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Obama's executive actions have been receiving a lot of tread this week. Most of it is the bickering back and forth between gun control proponents and opponents. There has even been a "fact check" stating that Obama's executive orders were not excessive, This is kind of funny considering that is an opinion statement and you cant really fact check an opinion without data. Before I begin I do not believe Obama went overboard with gun executive orders, I measure this factor by comparing what the actions were with what they could have been and the truth is he could have done far more. That's not an endorsement just remember that.
We all remember the statement that driving is a privilege and not a right. The state can take it away if you misbehave. Maybe you heard it when you were learning to drive, or your kids were or maybe a stern discussion after you broke the law. The point is that driving is a privilege which means that it can be taken away by the state when they so choose.
Kind of an important discussion here as this is drastically different than a right, like say the second amendment, which is part of your bill of rights. The second listed right of the constitutions bill of rights which says very clearly, A well regulated militia being necessary to the security of the state, The right of the PEOPLE to keep and bear arms SHALL NOT BE INFRINGED. See that bolding there its cute right? So whenever you hear a political pundit ask why you need assaults weapons or AR-15's or high velocity rounds or whatever have you the answer that should be shouted back is and always should be, BECAUSE I WANT TO. its as simple as that. See that no infringement sign up there in big bold letters? That is the only justification anyone needs when defending their weapons of choice.
Because no one, technically, and I say this in broad strokes, needs a gun. People also don't need TV's, couches, a hot shower, a bed or a roof over their heads. We have them because we want them and SHALL NOT BE INFRINGED is a damn fine enough reason to justify a gun no matter what it looks like.
What the pundits and gun control proponents are really asking is what practical uses for a gun are there. I can think of four.
1. Hunting
2. Shooting for fun or target practice
3. Self Defense or Defense of your loved ones
4. Defense against the overreach of a tyrannical government.
Now no one in their right mind is honestly itching for the last two options. I doubt my friends and relatives are anxiously watching the door hoping for an assailant to burst through so they can shoot them. Even with the discontent i don't see people lining up to overthrow the government either. But just because there isn't a need right now right this second or year or decade to defend your house or yourself from those who wish you harm doesn't mean there will never be. It's also much more difficult to ask robbers or tyrants to share their weapons when they do come knocking.
So the next hastily uttered argument is that only a gun nut would argue this point. How many times have you heard that we cant have a reasonable discussion on gun control with them there crazy gun nuts? Well there's a big problem with that argument and that is that it is one sided. To gun control proponents any form of reasonable discussion on gun control clearly must lie between a total ban and what we currently have today. To those who are on the other side the spectrum are effectively looking at the problems and believing a solution exists between what we have today and no gun control whatsoever. A gun nut is simply on the other side of the tree of a gun control nut. there is no overlap and there never will be it doesn't mean one sides crazy and the other is rational, it means, either both sides are crazy, or both sides are providing rational solutions to the problems that they respectively see. I tend to side with the latter idea but clearly the gun nuts ruin gun control debates argument is less well informed intelligentsia and more little child throwing a tantrum.
So, says the brilliant people musing on this problem, what does the data say? I'm glad you asked, because the data is a bit lopsided. No it doesn't tilt towards gun control it actually leans fairly heavily the other way. There are lower crime rates, drastically lower, in areas where there is less gun control. As if that's not enough there were several other attempted mass murders in the past few months. but in at least two of the cases the perpetrators were stopped by legal gun toting citizens before the death toll became news worthy. We also know that most of these mass murders occur in what are typically considered gun free zones. Not really a surprise if you want unanswered rampage why would you go armed to a police station, military base, or gun show. But of course clearly the AR-15 is a problem because it was used in the 4 last mass shootings.
You know what it was, but its also the most popular gun in america. Why? Because Americans like them. Tell you what I would be willing to bet that if you sat down and found out what the most popular make and model car was on the road that is going to be correlated to the make and model with the highest number of traffic fatalities. Id bet that criminals are more likely to have Iphones as their personal phone than any other make or model. There are more viruses coded for PC's than Mac's, and more viruses coded for Mac's than the Google Chromebooks. the overwhelming majority of men that cheat on their spouses watch porn. I can go at this all day because first correlation does not imply causation and secondly because items which are popular in general are likely to be as popular for any negative or criminal activity. If you think that the AR-15 being used in the past four mass murders is significant and not a red herring your dumb and I got great cancer prevention method to sell you.
Dont believe me, that's fair ill prove it. My paintball gun is an assault weapon. I own a Tippman A5 with a pistol grip, a collapsible stock, a high round hopper (paintball storage) and special modifications to make it fire faster and even a tactical barrel shroud. Its not a weapon of war it was a stylistic choice. Kind of like this is the first google image result for Tippman A5
So umm ya people like assault weapons just because.
But what about those damn extended clips clearly they are a problem. Well no actually the largest number of rounds fired from a clip in the Aurora shootings was about 10 bullets, And this is similar to other incidences. Thats because most mass murderers aren't well trained, they don't count their bullets and maximize the number of shots per clip they just start shooting and switch out clips when they feel like it. you'll see the same behavior from kids playing a first person shooter.
Which reminds oh video games sweet, sweet violent video games. THERE HAS NEVER EVER BEEN A PROVEN VIABLE LINK BETWEEN VIDEO GAMES AND MASS MURDERS, IN FACT MANY MASS MURDERERS DON'T PLAY VIDEO GAMES ON A HARDCORE LEVEL. So ya theres that but more importantly with the bulk majority of mass murderers being male and the overwhelming number of males playing or having played videogames it kind of goes back to that correlation causation thing we just talked about.
But, But what if we banned guns or bullets or weapons then there would be no guns for mass killings. The thing is people are really good at just using whats convenient to kill people. Theres an entire museum dedicated to prison weapons and some of them are damn ingenious. The Oklahoma city bomb was made with... fertilizer. Humans have evolved to find ways to kill things, and guns particularly the most popular gun on the planet is really just convenient. If you take that away people will simply start grabbing whatever other guns are around. so ban the guns and its not gonna slow down or stop the mass murder rate. Lets be honest how much worse would aurora had been had the kid used his bombs in the theater.
The hypothetical what if scenarios played out by gun control proponents are just that, what if scenarios. They don't exist and will never exist. the guy who wakes up in the morning and decides he wants to kill a bunch of people isn't going to be deterred simply because he couldn't find an easy gun. They'll build bombs or worse. Hell simply grabbing a pesticide sprayer and filling one of or more of the classrooms with gasoline would have killed way more kids. So the key is to fight fire with fire, when crazy walks into the classroom you put him down that's it problem solved. simply knowing that people could have had a gun is going to be a greater deterrent than any gun control.
Lets tally the scores
Gun Nuts | Gun Control Nuts
1. Statistics
2. Logic
3. The Law
Kind of unbalanced. It's unfortunate but on an objective scorecard fear, empathy, and passion don'tt count for anything. That Being said lets revisit that first paragraph, the one asking about Obama's executive orders and whether or not they were unreasonable. Well considering there are no arguments for gun control and several against it can comfortably be said ,speaking objectively, president Obama went too far because anything with no objective support is too far. Does that mean that what he did was unreasonable or tyrranical? No, it reasonable to want to prevent a tragedy like sandy hook, and he had far more power to push if he wanted it. Is what he did right? Absolutely not. Was bringing children on stage aiming for a logical or reasonable discourse? Hell no.
The only way to prevent, slow or stop the body count of incidences like sandy hook is to level the playing field. Obama knows this its why he his wife and his children all have armed bodyguards. Mandating the white house be a gun free zone isn't likely to stop someone who wishes him harm. Guns are.


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subset: commoncrawl


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Join Jersey City Ties on Tuesday, September 19 at LITM (140 Newark Ave, Downtown) for a food and clothing drive and happy hour to support Jersey City Food Not Bombs. We will be collecting vegetarian canned and dry food goods as well as warm winter clothing for distribution to homeless and low income residents of Jersey City.
Items Needed:
– Canned vegetarian beans
– Canned vegetables
– Brown rice
– Whole wheat pasta (especially ziti!)
– Goya low-sodium vegetarian seasoning
– Socks
– Underwear
– Winter gloves
– Winter hats
– T-shirts/undershirts
Attendees are also encouraged to join Food Not Bombs and JC Ties for a distribution day on Sunday, Oct. 1 in Journal Square. Email us at firstname.lastname@example.com to RSVP.
Food Not Bombs Jersey City promotes peace and social justice by sharing healthy food and clothes with the hungry and homeless at Journal Square every week. More than a charity service-provider, FNB builds lasting relationships with the homeless based in solidarity to affirm all people's dignity.
Special thanks to our hosts LITM.


