doc," Daniel replied, nodding. "I'm saying that might be part of the problem. You're not getting out enough."
"Penners?" A hostess poked her head into the bar and called Kyle's name, and Kyle almost swooned with relief. Not only was he finally going to get food, but maybe a venue change would make Daniel forget they'd been talking about Kyle's failed dating attempts.
"That's us," he said, waving.
"Finally, food," Daniel said, picking up his beer and following Kyle. "But don't think I'm going to forget what we were talking about."
Meet the Author
J.E. Birk has been telling stories since she could talk and writing them since she was introduced to the alphabet. She hails from Colorado, where you can usually find her skiing, training for a 5K she won't end up running, or trying to figure out why a good strong housecleaning never lasts longer than two days. Occasionally @jebirkwrites will say something on Twitter.
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J.E. will be giving away one ebook of Depending on You to one lucky winner! Just enter the Rafflecopter draw below.
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On April 7, participants at Ecumenical Advocacy Days (EAD) heard from a panel full of different perspectives but with one message: food injustice in the United States exists in many different forms.
EAD is an annual conference and lobbying effort. Its theme this year was "At God's Table: Food Justice for a Healthy World."
Dominic Barrett is director of United Methodist Urban Ministries of Richmond (Virginia) and Shalom Farms. Founded four years ago, the farm aims to reduce food deserts and increase food security in urban Richmond neighborhoods.
In addition to food deserts — areas lacking access to fresh and affordable food — Barrett spoke about the need to wipe out food swamps, which are areas with an overabundance of convenience stores and fast-food restaurants.
We love our neighbors in three ways, Barrett said. We love those in our neighborhoods, those downstream and those yet to be born. All of these ways of loving have to work together.
The problems of hunger and food insecurity are nuanced and complicated, and Barrett acknowledged that he does feel discouraged sometimes. But it's gatherings such as EAD that give him hope.
"I am optimistic that we will bring about the Kingdom and it will be here on earth as it is in heaven," he said.
Following Barrett was Gerardo Reyes Chavez, a member of the Coalition of Immokalee Workers (CIW). A mission partner with the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), CIW is a Florida-based human rights organization with more than 4,500 farmworker members.
From October to May, Florida produces 90 percent of the tomatoes in the United States. This industry supplies about 30,000 jobs, and because of high turnover, as many as 90,000 workers can work during one season. These workers earn about 50 cents for every 32-pound bucket of tomatoes they pick — less than minimum wage. Workers also deal with sexual harassment, withholding of pay and other violations, Reyes said. But they often don't speak up for fear of being fired.
"Do I want to defend my dignity or do I want to feed my kids?" he said.
CIW was formed in 1993 to address these problems, and, along with denominational partners, has since led successful boycotts against corporations such as Yum! Brands, Burger King and Trader Joe's until they demanded better labor practices from their suppliers.
"Churches were instrumental in working with us to change the minds and hearts of other people and corporations," Reyes said. "We're not asking you this as a favor. We are here to ask you to stand with us and work with us."
The final speaker was Barbie Izquierdo, a founding member of Witnesses to Hunger, a community-based research and advocacy project. Along with other Philadelphia mothers struggling to feed their children, Izquierdo has documented her life in poverty and spoken to Congress about the necessity of anti-poverty programs.
When she first got involved in the program, Izquierdo questioned whether she had a voice. But then she told herself that she'd been through a lot already and could handle any criticism that came from speaking up.
She was tired of hearing about hunger as a problem in Africa and not in the United States. Being food insecure doesn't mean that your ribs are visible — it means you don't know where your next meal is coming from, Izquierdo said.


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Welcome to The Shaun Tabatt Show! In this episode I speak with author Brian W. Thomas about his new book Wittenberg Vs. Geneva: A Biblical Bout in 7 Rounds on the Doctrines that Divide (New Reformation Press, 2016).About The Book:What are the differences between Lutherans and Calvinists, and do they really matter? In Wittenberg vs. Geneva, Brian Thomas provides a biblical defense of the key doctrines that have divided the Lutheran and Reformed traditions for nearly five centuries. It is especially written to help those who may have an interest in the Lutheran church, but are concerned that her stance on doctrines like predestination or the sacraments may not have biblical support. To get to the heart of the matter, Pastor Thomas focuses solely upon those crucial scriptural texts that have led Lutheran and Reformed scholars down different paths to disparate conclusions as he spars with popular Calvinist theologians from the past and the present.About the Author:Brian W. Thomas is a Lutheran pastor, writer, and speaker from the Pacific Northwest. He has had the privilege of serving churches in California and Washington, lecturing at the University of San Diego, and teaching the Bible all over the world. He is the pastor of Faith Lutheran Church in Kingston, Washington. Connect with Brian:
For additonal show notes, visit ShaunTabatt.com/047.


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Ranks high on any list of songs with great choruses and lame verses.
Also, songs that sound really dated in parts and much less so in others, and songs that parody themselves better than Spinal Tap ever could.
I was reminded of it by this article on Cher and the rise of Auto-Tune.
Then I had to listen to some Faces, because Faces were awesome.
I saw Ron Wood on West Broadway not long ago; the internet says he's 5'9", which is cool by me because that means I am, in the words of Gomer Pyle, six foot.


