text:
One Man, One Vote
letter to Globe and Mail)By Israel Shamir
Binoculars are
a handy thing, usually used to enlarge small distant objects. But
one may turn them other way around and turn a close and threatening
object into a small and distant one. This procedure, usually a
reserve of kids, was applied by Naomi Klein, the best-selling author
of No Logo, in her letter to Toronto daily, Globe and Mail . Under
her magic pen, the most powerful group of people in North America,
owners of almost all Canadian and the US media and of a sizeable
chunk of real estate, was turned into a handful of fearful Jews
hiding for their lives in a remote synagogue. It takes time to
understand that she writes about people we know in the time we live
through, not about some medieval event.Ms Klein writes:
"Most Jews are so frightened that they are now willing to do
anything to defend Israeli policies". The second half is right. We
know that most Jews are willing to do anything to defend and support
and promote ethnic cleansing in Palestine. They are willing and
doing it all the time. They booed down Paul Wolfowitz, the most
bloodthirsty member of Neo-Liberal pack, for not being sufficiently
bloodthirsty. In your average synagogue, they consider Sharon being
a bit too kind-hearted man for his job, rather a closet Leftie. But
fear does not enter this equation: nowadays the Jews have nothing to
fear. They say and do what they want, without looking back. The
Jewish tradition forbids mistreating a Goy, as long as such
mistreatment can misfire and endanger a Jew. Apparently, now the
Jews do not feel themselves threatened at all. A few days
ago, I went to a Jewish solidarity gathering in Brighton Beach near
New York. The Jews cheered Yvet Lieberman, an Israeli minister who
left Sharon's government protesting Sharon's liberal approach. They
spent a lot of money, put up screens and satellite links to proclaim
their feelings unequivocally. One does not have to go to a public
gathering: open any Jewish newspaper, from Israeli Haaretz to the
American Jewish Week, and a stream of unadulterated hatred will hit
you square in the face.It is not news: ten years ago, Danni
Rubinstein, a liberal Israeli journalist, complained that the
American Jews invariably support the most extreme nationalist forces
in Israel. American Jews are not exclusion: the Jews of England and
Russia are braying for the Goyiish blood, as well. A skilful
apologist, Ms Klein prefers to explain away this criminal and
culpable encouragement to mass murder by their fear. She would do a
fine defence lawyer in Nuremberg. Indeed, who is not fearful? As Dr
Nolte wrote, the Nazi atrocities were caused by their fear of
Russian Communism. Communist atrocities were caused by their fear of
imperialist aggression, etc. In other words, fear is not a defence.
If they are afraid they can consult a shrink, not support
genocide.Ms Klein builds a syllogism: Jews support Sharon
because they are afraid, let us therefore fight anti-Semitism, and
the problem will be solved. Alas, her conclusion is as weak as her
premise Sharon does not use Jewish fear, he mobilizes Jewish
chauvinism, including that of Ms\Klein. In her book, No Logo, she
tells us that her activism began with defence of the rich Jews who
were underrepresented at the board of their companies. It ended with
the defence of Sharon's supporters. Now, most of the Jews speak with
one voice, from 'left' Naomi Klein to 'right' Barbara Amiel. For
them, there is no Left, neither Right, just the Jewish ethnic
interests. Ms Klein makes a lot of mileage out of some
damaged synagogue. We have not heard from her and her friends a word
of protest against the siege of the Nativity Church in Bethlehem, or
destruction of the ancient Green Mosque in Nablus. Not a word! I can
imagine what would happen if a synagogue would be besieged and its
occupants starved and shot as in Bethlehem. Klein would like us to
care about synagogues. Synagogues are used to collect money for
Sharon's offensive. Netanyahu and other monsters habitually speak in
synagogues to their devotees. Should there be peace to synagogues
and war to churches and mosques? Synagogues are not neutral, and Ms
Klein admits it: "At my neighbourhood synagogue", she writes, "the
sign on the door says, "Support Israel . . . Now more than ever."
Now – after the massacre of Jenin, after the attack on
Bethlehem, after mass destruction of Ramallah and Hebron, they wish
to support Israel more than ever. Without their support, Sharon
would never commit his atrocities. Without their support, Israel
would shrink to its natural size. In my opinion, these people should
not be protected, as some wee little innocent group of religious
believers. These powerful and influential men should be treated with
extreme prejudice.There is no danger of racialist attacks on
peaceful Jews, and it is good. The present level of intermarriage
and social connections excludes such a possibility. Even Jean-Mari
Le Pen has a Jewish son-in-law Samuel Marechal and very close Jewish
friend Jean-Claude Martinez, both prominent members of FN. But the
Jewish extra-territorial state, this extension of Israel overseas,
should be pointed out as a perpetrator of atrocities.Israel
Wednesday, April 24,
2002Toronto Globe and mailOld hates fuelled by
fearNAOMI KLEINI knew from e-mail reports that
something new was going on in Washington last weekend. A
demonstration against the World Bank and International Monetary Fund
was joined by an antiwar march, as well as a demonstration against
the Israeli occupation of Palestinian territory.In the end,
all the marches joined together in what organizers described asthe
largest Palestinian solidarity demonstration in U.S. history,
75,000people by police estimates.On Sunday night, I turned
on my television in the hope of catching aglimpse of this
historic protest. I saw something else, instead:
triumphantJean-Marie Le Pen celebrating his newfound status as the
second-most popular political leader in France. Ever since, I've
been wondering whether the new alliance displayed on the streets can
also deal with this latest threat.As a critic both of the
Israeli occupation and of corporate-dictated globalization, it seems
to me that the convergence that took place in Washington last
weekend was long overdue. Despite easy labels like
"antiglobalization," the trade-related protests of the past three
years have all been about self-determination: the right of people
everywhere to decide how best to organize their societies and
economies, whether that means introducing land reform in Brazil, or
producing generic AIDS drugs in India, or, indeed, resisting an
occupying force in Palestine.When hundreds of globalization
activists began flocking to Ramallah to act as "human shields"
between Israeli tanks and Palestinians, the theory that has been
developing outside trade summits was put into concrete action.
Bringing that courageous spirit back to Washington, where so much
Middle Eastern policy is made, was the next logical step.
But when I saw Mr. Le Pen beaming on TV, arms raised in
triumph, some of my enthusiasm drained away. There is no connection
whatsoever between French fascism and the "free Palestine" marchers
in Washington (indeed, the only people Mr. Le Pen's supporters seem
to dislike more than Jews are Arabs). And yet, I couldn't help
thinking about all the recent events I've been to where anti-Muslim
violence was rightly condemned, Ariel Sharon deservedlyblasted,
but no mention was made of attacks on Jewish
synagogues,cemeteries and community centres. Or about the fact
that every time I log onto activist news sites such as
Indymedia.org, which practise "open publishing," I'm confronted with
a string of Jewish conspiracy theories about 9-11 and excerpts from
the Protocols of the Elders of Zion.The globalization
movement isn't anti-Semitic, it just hasn't fully confronted the
implications of diving into the Middle East conflict. Most people on
the left are simply choosing sides and in the Middle East, where one
side is under occupation and the other has the U.S. military behind
it, the choice seems clear. But it is possible to criticize Israel
while forcefully condemning the rise of anti-Semitism. And
it is equally possible to be pro-Palestinian independence
withoutadopting a simplistic "pro-Palestinian/anti-Israel"
dichotomy, a mirrorimage of the good-versus-evil equations so
beloved by President George W. Bush.Why bother with such
subtleties while bodies are still being pulled out of the rubble in
Jenin? Because anyone interested in fighting Le Pen-style fascism or
Sharon-style brutality has to deal with the reality of anti-Semitism
head-on.The hatred of Jews is a potent political tool in the
hands of the right in Europe and in Israel. For Mr. Le Pen,
anti-Semitism is a windfall, helping spike his support from 10 per
cent to 17 per cent in a week.For Ariel Sharon, it is the
fear of anti-Semitism, both real and imagined, that is the weapon.
Mr. Sharon likes to say that he stands up to terrorists to show he
is not afraid. In fact, his policies are driven by fear. His great
talent is that he fully understands the depths of Jewish fear of
another Holocaust. He knows how to draw parallels between Jewish
anxieties about anti-Semitism and American fears of
terrorism.And he is an expert at harnessing all of it for
his political ends. The primary, and familiar, fear that Mr. Sharon
draws on, the one that allowshim to claim all aggressive actions
as defensive ones, is the fear thatIsrael's neighbours want to
drive the Jews into the sea. The secondary fear Mr. Sharon
manipulates is the fear among Jews in the Diaspora that they will
eventually be driven to seek safe haven in Israel. This fear leads
millions of Jews around the world, many of them sickened by Israeli
aggression, to shut up and send their cheques, a down payment on
future sanctuary.The equation is simple: The more fearful
Jews are, the more powerful Mr. Sharon is. Elected on a platform of
"peace through security," his administration could barely hide its
delight at Mr. Le Pen's ascendancy, immediately calling on French
Jews to pack their bags and come to the promised land.For
Mr. Sharon, Jewish fear is a guarantee that his power will go
unchecked, granting him the impunity needed to do the unthinkable:
send troops into the Palestinian Authority's education ministry to
steal and destroy records; bury children alive in their homes; block
ambulances fromgetting to the dying.Jews outside Israel now
find themselves in a tightening vise: The actions of the country
that was supposed to ensure their future safety are making them less
safe right now. Mr. Sharon is deliberately erasing distinctions
between the terms "Jew" and "Israeli," claiming he is fighting not
for Israeli territory but for the survival of the Jewish people. And
when anti-Semitism rises at least partly as a result of his actions,
it is Mr. Sharon who is positioned once again to collect the
political dividends.And it works. Most Jews are so
frightened that they are now willing to do anything to defend
Israeli policies. So at my neighbourhood synagogue, where the humble
facade was just badly scarred by a suspicious fire, the sign on the
door doesn't say, "Thanks for nothing, Sharon." It says, "Support
Israel . . . Now more than ever."There is a way out. Nothing
is going to erase anti-Semitism, but Jewsoutside and inside
Israel might be a little safer if there was a campaign to
distinguish between diverse Jewish positions and the actions of the
Israeli state. This is where an international movement can play a
crucial role. Already, alliances are being made between
globalization activists and Israeli "refuseniks," soldiers who
refuse to serve their mandatory duty in the occupied territories.
And the most powerful images from Saturday's protests were rabbis
walking alongside Palestinians. But more needs to be done. It's
easy for social-justice activists to tellthemselves that since
Jews already have such powerful defenders inWashington and
Jerusalem, anti-Semitism is one battle they don't need to
fight.This is a deadly error. It is precisely because
anti-Semitism is used by the likes of Mr. Sharon that the fight
against it must be reclaimed. When anti-Semitism is no longer
treated as Jewish business, to be taken care of by Israel and the
Zionist lobby, Mr. Sharon is robbed of his most effective weapon in
the indefensible and increasingly brutal occupation. And as a bonus,
whenever hatred of Jews diminishes, the likes of Jean-Marie Le Pen
shrink right down with it.Naomi Klein is author of No