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by Nick Higgins
Nick Higgins, the author of this paper, is employed by CRA Inc as an instructor on the USMC Level II Anti-Terrorism Officers Course. He spent six years in the British Army as a member of 2nd Battalion, The Parachute Regiment including a 2 year tour in Northern Ireland involved in intelligence gathering duties. >From 2003 to 2007 he lived and worked as a security contractor in Afghanistan including nearly a year in Helmand and Kandahar Provinces.
He can be contacted at firstname.lastname@example.com
"Everything in war is simple, but the simplest thing is difficult."
Von Clausewitz
1: Political map of the Oman showing Province boundaries.
From 1971 to 1975 a small but none the less hard fought counter-insurgency campaign was waged in Dhofar, the most southern province of Oman. In fact the flag of rebellion had been raised much earlier, in 1962, and by 1970 the communist backed tribal guerillas controlled the whole of the Jebel Dhofar.
The half-hearted and inept operations by the (mostly northern Omani) Sultans Army had done little to stem the insurgency but everything to drive recruits into the rebels' hands as they failed to come to grips with the guerilla groups but lashed out at the local civilian population.
However, in 1970 things began to change as the old Sultan, Said Bin Taimur, was deposed with British help by his son Sultan Qaboos Bin Taimur. The old Sultan had kept the country firmly in the middle ages by his feudal system of Government and his refusal to allow any kind of modernization. Speaking to Omanis about this on a recent visit to the Oman the author was told that the country was like one big prison in which the people were allowed to do nothing.
There were no roads, no schools, no hospitals and no development of water resources for home or agricultural use. Many of the young men left the country in frustration to work else where in the Middle East and others travelled to Northern Yemen, or the Peoples Democratic Republic of Yemen (PDRY) to give it its true title, to attend schools. This opened their eyes to the deprivations they were suffering at home.
Initially the rebellion in the Dhofar was fronted by a political party calling itself the Dhofar Liberation Front (DLF) which had the idealistic slogan of "Dhofar for the Dhofaris" and was pledged to modernizing the Dhofar region. Across the border in the PDRY another group came into being which was the Peoples Front for the Liberation of the Occupied Arabian Gulf (PFLOAG) though they changed their name after the British withdrawal from Aden and called themselves the Peoples Front for the Liberation of Oman (PFLO). They were backed first by the Chinese and then later by the Soviets with arms, money and training and they were firmly Marxist in their ideology.
The traditional tribal DLF were no match for the highly motivated communist inspired members of the PFLOAG and they were quickly absorbed in spite of the teaching by the communists that there was no God and the expectation that everyone would renounce Islam.
Once PFLOAG had control of the area they started to try to break down the tribal system using fear and coercion as their primary tools. Men were blinded for refusing to deny their God and tribesmen were forced to offer their daughters in marriage to the fighters. Children were taken forcibly from their parents and sent to schools in the PDRY and many young men were sent to Russia and China to be trained as guerilla fighters. One can but wonder how they were received and how they coped in places that were a world away from the life they led.
It would seem, however, that the PFLOAG over played their hand and the remnants of the old guard of the DLF responded to an amnesty offered by the new Sultan and refused to cooperate further with the PFLOAG which caused PFLOAG to order the total disarming of DLF and a battle took place between the two groups. As a result of this twenty four of the most hardened fighters from the Eastern Jebel came down off the jebel and surrendered to the Sultan.
Military Operations and Civil Development
The Sultan, who had been educated in Britain and commissioned into a British infantry regiment, knew he had several problems and two things were clear to him. Firstly, that the answer to the insurgency lay in civil development and that secondly the war and the answers to the problems had to be seen to be solved by the Omanis themselves.
That said he realized that he needed all the help he could get and that his army needed retraining and re-equipping. To do this he decided to use British officers on secondment from the British army and contract officers hired directly by his own armed forces who were usually ex British or Commonwealth officers. He also requested the assistance of British Army Training Teams (BATT) and they were provided by men of the 22nd Special Air Service Regiment.
So, in 1970 Lt Col John Watts, the commanding officer of the Regiment and his operations officer flew out to the Oman to see how the Regiment could be of assistance. At that time many of the troops in the Sultans Army were from Baluchistan (the Baluchis Regiments have since been disbanded) in Pakistan and unable to speak Arabic let alone the local dialect known as Jebeli and so would be of little use and the native northern Omani Regiments would be not much better as there was no love lost between the Dhofaris and the Omanis.
Watts and others quickly came to the conclusion that local Dhofaris would need to be recruited to do the fighting; they had a nucleus in the twenty four surrendered enemy personnel (SEPs) but many more would be needed. It was also understood that this was a national revolutionary war and Watts was aware of the lesson being learned in Vietnam; that there was little future for a foreign intervention in such a conflict- so the use of British troops (though respected by the Omanis, stemming from the Jebel Akhdar campaign in the 1950s) as in full scale units was out. Watts also realized that any military action had to be based on sound, timely intelligence without which any unit would be as an elephant blundering about in the dark- and it was precisely this kind of behaviour by the SAF that had driven many young Jebeli males into the PFLOAG.
The Sultan was firmly committed to modernizing the country and this was not just to take place in the north but all over the country including the Jebel Dhofar- once it was secure. (To this day ALL Omanis receive free cradle to grave medical services and free education to degree level) Information about this modernization had to be given to the people and secondly the virulent lies and abuse being broadcast by Radio Aden had to be countered so it was decided that a robust public information campaign had to be set up. This was primarily radio based due to illiteracy among the population of the Jebel but there were some leaflet drops during the course of the campaign. It was also decided that the radio station would be 100% honest and tell the truth at all times rather than engage in "black propaganda." In this way, once they had realised this, people would begin to trust the government again.
It was also realised that people's health and the health of their animals was supremely important to them and that there was no provision of medical let alone veterinary services. The wealth of the tribes on the jebel was in their herds of cows and goats and if they could be improved through better health and selective breeding programs the tribes would be wealthier. Watts knew that the SAS were admirably suited to the first task, that of providing medical assistance to the people. The SAS, operating in small patrols had a much higher ratio of medics than the rest of the army and they were trained to a far higher standard (SAS medics in training spend time working in Emergency departments at some of the busiest UK hospitals in the most violent inner city areas) but he also knew that this could only be a stop gap measure until the Omanis could take this over.
As for veterinary services, the Regiment couldn't do that at all but staff could be seconded from the Royal Army Veterinary Corps to cover this side of things and that is exactly what happened.
Watts's assessment was complete and he recommended that the SAS could assist the campaign on "Five Fronts":
- An Intelligence cell.
- A Public information Team.
- A medical officer but supported by the patrol medics.
- A veterinary officer.
- The raising of local, Dhofari units, to fight for the Sultan.
All these measures were agreed to and for 6 years members of the Regiment served in the Dhofar to further these Five Fronts. All these, though, were short term aims until the Omani government was in a position to assist its own people and the training of Omanis to take over was the real long term aim. All military operations were seen as a means to an end rather than the reason d'être.
Without covering the campaign in any detail, it was successful and is generally regarded as a model counter-insurgency campaign when it is remembered at all. While Watts Five Fronts were adhered to for the whole of the campaign there were other elements of counter insurgency that helped to make it successful and they will be examined along with the Five Fronts in the next section.
Counter-Insurgency in Southern Afghanistan
Fig 2 Map of Afghanistan showing Helmand and Kandahar Provinces
Southern Afghanistan, in particular Helmand and Kandahar Province, is tribal in nature, distrustful of central government and outsiders and undeveloped. In short much like Jebel Dhofar was in the 1970s. The question is can Watts "Five Fronts" be successfully replicated in this area?
Fig 2 Map of Afghanistan showing Helmand and Kandahar Provinces
Southern Afghanistan, in particular Helmand and Kandahar Province, is tribal in nature, distrustful of central government and outsiders and undeveloped. In short much like Jebel Dhofar was in the 1970s. The question is can Watts "Five Fronts" be successfully replicated in this area?
Let's take the original Five Fronts and generalize them and then examine each one individually to see if it can be applied to southern Afghanistan:
- Identify the enemy and friendly forces by establishing an effective intelligence gathering and collation system.
- Communicate clear intent to the population and government agencies and forces- and by default the enemy.
- To provide security by helping the locals to protect their own areas by involving them in overall provision of security.
- Provide medical aid to the people in areas where there is none.
- Provide veterinary services for herds in areas where there is none.
Identify the enemy and friendly forces by establishing an effective intelligence gathering and collation system.
All counter-insurgency campaigns need to be intelligence driven, this goes without saying. But all too often this is not correctly interpreted or applied. Every single patrol that leaves a FOB be it a two hour local patrol or a five day patrol going further afield needs to have clear aims. The whole patrol should be briefed by a member of the intelligence cell before departure and on return the whole patrol is debriefed and a written report generated. That is then collated with other information and once collated it needs to be analyzed for with out analysis it isn't "product."
Once analyzed it needs to be disseminated so that it can be acted upon; the gathering of information and storing it with out acting on it is pointless and a waste of man hours. This was often the case in Northern Ireland until the system was reorganized in the early 1980s. Some sort of central steering committee in a region is useful- in that all intelligence flows into it and they allocate tasks and units that will respond to those tasks.
It's not to be thought that the "central steering committee" takes over the tasking of all patrols and operations. Units still run their own areas and ensure that there is constant aggressive patrolling. "Aggressive patrolling" does not refer to how the troops treat the civpop but refers to the fact that patrolling is constant but random. A well run patrol program requires monitoring to see that patterns aren't been set and that all areas of the AOR are being covered- especially where one AOR butts up against another.
If a steering committee is set up then ALL units in theatre fall under it, including SF and covert units. There can be no exceptions.
The point about friendly forces is important and let's rewrite that to say the civilian population. Society in Southern Afghanistan exists as a closed tribal society that is hard for outsiders to penetrate and hard to understand. There are alliances and divisions that go back years but these break, splinter, and reform and shift constantly. Any unit operating in a given area needs to know which tribe controls that area and where they rank as a tribe- there are minor, unimportant tribes and there are senior important tribes but it doesn't do to offend a tribe by bringing outsiders into their region.
As well as meeting with Woliswols (District Governors) senior officers need to meet with Maliks (village head men) and the Shuras (governing councils of elders). Junior officers should never be sent to meetings with out been introduced by a senior officer as this will offend the Shuras because they will think you aren't giving them the necessary level of respect.
Wearing civilian clothes and growing a beard does not an intelligence man make! Getting out on the ground and talking to the locals at length and making contacts does. In 2005 the author lived in Helmand working as security manager for a large multi-million dollar aid project. The project had Afghan staff in many areas of Helmand and on one occasion a Taliban gang moved into a village with the aim of using it as a secure operating base to conduct operations from.
The project had an engineer on the books that lived in the village and soon afterwards he came into the office for some reason. He was approached and asked if he would come up to the PRT and talk to people about what was happening in the village. Quite sensibly he said no, he didn't want to be seen going into the base but he would talk to the soldiers if they could come to the office. I drove up to the PRT, found the intelligence guys (who else on the FOB wore civilian clothes and had beards?) and said if they came down to the office they could debrief my man and if they were lucky recruit him. To which they replied they weren't allowed to come down to the office. I don't know whose rule that was but you have to let your people do their work!
Communicate clear intent to the population and government agencies and forces
A well thought out communications program will work wonders and exactly as was done in the Dhofar it must tell the truth at all times. Once the program starts to lie it just becomes a cynical propaganda tool and people will quickly see through it. There are several radio stations broadcasting in southern Afghanistan already so it would be worth looking into what they are and who runs them. Not least is the BBC Pashto (and web site: http://www.bbc.co.uk/pashto/index.shtml ) radio program and liaison with them would seem to be a good idea. Giving out the solar powered/clockwork radios is a sound idea though it is disheartening to then see them turning up in the bazaar for sale! If those are being distributed they should be tunable not on fixed stations because again, the people will soon see through that and you play into the hands of the insurgents by giving them something they can use to score propaganda points against you.
To provide security by helping the locals to protect their own areas by involving them in overall provision of security
All Pashtoon tribes from the most to least important have a Lashkar or tribal war band and if the tribe is willing (and this is a good gauge of how friendly the tribe is towards you) all or part of the Lashkar can be employed for FOB security duties. This is a two fold gain in that it is then in the tribe's interest to keep you informed of insurgent activity in their area because that protects their people and secondly you are creating employment locally and putting money into local pockets.
However, there is another concept from the Dhofar campaign that needs to be examined closely. This is the "Firqat" concept. (Firqat seems to translate as "Task Force.") The Firqats were tribally based war bands mainly made up from Adoo (the name given to the insurgents) who had rallied to the Government side.
They were also known as SEPs or surrendered enemy personal and a great deal of thought was given as to how they should be treated. Above all they were not treated as prisoners of war; on the contrary, they were welcomed back into the arms of the tribe in much the same way as in the parable of the return of the prodigal son and a friendly debriefing rather than an interrogation produced a great deal of exploitable intelligence such as hides and supply routes but it also developed information such as commanders names and Adoo unit strengths. This treatment of SEPs was of course broadcast on the radio station to encourage others to come over.
The Firqats were formed and operated on a tribal basis- an early experiment with a multi-tribal Firqat didn't work and the Firqat disbanded with members joining their own tribes Firqat- and the Firqats operated best with in their own tribal areas. It was found that if sent on operations outside their own areas they weren't very interested in the operation because they could see no direct correlation between their tribal interests and what they were being asked to do.
The Firqats were also useful in carrying the Governments message to the people as it carried more weight than when it came from foreigners.
Looking at the above there would seem to be very little reason why the tribal lashkars shouldn't be used in the same way and some kind of program set up to do the same with any Taliban that rally to the government side.
Counter-gangs is another option that could be looked at in southern Afghanistan and for anyone interested in going down that route I would recommend a study of the Selous Scouts from the Rhodesian war. There is also a very good book by Gen Sir Frank Kitson, the British officer generally credited with inventing counter-gangs theory as we now know it, entitled Gangs and Counter Gangs.
At the time of writing the Shinwari tribe, in southwest Afghanistan, has just declared for the government which is the first time a whole tribe led by its elders has done this. The catalyst for change was an attack on Afghan engineers who were overseeing the building of a dike in the tribes' area so it can be quite clearly seen that it was something in the tribes own direct interest that prompted the change of heart.
Provide medical aid to the people in areas where there is none
Provide veterinary services for herds in areas where there is none
These two points are so obvious and should be so well understood that they don't need to be discussed but I would enlarge upon the second point to include agricultural assistance not just animal husbandry as agricultural farming is as important if not more important in southern Afghanistan.
Farmers could be brought in to advise and assist local farmers in how to increase crop yields etc and when I say farmers I mean just that, not "agricultural experts" but people who have actually owned and run farms in areas with adverse climatic conditions such as South Africa or Zimbabwe for example.
Broader principles of Counter Insurgency
Watts Five Fronts cannot be taken in isolation and there are other factors that need to be considered. Currently British counter insurgency doctrine recognizes six broad principals which are:
- Political primacy and political aim.
- Coordinated Government machinery
- Intelligence and information
- Separating the insurgent from his support
- Neutralizing the insurgent
- Longer-term post-insurgency planning
Looking at these six principals it can very easily be seen how Watts Five Fronts dovetails very neatly and supports most if not all of these principals in a variety of ways.
The first principal is similar to the first principal of land warfare: "Selection and maintenance of the aim" and tied in with No2 it makes the point that all actors must work towards one aim or goal which has to be clearly defined by the political masters.
Points 4 & 5 tie together as well but separating the insurgent from his support is a long and painful process if the insurgent is indigenous to the population as is the case with the resurgent Taliban in southern Afghanistan. However principal 4, separating the insurgent from his support also covers securing the border areas to interdict supply routes in and out of the country.
In Helmand there is a case to be made for locating a Battalion sized combat group, with its own rotary wing assets at Baram Cha on the border. Southern Helmand south of Garmshir or south of the crescent of the river Helmand has always been a wild and lawless area and it is controlled mostly by Balush tribes rather than Pashtoon tribes. The Balush are heavily involved in the movement of narcotics and this route south, through the desert is one of the main smuggling routes out of the country as well as into the country. It's opium out, men and equipment in.
Narcotics and corruption
There are two further points to consider when formulating a counter-insurgency doctrine for Afghanistan and they are of course the two demons of narcotics and corruption. Without doubt the corruption would still exist if the narcotics did not because it is part of the way of life in central Asia, however what is certain is that even Afghans feel it has got out of hand and reached endemic levels.
Narcotics cannot be ignored by the military. One school of thought argues that if the military involves itself in countering narcotics at any level it will turn the people against them and any gains under a "hearts and minds" campaign will be lost. This may be the case but it is a temporary set back in the long term scheme of things that the military will just have to accept and plan for.
The whole opium economy is inextricably linked to the insurgency in that the opium funds the Taliban to the tune of over $100 million a year. Obviously groups other than the Taliban profit from narcotics so therefore it is firmly in those groups interests to see the insurgency continue- for in that bubble of anarchy created by an on going insurgency the narcotics trade can flourish.
The diagram in Figure 3 shows graphically that this is the case and so part of winning the counter-insurgency campaign must be the removal of the opium industry which is one of the main stays of Taliban funding. There is also strong evidence to suggest that al Qaeda is heavily involved in narcotics for fund raising purposes so any move to curtail opium production will eventually have a knock on effect. I say eventually because it is said that buried out in the deserts of Helmand and Kandahar are at least two years supply of opium at the current production rate.
Fig 3: Ratio of insecurity to opium production by province. 2008, UNODC.
As said previously the military will have to accept that there will be a loss of popular support brought on by eradication but if planned for this can be countered by an effective all agencies strategy. Planning for eradication should start 18 months to 2 years in advance of actually moving into the fields.
Once the area in which eradication will take place has been identified an all agency planning group, including all key stakeholders- international and Afghan needs to be established. This group looks at the tribal demographic in the chosen area and also at local officials across the board. The Mullahs all need to be identified and those involved with narcotics need to be identified (many Mullahs in Helmand accept their tithe in opium) Corrupt officials need to be replaced with honest men as soon as possible.
A concentrated aid plan needs to be drawn up including such things as roads, health centers, schools, veterinary clinics, well digging and irrigation, agricultural assistance, micro finance and credit for farmers not engaged in poppy production. These news schools, clinics etc all need to be staffed and equipped. Much of this needs to be free to the people or if not free at least heavily subsidized.
A powerful public information campaign needs to be instigated as early as possible using radio, advertising hoardings and traveling theatre groups to carry a united message to the people. Independent NGOs need to be co-opted into the program so that all the players are working towards a common goal.
Once all this is in place eradication can start.
Corruption, on a level rarely seen elsewhere, is the other ingredient in the mix that will work against any counter-insurgency campaign succeeding. A successful counter-insurgency campaign requires a coordinated multi-agency government approach (the armed forces being but one agency) and rampant corruption at all levels of government will prevent that approach from succeeding. One can put forward the argument that with the current levels of corruption in the Karzai regime, from ministers down to the lowliest policemen on the street, the insurgency can never really be defeated. I firmly believe that the Taliban cannot win but nor will they be defeated because the people will never truly rally to the Government as it is now and the insurgency will drag on till the international players grow tired of it and one by one withdraw, handing victory to the Taliban. The Taliban are waging a war of 1000 cuts and time is on their side.
To ignore corruption in a given AOR gives the population the impression that you condone it and they will quickly arrive at the perceived wisdom that you must be involved in it. An extreme example of this was the murder of five British soldiers in November 2009. The policeman in question, named Gulbuddin, had been raped repeatedly over a period of time by his commander and his belief was that since they did nothing about it the British must have been condoning it. That said it is unlikely that any British troops were aware that it had been going on because unlike the BATTs (British Army Training Teams) in Dhofar, in Afghanistan they do not live among the Afghans.
Every insurgency is different for a variety of reasons, not just for political, ideological and religious factors but also because of geography, terrain and climate.
However, in the case of the Dhofar campaign there are many factors which correlate directly with the campaign in southern Afghanistan and can be imported and used as a template in Afghanistan in spite of the gap of years between the two campaigns.
While I don't pretend to have all the answers by any means and accept that wiser heads than mine know more than I do the aim of this article is to draw people's attention to other little known counter-insurgency campaigns that were a) successful and b) very similar to what is currently being faced in Afghanistan.
If plagiarism is the sincerest form of flattery the author is indebted to Col Tony Jeapes and Col I. A. Rigden, the sensible stuff is theirs and any mistakes are my own.
For further reading:
SAS, Operation Oman. Col T. Jeapes, Battery Press, ISBN 0-89839-054-0
The British Approach to Counter-Insurgency: Myths, Realities and Strategic Challenges, Col I. A. Rigden O.B.E, available online at: http://www.dtic.mil/cgi-bin/GetTRDoc?AD=ADA479660&Location=U2&doc=GetTRDoc.pdf
Seeds of Terror, How Heroin is Bankrolling the Taliban and Al Qaeda. Gretchen Peters, St Martin's Press, ISBN 978-0-312-37927-8
Gangs and Counter-Gangs, Gen Sir Frank Kitson. Published 1960, currently out of print.
Bunch of Five, Gen Sir Frank Kitson. Published 1988, currently out of print.
Low Intensity Operations, Subversion, Insurgency and Peacekeeping. Gen Sir Frank Kitson. Currently out of print.