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Jesús Leal Maldonado
Like many other metropolitan areas, that of Madrid is widespread and delimited by towns of various densities. The old delimitations have remained and, if we wish to determine the area's size and expansion, we can distinguish three concentric rings around the old city centre. The centre is formed by the seven central city districts, with a population of 910,000. 1 It is composed mainly of the old city centre and the extension planned in the middle of the nineteenth century: the 'ensanche', sourrounded by a highway ring (M-30).
The peripheral fifteen districts of the city constitute the first ring area, with approximately 1,947,000 people living inside it. Most of the ring area had been initially composed of separate municipalities, but in the mid-twentieth century they were all integrated into the Madrid municipality. This was a way to coordinate the city, and as a result Madrid is now a big central city within which are concentrated more than half of the population of its Functional Urban Region.
The second ring is formed by 26 towns which, together with the municipality of Madrid, compose the Metropolitan Area, which was legally constituted at the end of the 1960s. This ring area, which radiates 20 km from the centre of Madrid, adds a residential population of 1,711,000 inhabitants to the urban region, and accommodates most of the population growth of the last 20 years. The institution of the Metropolitan Area, together with the COPLACO (Comité de PLAneamiento y COordinación del Area Metropolitana de Madrid, Committee for Planning and Coordination of the Madrid Metropolitan Area), which coordinated the municipalities planning, was scrapped at the end of 1970s when the Madrid Autonomous Community was established.
The third ring area of the urban region is constituted by a series of towns located outside the legal metropolitan area. This ring is currently undergoing rapid suburbanisation, and has a population of over 300,000.


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Stories are all around us but very few are captured and even fewer are shared. The technologies we have to tell stories today are unique and go way beyond just text. We'll discuss ways to capture audio, video, text, photos and use the internet to make your stories come alive with multi-media.
Privacy Policy


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To provide the right Kiteboading lessons for each level there is different ways to learn and progress.
Pounda,Paros . The perfect kite spot. PKRA 2005 World Tour stop & KPWT 2006 World Tour stop
A sandy beach with no obstacles with a shallow side, offering a quick and safe learning for courses and a perfect kite spot for experienced riders. The wind is always constant, with an average of 4 to 5 windy days per week during all year, from 12 to 35 knots.
Pounda was included in the PKRA World Tour (Professional Kiteboard Riders Association) in 2005 and it is included in the KPWT 2006-2008 World Tour ( Kiteboard Pro World Tour)
Pounda is the best spot I have being ,So easy to improve !
Thanks a lot .Great spot,amazing people,great experience .Definitely I ll be back soon!
Great Place Amazing atmosphere !
We're not around right now. But you can send us an email and we'll get back to you, asap.


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When I first read the story of the servants who were hired at different times of the day from Mathew 20, I agreed with the servants who grumbled when the land lord paid each one of them the same wage. I reasoned like the servants in the story that if I am hired at 6am, I should not get the same pay as someone hired at noon. The logic being that working longer entitles one to more pay. Not so, according to the economics of Jesus. You all get the same pay!
This story was amplified by a catholic priest as follows (I must say, I was most blessed by his message). He said the most difficult challenge we face as believers and non believers is to be happy for others. When we stand in a long line at a grocery store for example, we get angry when all of a sudden people behind us are called to a checkout that just opened. As well, we get angry when 2 days after we buy some item, we see it going on sale and probably don't feel like telling the next person that the item is on sale. We just don't want the other person to be happier than us. This is the essence for the grumbling in the hired servants' story. The hired servants is a story about getting in the kingdom of God. It doesn't matter when one is saved. Those who have been saved many years ago will get eternal life just like those who got saved yesterday or today. Thus the last will be first, the word of God says. Gracious as He is, there will be rewards that will be given in accordance with how faithful we have been.
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
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Nothing found in Anadarko pastors toxicology tests
OKLAHOMA CITY — The state Medical Examiner's Office says no drugs or alcohol were detected in the system of a pastor who was discovered viciously slain in her church in Anadarko.
Spokeswoman Cherokee Ballard said Tuesday that nothing was found in toxicology tests done on the Rev. Carol Daniels' blood. The results of an autopsy haven't been released.
Anadarko police found the 61-year-old Daniels Aug. 23 inside Christ Holy Sanctified Church. She had multiple gashes to her neck and throat, as well as stab wounds to her chest, back, stomach and hands.
No arrests have been made.
A $15,000 reward is being offered in the case.
Category: Church Security