text:
Roof drains on commercial buildings are the best source to drain water from the roof.
The roof leak might not be coming from the roof itself, but from a clogged roof drain(s).
A leaky roof drain can cause serious damage unknowingly. It can be leaking in the walls and cause serious mold.
Regular maintenance of the roof drains is necessary to prevent situations. Most commercial building owners do not even realize that they have a drain(s) on the roof.
Sometimes cleaning your roof drain might not be enough. If the roof drain is old, you might need to replace it to permanently to stop the leaking.
Please call us for free roof evaluation. (561) 767-2479 or email us your information.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Il-liġi tipproteġiha lill-familja?
Abbozz ta' Liġi biex jirregola l-Koabitazzjoni
Obituary : Paul Attard
Raġel li ħafer lil martu
Katekeżi tal-Papa Franġisku dwar iż-Żwieġ u l-Familja
Iż-Żwieġ huwa Għotja
Imħabba Vera Teżisti
Jingħata Bidu għas-Sena Pastorali tal-Moviment ta' Kana
Knisja f'dixxerniment
Awguri !
Biex Siġra titla' Dritta
L-Ewwel Ħadd ta' Frar - JUM L-ĦAJJA
Ġimgħa Żwieġ 2015
Fiż-Żwieġ Inqaddsu lil Xulxin
Il-Laqgħa Ġenerali Annwali tal-Moviment ta' Kana
Quddiesa għall-Familji mill-Gruppi Familji Nsara
Cana Launches New Initiative for Families
Quddiesa mill-GFN għall-Jum Dinjiji tal-Familja
Konferenza dwar il-Familja
Għarfien dwar il-vjolenza domestika
Sign the Campaign - I AM PRO-LIFE - JIEN FAVUR IL-ĦAJJA
MERĦBA Mons. Charles Attard
AWGURI u GRAZZI Dun Karm
Surrogate motherhood report rejected by the Council of Europe
Tislima lil Mons Mercieca
US Governors Sign Pro-Life Legislation
Over 5.1 million babies born in 2014
Safeguarding Malta's Catholic roots
Pro-life and pro-family NGOs face unprecedented bias at major UN session
True Father
The Cohabitation Bill – Some observations
Increase the Birth Rate
Intervista lil Dun Charles Attard Direttur tal-Moviment ta' Kana
Bidu tas-Sena Pastorali 2017-2018
Laqgħa Ġenerali Annwali 2017
Turning 'Fifty Shades' on its head
Assemblea Familja fil-Bidu tas-Sena Pastorali 2016-2017
Press Release
Dak li vvinta l-pillola kontraċettiva jitkellem kontrieha
Good, healthy families
Laqgħa Ġenerali Annwali tal-Gruppi Familji Nsara
Precautionary principle
Enjoying Your Marriage Journey… Even When it's Difficult
Good, healthy families
by Mgr George Frendo - Auxiliary Bishop of Tiranë-Durrës in Albania.
This article was first published in the Times of Malta of Tuesday, June 28th, 2016.
Towards the end of the month of July 2009, the Prime Minister of Albania, Sali Berisha, announced he intended to propose a motion in Parliament to approve 'same-sex marriage'.
The following day, some journalists decided to gauge the opinion on this topic among the religious groups represented in Albania.
The Catholic Church was the first to be approached, despite the fact that it only represents 15 per cent of the population. It ranks third after Islam and the Orthodox Church, yet, it enjoys high credibility and esteem for various reasons. Due to my position, I was the person who was approached first.
Within a week, the Catholic bishops of Albania made a declaration, which was published in all newspapers, in which we explained the position of the Catholic Church. Very soon after, the Moslems, the Orthodox and the Bektashi Order (a Sufi Moslem sect) also reacted.
So, together we published a joint declaration as the Inter-Religious Council of Albania. There was widespread reaction in the Albanian media, the vast majority sharing our stand against the introduction of the so-called 'marriage' between persons of the same sex.
Although Albania is secular, the religious groups are always consulted and listened to whenever a law will impact on religious issues, directly or indirectly such as education in private schools. It bears emphasising that this takes place in a secular, non-confessional country.
Therefore, I had good reason to be very surprised when, recently, Prime Minister Joseph Muscat, a friend of mine and a person I know has the good of the family at heart, stated he is in favour of 'gay marriage' and that the time is ripe to discuss this possibility.
I was equally surprised when Simon Busuttil, the leader of the Opposition and leader of a party whose banner once carried the words Religio et Patria, also stated that he agrees with legislation to introduce such a 'marriage'.
Berisha took heed of the position taken by the mainstream religions in this country and he soon withdrew from his previous statement. Was this a sign of weakness or was he a good listener? I feel it is a huge mistake when legislators ignore the religious sentiments of their people.
In an interview I gave to local television regarding 'marriage' between homosexuals, the interviewer asked: "Countries that are more emancipated than ours are today approving this type of 'marriage'; is it possible they are all wrong?"
Surprisingly, there and then, the words of the Desert Fathers came to my mind: a time will come when all people will go crazy and when they see one who is normal, they will laugh at him and say "look at that madman'".
Unfortunately, the state that approves of this type of bond, wrongly called 'marriage', is today considered an emancipated country.
We later got to know that an ambassador of one of the first countries to introduce 'marriage' between homosexuals was applying pressure on the Albanian government to introduce this type of 'marriage' to show Europe it is no less backward than other emancipated countries.
In the statement we released as the bishops of Albania, we first mentioned that both the Church and the State have a sacred duty to defend the dignity and integrity of marriage and the family.
Aware of this responsibility, we feel we have to raise our voice against the proposal of the Prime Minister regarding the legislation of 'same-sex marriage'.
Then, as Christians, we presented the teachings of the Bible regarding marriage as a bond between heterosexuals.
In the first pages of Genesis, we read that God created us in His image as male and female. After creating man, God said: "It is not good for the man to live alone; I will make a suitable companion." In metaphorical terms the creation of woman was formed from his rib. When the man saw the woman, he exclaimed: "At last, here is one of my own kind – bone from my bone and flesh from my flesh. Woman is her name because she was taken out of man."
We then have the definition of marriage, with the following statement: "That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united with his wife and they become one flesh."
These statements are enough for us to understand what meaning marriage had and still has in God's plan. Human beings are created in the image of God, male and female. The woman has the same dignity of the man. Both, as two individuals, having the same dignity, join together in marriage and become "one body".
Therefore, the diversity of sex is willed by God, who intended this for marriage which includes the possibility of procreation of children, something that is obviously excluded in the case of 'marriage' between homosexuals.
One has every right, if one does not want to live as a Christian, to reject this but a Christian cannot play around with the Word of God, which is crystal clear.
We continued by stating that, in every era, every culture and religion, marriage was always defined as the full bonding between a man and a woman. No Parliament has the competence to change this definition. For the sake of truth, let us not consider calling 'marriage' a bond between two people of the same sex or say that this is a right.
One says this without any lack of respect towards homosexuals. What is stated by the catechism of the Catholic Church must be accepted with respect and every sign of unjust discrimination in their regard should be avoided.
Finally, the cells that form society are not individuals but families. Not every change inevitably means progress. We should not fool ourselves into thinking that approving such a law places us in the league of the more emancipated nations. Let us, therefore, defend the ethical values that really guarantee authentic and healthy families.
This statement was very well received by the press and public opinion. Naturally, not everyone agreed with us but no one insulted us saying we were narrow minded or medieval.
comments powered byDisqus