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Access the latest industry statistics and resources.
Today, in a preamble to INDEX™, the World's leading Nonwovens Exhibition, more than 100 senior executives from the nonwovens industry and its supply chain gathered in Geneva. Companies were present following the invitation of EDANA, IANFA and INDA and their partner nonwovens associations from across the globe, around the theme "The rising importance of nonwovens and global value chains".
Hosuk LEE-MAKIYAMA, Director of the European Centre for International Political Economy (ECIPE), told the audience "The technology and application of nonwovens has redefined the daily life and also reshaped the economics of the textile industry. As trade and investment become increasingly important ‐ specialisation, value chain fragmentation and market access have become key policy questions for industry competitiveness. How do economies stay on top of this globalisation game? The trade issues on nonwovens are also heavily impacted by cross‐sectoral regulatory aspects, for example medical devices, automobiles ‐ which are all addressed in major 'next generation' Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) like TTIP and TPP."
The keynote speaker debated with the audience what the nonwovens industry should expect - and not expect - from the changing landscape and these trade agreements, and suggested to the leading global nonwovens associations to consider applying for a sector agreement under WTO that would liberalise multilaterally nonwovens trade, with potential benefits greater than regional or bilateral arrangements. Additionally, Mr Lee-Makiyama said that making the case for a nonwoven-sector agreement for zero tariffs should not be impossible.
The obstacles to this "ideal" of free and fair trade as defended by EDANA were not underestimated.
The conference and debate took place in the presence of Mr Jean-François Aguinaga, Head of the Textiles Unit of the European Commission's Directorate General for Enterprise and Industry, who addressed the audience on the status of FTA's being negotiated by the EU with the USA and Japan.