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What are the benefits of using emu oil?
Emu oil has wonderful skin care benefits. It can be used as a moisturizer and as a skin nourishing treatment. Many are turning to pure emu oil for treating fine lines and wrinkles as well. Skin conditions tend to respond well to the anti-inflammatory properties which soothe the skin and help relieve inflammation. When Emu Oil was tested, it proved to be very hypo-allergenic and to have an extremely high purity level. Emu Oil was found to be a safe product with no known harmful side effects.
Emu Oil is a modern alternative method for helping relieve the discomfort of pain and inflammation caused by injured tissues and joints. Studies and research are ongoing. Modern research has documented that Emu Oil possesses numerous beneficial qualities. Laboratory experiments and analysis of Emu Oil both in Australia and in the U.S. have confirmed that Emu Oil has the ability to reduce inflammation of the joints. Emu Oil contains high levels of linolenic acid… a substance known to temporarily ease joint pain, and oleic acid… a substance that has a local anti-inflammatory effect on dermal tissues.
From each drop you will receive multiple benefits. Since it is a powerful transdermal agent that can penetrate deep into the skin its benefits don't just effect the surface layers. The healthy benefits of emu oil actually aid the body at all levels. For these reason and more you will find that emu oil can be effective for a wide range of applications. Below you will find a list of a few of emu oils more popular uses.
Emu Oil is unsurpassed for its moisturizing properties. Studies found that dry aging skin increased in thickness by 2-3 times when treated with Emu Oil. Age spots and wrinkles diminished noticeably.
One of the newest uses of this remarkable oil is for the treatment of stretch marks and scars. Anecdotal evidence points to the effectiveness of emu oil for treating these damaged skin conditions. Whether stretch marks occur from pregnancy, weight gain or loss, or other causes, emu oil seems to be helping. The reduction of scar tissue formation from injuries and surgeries alike have also been reported. This natural omega rich oil has been used to minimize the development of stretch marks and scars, and to reduce the appearance of existing ones.
Read why this doctor recommends using our emu oil for treating episiotomy scarring.
Skin Superhero – Emu Oil!
We've finally found a healer that rescues skin from all the harsh effects of winter: emu oil! Not only does it hydrate and soothe redness, but the oil also has a laundry list of other benefits . It plumps fine lines, nourishes cuticles, encourages growth of the eyebrows and eyelashes and stimulates the scalp for thicker, healthier hair! What makes it different than other moisturizers? The oil (derived from the fat of the birds that resemble small ostriches) has similar amounts of skin-fortifying omega-3, 6 and 9 fatty acids as our skin. This allows it to penetrate into the lowest layers of the dermis, where new skin cells are generated. In additoin, Barry Sears, M.D., who specializes in hormonal research, believes that part of the emu oil's power lies in its high level of eicosanoids, hormone-like compounds that trigger the body to increase blood flow to the area where the oil is applied. Eicosanoids also soften the outer "shells" of individual cells, allowing more oxygen in and more toxins out for healthier skin overall. The proof: Studies reveal that when applied twice a day for 14 days, emu oil thickend skin by an average of 14 percent and increased moisture retention for a beautiful glow!
Why is emu oil good for stretch marks & scars?
- Emu oil is a natural trans-dermal oil. It has the unique ability to penetrate deep into the skin tissue.
- It is a powerful moisturizer. Emu oil helps replenish moisture to dry, damaged skin tissue allowing the skin to be more supple and pliable.
- Emu oil is a natural source of the essential fatty acids (EFA's) Omega 3 and Omega 6. These are known to be vital to healthy skin. It is also a excellent source of Omega 9.
- It is an anti-inflammatory agent. Inflammation can cause pain, itching, and redness which are common complaints from those suffering from stretch marks and scars.
- Using your hand, apply a small amount of emu oil onto the desired area and gently spread it around. Keep in mind that one drop of emu oil will cover an area about the size of the back of your hand, so judge the amount accordingly.
- Apply more emu oil if needed to cover the entire area. Since emu oil penetrates the skin you do not need to rub it in all the way. It usually absorbs into the skin on its own within a few minutes. The skin should not feel oily when you are finished. If it does, you have probably used too much. Simply reduce the amount that you use next time.
- Repeat several times a day or as needed.
Tip: Allow the emu oil to penetrate thoroughly before covering the area with clothing. This will reduce the chance of staining or discoloring of your favorite garments.
Emu Oil comforts stiff muscles and joints, and helps reduce the inflammation and swelling of arthritic joints. When used regularly, it acts much like an analgesic without the side effects.
Muscle strains, sprains, injured ligaments and even heel spurs that are experienced by athletes and other sports enthusiasts are responding well to treatment with Emu Oil resulting in up to 50% faster healing. Many professional sports teams are now using Emu Oil for massages in their training rooms.
Emu Oil relieves the pain and inflammation of cuts and scrapes without stinging or burning plus aids in the healing process.
Emu Oil has been found to be very effective on burns of all types including sunburn, 1st and 2nd degree burns, and radiation burns. It alleviates pain and dramatically reduces scarring and blistering.
Emu Oil acts like a therapeutic balm by moisturizing the skin and reducing the itching, redness, cracking, peeling and scaling associated with many stubborn skin conditions.
Emu Oil acts as a fortifying agent for limp dry hair, helps to eliminate split ends and restores a natural healthy shine to the hair. In some cases, there have even been reports of new hair growth.


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March 29, 2015
Edward L. "Eddie" Hice (1930 - 2015)
Edward L. "Eddie" Hice passed away on March 12, 2015 at Olive View Hospital in Sylmar, CA, after a short illness. He was born in Los Angeles, CA on March 19, 1930.Eddie proudly served in the U.S. Marines from 1946 to 1949. He worked in the motion picture business for 48 years as a stuntman, stunt coordinator, and second unit director. Eddie loved his horses and dogs ~ there wasn't an animal that did not love him.He is survived by his wife of 34 years, Dianne L. Hice; his son Freddie Hice; his daughter Lori Hice; his grandchildren: Dylan Christal Hice, Ronan Hice, Dustin Hice, Cassidy Hice and Dylan V. Hice; and his sister Mary Jo Ortega. Services will be held at 11:00a.m. on Saturday, April 18, 2015 at Grace Baptist Church, 22833 Copper Hill Drive, Santa Clarita, CA 91350.
HICE, Eddie (Edward Louis Joseph Hice)
Born: 3/1/1930, Los Angeles, California, U.S.A.
Died: 3/12/2015, Sylmar, California, U.S.A.
Eddie's Hice's westerns – actor:
The Texan (TV) – 1959 (Garry, cowhand, Luke Bisbee)
Tombstone Territory (TV) – 1959 (townsman)
Bonanza (TV) – 1960 (carnival attendee)
The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp (TV) – 1960, 1961 (horse thief, Ringo henchman, Clanton cowboy, Hannegan henchman)
Have Gun – Will Travel (TV) – 1963 (church member)
Gunsmoke (TV) – 1964, 1965, 1966 (Duster, Frank, cowboy, townsman)
Young Fury – 1965 (Hellion gang member)
Little House on the Prairie (TV) – 1976 (Ray Collins)
The Quest (TV) – 1976 (Emmett Driscoll)
The Soul of Nigger Charly – 1977 (Mexican)
Bret Maverick (TV) – 1982 (Sam Black)
Silverado – 1985 [stunts]
Tall Tales & Legends (TV) – 1985 [stunts]
The Wild Wild West (TV) – 1999 [stunts]
American Outlaws – 2001 [stunts]