text:
Ogre Warriors are armed with looted swords and shields...
|HP 144; Bloodied 72
|AC 22; Fortitude 19, Reflex 17, Will 14
|Saving Throws +2
|Speed 6
|Action Points 1
|m Sword (Standard; at-will) ♦ weapon
|+14 vs. AC; 1d6+4 damage.
|m Shield slam (Move; at-will) ♦ weapon
|+11 vs. Reflex; 1d4+4 damage.
|m Bull charge (Standard; at-will) ♦ weapon
|Makes a charge attack dealing an extra 1d6+4 damage.
|c Inspire Ogre (Standard; at-will)
|Burst 5; An Ogre in range makes a charge attack that deals an extra 1d6+4 damage and heals 20 hit points.
|Skills Athletics +14, Endurance +12


text:
Monday, June 09, 2014
Election 2014: Waterloo for Pyari or Naveen!
Naveen, 2014 would be his fourth attempt at power in Odisha; for Pyari, it
might be his last serious attempt at power. Knowing Pyari's mindset,
he would like to silence all the wagging tongues once for all. 2014
could well be Pyari's or Naveen's Waterloo but come what may, Pyari
is set to influence 2014 elections, whether we like it or not."
Rajya Sabha MP and BJD leader Pyari Mohan Mohapatra, who was a
one-time confidant of Naveen Patnaik and presently serving
suspension in the BJD for a failed coup attempt against Naveen,
has been written off as dead wood by all and sundry. His
political obituaries have been painted across Odisha and
beyond. People have called him "traitor", "beimaan",
"ungrateful" and "evil". He has been virtually besieged by BJD
activists with protests wherever he has been visiting in Odisha.
The latest being the protests against him in Koraput. Many
questioned his immaturity as a politician for even attempting to
unseat Naveen Patnaik as the Chief Minister of Odisha and some
even attributed it to his septuagenarian advancing age. Naveen
is reported to have remarked that Pyari Mohan failed in his coup
attempt since for the first time he used "his heart instead of
his head."
The press and media have lambasted Pyari in no uncertain terms and the
seventy thousand strong crowd reception of Naveen, at Bhubaneswar
airport on his return after the failed coup, was attributed to the
overwhelming love and respect for Naveen and abject rejection and
disgust at Pyari Mohan. Naveen was the God and Pyari the fallen God for
Pyari does not hold sway in state's governance and BJD's political
planning anymore. He is perceived as a spent force, a man, whose time
has come to hang his political chappals, recline in his Saheed Nagar
house and quietly fade out into political oblivion. He is perceived as a
shadow of a man who was at one time politically feared, bureaucratically
respected and strategically the grey matter of BJD. So why speak about a
spent force, an old man who is approaching his political winter. There
were many politicians before Pyari Mohan namely Narsimha Rao, Sitaram
Kesri, Devegowda, I.K. Gujral, Manmohan Singh, Pratibha Devi Patil, Buta
Singh and the list is endless who were cited as spent forces in
politics, living on the fringes of public life, about whom political
epitaphs and memoirs are written. Living their time to probably write
their autobiographies. But in politics the unthinkable is thinkable. All
of them surprised politics itself with their re-advent and subsequent
political careers which shaped the destiny of India in some measure.
In politics; never, never, never, never, never, never write off a
politician! Closer home Late Biju Patnaik was considered history with
J.B.Patnaik ruling as Chief Minister from 1980-1989 in Odisha. In 1995,
J.B.Patnaik was ruled out of the Chief Ministerial race since he had not
contested the elections. He not only became the Chief Minister but also
ruled with an iron hand before he was removed. Naveen Patnaik was
considered a political bunny, whose sole task was to dance to the tune
of Bijay Mohapatra and Dilip Ray. He was considered a shadow of his
father the great Biju Babu and people wondered if he was even a quarter
similar to his father. But the same man has been ruling Odisha for the
past three terms strongly and at the moment looks set for a fourth term.
Politics is a great leveler. Ask Sonia Gandhi and Manmohan Singh. Riding
on an emphatic electoral mandate in 2009 they were confident that UPA-II
would be the flagship Government that would redefine political history.
With less pressure from allies the Government looked set to bring in
major reforms, streamline regulations, increase FDI in retail and
insurance and above all create a stronger and robust economy which would
have been the befitting tribute to the "Manmohan-omics" of Manmohan
Singh. But three and a half years down the line, the Government has been
gasping for breath. The Congress has been losing every major state
assembly election. A proverbial titanic is on the verge of sinking. But
will it sink? That's again where politics will play truant. The BJP is
organizationally weak and its allies are wavering as seen with JD (U) in
the Presidential elections. Would Congress being the comparatively
stronger party still make it to UPA-III? That's when politics could play
another leveler on the people of this country.
Therefore in political realm to cast off a politician as a forsaken
entity is fraught with danger. I was discussing with a senior journalist
in Bhubaneswar yesterday, a person who in fact hates the very guts of
Pyari. But he conceded that even today about 35 to 40 MLAs still swear
allegiance to Pyari though they sip tea with Naveen in Naveen Niwas. The
journo informed that apparently a large cache of resources are reported
to have been placed with Pyari during the Panchayat elections which
Naveen will never able to retrieve. The veracity of these claims is open
to public speculation only. But, Pyari Mohan was the man who single
handedly built the BJD electoral machine for the past two elections,
conducted independent surveys, identified winnable candidates,
established winnable issues, coordinated resource and administrative
machinery utilization and was solely responsible for the overwhelming
presence of BJD in western Odisha which till the 2008 was virtually
non-existent. BJD used to concentrate on coastal Odisha and its then
ally BJP used to take care of western Odisha. But within nine months
post the Kandhamal communal violence in 2008, Pyari had virtually turned
every BJP district and block unit into a BJD unit.
A man who has had the insider information on the chinks in BJD's armour,
still commands respect either out of fear or reverence among the
business community and has is fingers in literally every section of
governance and politics in Odisha cannot be wished off with the stroke
of a pen or a few sound bites. The reality is that Pyari Mohan is alive
and kicking politically. The deliberate shying away from the media is a
ploy to buy time and gain space so that his next moves could be planned
to perfection. Naveen of late has been busy posing for shutterbugs with
Narendra Modi, Jayalalitha and P.A. Sangma who are perceived as serious
opposition to UPA and the Congress. He has also back-stabbed Sharad
Pawar by buying in the four NCP MLAs in Odisha to the BJD. The NCP is a
strong ally of UPA and has not taken kindly to the "Et tu Brute" action
by Naveen, notwithstanding that this Brutus-like action of Naveen was
never debated in public domain. But in a nutshell, Naveen has been
providing enough ammunition to the UPA and particularly to the Congress
for them to distrust him. Sonia Gandhi will be under pressure from her
coterie to forego her "go slow" policy on Naveen. This could be an ideal
break for Pyari to jockey with Congress and become a strong bargaining
Naveen becomes Chief Minister for the fourth time or Congress makes a
comeback. Whether a third regional force would rear head or would
Congress back Pyari to take on Naveen in a disguised proxy war. All
these speculations may seem independent but in some measure will have a
flavour of Pyari in it. If Naveen has wished away Pyari as a forgotten
book then he is committing political hara-kiri. Naveen's political
advisers may paint the moon green for him with a conch on it and point
to his growing clout, but the fact remains that Pyari is like a desert
rattle snake. He thrives on sizzling political temperatures, spine
chilling political contexts and nerve wracking political manoeuvres. The
2014 elections might be Pyari's final adieu to Odisha politics and he
knows that. By 2019 he would be just about inching to eighty. Therefore,
the coming elections would not only see him taking vengeance on Naveen
but also signing off a politically chequered career on a winning note.
He may not have the charisma of Naveen or the organizational base of the
Congress but he sure has a "killer instinct" which is being mistaken
today as his "failed coup instinct." For Naveen, 2014 would be his
fourth attempt at power, for Pyari it might be his last serious attempt
at power. Knowing Pyari's mindset, he would like to silence all the
wagging tongues once for all. 2014 could well be Pyari's or Naveen's
Waterloo but come what may, Pyari is set to influence 2014 elections,
whether we like it or not.
[Dr.Sasmit Patra is
a Bhubaneswar based academician and political researcher. He can be reached at
email@example.com ]
If you look at issues from the
perspective of common man
want to share your ideas with our readers across the globe
submit your article
(at least 800 words)
Orissa experiences the wrath of Climate Change in India
Mahatma Gandhi wanted an end to untouchability only, but not to caste
system - John Dayal
Victim of Mining - Sukinda fast converts into a death trap
Sea level rise and inundation of Coastal India
The communal face of Indian Maoists
Violence in Orissa's Kandhamal - Social conflict and Economic gap led to
Communal hatred
Orissa's Lake Chilka faces danger of submergence
River Ganges faces the wrath of Global Warming
Orissa in a globalised economy - Challenges ahead
Crime Reporting in India - Publicising criminals than condemning Crimes
Hirakud Dam needs a proper management system to realise its objectives
Kalahandi - Cursed with Industries
Turtle Cry - Less safety for Turtles, more troubles for Fishing
Vedanta University project - A Real Estate Deal in disguise
Development Goals (MDGs) and the NGO movement in India
Agriculture Vs Industrialisation: Indian Economy pushed to a jump-shift
Awareness of water-quality
Politics of Regional Nationality
Coal Bed Methane (CBM) - A natural resource base Orissa should Explore
Onion Farming can stop labour migration in most part of Orissa
Sun Temple of Konark - Heritage in freezes
Female Foeticide in India - Medieval mindset rules over Indian society
Television Journalism in India - Money and Sensationalism overpower
ethics and principles
Indian History Needs to be Reinterpreted and Re-written
A Teacher not allowed into the School - Another sign of caste
discrimination in Orissa