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8:00 AM-12:45 PM each Saturday, except 7th until 4 PM).
Variable Pre-Saturday work is required to ready the equipment and process documentation.
Job Description
1. This position demands an organized, responsible person who exhibits excellent interpersonal and communications skills. Knowledge of or willingness and ability to learn about digital equipment is essential. Flexibility, humor, and detail-orientation required.
2. Check in with Studio Manager at the start of the semester on the status of the department's technology. Also, read the manuals and familiarize yourself with the department's equipment so that you feel comfortable and competent operating it and instructing others.
3. All equipment (video cameras, DVD players, cameras, tripods) checkout is handled by you to the appropriate studio teachers in their classrooms throughout the morning. Pick up the same equipment from classrooms at agreed-upon times and return it to the media closet by the end of the day. Assess the condition of returned equipment. Resolve problems with the studio teachers.
4. Studio teachers are responsible for all equipment while it is in their rooms. Doors need to be locked when the room is empty.
5. Record studio teachers in the classroom when requested by the teacher or supervisor. Keep a clear schedule of these upcoming events. Transfer video to DVD if needed.
6. Assist in classrooms, conduct assigned administrative tasks, gather attendance, supervise break time for students and, in general, help as needed each Saturday morning.
7. Assist in hanging the exhibition on the 7th Saturday of each semester from 12-4pm. Assist in dismantling the exhibition and putting away work on the 8th Saturday.
8. Advise Studio Manager about non-functional equipment throughout each semester.
9. Photograph and/or videotape throughout the semester. Load digital photos onto an accessible computer database. If needed create media presentations to exhibit on the 8th secure such presentations. Document opening day and student work.
If interested, please contact the Studio Manager, Kyle Brock at email@example.com


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Times flies playing MineCraft...
So, whoops. I've been M.I.A. for a bit. Easily explained, I've been playing MineCraft. Yes, it's a bad excuse, but it's entirely true.
You see, I stumbled across this Mod compilation called "Tekkit" (Or Technic) - in it are a bunch of amazing mods that make playing MineCraft even more of a blast than it already is! One of the mods I have massive experience with, BuildCraft. I've played with this mod before because I absolutely love the idea around it.
With BuildCraft, you construct machines that automate things such as mining or construction. These machines are then linked together with transport pipes to get your item from A to B. With just the BuildCraft mod you could not do too-too much, just get items from the ground into a chest - or items from the ground into a automatic workbench to craft things (to later go into a chest). It was very neat, but not overly amazing.
But then, combine BuildCraft with Industrial Craft and you've got yourself a business! Industrial Craft adds more automatic machines that make MineCraft sweet. You can grind down ores into dust and then smelt the dust giving you two times the amount of metal from an ore (Ie: You could smelt an Iron Ore block to get 1 Iron Ingot. Or you could grind it down to 2 Iron Ore Dust and smelt the dust into 2 Iron Ingots) - The extra step is "more work" but you reap reward from it. Industrial Craft also introduces the idea of 'power' - so you can power your machines with energy (Or blow up your house if you're not careful, as mixing high voltage power with low voltage machines is hazardous to your health; or having your Nuclear Reactor (!!!) explode in your face... hazardous to your house, and your neighbours, and the rest of the city in fact...)
So I've been playing a LOT of MineCraft after work (and sometimes before, I'm afraid).
To top it off, I've also been buying tremendous amounts of Steam games during the STEAM SUMMER SALE. Oh wow, I spend so much money unnecessarily. I buy a game just to have it, not to play it. With 400+ games in my Steam catalog, only half of them touched, you can imagine the amount of money I've spent. (I did the math, because all transactions are tracked. It was scary. Trust me.)
In any case, here's some MineCraft screenshots after the break.
Click for larger images...


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Medical vacation
We will be pleased to introduce you to world class dentistry at affordable prices.
Costa Rica is considered as the best alternative for North Americans who want to take advantage of low-cost dental care or medical care in general.
Certified specialists educated and trained in the USA provide high-quality DENTISTRY, VISION, annual medical CHECKUPS, REJUVENATION or LASER treatment services for a fraction of the north-american prices.
English speaking dental coordinator with a happy patient (on the right)
The friendliness of Costa Ricans is also part of the treatment that you will experience.
All these professionals speak English and they use state-of-the-art equipment.
Travellers who visit Costa Rica for dental care sometimes feel uncomfortable or uncertain of what to expect.
If it is your first time traveling abroad for medical attention, you may want to take advantage of Ginette's experience – she can establish your treatment plan with you and a local dentist, have a trusted taxi driver greet you at the airport when you arrive in the country and who will take you to Casa Laurin and to your appointments.
Ginette will walk you around town to show you where to eat, shop, etc. and she will guide you during your whole stay at NO ADDITIONAL COST.
Here at Casa Laurin we offer special packages designed with your comfort and safety in mind!
We customize everything according to your needs and preferences which could include arranging your appointments, transportation, sightseeing and meals.
Tell us what you need and we will arrange it. Service is our priority and pampering is our specialty!
Why stay under gray skies or unbearable heat when you can enjoy beautiful weather in Costa Rica while taking care of your health!!!
Bo (Right) is very satisfied with his dental work. He says he looks like a movie star. I don't think I have ever seen him smile so much!.
See what our visitor have to say about their medical vacation trip with Casa Laurin
"My second trip to Casa Laurin" In August, I had my final and most extensive dental procedure to be completed! I made my dental appt. and my lodging appt. again with Ginette at Casa Laurin! I was so excited for my second trip to Costa Rica!!! While on the plane, I realized that my excitement was really about going to Casa Laurin, the enchanted cottage!!!
There were people there for dental work, back surgery, cosmetic surgery and Ginette, as usual took care of each one as if they were her family! She made appts., arrangements for taxis, tours, special meals and escorted some herself!!! Her home is immaculately clean and her breakfasts are to die for! Omelets, banana pancakes, French toast, fresh fruit, and fresh juices and of course Costa Rican coffee!!!
How she does all of this, I will never know, other than it is her calling!!! Some people come with fears but after arriving at Casa Laurin and meeting Ginette, they are no longer afraid!!! The relaxation takes over!
Kathleen Proctor
"Wonderful accommodations with a personal and excellent services" You will not be disappointed in Casa Laurin. Ginette, the owner, goes far and beyond any expectations a traveler might have.
Ginette serves fresh fruit and juices each morning with a full course breakfast. You may request your favorite breakfast foods. Casa Laurin is beautiful, well appointed and very clean. It is located within walking distances to shopping, dentist, Costa Rica's largest hospital CIMA and restaurants.
Ginette speaks, French, English, and Spanish. She is more than happy to arrange taxis, tours, and appointments for her guest. You will feel right at home as Casa Laurin. Escazu is a short distance from San Jose and is referred to by many as the Beverly Hills of Costa Rica.
Charlotte Schafer
Yes, we can turn your 'med-trip' into a worry-free mini vacation.
For your convenience, we are located centrally between CIMA hospital, many dentists office, MultiPlaza, the largest shopping mall in Costa Rica, EPA which is a major hardware store, many supermarkets, restaurants, banks and other conveniences. Contact us for more information.