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Bourbon-Brownie Petit Fours
These delicious treats taste as good as they look! With bourbon, chocolate, and coffee, this chic dessert has it all.
Rate This!
Bourbon-Brownie Petit Fours
- In a medium saucepan melt and stir butter and unsweetened chocolate over low heat until smooth. Remove from heat; cool.
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line an 8x8x2-inch baking pan with foil, extending the foil over the edges of the pan. Grease foil; set aside. In a small bowl stir together bourbon and coffee granules; set aside.
- Stir sugar into cooled chocolate mixture in saucepan. Add eggs, one at a time, beating with a wooden spoon just until combined. Stir in vanilla and bourbon mixture.
- In a small bowl stir together flour and baking soda. Add flour mixture to chocolate mixture, stirring just until combined. Spread batter evenly in the prepared baking pan.
- Bake for 30 minutes. Cool in pan on a wire rack. Using the edges of the foil, lift the uncut brownies out of the pan. Cut off the edges of brownie; save for another use.
- For petits fours, cut brownies into 1- to 1-1/2-inch squares. Coat petits fours with Semisweet Chocolate Glaze.
- For Milk Chocolate Frosting, beat the reserved cooled milk chocolate mixture with an electric mixer about 30 seconds or until fluffy. Spoon frosting into a decorating bag fitted with a large star tip. Pipe large rosettes in the center of each petit four.
From the Test Kitchen
To Store:
Place petit fours in a single layer in an airtight container; cover. Store in the refrigerator for up to 3 days or freeze for up to 3 months. To serve, thaw if frozen. Let refrigerated petit fours stand at room temperature for 15 minutes before serving.
Milk Chocolate Frosting and Semisweet Chocolate Glaze
- In a small saucepan bring whipping cream just to boiling over medium-high heat. Remove from heat. For Milk Chocolate Frosting, transfer 1/2 cup of the hot cream to a small bowl. Add milk chocolate pieces (do not stir). Let stand for 5 minutes. Stir until smooth. Cover loosely and chill for 1 to 2 hours. For Semisweet Chocolate Glaze, add semisweet chocolate pieces to the remaining hot cream in saucepan, stirring until smooth. Set aside. When ready to glaze petits fours, reheat Semisweet Chocolate Glaze over medium-low heat to reach pouring consistency, stirring constantly.
Nutrition Facts (Bourbon-Brownie Petit Fours)
- Per serving:
- 157 kcal ,
- 10 g fat
- (6 g sat. fat ,
- 0 g polyunsaturated fat ,
- 3 g monounsaturated fat ),
- 43 mg chol. ,
- 90 mg sodium ,
- 18 g carb. ,
- 1 g fiber ,
- 12 g sugar ,
- 2 g pro.


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Welcome to my blog! Ultimately, I hope to use this blog to summarize current research in the field of child psychology and child trauma for parents and providers. With all the new research available in these fields it can be hard to keep track of what's most important and the bottom line. I hope to help make that easier for you.
Although I do not intend to use this blog to promote sociopolitical platforms or agendas, I will use it to alert my readers to advocacy opportunities that will help protect our children. One of those opportunities is upon us now, and I wanted to make you aware of it.
"Each year, at least 100,000 children are victimized through commercial sex and prostitution within the United States. Particularly vulnerable to sex trafficking are runaway children, an estimated 33% of them are lured into prostitution within the first 48 hours of leaving home. Unfortunately, victims of sex trafficking, including children, are commonly overlooked in most state and federal efforts to respond to the brutal crime. A mere 80 beds in shelters nationwide are available to provide the safe shelter and professional health and social services that these victims need. However, Congress is now considering legislation to provide much–needed funding to provide assistance to these victims – and your voice is needed!"
It only takes a few minutes to identify who your state senators are, and to contact them via email urging them to support S.2925. By visiting The Polaris Project you can get more information about the bill and how to help. Please take a few moments to help protect child sex trafficking victims in the United States.