text:
Matthew Jones is a 2017-2018 Fulbright ETA placed at Watbot School in Phitsanulok,
Thailand, where he teaches prathom students. Matthew is from Salisbury, Maryland, and completed his B.S. at Salisbury University in Elementary Education with a minor in English for Students of Other Languages (ESOL). In his free time, Matthew can be found traveling around Thailand with other ETA's, laughing with his students, or riding his bike all over town while sweating profusely. After the completion of his Fulbright grant, Matthew plans to return to the United States to teach primary school students, and eventually pursue his graduate degree to receive his administration certification.
As I boarded the plane on that early September morning, nerves controlled my body. I was anxious for the unknown of what my new life in northern Thailand had in store for me. I had a million question racing through my head that simply could not be answered. As I found my seat on the plane and begin talking with another ETA who was on my flight, my nervousness quickly changed to excitement. Kaela and I quickly began discussing how we thought the next year would unfold. It was settling exchanging thoughts with another person who was in the exact same situation with you knowing they had the same worries and questions. After twenty four hours of traveling, we finally made it to Bangkok.
The month long orientation that all ETA's had to go through was such a breath of fresh air. Myself, alongside the other twenty teachers, sat through hours of Thai language classes, Thai culture classes, and listening to the stories of the previous ETA's who had just completed their year long journey in Thailand. All of this information was greatly appreciated and interesting to hear, but a part of me was still nervous about being halfway around the world trying to teach students who have no English speaking proficiency. No matter how many questions we would ask in those information sessions or to previous ETA's, the answer given always ended with, "but everyone's experience is so different so it may not be the exact same at your school." After being in the province and teaching for three months now, I completely understand why they added that extra blurb to the end of their answers.
The first few days in Phitsanulok I took my time to try to acclimate myself to everything and everyone around me. I just wanted to fit in and not be seen as a "farang" to everyone around town, but I have come to accept that I will always be called "farang" or "teacher". At first, "farang" was very unsettling to hear; since calling someone a name in American based off their culture is very disrespectful. Now, I have come to actually not mind it one bit! I now always know if someone is trying to talk to me or get my attention. These two words are now heart warming because I now hear them and know, instead of an insult, they are an attempt to reach out and practice English. I see it as an opportunity to smile and wave or start conversations with those who are complete strangers.
I have learned a lot. I came to Thailand to gain a very different aspect into how a classroom can be managed. I have seen things I want to incorporate into my classroom, and hopefully shown the teachers of my school some techniques they can incorporate into theirs. Overall, I have learned that teaching is teaching no matter where you are or who the students in front of you, are. As an educator, my goal is to make learning fun for my students and to instill a drive of learning so that it never ends. Even though my time here in Thailand is short, I have so far found much joy in teaching in a different setting where things may seem odd or the children do not understand what you are saying. By being their teacher, my job is to teach them something, and by seeing me not giving up, I hope all my students learn never to give up as well.
As I began my very first school week in the province, I was still unsure of how I could effectively teach and manage a classroom full of little children who could not speak English. Thoughts flooded my mind of what strategies I had learned in my four years of college that might work here in Thailand.
|The daily view of morning assembly from the main school building
As time passed, each class seemed to get easier and easier. I wanted from day one to set a routine within the classroom so that the students knew what was expected of them each day as we ran through the lesson. This routine consisted of an American slang word, reviewing different emotions, a welcoming song, a phonics song, a small review game, then introducing the new vocabulary or lesson we would be doing. By incorporating a routine that was repeated class after class, the students knew what was happening next, until the lesson for the day was introduced. I have found that by having this routine set in stone with all nine of my classes, we start the class off on the right foot each and every day. I also kept in place the students routine of standing to greet the teacher when I enter the classroom. I felt as by instilling the greeting within our routine, I am keeping a habit of theirs so that class is not something completely foreign to them. Also, by starting and ending class with, "Good morning teacher" or "Thank you Teacher", a smile sweeps over my face to make for a great day.
|My P1/2 class celebrating after we got a message all the way around the circle
without any mistakes during the Telephone game!
Throughout the weeks at school, we were learning all different sorts of English from phonics, to our body parts, to colors and days of the week. While it all may seem like sunshine and rainbows, some days are way tougher than others. For instance, one day I was walking to class with my backpack filled, papers in hand, ready to start teaching about our bodies. I was about five minutes early so I peaked in to see if they were ready, but the students were having class with a monk so I quickly stepped out to be respectful and allowed him to have his full time with the students. About five minutes went by and the monk came out of the class smiling and I sincerely smiled back. As soon as I stepped into the classroom, the shrieking sound of crying children flooded my ears. My first thought to myself was, "What in the world! Did the monk tell them English class was going to be horrible today?" As I scanned the classroom just to take in thirty students sobbing their eyes out, I tried to think of any tool for managing a class that had thirty students all crying at once. Standing there confused, I quickly learned that this was what all my professors meant when they said somethings we just can't teach you, you just have to figure out how to solve them on your own.
|Teacher!!! Scary??
Within a few short seconds of standing in this classroom, I knew I had to respond quickly to get these students to calm down so that my class could still happen. I scanned my classroom for my little "classroom warrior" to see if I could go to him to ask if everything was okay. "Classroom warriors" were explained to us during orientation, and are basically the students who have your back when class is simply not going the way it should. Of course, on this day for this class my little warrior was not there to help. I started by trying to get the class to just take a deep breath and calm down; that did not work. I then started going up to each of them, patting them on their backs and telling them it was going to be okay; that still did not work. In this moment, I had never felt more stuck and failed in a Thai classroom. I felt like I could not control the students or settle them down. It was in this moment that I felt like I was not making a difference in these children's English capabilities.
|Sometimes you just have to stop class for a quick selfie
This ten minute moment of utter chaos all settled down when a Thai teacher walked by, stuck her head in the classroom, told the students to go wash their face and settle down (well I think that is what she said, it was in Thai!) and to come back to class. After that class, I sat in my office and just reflected on the past hour of my life. What a crazy experience I just had that will more than likely stick with me forever. Then I thought to myself, what would I had done if that Thai teacher never came in the room? I quickly realized that in the teaching world it is necessary to find those teachers who can be your mentor. They are there to lean on when you need that extra help and share ideas with one another when you think an awesome lesson could be taught. Teaching is a collaborative profession where sharing ideas makes for a lesson or unit go from good to great. I find it very challenging sometimes to reach out to others teachers here in Thailand, as well as in America, to ask for help just because I am afraid that it makes me look weak. Now, after my experience here in Thailand, I know that by leaning on others to help you out when you honestly have no other ideas of what to do is okay!
|Myself with my two wonderful host teachers that have helped me
endlessly make Watbot my home away from home
After reflecting on my time here in Thailand, and thinking about the reason I came here, I can say that I have learned a lot. I came to Thailand to gain a very different aspect into how a classroom can be managed. I have seen things I want to incorporate into my classroom, and hopefully shown the teachers of my school some techniques they can incorporate into theirs. Overall, I have learned that teaching is teaching no matter where you are or who the students in front of you, are. As an educator, my goal is to make learning fun for my students and to instill a drive of learning so that it never ends. Even though my time here in Thailand is short, I have so far found much joy in teaching in a different setting where things may seem odd or the children do not understand what you are saying. By being their teacher, my job is to teach them something, and by seeing me not giving up, I hope all my students learn never to give up as well.
|My P2/2 students working in small groups to complete their life size drawings of the body
|A group of P3/3 students showing off their amazing skills


text:
The business of landscaping has a low barrier of entry, making it easy to start but highly competitive. There are only so many properties in a given area, and you want your business to be working as many of them as you can reasonably handle—and next year, you'd like to keep growing. You know it's going to take good, honest work, but here are a few more tips to help you succeed in the landscaping business.
Make your Prices Competitive but Profitable
It's not unusual for someone getting started to undercharge a client. This can be an expensive learning experience. It literally pays to give realistic estimates that leave you room to profit. Experience of course plays a role in quoting an estimate, but you can fill in the cracks with knowledge and the right tools. It also helps to find out what other landscapers in your area are charging. Perhaps your friends and family could make inquiries on your behalf.
There are numerous software products out there that can help you plan a bid in seconds. You'll also be able to track materials, which should help you avoid costly waste. Some of these tools, such as HindSite Solution, will also handle scheduling. If you're working enough, you'll need a reliable way to track where you're supposed to be and when.
Invest in What's Important
Your business is only as good as the equipment you use and the people you employ. That doesn't mean you have to own a fleet of the most expensive mowers—but it means that you use quality equipment and you keep it in tip-top shape. As for your workers, remember that they will represent you and your business. Hire dependable, hardworking individuals, whether it's to work for you full time or as subcontractors.
Offer Superior Products and Services
It's important that you stand out from the pack. If you can find a source for hardier plants, more innovative designs, or more effective fertilizer treatments, it could make your reputation. Never stop looking for opportunities to improve on the service you deliver.
One product you can offer, regardless of the size of your business, is AquaSmart Pro. This impressive polymer can be added to turf while laying sod, overseeding, or aerating. By absorbing up to twelve times its weight in water and nutrients, it keeps a lawn healthier with less water. When a forty-pound bag can cover one-thousand feet of turf, you'll be able to wow your clients with a miniscule effort and investment.
Work Hard
Hard work in this business isn't always done with a shovel in your hand. Never stop looking for ways to expand the services you offer. Rather than hire a subcontractor or pass a job off to a competitor, is there a way you could do the job in-house? If it's a matter of purchasing a piece of equipment and training in its use, it may be worth the investment.
You'll of course put in hours, not only on the lawns, but on drumming up business. Practice good customer service, because word of mouth can make or break a business. Advertise effectively—ask customers how they found out about you. And always work hard on maintaining relationships. Building and maintaining a dependable client base could keep you afloat, even in the toughest times.
Your integrity and work ethic have gotten you this far. Keep up the good work and try some of these pointers. Hopefully your business will start to grow or continue to thrive. Best of luck out there!