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Our Movement
Launched in 2012, Up to Us is a rapidly growing, nonpartisan movement of young people who recognize that when it comes to securing their future opportunities, they have no better advocates than themselves. Amid high-profile debates over jobs and the economy, social mobility, healthcare, and tax reform, Up to Us is the only nationwide, campus-based campaign focused on building a sustainable economic and fiscal future for America's next generation. This unique program provides emerging leaders a platform for facilitating a collaborative dialogue on the country's most vexing challenges.
Learn more about Up to Us by downloading our Fact Sheet
Through creative campaigns at colleges and universities across the country, a groundswell of emerging leaders power the Up to Us movement by educating and engaging their peers on the risks presented by America's nearly $20 trillion debt. Started as a pilot program on 10 college campuses, Up to Us has since reached more than 225,000 students on over 400 unique campuses in all 50 states.
Young Americans have the most to gain—or lose—in the debate over America's fiscal future. Some are motivated by a desire to support investments in crucial priorities like education, research and development, and infrastructure. Others simply want to see their hard work pay off with a secure retirement. Across worldviews and backgrounds, however, the growth of Up to Us is fueled by Millennials who recognize how the nation's fiscal condition shapes their future opportunities. The Up to Us movement draws on emerging leaders from a wide variety of educational, cultural, geographic and academic backgrounds. From pre-med to political science, from commuter colleges to large private and public universities, and from Alaska to Florida, Up to Us isn't just a movement of econ wonks and aspiring politicos (though it's got plenty of those, too). It's a diverse movement of young, engaged Americans united to build the economic future they want to see.
We hope you will join us and continue the movement in your community.
Peter G. Peterson Foundation
The Peter G. Peterson Foundation is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to increase public awareness of the nature and urgency of key fiscal challenges threatening America's future and to accelerate action on them.
Net Impact
Net Impact is a global community of emerging leaders to use their skills and careers to drive transformational social and environmental change. In short, we help our members turn their passions into a lifetime of world-changing action.
Clinton Global Initiative
The Clinton Global Initiative University (CGI U), a program of the Clinton Global Initiative, brings together college students to address global challenges with practical, innovative solutions. Since 2008, students have made more than 6,250 Commitments to Action.


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For the past several days, I have felt like I was on my deathbed. Ignoring calls, half responding to texts....not eating...all of that kind of stuff. My phone rings yesterday, and it's my cousin. One of the foolish ones. Because I had ignored her call days before, I decided to answer. Now let me go ahead and put this out here. Very seldom does she call me and actually want something....so why would I assume this time would be any different? I don't know what I was thinking.
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
Why Is This News?
Posted by Misunderstood at 10:12 PM 1 comments
Saturday, February 5, 2011
Twitter and Facebook....
are just pathways to destruction. I'm not much of a twitter/facebook stalker. Wait. Yes I am. Sometimes. But check it out. The ex (hub) follows me on twitter. I don't follow him, but clearly I get nosy sometimes. Tonight was one of those times. So I'm checking out this broke nigga's timeline, and he all talking about he out eating at Bonefish and shit. Well, I've never been one to want somebody starving, but um er ruh....nigga, don't you owe me almost a grand? Oh. Ok. That's what I was thinking. I let him have it the other day when he mentioned having to get his hair twisted so he doesn't have to start work on Monday lookin a fool. But luxury eating out and shit? When I snacked on fucking catfish nuggets courtesy of my aunt? Please. I wants my money.
Posted by Misunderstood at 11:42 PM 0 comments
There Isn't Anything Wrong With Me
Except my taste in guys, obviously. Now let me preface this post by saying...I'm not some lonely chick that sits around waiting for my perfect man to show up. I'm okay with being by myself. Like 99% of the time. And then a night like tonight, when I have too much free time, that shouldn't be free, I find myself thinking way too much. It doesn't help matters much that I'm a self proclaimed music buff. I'm all about some pandora. And these songs, they just... I don't know. I don't like rap. Not enough to create a "Dr. Dre" station on 'dora, anyway. So yea, 10 times out of 10, the songs that play will have some kind of "love" undertone. Wait. Sometimes pandora will slip some shit in on you. Like seriously. I was listening to my "Tamia" station the other day. They played like 2 Tupac songs. Nearly back to back. WTF?
Posted by Misunderstood at 12:08 AM 0 comments
Labels: my single life
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
I Have Nothing...
(like Whitney said) better to do right now that blog. Actually, take that back. I should be asleep, but I'm not. However, I'll try to make this quick enough so that I'm sleeping in the next 37 minutes. So much dumb shit has been going on around me, it's hard to pick one particular thing to talk about.....and since I have no life (AGAIN), let's examine the likes of someone else's.
Posted by Misunderstood at 11:07 PM 2 comments


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Good morning and happy Earth Day to you. Earth Day offers great opportunities to protect the environment — as well as our bank accounts.
Some of the familiar admonitions really do work: Recycle and reuse, drive less and consolidate errands, install programmable thermostats, take reusable shopping bags to grocery stores, pay bills online, start a compost pile.
Given the tough economic times, more people on this Earth Day will look extra hard at how they can whittle down their energy bills or otherwise save money. Among the ideas:
•Unplug unused electronic appliances.
For instance, unplugging a DVD player could save 12 cents a week in electricity, Doesn't sound like a lot?
Then add in game consoles, computers, printers, radios, phone chargers and other gear, and a family could save around $70 a year by unplugging unused appliances. Or by turning off power strips connected to the appliances. And the savings could jump an additional $100 a year by unplugging a turned-off plasma TV.
I just took an inventory and I have 26 appliances that remain forever plugged into the power source and continually drain away precious energy! That includes my hair dryer, hot rods, and make-up mirror. I've connected them to a power strip and will "Pull the Plug" after my morning maintenance routine.
My DVD player hasn't been used since – forever – I don't know how to work it. It's going into cold storage today
•Use compact fluorescent light bulbs.
They cost more up front, but one compact fluorescent light (CFL) bulb can save about 40 cents a week — or more than $20 a year — in electricity costs compared with a traditional light bulb. If 100,000 households each use a dozen CFL bulbs, the savings could reach $24 million, and even more dramatic reductions in electrical costs.
•Fix water leaks.
The average homeowner pays $20 a month for water. But that figure could drop by $6 to $7 a month with just a few actions, or up to $84 a year. The top priorities are to fix leaky toilets, buy energy efficient clothes washers and use low-pressure shower heads.
If 100,000 households adopted these changes, it could total $8.4 million in savings.
Earth Day 2009 will make a profound difference if residents to their part in changing their behaviors and protecting the environment.


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Since being made redundant, it has been difficult getting my routine right.
The first obstacle was the soul-destroying and time-consuming hours of job seeking and applying for positions that I knew the recruiters wouldn't look twice at me for as demanded by the Job Centre when I signed on in order to make sure that my stamp (National Insurance) continued to be paid.
Just as I was regaining control of my life, had started working part time and we were a good way through the application process to become foster parents, I discovered that I am pregnant and found myself being violently ill 7/8 times a day, extremely fatigued and on an emotional roller-coaster caused by my raging hormones.
Consequently, my plans for my studies, the house and the garden were all thrown out of the window. This was particularly difficult to deal with because I have always been extremely well-organised. I've had to be. In order to build rabbit hutches adn chicken coops, keep on top of the housework, do the gardening, make time for me, make time for us, have time for leisure and pleasure and make time for friends on top of working more than full-time; I have always made the most of my time and energy.
Of course not being able to do anything for so much of the time meant that even on days when I was feeling almost human, the tasks around me were so overwhelming that I didn't get any of them done. I'm lucky though because although I have been feeling somewhat isolated and as if my life was spiralling out of control, this hasn't led to a major depressive episode.
I am feeling a lot better now and only tend to be sick once a day most of the time and have even started to make progress with some of the tasks in the house.
Unfortunately, I am dangerously close to the completion deadline for the whole of the first module of my BA (Hons) in Creative Arts with 2 assignments left to do and at the start of this week, had to complete 4 assignments for my Nutrition and Health qualification. I realise that the latter is not as important as the degree, partly because I started it because of our ambitions to become foster parents which has been put on hold for a year or so and partly because it is a Level 2 qualification and as such, doesn't have much impact on my future career prospects. That said, I decided to focus on that one first for several reasons: firstly, I had 4 assignments to complete as opposed to the 2 outstanding on my degree – one of which is almost finished; secondly, I knew that if I knuckled down, I could probably manage an assignment every 2-3 days, whereas the degree work would take a few weeks; and lastly because the sense of achievement that I would get from completing (and hopefully passing!) the course would spur me on with the degree.
I really enjoyed studying for my Foundation Diploma in Art, Design and Media a few years ago, despite my experience with the internal verifier at the end. I had a great tutor who was extremely supportive and I loved the structure of the course, within which I was able to experiment and find my voice. The degree has so far been very difficult because I have felt that the tutor has not bothered to read the written work that I have submitted – perhaps because it isn't mandatory but I write it in support of my work and to give him an insight into how and why I have produced the body of work that I have for each assignment – so I really need to feel some sense of achievement from completing the level 2 course to spur me on!
April, May & June will see me focussing on the house in preparation for baby's arrival in July. I have no plan of action at present and don't intend to worry about it until after I've finished my studies. After that, it ill all be about baby and the next module of my degree which will thankfully bring a new tutor.
I submitted the third of the four assignments for my level 2 in Nutrition and Health this afternoon so I just have to wait for the feedback on that before I crack on with the last one – happy days.