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The most worrying thing when developing a sports game that releases annually is when you get the game to a standard which is near-perfect. It becomes difficult to see where to go next, what to add, improve, remove and alter. The Tiger Woods franchise is one such game which suffers from this problem ever so slightly. Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2014, however, released at probably the most perfect time. Not only is it coming off the back of one of the most memorable recent Masters competitions (and just in time for this year's Masters), but it also comes after probably the most memorable Ryder Cup of all time, and also happens to coincide with the exact time that Tiger finally returned to the number one spot. So does Tiger Woods 2014 match up to these events?
Ive played every single tiger woods game, thousands of hours and this one plays better than them all.There should be more gear to unlock like the tiger woods on the first xbox.It would not of hurt them to try to give people more incentive to play on harder settings.A member of my cc last year got me to challenge myself and now i play tour pro minimum.I miss the things like saving up in game currency to buy really rare clubs.I wish there was more cloths to choose from.Why dont they give you the chance to say get a five under on simulation to unlock such a course or certain other things.But gameplay wise this game really shines.


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The holidays are a special and memorable time of year when you get to spend time with friends and family. You get to eat good food, play fun games, and share love and gifts with one another. All of these holiday activities may be put on hold if you get sick over the holidays, and that wouldn't be fun! Here are my top ten ways to stay healthy during the holidays.
10. Always wear your jacket and stay warm when you're outside. This is a lesson I learned the hard way. Even if you feel like it's warm enough outside, or your if you think what you're wearing will keep you warm, you're probably wrong. The weather can change at any moment and it's better to be prepared with a nice, cozy jacket than have nothing at all.
9. Drink Emergen-C if you feel like you may be getting sick. Emergen-C is a powder that you add to a drink, in case you didn't know. It contains vitamin C and it's very important to get lots of vitamin C in your body if you feel like you're getting sick. It comes in many flavors, tastes good, and helps you feel better or stay healthy.
8. Exercise. Exercising helps your body stay strong. When you sweat, your body gets rid of substances it doesn't need like salts and toxins. Exercising is good for your body in general.
7. Don't touch your face with your hands. The easiest way for bad bacteria or a virus to enter your system is through your nose or mouth. To prevent yourself from getting sick, do your best not to touch your face after being around someone sick or dealing with something dirty.
6. Get a proper amount of sleep. Sleep gives your body time to relax and heal. If you feel like you're catching a cold or the flu, sleep is a good way to let your body rest and get better.
5. On top of Emergen-C, stay hydrated. Drinking lots of water or other liquids allows your body to function properly and flush out anything bad if needed. Chamomile tea with honey is great for when you feel like you may be getting sick, or just want a soothing drink before bed. The honey is good for your throat and chamomile aids in fighting infection and works as an anti-inflammatory.
4. Eat raspberry and cranberry jam. This has been a remedy that works well in my family. To prevent ourselves from getting sick, my mom makes jam that contains raspberries, cranberries, and honey and we eat it by itself or with pancakes. It can be a little sour but in my opinion, it's yummy and helps me stay healthy.
3. Walk in fresh air. Going for a walk to get fresh air is not only refreshing and relaxing, but it's really good for your body. This is a good way to cope with stress and it also helps your body feel good inside and out.
2. Don't share drinks or personal items like Chapstick with other people. This should be common knowledge, but just in case you haven't heard it before, here it goes. Sharing drinks is a really good way to spread illness or disease and it can range from a small canker sore to a major, life-threatening disease. Some people believe that sharing personal items and drinks isn't that big of a deal. Even if you know the person really well, it's better to be safe than sorry, know what you're using or drinking, and bring your own things.
1. Wash your hands. Germs are all over the place all the time, but during the winter, it seems like there are even more germs because a lot of people get sick. In order to protect yourself from getting sick, wash your hands after using the restroom, work, school, sports practice, or whatever you do. You're washing away bad germs when you wash your hands and preventing yourself from getting sick. Anti-bacterial hand sanitizer is another way to keep your hands clean. There are many different kinds of hand sanitizer that all work well, so find whatever kind you like and go with it.
Make sure to bundle up, stay hydrated, exercise, be aware of your surroundings, get a good amount of sleep, go for walks to get fresh air, avoid sharing drinks and things like Chapstick, and wash your hands to stay healthy this holiday season. To those of you with finals this week, I wish you the best of luck. 12 days 'til Christmas!


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The 20-year-old will reportedly address her Instagram silence after she becomes a mom.
It sounds like Kylie Jenner is gearing up to make a grand return to Instagram after she gives birth to her first child.
The 20-year-old Keeping Up With The Kardashians star is rumoured to be expecting a baby in the next few months.
According to an insider at Entertainment Tonight, Kylie will end her social media blackout when she has her baby.
"It's the first time she can remember in her entire life not being followed by cameras and she's just trying to enjoy this privacy," the source began.
"She's definitely not going to deny that she's had a baby, or continue to evade questions about it all."
The source continued: "This isn't a permanent thing. As soon as the baby is born, she will make an announcement and introduce the baby to her fans. She will also address the fact that she went "dark" on social media and in the public."
Thursday, 25. January 2018