text:
Adventure into the West Midlands
The West Midlands has more to offer than just beautiful countryside and quaint villages begging to be explored. It is filled with adventures to be had and unforgettable memories to be made. In this post we are listing our favourite things to do in the West Midlands.
Are you looking for a day out as a family?
Situated in Solihull, Land Rover offers an incredible experience that can't be missed. The UK's leading manufacturer of off-road vehicles offers the chance for families, groups and businesses to experience true off-roading. Take the seat in a fully prepped Land Rover and put it through its paces on a specialist course with some of the most challenging terrain. All of this is to introduce you and your family to the exciting world of off-road driving. To book this experience and unleash your mud monster, enquire about it on their official site.
Also located in Solihull, Jaguar provides a great tour of their factory. You will not only see the productions of some of Britain's finest luxury cars but also interact with new Jaguar models. This is because the XE tour allows participants of the tours to custom design bespoke elements of a Jaguar car. Car enthusiasts are sure to fall in love with days out like these. For those who aren't interested in cars, then there are plenty of non-automotive activities in the West Midlands.
Rock Climbing Adventure
Have you ever wanted to scale Everest or K2 but thought that it was too far away and dangerous. Well, with great prices and fantastic staff, go rock climbing with the family or by yourself at Redpoint Climbing Centre. This indoor climbing arena has a selection of walls and boulders perfect for anyone. Whether you have little climbing experience or spend every day thinking about the next climb this Birmingham located centre is a great place to visit when in the West Midlands.
With so much to do in the West Midlands why not treat your family to a full holiday and stay at the Westmead Hotel. Its ideal West Midlands location means you have quick access via car to all activities listed in this post. With great offers to locations like the West Midlands Safari Park and Cadbury's World, The Westmead Hotel is wonderful place for you and your family to stay whilst on a West Midlands outing. To find out more about the superb deals Westmead has on offer, click here.


text:
I have no doubt that these will be the hardest predictions to nail down for two reasons: one, the lack of available polling for many state legislative races and even many gubernatorial races (in safe D or safe R states), and two, given the historically high unfavorable ratings at the top of each ticket, it is harder to predict any sort of down ballot affect that usually is in play. Traditionally, for reasons of higher name ID and concentration of media coverage on the top ticket races, Presidential candidates and statewide candidates get more votes and a higher percentage than their down ballot counterparts. At least in theory. Local candidates who have a special relationship with their constituents often do much better than the top of the ticket, but I digress. Let's start with the statewide races, then state legislative control in all 50 states, and end with going specific in the three states that I have been a resident in at some point in my life (Minnesota, North Dakota, and now New York).
General predictions for the makeup of gubernatorial power in the states.
GOP: 31 Governors, DEM: 18 Governors, Independent: 1 (in Alaska)
New (prediction)
GOP: 31 Governors, DEM: 18 Governors, Independent: 1 (in Alaska)
Overall, most gubernatorial races happen in midterm elections, which will give the GOP a strong advantage as long as the Democratic Party continues to win the White House. Of the few gubernatorial races this year (12 in total), I predict the Democrats easily retain Washington, Oregon, and Delaware, while the Republicans easily retain North Dakota and Utah, which leaves us with closer races in the New Hampshire, Vermont, North Carolina, West Virginia, Indiana, Missouri, and Montana.
Of those seven, the GOP will pick-up Vermont, West Virginia, and just narrowly miss out on picking up New Hampshire and Missouri. The Democrats will pick-up Indiana and North Carolina narrowly, retain Montana by at least 5 points, and narrowly retain New Hampshire and Missouri (where GOP candidate Eric Greitens has ran a frightening campaign, foretelling things to come, stay tuned next week for more on that.)
In other words, no change in the gubernatorial makeup and control of the various executive branches in the states.
General predictions for the makeup of state legislative power in the states.
The GOP controls 68 out of the 98 chambers (higher chambers and lower chambers) at the state legislative level.
New (prediction)
The GOP controls 65 out of the 98 chambers, which means Democrats net a total of 3 state legislative chambers.
The GOP will pick-up the Kentucky House, a coda if you will to the past realignment and death of the old south where the Democrats were able to compete locally many cycles after they began losing the once solid south at the Presidential level.
The Democrats will pick-up the Colorado Senate (go Jered Weber!), Nevada Assembly, New Mexico House, and the biggest surprise and reach here, the Arizona Senate. In other words, continued signals of the longer term blue trend of the Mountain West and Southwest.
*Note: the state of Nebraska has a unicameral non-partisan state legislature, but let's not kid ourselves here… that's another one in the GOP column if we're being honest.
Now for a spotlight on a few states.
First, the state of North Dakota, which has the honor of being the only state where a Democratic Party has promoted millennials and young people to positions of party and public leadership. Because when you are losing 45-0, why not just call up the farm system and start building…
Senate: Current 32-15 Republican majority against the Democratic-NPL (Non-partisan league)
House: Current 71-23 Republican majority against the Dem-NPL
New (prediction), in solidly red North Dakota, which has gone even darker shades of red during the eight years of the Obama Administration (Obama won this state in the 2008 Democratic Primary and finished within 10 in the 2008 General Election), the Republicans easily hold on to their supermajorities in both houses. It's hard to even imagine where the Dems would pick up seats here other than maybe a few seats out of Fargo. I expect Donald Trump to do better here than most states tomorrow and that could have its own wave effect on the few rural Dem-NPL legislators that still have seats. So I'll call this one a wash, with virtually no change in either the state house or senate.
Senate: Current 38-28 DFL (Democrat-Farmer Labor) majority (or 39-28 if going by 2012 election)
House: Current 73-61 Republican majority
New (prediction)
Senate: 36-31 DFL (the GOP has a net pick-up of 3 seats)
House: 70-64 GOP (the DFL has a net pick-up of 3 seats)
Analysis: The changing demographics (featured earlier in this brilliant and illuminating podcast episode of "This American Life") propel St. Cloud to deliver pick-ups for the DFL in Senate District 14 and House District 14B.
In general, the split in the DFL between metro-area environmentalists and rural labor unionists and farmers will continue to show up at the ballot box. Rural voters in CD8 and 7 have fewer reasons to vote for the DFL each cycle and that will show up most strikingly in Nolan's close re-election to the House, a seat that looks to be in deep trouble for the '18 midterms. The down ballot effects will be seen at the state legislative races while the DFL continues to recruit solid candidates, and party-build well in the suburban metro areas. In the Senate, the GOP will gain seats in SD 1, 17, 24, and 36 to cut in slightly to the overall DFL majority in the state senate. In the house, the DFL has a net-gain of 3 seats, with pick-ups in 21A, 24B, and a hold in 48A. Despite Trump and Jason Lewis on the ballot, the down-ballot MN-2 legislative races hold for the GOP in 56A, 56B, 57A, and 57B. If a few of these races however are called for the DFL, then the Republican majority in the state house is in jeopardy.
We end with my home state of New York. The disfunction of corruption of both major parties here is seen even in their state legislative election tallies. Low turnout (bottom 5 in the nation usually), and tight election laws by blue state standards will make tomorrow frustrating. We've shined the spotlight on three states tonight, North Dakota, a red state trending further red. Minnesota, a blue state trending red. Now New York, a blue state trending further blue, but like another blue state, Illinois, embodies many of the problems with the modern day national Democratic Party.
Senate: Current 32-31 GOP majority
Assembly: Current 106-42 Dem majority
Analysis: The Assembly is safe Democratic hold, and the Senate is anyone's guess and a true coin toss. Why? Let me explain first how the GOP even gets to their majority. In the New York State Senate, which as I pointed out in an earlier article, has had an unsurpassed string of public corruption and grift, has 29 elected Democrats (with five of them being considered Independents that caucus with the Democrats in Albany), 29 elected Republicans, with 1 Democrat who caucuses with the senate Republicans in Albany. Leaving us with 4 true toss-ups. I'm splitting the difference and saying that the NY State Senate ends up with 32 caucusing as Republicans to hold the majority (29 actually endorsed by the Republicans, and 3 Democrats who caucus with them), and 31 Democrats or elected state senators who end up caucusing with the Democrats.
In other words. Albany is a mess, folks like Andrew Cuomo are not the future of the party, but rather its extreme neoliberal past that ought to be in the rear view mirror as soon as possible. The best news to come out of New York state tomorrow night will hopefully be the election of Teachout in the New York 19th Congressional District.
Now go vote tomorrow if you haven't already!