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Mommy Makeover
Giving birth can be one of the most rewarding experiences of a woman's life. Unfortunately, pregnancy and breast-feeding often result in unwanted changes in a woman's body, such as drooping breasts, enlarged areolas, a straighter waist, pockets of fat in the abdomen, stretch marks, and a sagging tummy that no amount of exercise and dieting seems to fix. The loose muscles and stretched skin improve somewhat over time, but the body never completely returns to the way it was before pregnancy.
It used to be that women were resigned to living with these natural changes in their bodies. Now, however, more and more women are seeking out plastic surgeons to rejuvenate their breasts and tummies to the youthful firmness they enjoyed before having children. These procedures are collectively called "mommy makeovers" or post-maternity breast and body reshaping.
The aftermath of pregnancy can leave you with sagging breasts, uneven breasts, lost breast volume, drooping nipples and stretched areolas (the dark skin surrounding the nipple). A breast lift, or mastopexy, is performed to reverse these changes and return a youthful shape and lift to your breasts. This is accomplished by trimming excess skin and tightening supporting tissues to achieve an uplifted, youthful contour. After a mastopexy, the breasts are higher on the chest and firmer to the touch. Breast lifts after pregnancy can also reduce areolar size and reposition downward-pointing nipples.
Your post-maternity breast lift will be tailored to you, depending on your individual case and goals. Breast size does not change after a breast lift, nor does the fullness or roundness in the upper part of the breasts. Women who desire larger, smaller or more rounded breasts may want to consider a breast augmentation or breast reduction together with a breast lift.
Most women find that their breasts swell to a fuller size and shape while they are pregnant. Afterwards, a natural reduction in breast size leaves some women with the empty-looking, drooping breasts discussed above in the breast lift section. For many other women, however, the breasts remain larger than desired after childbirth. Breast reduction surgery may be the solution in these cases.
One reason women may seek breast reduction after giving birth is to return the breasts to the smaller size they had before becoming pregnant. In addition, breast reduction can relieve the common symptoms of large breasts, such as pain, improper posture, rashes, breathing problems, skeletal deformities and low self-esteem. Breast reduction achieves these goals by removing fat and glandular tissue and tightening skin to produce smaller, lighter breasts that are in a healthier proportion to the rest of the body.
Note: Breast reduction surgery is not recommended for women who intend to breast-feed in the future, since many of the milk ducts leading to the nipples are removed.
Perhaps nowhere else on the body is pregnancy more unforgiving than in the abdomen. By stretching and weakening the skin and muscles of the tummy and waist, pregnancy can leave you with loose skin, stretch marks and a straighter waistline that no amount of exercise will correct. A tummy tuck, also known as abdominoplasty, can help.
Tummy tucks help to flatten and shape the abdomen and waist by removing excess skin and tightening muscles. The result is a firmer tummy and more defined waistline. Our doctors have been performing abdominoplasties with excellent cosmetic results for many years.
Women who also suffer from areas of fat in the abdomen or flanks after pregnancy may benefit from liposuction.
Note: Results from the tummy tuck procedure will likely diminish if women continue to bear children, so we advise patients who plan to become pregnant to delay abdominoplasty.


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ODBC Connector
MariaDB Connector/ODBC is a standardized, LGPL licensed database driver using the industry standard Open Database Connectivity (ODBC) API. It supports ODBC Standard 3.5, can be used as a drop-in replacement for MySQL Connector/ODBC, and it supports both Unicode and ANSI modes.
Connector/ODBC 3.0 is the current stable release series; 2.0 is the previous stable release series.
Connector/ODBC for MySQL should also generally work with MariaDB. (http://dev.mysql.com/downloads/connector/odbc/)
The most recent stable (GA) release of MariaDB Connector/ODBC is:
MariaDB Connector/ODBC 3.0.8


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Visualization Skilled Carole Dore
At SLS, we believe legal professionals have the greatest influence when they are culturally competent and in a position to perceive the worldwide dimensions of advanced decisions made by all the gamers within the international enviornment, including multinational corporations, regulators, and nongovernmental organizations. In history, under sure situations a particular type of regulation arises (one with a legal character") which we name the law". What is named the regulation of attraction, however imprecise, resonates with many individuals because we sense something true in it. It's the hash Esther Hicks makes out of it when she goes unhinged in entrance of live audiences that gives a home for the craziness. Later, the Truman administration's amicus curiae on the worldwide ramifications of segregation made all the difference in Brown vs. the Board of Training.
I was thinking about Joe Don, Will, and my a hundred and fifty web page, 300 footnote law evaluate article thanking all the tenured members of my school, several individuals I hardly know however could have met at a conference in Barcelona, citing myself 37 instances, and whether or not I can wring out another article from what some would say is a slender topic, when a regulation school pal walked in with a problem.
Second, it seems to allow us to pinpoint both the historical continuity of law and its discontinuity: the commodity type could explain the authorized kind on the whole, but it's only with the generalization of commodity circulation below capitalism that law expands from … Read More


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Poll finds Americans still don't trust Hillary Clinton
American voters continue to have trouble believing Hillary Clinton speaks the truth, according to a May 6 update to a rolling poll conducted by Reuters.Read more
American voters continue to have trouble believing Hillary Clinton speaks the truth, according to a May 6 update to a rolling poll conducted by Reuters.Read more
It's time to have The Talk. You know how so many Clintonites have been running around for months shouting at usRead more
Democratic presidential hopeful Senator Bernie Sanders is leading recent polls for the May 10 West Virginia primary, according to a Public Policy Polling survey.
The May 3 poll had Sanders in the lead 45 percent to Secretary Hillary Clinton's 37 percent with Democratic and independent voters, with 18 percent undecided.
Hillary Clinton's Super PACS are now resorting to physical violence as a tactic to make people look bad. It startedRead more
Revolt! You don't need Bernie to have a Rally We need a resolution. We have all put in so muchRead more
Disappointed in the results from yesterdays 5 primaries? Don't be. Of the 5 contests, 4 were closed primaries, open only to Democrat or Republican voters. Independents were allowed in 1 primary, where Sanders won the contest.Read more
California voters, please check your registration. You can only be registered as Democrat or "no party preference" if you want to vote in the Democratic June 7 primary.Read more
In a new poll released on Wednesday April 13, Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders' message has clearly reached the millennial crowd.Read more
Following Saturday's landslide wins in Hawaii and Washington, a new poll of California voters shows U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders leadingRead more
Thousands of twitter users across social media accused Arizona of voter fraud, suppression, and the sabotaging of the March 22Read more


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The Sleepwalkers by J. Gabriel Gates
HCI Teens – October 3, 2011
Facebook: Yes
Twitter: @TheTracksBooks
Source: Netgalley
This galley was given to me, free, in exchange for my honest review.
Read what this book is about here.
My Thoughts:
Finally! I don't know how long this book has been sitting around on my kindle waiting to be read. Let's just say that it has been way too long. I can't even say it's because I thought that I wouldn't like it – I knew that I would. I could come up with some excuses as to why it took so long, but that part doesn't matter. What matters now is the fact that I have read it and I loved it. If I had any sort of complaint it would be that the ending didn't feel like complete closure. It is one of those that leaves some things to be interpreted by the reader, which means that it could be left alone and never touched again or Gates can write a second book and continue it. While I definitely wouldn't mind another Caleb/Christine adventure, I would have liked a more definite ending. That being sad, I still loved this book! I still would recommend everyone to go out and read this book. Now on to the good stuff.
The beginning was awesome as an introduction to the creepiness that would later become more prominent. It immediately grabbed my attention and made me wonder what was going on. There seems to be so much that is bubbling right under the surface waiting for its time to get out. I love knowing that something is wrong and not immediately knowing what it is. Christine is in what is essentially a refurbished insane asylum, but if she was lucid enough to send the letter then maybe she's not that crazy. I really liked the way that Caleb's character progressed throughout the book. I loved the fact that he is a high school graduate with the aspirations of nobleness- he wants to go to Africa and make a difference. How often do you really see that type of character in a high school student in a YA novel? Caleb is not just a good kid; he is a good kid with the dream of changing the world from the beginning.
He doesn't know that he is already destined to do great things and face an oppressive evil. How do you not help evil when you don't know what evil is asking you to do? Christine surprised me –she really was crazy, a little. But she was strong enough to overcome the loss of her twin sister, her witch of a mother and the fact that something was done to her brain. There was strength in her that I didn't expect to find. I liked that the heroes had their own pasts to overcome, and that they all stepped up even though they didn't think that they could. I can't forget about Bean, truly the trusted sidekick. I love his humor and know that he's cracking jokes even on the ethereal side. And yea, this is going to contradict my first opinion of the ending (sort of). The ending wasn't a happy ending; it was a well-deserved break for the heroes of the story. It didn't necessarily provide the closure that I wanted, but it provided hope for any future adventures. Because whatever they face next, they can say that they survived the end of the world – this time.
Recommendation: I think that if you have not had a chance to read this, you should put it on your TBR list. It is definitely worth reading.Go get a copy today!!
Always Shine,
Starr K


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yellow African Shea Butter Organic RAW Unrefined100% PURE COLOR Varies From: Yellow / Bright Yellow / Light Yellow80 oz / 5 pounds / 5 Lbs / 2.26 kilograms (Kg)100% GUARANTEED Natural Please note: To provide you with the LOWEST PRICE, we are having to pack this item in a poly bag / Brown Box. NOTE: * We pack UNFILTERED Shea butter directly from their NATURAL GOURD they come in. Please do not expect filtered or artificially processed butter. * Due to temperature, upon receipt of shipment, you might find the Shea butter a littel hard. This is absolutely NATURAL!!!
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Here is a list of admins around this wiki
Founder & GeneralsEdit
The founder and generals of the wiki.
Laser Pikachus (Founder & First General)Edit
"I am really shyBUT i am also really creative!"
The proud creator of anime-influenced School Dare and Elements.
Eggium (Second General)Edit
"I am Eggium, but you can call me Eggium (credited in the show as James Durman)."
- ―Eggy
Co-creator of School Dare.


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I used to have a really hard time leaving home in the morning and heading into the office — especially if the dogs were all lovey and snuggly. They inevitably would give me looks of deep sorrow as I closed the door behind me, and I would feel a pang of guilt at leaving them for so long while I worked to put a roof over their heads.
Listen up people, that right there is a load of crap. You know why? Because now that I *am* home with the pups all day long, do you know what they do? They stay in the basement and sleep — two floors below me. I came down to check on them six times today because I was sure (SURE!) that they were playing or getting into some sort of trouble without me there. Nope. Just sleeping. I also thought they might want a belly rub, but even those were met with bored sighs.
So I had to WAKE Magda UP for this photo. And what's she doing here? Yawning. Because her life is so exhausting. Uh huh.
For all of you who have to leave your pets at home and head into the office each day, trust me, you are missing nothing. They are just fine.