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Ice Skating with Olaf couldn't be more hilarious fun! Spiral through an all-new, lovable adventure with Olaf as you skate and fly, play ice hockey, discover countless hidden interactive treasures, and explore the silliest of adventure games through Winter, Spring, and Summer too! Some apps are just worth melting for, ya know?
2 all-new silly ice-skating adventure games: Ice Hockey and Ice Skating.
Explore and discover hilarious new, hidden tappables throughout your ice-skating spree: find hidden snowflakes, go ice fishing and sledding, make snow angels, blow bubbles, and much more!
Try your hand at Beach Dodge Ball and Sandman Shuffle in Summer, the Avalanche Game and Snowball Fight in Winter,and the Fruit Fight and Snowman Shuffle games in Spring!
All-new loveable, original comedy and voice work of actor Josh Gad, from the feature film!
Before you download this experience, please consider that this app contains in-app purchases that cost real money, as well as advertising for the Walt Disney Family of Companies.
If you're experiencing difficulties with audio, please check the audio settings with your device to see if your device is muted. For assistance, please visit our customer care FAQ page here: http://help.disney.com/articles/en_US/FAQ/Disney-Publishing-Worldwide-Apps-General-Support.
For additional information about our practices in the United States and Latin America regarding children's personal information, please read our Children's Privacy Policy at https://disneyprivacycenter.com/kids-privacy-policy/english/
|Olaf's Adventures
|The Lion Guard
|Elsa's Ice Puzzles - FreeTime Unlimited
|Palace Pets in Whisker Haven - FreeTime Unlimited
|Doc McStuffins: Pet Vet - FreeTime Unlimited
|Big Hero 6: Baymax Blast - FreeTime Unlimited
|Palace Pets in Whisker Haven
|Sofia the First: The Secret Library
|Finding Nemo: Storybook Deluxe
|Disney Puzzle Packs - FreeTime Unlimited
|Miles From Tomorrowland: Missions
|The Amazing Spider-Man: An Origin Story FreeTime Unlimited Edition
|Minnie Fashion Tour - FreeTime Unlimited
|Doc McStuffins Color and Play FreeTime Unlimited
|Disney Villains Challenge - FreeTime Unlimited
|Avengers Origins: Assemble! FreeTime Unlimited Edition
|Avengers Origins: Hulk FreeTime Unlimited Edition
|Minnie Bow Maker
|Olaf's Adventures - FreeTime Unlimited Edition
|Iron Man: Armored Avenger FreeTime Unlimited Edition
|Jake's Treasure Trek - FreeTime Unlimited Edition


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Online coloring pygmy killer whale
To download the flash coloring on the computer, move your mouse over the link "View full screen" at the bottom of the picture. Click the right mouse button and select the menu command "save of the object as ..."
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Raster coloring pygmy killer whale - 1182х1715
Raster coloring pygmy killer whale - 567х822
Vector coloring pygmy killer whale
Online coloring pygmy killer whale
Raster image pygmy killer whale
Vector figure pygmy killer whale
Raster clipart pygmy killer whale
Vector clipart pygmy killer whale
Coloring online. pygmy killer whale flash coloring.
Pygmy killer whale or even call it the Perizzites. It inhabits the coasts of Japan and Senegal. Well what to say, dearie relate to the family Delphinidae. So that meets dolphin. Paint the inhabitants of the seas, believe me, an interesting exercise.
Colouring flash colorings unnecessary special graphics programs. All you need is to choose a topic on this page and click, then select a coloring clicking will open a flash. You can paint on a web page or open a separate page in full screen. Their size from 8-30Kb. All coloring pages can easily download. So you can, download, colorize them, even without the Internet. Flash files opens up "Flash Player", and browsers (Internet Explorer, Google Chrome, Opera, Mozilla Firefox, Safari), and even different players for movies.
Paint can children aged 3 and older. For young children, are well suited very simple drawings. In some flash to colorize as new items, so get ready for a little surprise. Uses 42 colors.
Code to install flash coloring on the web page. (Copy and paste)
type="application/x-shockwave-flash" data="http://www.abc-color.com/image/coloring/pygmy-killer-whale/pygmy-killer-whale-online-coloring.swf"
width="550" height="470">
<param name="movie" value="http://www.abc-color.com/image/coloring/pygmy-killer-whale/pygmy-killer-whale-online-coloring.swf" />
The author gives the right for free Flash download to your computer, paint, make another and even stir at the other sites flash coloring or give download on fayloobmenikah. But do not change very flash.


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Many of you have driven runs for me from NC to New England. That means you have most likely driven a dog that came from Hartman's Haven in Hickory, NC. Crystal Hartman works tirelessly to save the dogs of Catawba County. She has built up a base of volunteers to help pull, foster and get vetting for them. Even though she pulls hundreds of dogs every year, the kill rate at Catawba is still over 90%
But with this particular pull, something special happened….planets in alignment, the gods were on her side, pick your expression.
Behold Pete and Lily!
Two bloodhounds that went from death row to Broadway! They traveled from Crystal in NC to Ontario Bloodhound Rescue in Ontario, Canada via rescue transport. The rest is history!
See their story here:
What an awesome ending to a deadly beginning! It takes a village and Crystal got the ball rolling on this happy ending!