text:
Everyone knows the phrase "Everyone hates Mondays", but after this wedding I must say that Mondays can actually be quite mind blowing. That's because Kylie and Charlie decided to have their wedding in London on a Monday and, to oakbe honest, they totally surprised me with how fantastic a day it can be. Last year when I spoke for the first time with Kylie via email I could feel that their wedding would have big impact on my life and, with the help from their wedding guests, it truly was.
All of the preparations where locally based so it was a true wedding in Croydon an as a local wedding photographer London, I couldn't be more happy. After the makeup for the bride and her bridesmaids was done it was time to move to the Oaks farm in Croydon where the last wedding preparations were being made. Oaks farm in Croydon is an amazing wedding venue with all that a couple needs; the ceremony can be done inside of rustically barn or outside if you have more wedding guests. The whole place is covered with walled off trees so you can be sure that your London wedding will be private for you and your companions.
Kylie and Charlie didn't have their engagement shoot in London so we decided to do a quick pre-wedding photoshoot in Croydon using Oaks farm as our background, and I must say they looked simply stunning. After two minutes they caught every instruction and posed as professional wedding models. The whole wedding photoshoot in London will be shown later on my blog so keep your eyes peeled or follow me on Facebook.
I am now taking bookings for 2017 , so if you are looking for a wedding photographer in London do not hesitate and contact me, best dates go quickly


text:
With the state struggling to pay for needed transportation
work, legislation in Tennessee would authorize tolling as a method to pay for
road and bridge work in the state.
The proposed "Tennessee Tollway Act" would allow the state
to issue bonds and incur debt to pay for toll projects. Private groups also
would be allowed to build and operate the pay-to-play routes.
Sponsored by Rep. Phillip Pinion, D-Union City, the measure
doesn't specify toll roads or rates. But it allows tolls "as an additional and
alternative method" to pay for highway work.
Pinion told the Memphis
Commercial Appeal the funding mechanism could be the best option to pay for
vital projects such as an additional Mississippi River bridge at Memphis.
Supporters of the toll plan cite a projected 10 percent cut
in federal funding in the coming year. Among the issues causing uncertainty
about available dollars are soaring construction costs, including asphalt, and
ongoing negotiations about federal funding for highway projects.
Opponents say toll roads would amount to an extra tax, when
fuel and other taxes should cover road building.
Pinion's bill - HB1204 - and an identical Senate bill -
SB1152 - are in committee.


text:
PLEASE HELP ME OUT — Answer This One Question
We are doing a redesign for all my properties and my husband wants me to split out Lady and the Blog into two separate websites. He wants me to do a fashion website and then a personal one that focuses on product reviews for kids, my 'Inside the Kitchen' posts, my travel stuff etc. I don't know what to do because LOGICALLY that makes sense – but Lady and the Blog is everything I LOVE. It kinda brings all that I am into one space. I love fashion. I'm a mom. I love to cook.
I don't know!!
But what do you think? When you come here, are you looking to read only ONE part? For instance, do you like the celebrity fashion finds and are annoyed at my personal posts? Or the other way around – is there too much fashion related content and you just want mom info?
HELP! If you want to leave a comment as well as taking the quick poll, I would appreciate it.
14 Comments
I already voted, but I wanted to say, too – I love reading complex, diverse websites about complex, diverse people. I am a HUGE believer in keeping content together. Just my 2 cents. Good luck with your decision!
I would say split the content. There's so much going on here and I usually feel overwhelmed when coming to the site. So many focuses on the blog! I usually come here just to look at your personal blog.
Ps – Hope you are doing well Vera!
If you wanted to do a full fashion site then that would be great, but I don't think you should pull out all the different topics that make LatB what it is. I like that it isn't just one type of topic but instead peppered with topics (like the fashion finds) that I wouldn't normally read. The site is a little slice of you and that's what we like.
I think I found a solution — let me play around a bit.
I love it as it is. It's a nice mix of everything all wrapped up into one site!!!
I love it as is….I voted to keep it
Keep it you have grown so much. Great Job
I come here just to read your personal blog, I like reading/ seeing what clothes you buy your kids but besides that I'm not much into the Fashion Finds, I liked those better when they were on INO.
IMHO of course… good luck deciding!!
I like all the content that YOU personally wrote. I don't like reviews from other people, or fashion finds that don't have any text or things like that on this website. But anything that you put your personal touch on, whether it's a recipe or a fashion haul video or whatever, that's what I like.
Leave it as it is!!! I think it is perfect this way. Because if I have plenty of spare time I will read all the posts, if not I just click on the personal posts and read them. I think that if you split you will lose readers because people don't have time these days to read various different websites, they like an 'all in one'. I used to read imnotobsessed but I don't anymore, I just come to this one, but if all the celeb posts were on here I would still read them.
Either way, I love what you do so whatever choice you make, we will support you 🙂
It's true that the fashion pieces don't interest me as much, I do like having it all in one place. I voted to keep it as is.
I agree! I love it just the way it is! 🙂
Well if you are going to move it to INO that is one thing. if you are creating a whole new site for it then definitely no. There are too many sites to visit as it is and I like that I do this one in one sitting. Posts I dont like I dont click/view so they dont take any time out of my day.
Comments are closed.


text:
oops plus one more! can't forget mr. berkus. find it here.
August 16, 2017
Coffee Table Book Round Up
i want to say thank you again for the love on the blank slate living room project i shared on monday. i really appreciate it! i've been doing a bunch of photo shoots recently and i'm always lugging books around to style my shots. even when i think i have enough, i don't! so here are 20 (!) of my favorites.
Labels: styling
No comments:
Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)


text:
The miles between us
all the things we never say.
Already miss you
though we've just now said goodbye.
Forty-eight hours
could never be enough time
never enough time.
We are too few and too far —
my heart sits alone, longing.
A chōka is a Japanese form poem with a specific syllable count per line. The shortest form of chōka is: 5 / 7 / 5 / 7 / 5 / 7 / 5 / 7 / 7. The 5- and 7-syllable lines can repeat as many times as needed. The poem's end is signaled by the extra 7-syllable line. The final five lines can be used to summarize the body of the poem.


text:
What luck! The kiddo and I were driving by and happened to spy that Jack's was serving dinner!
Java Jack's (on 46th and Bryant) has now officially morphed into Jack's, a full-service eatery. They are in quiet-mode right now (hence the shhhhh on the website) serving only a limited portion of the menu, but they are definitely open.
The limited menu is a snapshot of what's posted online, and we were happy to find that the local cheese curds made the cut. It was a big portion in a cute bucket with a "ranchy" dip. We also had a burger that was obviously hand pattied, love it when an extra lobe hangs off the edge, like a bonus meat treat. We ate the chili, which was smoky and rich, and took home an order of pesto fettuccine for the teen, who inhaled it.
It's nice to see that next to the farmhouse cheese plate and house-made meat plate, it offers a garden nosh plate with spreads, breads, pickles, and crudites. Oven roasted chicken, wild salmon with apple and blue cheese risotto, and a veggie curry pasty all looked interesting to me. There is an added bar serving wine and beer (locals plus a few worthy out-of-towners) and even a sake bloody mary, which I might order next time with my cheese curds.
So far so good, and I'm fine with being patient while they figure out service. We were told that the full menu should debut pretty soon.


text:
Mac and Cheese Muffins
Mac and cheese muffins are simple, delicious, and kid friendly. They are a really nice alternative to plain old mac and cheese. I always make them up on the weekend and the kids just love them. Give them a try and let us know what you think.
I like to use bacon bits in the recipe, but this is completely optional, however. Sharp cheddar cheese is really nice, but you can use the cheese of your choice. As always,, salt and pepper according to your liking. The muffin tray can be any size. If you want the mixture a little thicker, a bit more flour can be added. You can use as much or as little garlic as you like. I find, the bread crumbs really add a nice texture to the dish.Video:
Mac and Cheese Muffins
Author: David Hood
Recipe type: Appetizer
Cuisine: American
Prep time:
Cook time:
Total time:
Serves: 8
- 1½ cups of milk
- 1½ cups of grated cheddar cheese
- 2 tbsp of flour
- 2 cups of elbow noodles
- 2 tbsp of bacon bits
- ½ tsp of garlic powder
- salt and pepper to taste
- ¼ cup of bread crumbs
- 2 tbsp of chives
- Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F.
- Combine the milk and flour in a container and mix until they are well combined.
- Pour the mixture into a pan and bring it to a boil, stirring constantly, over medium high heat until it thickens up.
- Add in the cheese, bacon bits, garlic powder,salt , pepper, and stir until the cheese melts.
- Add in the noodles and toss until the noodles are well coated.
- Coat a muffin tray with baking spray.
- Put about 3 tbsp of the mixture into each muffin container. Sprinkle some bread crumbs and grated cheese over the top.
- Place them in the oven for 30 minutes. Allow to cool completely.
- Garnish with chives, serve, and enjoy your mac and cheese muffins.
Share This Recipe
Related Posts
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.