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After the death of her beloved grandmother, a Cuban-American woman travels to Havana, where she discovers the roots of her identity--and unearths a family secret hidden since the revolution...
Miami, 2017. Freelance writer Marisol Ferrera grew up hearing romantic stories of Cuba from her late grandmother Elisa, who was forced to flee with her family during the revolution. Elisa's last wish was for Marisol to scatter her ashes in the country of her birth.
Arriving in Havana, Marisol comes face-to-face with the contrast of Cuba's tropical, timeless beauty and its perilous political climate. When more family history comes to light and Marisol finds herself attracted to a man with secrets of his own, she'll need the lessons of her grandmother's past to help her understand the true meaning of courage.
Get it on Amazon
About the Author
Author Links
Website: www.chanelcleeton.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/authorchanelcleeton
Facebook Reader Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1545366192398558/
Twitter: www.twitter.com/chanelcleeton
Goodreads: www.goodreads.com/chanelcleeton
Newsletter: www.chanelcleeton.com/mailing-list/
Instagram: www.instagram.com/chanelcleeton/
Book Links
Amazon: http://amzn.to/2pdQBKF
Barnes & Noble: http://bit.ly/2pYsJJY
iBooks: http://apple.co/2pvYffq
IndieBound: http://bit.ly/2zrt11m
Kobo: http://bit.ly/2wPZPMU
Learn more about Next Year in Havana including downloading the book club guide and more at: http://www.chanelcleeton.com/next-year-in-havana/
Add Beatriz Perez's story WHEN WE LEFT CUBA on Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/38193131-when-we-left-cuba


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Bluetooth technology is making very excited, almost everyone, like tech users, developers and manufacturers, it is bringing lots of innovations by transforming day-to-day objects into IoT devices for better life.
Until now, we have had the ability to interact Bluetooth devices using only native apps. Google Chrome's web development team regularly implement new APIs to extend new possibilities for web apps to behave an equivalent to that of native apps. Web Bluetooth API is targeted to change native app scenarios and brings Bluetooth device interaction into web browsers.
Web Bluetooth allows web developers to use Bluetooth to communicate with smart Bluetooth Low Energy devices. Similar to the Physical Web, users can interact with IoT devices when they are in range of the device. Web Bluetooth is a draft API, that allows a user to scan and select any local IoT device within range from a web page. Once the user selects a device from multiple IoT devices, a web page can directly control a device via Bluetooth Low Energy. The latest Google Chrome update has an Android enabled web Bluetooth to control IoT devices. To learn more, take a look at our previous blog post "How Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) supports Chrome to communicate with devices over IP".
Communicating with Bluetooth devices through a web browser provides a great opportunity for companies to launch new IoT devices. They can spend more time and money on new product development instead of a native app for different platforms.
More sensitive web APIs are switching over only to the HTTPS mode. The Web Bluetooth API is no exception, it works only on HTTPS pages. The API will not work in the background without a user approve. The user can choose a Bluetooth Low Energy device to pair with it. Once the user is connected to a BLE device, it should gather data and connect to the BLE devices. BLE provides most of its functionality through key pairs provided by the Generic Attribute Profile (GATT).
Web Bluetooth provides endless opportunities for IoT device manufacturers. We at BlueApp.io support Web Bluetooth to access IoT devices without downloading any specific native app for IoT device.


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Ellis Medicine offers a wide range of medical, surgical and support services at locations throughout the Capital District. To find the care you need, click on the featured service links or use the menu below to find the healthcare services you're interested in learning more about.
Miniaturized Heart Device Provides Patients with the Most Advanced Pacing Technology Available
SCHENECTADY, N.Y. — Ellis Medicine today announced that it is one of the first hospitals in New York to offer the world's smallest pacemaker for patients with bradycardia. The Micra® Transcatheter Pacing System (TPS) is a new type of heart device, approved for Medicare reimbursement, that provides patients with the most advanced pacing technology at one-tenth the size of a traditional pacemaker. The first procedure at Ellis was performed by Dr. Steven F. Giovannone earlier this month.
Bradycardia is a condition characterized by a slow or irregular heart rhythm, usually fewer than 60 beats per minute. At this rate, the heart is unable to pump enough oxygen-rich blood to the body during normal activity or exercise, causing dizziness, fatigue, shortness of breath or fainting spells. Pacemakers are the most common way to treat bradycardia to help restore the heart's normal rhythm and relieve symptoms by sending electrical impulses to the heart to increase the heart rate.
Comparable in size to a large vitamin, physicians at Ellis Medicine have elected to use Medtronic's Micra TPS because unlike traditional pacemakers, the device does not require cardiac wires (leads) or a surgical "pocket" under the skin to deliver a pacing therapy. Instead, the device is small enough to be delivered through a catheter and implanted directly into the heart with small tines, providing a safe alternative to conventional pacemakers without the complications associated with leads – all while being cosmetically invisible. The Micra TPS is also designed to automatically adjust pacing therapy based on a patient's activity levels.
"This is a new, exciting technology that offers patients an invisible and safe alternative to conventional pacemakers. It's innovative and offers patients a minimally invasive option," said Dr. Giovannone. "It's another sign that we continue to offer the latest treatment options for our patients as part of a commitment to quality care and innovative care."
The Micra TPS also incorporates a retrieval feature to enable retrieval of the device when possible; however, the device is designed to be left in the body. For patients who need more than one heart device, the miniaturized Micra TPS was designed with a unique feature that enables it to be permanently turned off so it can remain in the body and a new device can be implanted without risk of electrical interaction.
The Micra TPS is the first and only transcatheter pacing system to be approved for both 1.5 and 3 Tesla (T) full-body magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans and is designed to allow patients to be followed by their physicians and send data remotely via the Medtronic CareLink® Network.
The Micra TPS was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in April 2016, and has been granted Medicare reimbursement, allowing broad patient access to the novel pacing technology.
Media inquiries should be directed to the Communications Department at Ellis Medicine. The Communications Department is open and staffed Monday through Friday, from 9:00 am until 5:00 pm. The department can be reached by phone at 518.232.9288. If you leave a message your call will typically be returned within 24 hours.
All official communications regarding Ellis Medicine are arranged through the Communications Department. We look forward to working with members of the public and media organizations to provide accurate, up-to-date information about Ellis Medicine.
Ellis Medicine
1101 Nott Street
Schenectady, NY 12308
Featured Articles
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Ellis in the News
Ellis Hospital
1101 Nott Street
Schenectady, NY 12308
Main Number 518.243.4000
Information 518.243.4366
Emergency 518.243.4121
McClellan Street Health Center
600 McClellan Street
Schenectady, NY 12304
Main Number 518.382.2000
Bellevue Woman's Center
2210 Troy-Schenectady Road
Niskayuna, NY 12309
Main Number: 518.346.9400
Medical Center of Clifton Park
103 Sitterly Road
Clifton Park, NY 12065
Main Number 518.579.2800
Emergent Care: 518.579.2555
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1.5 kg chicken washed and cleaned
For marination
4 tbsp yogurt
1 tbsp red chilli paste (soak 6-7 red chillies in a little hot water and make into a paste)
2 tsp ginger garlic paste
1 tsp lemon juice
2 tsp coriander powder
1 tsp cumin powder
1 tsp kashmiri chilli powder
2 tbsp oil (I used mustard oil)
Salt to taste
Ground masala (dry roast and grind the following to a fine powder)
6 cloves
4 green cardamoms
2 black cardamoms
1 tsp cumin seeds
10-12 black peppercorns
1 1/2" cinnamon stick
1/2 seed of nutmeg
For Gravy
3 medium onions finely chopped
3 big tomatoes, pureed (boil the tomatoes till soft and blend only the tomatoes, keeping the liquid aside)
1 tbsp fresh ginger garlic paste
2 tbsp cashew paste (soak the cashews and make a paste)
2 tbsp cream
1/2 tsp turmeric powder
1 tsp cumin powder
1 tsp garam masala powder
1/2-1 tsp sugar
1 tsp kashmiri chilli powder (non-spicy)
Kasuri methi to sprinkle
Chopped green chillies (optional)
2-3 tbsp butter (use as per your choice of richness in the gravy; you may use oil instead but the richness will be missed)
Take the washed and cleaned chicken pieces in a bowl and add all the ingredients listed under marination. Mux well and coat the chicken pieces well with the marinade. Make slits on the chicken and cover and keep aside for a minimum of 1 hour to 3-4 hours.
Pre-heat the oven at 200 degree celsius and line the chicken pieces on a baking dish or grill plate in a single layer and brush with a little oil. Do not discard the marinade. Grill the chicken in the pre-heated oven for 20-25 minutes till browned and about 3/4th cooked. You may use only the top rod for this purpose and for quicker browning. Alternatively, you can also grill the chicken on stove top in a frying pan or grill plate with a little oil.
Now take a big wok or kadhai and melt the butter. Add the chopped onions and fry till golden but not burnt. Now add the ginger garlic paste and fry till raw smell disappears. Next add the marinade, tomato puree, cashew paste, and all the spices and sugar except the kasuri methi. Fry till drops of oil/butter starts appearing on top. This is the most important step of the recipe. Now add the grilled chicken pieces into the masala and any juice or liquid the chicken released while grilling. Mix well while taking care not to break the chicken pieces.
Add 1 cup of warm water (the reserved water from boiling the tomatoes) and bring it to a boil. Cover and cook till chicken is completely done. Now add the cream and kasuri methi. Check for seasoning and stir for a final time.
Remove from heat and serve hot with pulao/naan/paratha/steamed rice.


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Saturday 19 January 2019
Demo Day by Suburban Sports
Suburban Sports will be here with some of the latest and greatest gear for you to sample on the slopes! With the purchase of a lift ticket, or season pass you can take a few runs on a pair of new skis. Look for the tents in the base area. Demo is free; please bring a valid driver's license and credit card as I.D.