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End-user personas help you avoid IT waste. They also help employees work smarter.
You can't save your way to greatness, the saying goes. But you can certainly spend yourself into oblivion. And no CFO — or CIO, for that matter — wants to pay for IT resources the company isn't using.
Around the world, organizations will spend $627 billion on devices and $332 billion on software in 2016, according to Gartner.1 But they could save as much as 30 percent on software during the first year of operation through licensing best practices, Gartner says.2
The elimination of wasted IT is one of two key drivers behind the growing interest in persona rightsizing — the process of putting the right technology in the hands of different work roles at the right time. "Organizations don't just want to cut IT costs," says Traci Taylor, CompuCom® consulting advisor for End-User Enablement. "They actually want IT projects to pay for themselves. Persona rightsizing can help you achieve that goal."
The other key driver is the end-user experience. "End users are technology consumers, and they've come to have high expectations for enterprise IT," Taylor notes. "They expect to have instant access to the devices, applications and IT support they need to do their jobs effectively." Personas are an excellent way to meet those demands.
Defining the End-User Experience
A persona is a detailed definition of a specific group of end users with similar IT needs based on their roles, workstyles and workspaces. Personas give IT a better understanding of employees' business requirements, and they give the business a better picture of employees' technology needs.
Once you've implemented personas, you can understand exactly which devices and applications each end user requires. That's when persona rightsizing comes into play. "Rightsizing lets you pull back unused or underused assets that can be redeployed to other team members or recycled," Taylor explains.
For example, many organizations provide employees with smartphones. But end users who never travel probably have no need for a mobile device. "By redeploying those devices to people who actually need them, you can achieve significant savings," Taylor observes.
Of course, you might identify end users who require more IT resources than they currently receive — and have to increase spending to meet those needs. But Taylor reports that most organizations end up with significant savings.
Practice Makes Personas
Taylor identifies four best practices of organizations that have been successful with persona rightsizing:
- Validate with the business — Personas are implemented by IT, but IT can't operate in a vacuum. Work closely with the end-user community to understand their needs and gain buy-in.
- Communicate and collaborate — Many organizations find it's helpful to work with a business liaison for each persona. The liaison interacts with IT on an ongoing basis to make sure IT continues to understand business needs.
- Manage change — If you take away end users' mobile devices, you should expect pushback, Taylor says. It's important to explain why you're making the change and how persona rightsizing benefits the business.
- Operationalize rightsizing — Your initial rightsizing initiative will likely be a significant effort. But rightsizing isn't a one-and-done proposition. You need to operationalize rightsizing to make sure personas continue to reduce costs and improve end-user satisfaction and productivity.
- Cost savings — Larger organizations often identify thousands of IT assets that are unused or underused. "Our experience has been that most organizations save money, oftentimes a lot of money," Taylor says.
- Asset utilization — You should be able to measure usage of whatever aspect of IT you're rightsizing. "If you're rightsizing mobile devices, you should see a decrease in the number of devices per end user," Taylor advises. "If you're rightsizing software licensing, you should see appropriate changes in licenses."
- End-user satisfaction — Conduct regular surveys to measure end-user satisfaction. You should expect to achieve measurable improvements in satisfaction as a result of delivering the right IT.
- End-user productivity — It can be difficult to measure whether productivity has improved as a result of persona rightsizing, Taylor concedes. But end-user satisfaction surveys should give an indication that employees have the IT tools they need. And your business liaisons should be able to report on how effectively IT is supporting the business.
Living With Personas
Taylor has worked with numerous companies that achieved success with persona rightsizing. One is a global food-services leader that realized significant savings through rightsizing of Microsoft® Office 365TM licensing.
Office 365 is available in a variety of licensing packages. Many enterprises purchase the most comprehensive package for all end users, Taylor explains. "We helped the company identify end users who needed only email," she says.
The savings can add up. Taylor uses the example of a typical organization with 3,800 seats. Office 365 licensing costs would be more than $1.5 million a year using the most expensive license model. With persona rightsizing, that organization could reduce annual costs to around $1.1 million with a mix of licenses based on personas.
But Taylor emphasizes that cost savings are only half the equation. Just as important are end-user satisfaction and productivity. And for those reasons alone, more organizations are finding success with persona rightsizing.
1 "Worldwide IT Spending Forecast," Gartner, July 2016
2 "Gartner Says Organizations Can Cut Software Costs by 30 Percent Using Three Best Practices," Gartner, July 2016
3, 4 "Worldwide IT Spending Forecast," Gartner, July 2016
5 "Gartner Says Organizations Can Cut Software Costs by 30 Percent Using Three Best Practices," Gartner, July 2016
CompuCom® is a registered trademark of CompuCom Systems, Inc.
Gartner® is a registered trademark of Gartner, Inc.
Microsoft® is a registered trademark and Office 365TM is a trademark of Microsoft Corporation.
All data cited in this article is used by permission.


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Sudan is hosting a two-week regional training workshop on Integrated Mission planning IMP kicked yesterday 9th July 2018 at Sudan peace studies center SPSC
– the Intelligence Military Institute (IMI)in Khartoum. The workshop targeted 45 participants of military officers, police and civilians from East African countries. Major General (PSC), Salih Yasin Mohamdeen, Director of Peace studies center, of international relations at the ministry of defense ,a representative of the minister of Defense addressed the opening session pointed to the importance of this training course , conveyed his thanks and gratitude to the distinguished facilitators from EASF appreciated the organizing it in Sudan , and for their continued hard work and commitment to their task for enabling EASF officers for pre deployment phase.
He noted that the training course aims at training officers and equip them with the skills that enable them respond to emergencies and disasters at the mission areas, added that it is an intensive course and requires total commitment and dedication, hoping that the participants will benefit from the course and shall be in a position to be deployed in any mission. He declared the readiness of the Sudanese Armed forces to participate in a short term with their partners in peace operation in anywhere. He called on the participants to enjoy their stay in Khartoum as a safest place in the world. Chief of Staff COS addressed the opening session explaining that the course will be organized from 9th-20 July 2018 targeting 45 participants from East African countries. He appreciated the warm reception from Sudan to host this course. He pointed out that the last integrated mission planning courses , the first one was conducted in Kigali- Rwanda, the second one was in Addis Ababa in Ethiopia , while the third that is running in Khartoum – Sudan , expecting the fourth one to conduct in Kenya next September. He explained that they are in required to train more 120 officers. He added that this course held in Khartoum is to train staff officers from the last courses is to train officers from EASF staff from the three components, military officers, police officers and civilians. The course aims to train officers to be deployed at any time for peace keeping. He noted that the EASF facilitators will explain the objectives of this course.
It worth mentioning that the course will continue its sessions that will include lectures, syndicate activities. 10 lecturers will participate during the 15 days of the course.
The Latest Sudanese News & Press