text:
All You Should Know About Green Energy
Does green energy sound foreign to you? Has what you've read about it made you expect it to be expensive and difficult to use in your own home? This article has been written to prove all of those notions wrong as the tips contained herein will help you to easily and quickly turn your home into a green energy hub.
Speak with your utility company about receiving your electric power from a renewable source. Many metropolitan areas get some of their power from hydroelectric, geothermal, solar, or wind powered plants. Often, the electric company can simply apply a certain amount of your electric bill to renewable energy without you needing to make any other changes.
Don't run the dishwasher unless it's full in order to save energy and money. Avoid running the dishwasher when there isn't a full load to run. Dishwashers can usually hold many dishes. Place the dishes in your dishwasher so you can fit in as many dishes as possible.
A helpful tip to live greener and conserve energy is to have the windows in your home tinted. The windows in your home act like glass in a greenhouse and when you want you home to be cool, the windows will heat it up and work against your air conditioner and cost you a bundle.
Use solar hot water. By installing a solar hot water system, you can use solar power to heat the water you use for everything in your home. It will work for your showers, washing dishes and doing laundry. If you are worried about not getting enough sun, you can invest in a small, traditional water heater as well.
Are you currently using a wood-burning fireplace to decrease your dependence upon fossil fuels? If so, remember to shut the flue damper very tightly when your fireplace is not being used. If you forget to do this, both warmed or cooled air will easily escape from your house through the chimney.
Are you still using oil heat? You could switch to a greener solution without replacing your furnace. Find a qualified technician to inspect your system and make sure you can switch to a biofuel. Biofuels are non-toxic, degradable and renewable sources of energy that you will be able to re-use.
Start using batteries that have been recycled or else use rechargeable batteries. Disposable batteries are full of toxins and actually take about half of the energy they put off, in order to produce. If you are using disposable batteries, be sure to recycle them. Rechargeable batteries, however, can be used over and over again.
Once you make the switch to green energies, let everyone know. A lot of people are not even considering this option because they are not educated enough about green energies: you have a chance to make a difference by using your own system to demonstrate how green energies work and convince more people to make the change.
A high-efficiency furnace becomes far less efficient with a clogged, dirty filter, so change your furnace filters often. This is especially important if you use tightly-woven pleated filters, because the HVAC system must work much harder to draw in air through its tiny openings. Most filters https://evernote.com/pub/myledlightingguide/myledlightingguide#st=p&n=4bae908d-892b-4e73-a31d-d1160ab5b402 need to be changed or cleaned at least once every 3 months.
In a colder climate, make sure you weatherize your windows to be energy efficient. This will not only help you stay much warmer, but it will save you on energy costs. You can have this done for a fee, or you can do it yourself after purchasing the necessary products.
Replace your old appliances for newer ones that have an Energy Star rating. Energy Star ratings mean that your new appliances are technologically built to use less energy than previous models. Refrigerators and freezers that are Energy Star rated uses approximately twenty percent less energy. While dishwashers and washing machines can save up to fifty percent on energy bills.
Windmills are capable of creating electrical energy without polluting anything. Purchasing your own windmill can be expensive, and there may be restrictions on putting one up where you live. If you can install your own windmill, you will be able to sell excess electricity to your local power company and recoup some of your costs.
When trying to decide between purchasing a laptop or desktop computer, remember that the laptop is the greener option. Laptops use as little as one-tenth of the electricity needed to power a desktop, and they usually have easily adjustable power settings that allow you to trim your energy consumption even further.
One of the easiest ways to save energy is to put your refrigerator and freezer away from any type of heat source. Do all you can to keep them away from heating vents or direct sunlight as this will raise the temperature and cause them to run longer.
Make sure your dishwasher, washing machine, and clothes dryer are full (but not overfilled) prior to using them. This saves a lot of water and detergent with each load of wash. Also check the settings on these machines. If you have a small load, make sure the setting for small loads is being used.
When you are cooking on your stove top, try to use a pan that fits the cooker ring just right. This will help to prevent heat loss. Also, when you can, put a lid on top of saucepans. In addition to heating your food up quicker, it will use less energy.
If you cannot convert your entire house to solar power because of budget constraints, start with just one room. You can purchase http://www.efficientwindows.org/ a small solar-powered kit that will offer you enough electricity for one room in your house, and it costs significantly less than a whole-house conversion. This will provide you with some of the benefits that solar can offer, while still saving your tight budget.
Once you start using the tips you've learned here, you'll see amazing results! Remember that green energy is beneficial for both you and the environment. Use the advice from this article to see how going green can be simple.
Almost done…
We just sent you an email. Please click the link in the email to confirm your subscription!
OKSubscriptions powered by Strikingly


text:
"Hi Deborah I've been raising ND's for about 3 years. I joined this group a few month ago. I have a 4 year old doe on her 3rd freshening and she also had 5 but we lost one at birth. All the babies were really small and we…"
for people who love the littlest dairy goats
Laura Milko has not received any gifts yet
Welcome to the group, Laura!
© 2019 Created by Deborah Niemann-Boehle. Powered by


text:
Across the country, there are numerous individuals in the rental property game. This can be a great investment, or it can be a reasonable way to maintain payments on a space that cannot yet be sold. As is true for every state, Florida has very specific property lease laws that owners need to be aware of before drafting rental contracts.
Considering a real estate purchase as an investment?
The real estate market has certainly seen improvements in the last few years. So much so, that more people, in Florida and across the country, are considering getting into the market for investment purposes. Anyone thinking about making a real estate purchase in order to diversify his or her portfolio would be wise to ensure that the investment is legally protected.
Taxes a concern for Florida residents when estate planning
There are a number of issues those residing in Florida or elsewhere deal with when making their plans for their estates. One of the biggest concerns those with significant assets face, though, is taxes. When estate planning, certain actions may be taken to help ensure beneficiaries, not the government, will receive their intended inheritances.
Florida residents, don't put will planning off forever
Life gets busy, and sometimes it seems difficult to slow down and take stock of everything one has, to take time figuring out what to do with it all and to figure out how to protect family members in the event of one's death. Depressing as it may seem, everyone will need to figure these things out sooner or later. In short, those residing in Florida or elsewhere should not put will planning off forever.
Changes projected in Florida residential real estate
A recent Top 10 list was published by the Counselors of Real Estate group in Florida that offers information about projected changes in the market that might be expected this year. Both commercial and residential real estate face issues that could have an impact on sales. Florida residents who plan on buying or selling real estate in the foreseeable future might be interested in the recent publication.
Commercial real estate building sold in design district
One company under the control of a developer and broker in the state of Florida recently sold a retail facility for $24 million. The commercial real estate building is located in what is known as the Miami Design District and spans more than 8,000 square feet. Thus, the sale is equivalent to nearly $3,000 per feet.
Couples in Florida might consider postnuptials in estate planning
For years, engaged couples in Florida and beyond have drafted and signed a prenuptial agreement in order to protect assets owned before marriage. In recent times, married couples have been adding a different type of legal contract to their estate planning efforts. This document is signed after the wedding day and is, therefore, called a "postnuptial" agreement.


text:
The NCAA Eligibility Center's "Get The Word Out" grants are designed to support community-based innovation as high schools educate their college-bound student-athletes about new Division I initial-eligibility standards. The grants highlight the NCAA's commitment to ensure student-athletes are prepared for academic success even before they arrive on campus.
Schools and districts receiving grants will document their program or event and provide a summary report to the NCAA Eligibility Center, creating a resource list of winning ideas for student-athlete education.
Grant-winning proposals include community workshops; outreach to middle school students and parents; intensive, one-on-one academic planning with student-athletes in a large urban school district; educational summer camps; and development of video tutorials to inspire academic achievement in high school students. Grant recipients include both public and private schools and districts in urban, suburban and rural settings, and many of the recipients are poised to educate college-bound student-athletes in states which account for a majority of students registering with the NCAA Eligibility Center.
Bangor Area High School – Bangor, Pennsylvania
Bangor Area High School will conduct an NCAA Boot Camp for student-athletes in grades 7-11. The purpose of the program is to introduce student-athletes to the NCAA eligibility process and educate them about the importance of academics, study skills and academic planning. The program will familiarize student-athletes with the requirements for NCAA initial eligibility, stressing the importance of high school grades. Each participant will also be guided through lessons on organization, time management and study skills.
Ben Davis High School – Indianapolis, Indiana
Ben Davis High School is building the infrastructure to identify, plan, prepare and track the progress of student-athletes from middle school through high school. They are working to ensure the importance of academics and working toward being accepted at a four-year college. They feel that college admissibility has a direct effect on NCAA initial eligibility. Part of this process will be partnering with families in group and individual sessions to assess and strategize a student's academic progress.
Central High School – Carrollton, Georgia
Central High School is coordinating a campaign to increase student and parent knowledge about NCAA requirements and the academic and athletic opportunities available to student-athletes at te NCAA colleges and universities in Divisions I, II and III. Staff members and volunteers will conduct educational seminars. Public service announcements about NCAA opportunities and requirements will also be played at every home athletic event.
Crestwood High School – Mantua, Ohio
Crestwood High School will sponsor a Recruiting and Academic Readiness for College-Bound Athletes seminar for families and student-athletes. The goals of the seminar are to increase awareness and knowledge of NCAA academic standards as well as dispel myths and misinformation about the recruiting process.
E.C. Glass High School – Lynchburg, Virginia
E.C. Glass High School and its Pathway to the NCAA program aims to combat the barriers that prevent students from matriculating as NCAA student-athletes. The program specifically targets more than 2,000 middle and high school student-athletes in the Lynchburg City Schools. Leaders will meet with families at the beginning of each athletic season, targeting student-athletes in grades 6-12. The program seeks to increase awareness of NCAA readiness for student-athletes and their families and provide hands-on resources so families are encouraged and empowered to advocate for their student-athletes.
East St. Louis Senior High School – East St. Louis, Illinois
East St. Louis Senior High School will employ a dual approach, educating and arming their counselors and coaches with knowledge and information about NCAA academic standards. They will conduct quarterly team meetings, parent meetings and Saturday workshops to ensure everyone is receiving the necessary information about studying and competing at the next level.
Har-Ber High School – Springdale, Arkansas
Har-Ber High School will educate student-athletes and their families about the changes in Division I and Division II initial-eligibility requirements. They will conduct evening and weekends meetings in an effort to accommodate working families.
Pendleton High School – Pendleton, Oregon
Pendleton High School and its ASPIRE program will educate students on the NCAA initial-eligibility process and assist them with academic planning, time management and other skills needed to be successful at the collegiate level.
The School District of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
The School District of Philadelphia will conduct regional seminars across its middle and high schools, aimed at educating more than 10,000 student-athletes and their families. The goal is a unified approach, using school counselors and athletics administrators to provide workshops and resources to parents and students on NCAA initial eligibility, the recruiting process and academic success from middle school through graduation.
Springdale High School – Springdale, Arkansas
Springdale High School will host meetings for families and student-athletes aimed at providing information and addressing questions about the NCAA and initial-eligibility process. Topics will include college selection, recruiting and academic standards. Students and families with then attend individualized meetings to advise, prepare and plan.
Waukegan High School – Waukegan, Illinois
Waukegan High School will provide staff development for all high school coaches, middle school athletics coordinators, and middle school and high school counselors. Their professional development will cover how middle school grades influence high school achievement, the NCAA Eligibility Center registration and certification process, and the differences in recruiting among the three NCAA divisions.
Yazoo City High School – Yazoo City, Mississippi
Yazoo City High School will assist students and families in becoming more prepared academically by conducting several sessions that will cover information on meeting the NCAA initial-eligibility standards Students will understand the requirements early in their academic careers so they are adequately prepared to meet the standards necessary to manage time while studying and participating in sports at the collegiate level.