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Previously known as the Griffin House Inn, Sacred Rock Resort was originally built in 1890 along with Bridget Dolan's Pub as the main house. Around 1920, the Inn expanded with the construction of individual cottages nestled high on the cliffs overlooking the Pacific Ocean. Now, after extensive renovations, the resort is owned by the Jackson Rancheria Band of Miwuk Indians. Click here to find out more about Sacred Rock Resort
Sacred Rock Resort is currently seeking Cooks that will be responsible for achieving all standards for basic food preparation, cooking and presentation of menu items.
Compensation: Depends on Experience - Plus Tips, 401(k) and Medical Benefits
• Ensure that each guest receives outstanding service by creating a friendly environment and following Guest Service Guidelines.
• Prepare, season, finish and garnish all food in accordance with established recipes.
• Prepare base sauces, stocks and soups.
• Follow all recipes, specs, and control procedures.
• Takes and logs the temperature of food, makes sure foods are cooked to proper temperatures.
• Complete food preparation duties – washing, chopping, slicing, peeling, marinating, preparing and baking food items for future orders.
• Operate kitchen equipment including slicer, steamer, deep fryer, ovens, broiler, grill, mixer, kettle, flat top, slow cookers, woks, griddles, braisers, ranges, salamanders, combination ovens, knives, and other equipment for food preparation.
• Use proper dry and liquid measurement tools and scales.
• Performs proper receiving, thawing, storage, proportioning, heating and holding, and re-heating of food items.
• Ensure food items at assigned culinary work station are properly covered and stored at the end of shift.
• Maintain all refrigeration and dry storage areas to ensure proper handling, labeling, organization, rotation and safety of food products.
• Maintain assigned culinary work station so that it is clean, organized, well stocked, sanitary and in full accordance with food handling/health regulations.
• Follows all safety and emergency procedures and is aware of accident prevention policies.
• Immediately notify management if poor guest service and/or poor/unsafe food handling practices are observed.
• Assist with training other cooks in proper culinary techniques and proper equipment usage when directed by management.
•Must perform a wide range of related duties as needed or requested by the supervisor.
•Responsible for the washing of soiled dishes, silverware, glasses, pots and pans.
•Maintain supplies to the dining area such as silverware, glassware and dishes.
•Assist in all phases of service in the kitchen as directed.
•Knowledge of proper operation and cleaning procedures of all kitchen equipment utensils.
•Must maintain a professional attitude and appearance at all times.
•Must be able to effectively communicate with guests and co-workers.
•Other duties may be assigned.
EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE
Minimum education, training, and previous work experience required to perform this job:
• A minimum of six months to two years of relevant cooking experience in a casual/fine dining environment.
Software Powered by iCIMS


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South Africans buried their anti-apartheid hero, Nelson Mandela, in the Eastern Cape hills of Qunu, South Africa, where he was born, after a stirring ceremony marked by stories of his mischievous side and his love of children.
President Jacob Zuma stood and sang in his rich, mellow voice in tribute to Mandela, and the mourners rose as one and joined him, the harmony rising into the black-domed roof of a marquee the size of a football field.
One of Mandela's oldest friends, Ahmed Kathrada, a onetime prison comrade, conveyed the nation's devastating sense of loss.
Kathrada said he lost a father when anti-apartheid hero Walter Sisulu died. "Now I have lost a brother. My life is a void. I don't know who to turn to," he said.
Accompanied by a mournful hymn, Mandela's coffin was borne from the marquee after the funeral service. The casket, covered in the South African flag, made its final journey uphill to the burial place, where it was carried by pallbearers to the grave.
A 21-gun salute rang out as South African air force jets shrieked overhead, and echoing notes of the Last Post rose before the coffin was lowered into the earth.
Zuma, who was booed at Tuesday's memorial service and criticized for a flat, nervous speech at that time, took a different approach Sunday. He electrified the mourners with his singing and struck a simpler, more personal note in his speech describing Mandela's enduring hatred of racial discrimination.
"You forgave those who took away most of your adult life and who dehumanized the majority of your compatriots," Zuma said.
"Tata, it has been a long, painful week for us, your people, your comrades, your relatives, your friends," he said, using the affectionate term for "Father" that most South Africans use for Mandela. He paid tribute to the tens of thousands of people who lined up to see Mandela lying in state from Wednesday to Friday, if just for a moment.
Zuma pledged to follow Mandela's example and work to eliminate poverty and inequality.
"We want today to express two simple words: thank you — thank you for being everything we wanted and needed as a leader during a difficult period of our lives," he said.
Nandi Mandela portrayed her grandfather as loving, mischievous, fun and full of love for his family.
She said her grandfather made sure every member of the extended family got a decent education. He put on a Christmas party for all the children in the village every year, making sure each child got a gift and Christmas lunch. When it became impossible for him to put the lunch on out of his own pocket, he persuaded local businesses to contribute.
"We also want to do good because he has led by example and doing good," she said.
She said Mandela lost the power of speech a year ago, and that his family missed hearing his voice and listening to his stories.
"He was a lot of fun to be around. He was a great storyteller. At dinner he liked telling stories about his childhood and he preferred telling stories laughing at himself," she said.
He often entertained the family with one story that involved trying to spear a piece of chicken on a plate, in front of a girl he wanted to impress, only to have it skid away repeatedly.
At the back of the stage, 95 candles were lighted before dawn, one for each year of his life. The coffin was placed in front of the stage throughout the service, as speakers paid tribute. A recording of young people singing was played, to mark his love of children.
African leaders such as Malawian President Joyce Banda and Tanzanian President Kikaya Kikwete paid tribute.
Former Zambian leader Kenneth Kaunda, who wasn't on the program, was called up and bounded onto the stage with stories of the humiliations apartheid leaders meted out to black South Africans. He said Mandela practiced the Christian ideal of loving other people.


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P.S. Don't forget to enter our giveaway...you could be making the best mojitos on the block!
The ParkPosted by Alexa
P.S. Don't forget to enter our giveaway...you could be making the best mojitos on the block!
12 comments:
- Sarah said...
Yes, that romper is absolutely darling... and so are her fat rolls hehe =)
- Sarah
- July 7, 2011 at 3:30 PM
- jillian :: cornflake dreams. said...
awww what a cutie! xoxo jillian:: cornflake dreams
- July 7, 2011 at 4:00 PM
- la petite coquine said...
Oh my goodness, these photos are wonderful! And that romper is so sweet!
- July 7, 2011 at 5:03 PM
- Aubrey {All Things Bright and Beautiful} said...
Isn't it the best when they are just in a great mood and you can actually get pictures that look like your sweet little angel??? I do. High five on that last one, it is adorable! (c:
- July 7, 2011 at 8:53 PM
- Alexa said...
Aubrey, yes. My goodness she can be such a crab sometimes. You wouldn't know that just 10 minutes prior she was screaming her head off like it was the end of the world.
- July 7, 2011 at 10:24 PM
- Jessie said...
Mila is so adorable! That romper is very cute and pretty! Where did you get it?
- July 7, 2011 at 10:25 PM
- mia said...
- July 8, 2011 at 1:24 AM
- Jen Daiker said...
What an adorable little one!! This is my first time here and what a beautiful blog you have! So summery and lovely I can't get enough!
Have a beautiful and happy weekend!
- July 8, 2011 at 4:38 AM
- Alicia said...
Oooh oooh ooh CUTE CUTE CUTE!
Have a great weekend,
Mundo de Alicia ❤
- July 8, 2011 at 5:51 AM
- Cafe Fashionista said...
Awww...what a cutie! :)
- July 8, 2011 at 6:48 AM
- Jamie @ charmingly ordinary said...
LOVE her name!
- July 8, 2011 at 11:13 AM
- Kat said...
so so cute! i think she looks a lot like you, at least in those pictures! hope to see her, and you two- soon!
- July 8, 2011 at 1:27 PM


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Our Institute
About us
Lead by design
Selecting the right institution and right design course are vital to devising a successful career in design. Despite the ever growing need of trained design professionals, there are no dedicated institute to furnish the demand of the graphic design industry in Nepal. To plug the gap, we, at AiDC, Advance Institute of Design and Commerce, offer world-class design education and build quality human resources to cater to the country's diverse design needs.
Advance Institute of Design and Commerce is established with the aim of creating a positive and inspirational learning environment where students are taught relevant industry skills. We ensure you have the best possible chance of employment as designer or further your career if you are already in the design industry.
Our OBJECTIVES
- Offer world-class design education and build quality human resources to cater the country's diverse design needs in social, cultural, economic and business aspect.
- Engage with global design authorities and impart contextual knowledge, resources and technology.
- Retain and attract quality faculty, academicians, designers, researchers, and professionals; thus demonstrating the institute's intellectual engagement with the latest in thought leadership.
- To pave the way for its students to a successful career via an educational experience that emphasizes:
- Creativity and Innovation
- Enterprise and Entrepreneurship
- Relevance and Employability
- Professional Excellence and
- Socially Responsible Professional Practice


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Equipping Minds
Equipping Minds provides hope to those families where a student is frustrated in school and to adults who are seeing a decrease in their processing and memory.
Equipping Minds primary mission is to work with children and adults to help them overcome learning, emotional, and social challenges by equipping their minds to reach the full potential God has for them. As Dr. Reuven Feuerstein has proven, "everyone regardless of age, etiology or disability-has immeasurable ability to enhance their learning aptitude and heighten their intelligence." The Feuerstein Method has helped hundreds of thousands of people improve their learning, thinking, and analyzing skills
Learn more about Equipping Minds and our story HERE. Purchase Equipping Minds products here and receive free shipping.
These games are used with the Equipping Minds Program and can be purchased at Amazon. These are great brain training games for children and adults of all ages! Learn more about the games HERE