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Major cities offer a wealth of delicious dining options. But while the surfeit ensures choices, it also means that hungry patrons can be easily overwhelmed. Fortunately, a selection of smartphone apps are now willing to do some of the legwork for them. Such handy tools as the aptly named Find Me Coffee not only direct users to nearby cafes, but also invite them to rate and review those they frequent online. Here, we share some of the applications determined to deliver you to your favorite foods. Thanks to them, the search is seamless.
Committed to the "pursuit of the world's best burgers," Burgerator wants to make sure that you never settle for a mediocre patty again. The streamlined app catalogs well-reputed burgers and encourages enthusiasts to share photos and reviews. "That's right," declares its website. "This app is seriously that awesome."
Developed in partnership with the popular television program of the same name, Eat St. tracks food trucks and stands nationwide. Cart chasers can search either for a particular guerrilla operation or by a specific dish.
The team responsible for Doughbot promises that those who download its namesake app will never be stranded without doughnuts again. The single-minded tool helps Homer Simpson sympathizers find doughnut establishments in their area.
While some apps make it all too easy to give in to vice, Farmstand encourages more virtuous behavior. The tool directs users to nearby farmers' markets and acts as a virtual home for produce-loving locavores. Shoppers can access market information and share photos of their finds with the Farmstand community.
For an application designed exclusively to track down caffeinated beverages, Find Me Coffee is in fact an impressively full-service operation. Jittery drinkers can filter their search to find coffee shops with amenities like Wi-Fi or parking or to favor independent establishments over national chains.
"No frills, just pizza," insists the team responsible for Pizza Compass. Billing itself as a "tool for sliced success," the app calibrates the exact distance that separates you from the nearest slice of ooey, gooey goodness. Not quite so desperate? Users can also explore other neighborhood eateries, read reviews, and find restaurant contact information and hours.


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The American Meat Institute and 14 other industry and environmental groups have joined forces in launching an advertising campaign advocating more scientific testing as part of an effort to convince Congress to reject calls to mandate boosting the amount of ethanol in gasoline by 50%.
The campaign has the tagline, "Say NO to untested E15."
Most gasoline sold in the United States contains 10% ethanol (E10). Corn-based ethanol supporters want Congress to boost that to 15% (E15), while some support a compromise to boost it to 12% (E12).
"Increasing the consumption of corn-based ethanol by 50% will increase food and feed prices, driving up costs for meat and poultry producers and ultimately consumers," says American Meat Institute President and CEO J. Patrick Boyle. "This controversial decision certainly warrants careful and thoughtful examination considering the many negative consequences increasing the blend will have."
The advertisement ran Wednesday in Politico and Roll Call, and is part of a broader effort calling on Congress to require thorough and objective scientific testing before approving an increase in the amount of ethanol in gasoline.
"Congress shouldn't rush to judgment based on politics," the ad says. "It should wait for the completion of thorough and objective scientific tests and act to protect your safety and our environment."


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Watching the London Mayoral personality contest I have to say Brian Paddock has made me proud to be a Lib Dem. When put in the same room as the other candidates he always speaks well and with proper answers that have substance. The media want to get back into their comfort zone of red versus blue (and unfortunately I suspect they will get this - especially given the voting system), but that doesn't mean that Brian hasn't been the best candidate. Talking of the media, I've only heard Jenny Jones (Green Party) once in this election process, I was pretty impressed but it wasn't for long enough to get an accurate picture of her in my mind. It's a shame that only Ken and Boris are getting the headlines (mainly for their own personal issues (tax/rants/"gaffes" etc) rather than their policies) and normal candidates aren't getting a look in. (Lembit for all of his faults might have given us more press coverage).
On the other hand UKIP's campaign hasn't been the best... I don't normally waste space in my blog to write about them (to me in general they are actually a positive thing as every UKIP poster I see in my area is one less Tory vote) but they have been nagging away the last few weeks so here they are.
Firstly, they don't seem to be taking the election seriously. The candidate is running on a platform that includes reducing VAT on alcoholic drinks, allowing smoking rooms in pubs and charging 'foreigners' 25p to fix Big Ben's clock tower (St Stephen's Tower) - which he openly admits they can't do.
Then, today, their campaign really caught fire:
Now I know that UKIP have been accused of being a homophobic party and Brian is openly gay, but I'm not going to assume that this is why this was tweeted by their own press office - if that is the case then it is an act beyond words. Irrespective of that it is disrespectful to your opponent, it is an act to try and fuel hatred, perhaps they realise that their policies are not going to get them in so they need hatred?
Anyway I don't want to write more about them so good luck to Brian tomorrow and to all the other Lib Dems fighting for election. I'll have my fingers crossed for you all.
Anyway I don't want to write more about them so good luck to Brian tomorrow and to all the other Lib Dems fighting for election. I'll have my fingers crossed for you all.