text:
{NAWA Thanksgiving Dinner}
NAWA Thanksgiving Dinner
Date: Saturday, November 22, 2014
Time: 6:00PM
Venue: Labadi Beach Hotel
Address: No 1, La Bypass, Accra
Type: Tickets available for saleTickets avail. at: NAWA
Organiser: North American Women's Association (NAWA)
Contact name: Min Ai Tan
Email: firstname.lastname@example.com
Website: http://www.nawaghana.com/
The North American Women's Association Thanksgiving dinner.
Join us for Thanksgiving under the palms at the Labadi Beach Hotel.
Leave a Reply.
AccraPremium Melissa
My 2 favorites
Past Events
Powered By AccraPremium
AccraPremium is a subsidiary of Quarterman Wulff Advisors Limited -
all rights reserved 2012 - 2018 contact us - +233 (0) 233 66 88 92 Ghana -
Disclaimer: Many of the photographs shown on this website do not belong to AccraPremium, and we strive to give proper attribution to the owners. These photographs are used for descriptive purposes only. None of the photographs are used for commercial gain.


text:
2018/2019 Expeditions
Exploring Gardens and Historic Sites
from London to Bergen
With HOLLY H. SHIMIZU
and featuring an exclusive lunch at
May 12–22, 2019
Dear Traveler,
The British Isles, Belgium, and Norway in springtime are lovely, verdant places,
and this voyage is carefully designed to showcase the very best they have to offer.
As we sail from London into the North Sea, we pause along the way to explore the
remarkable gardens of both shores.
Our first special engagements occur before we even step foot onboard ship.
Pre-embarkation, spend the day at Kew Gardens, London's largest UNESCO
World Heritage site with the most diverse collection of living plants in the world.
Before transferring to Le Boréal, your five-star vessel that hosts no more than
264 guests, we'll also visit Chelsea Physic Garden, tucked away in an almost
secret location beside the Thames and the oldest botanic garden in London.
In other ports along the way, excursions with a focus on gardens, art, and history
will be available. From Ostend, you may travel to Kasteel van Oostkerke to
explore the garden designed by Mien Ruys. Norway's Stavanger is home to the
exotic gardens of Flor og Fjære as well as a fascinating maritime history. But
the highlight of our voyage lies at the Royal Botanic Garden in Edinburgh. In
late spring, the Garden's lilacs put on a magnificent display, its rhododendrons are
bursting, and the star of the show is the Syringa tomentella from western China. As we
take in this lush world of color and scent, we'll sit down to an exclusive gala luncheon
on site, hosted by the Garden staff.
Our traveling companion and expert guide to this rich horticultural experience
will be Holly Shimizu, recently-retired director of the U.S. Botanic Garden. The
fertile shores of the North Sea are the perfect backdrop for her discussions on
European gardening. Join Holly and Toronto Botanical Garden in May 2019 on an
enlivening journey.
Margaret M. Betchart
President, Betchart Expeditions Inc.
For AAAS Travels, ACS & Sigma Xi Expeditions
Starting at $5,390 plus air
Brochure (Requires an Adobe pdf reader to view)
All Photos Copyright © Ponant
| About Us | Expeditions
| Calendar | Affiliates
| Contact Us | Traveler's
©2001-2018 Betchart Expeditions, Inc. All rights reserved.
< > LorenzoNet </>
Web Productions


text:
We have been watching number 2 of the television series "24" and I have to admit it has kept us gripped just as the first 24 hours did. We still have twelve hours left but somehow I doubt very much if we will want to go beyond the second round. (I believe there are eight in all). It is certainly ingenious with all its twists and turns, goodies and baddies, especially the Agatha Christie type guess who dunnit, but it is beginning, for me anyway, to strain credibility rather. Let us consider our hero Jack Bauer's (Keifer Sutherland) daughter, Kim. In the first series she was kidnapped, if I remember correctly not once but twice, escaped death a couple of times, survived a quite spectacular car wreck and at the end saw her mother killed. In this one she is baby-sitting a psychopath's daughter and, although innocent, is accused of murder and kidnapping in her attempt to get the child away from her father and the discovery of the man's wife in the trunk of his car she and her boyfriend have commandeered. She is now involved in yet another car crash when the police vehicle taking them in is set on fire by the boyfriend and the driver loses control, as he would of course because he doesn't think of just pulling up and evacuating the vehicle. Leaving the police officer and the injured boyfriend in the upturned vehicle from which she manages to clamber out she runs away. Naturally the terrain is forest so she gets lost, gets caught in a trap, is threatened momentarily by a cougar and is eventually rescued by a guy named Lonnie who takes her to his cabin in the wood. At first he is pretty decent but we know perfectly well it ain't going to stay that way. She tells him she can't go back to L.A. because of this terrorist threat of a nuclear bomb. Lonnie says he always believed this would happen and shows her the bomb-shelter he has built. Now this is where the imagination boggles slightly. This shelter isn't just a hole in the ground. This shelter is thirty foot down, reached by a spiral staircase and ends in a tunnel and blast proof chamber. 'You did this yourself?' Kim asks. 'Yeah,' Lonnie replies, 'Took me two years.' Sorry, I just don't wear it. Chris and Douglas have no problems with it; I am obviously a cynic. The second question I ask is where did Lonnie get the money from to build something that must have cost all of a quarter of a million dollars when he's a loner who lives in a little wood cabin? Why should we second guess it? He was left it an inheritance? He robbed a bank? What? He is too young to have made it. Douglas and I said simultaneously, 'Where the hell is all this electricity coming from?' Okay so far? Right – Kim looks around and sees all sorts of nasty things like knives and guns, panics and is up the spiral staircase faster than you can say knives and guns her excuse being, when Lonnie questions her, that she suffered a bout of claustrophobia. So now he is ready to take her back to the freeway but at this moment a car approaches (of course) and it is the ranger come looking for her. Lonnie denies he has seen her, the ranger drives away, Lonnie, having heard the words murder and kidnapping now feels he can get up to that nastiness promised earlier. He makes believe through a portable radio that the bomb in LA has gone off and he and Kin should take shelter from the fallout and so he gets her back down the spiral staircase…
I'm afraid were I a script editor or a producer I would never have countenanced this storyline. Lonnie can attempt to have his wicked way with Kim in the locked wood cabin but I suppose the shelter makes for better drama. Or does it?
With the trauma the poor girl has suffered in the first 24 hours and now this; if she doesn't end up a basket case she will start to look like the world's oldest woman and I never again want to hear Jack Bauer say, 'Find my daughter, please!'
Kerchunk Kerchunk Kerchunk Kerchunk.


text:
Invented in France in 1860, barbed wire was further developed in the United States, where it was used to restrict cattle and secure territory. Barbed wire's singular purpose – to keep in and to keep out – was first put to use on the Great Plains of the American West in the late 19th century to restrict cattle and, implicitly, to secure territory by expansionist settlers and demarcate possessions.
Barbed wire's transformation into the mechanized landscape of modern warfare would transform its symbolic meanings forever while still retaining its original purpose to "keep in and keep out". Widely used for the first time in South Africa by the British General Horatio Herbert Kitchener (1850–1916) against the Boers of the Transvaal and the Orange Free State (in the so-called Second Boer War, 11 October-31 May 1902)
The scale and complexity of trench fortifications in WWI, however, were unprecedented; and it was this that allowed barbed wire to play out its new and frightening role. More than a million miles of barbed wire was laid on the Western Front alone between 1914 and 1918 — and to some, that's a conservative estimate.
As part of his research into materials and work development, Nick is currently experimenting with Barbed Wire as the main material in a piece to be part of the sculpture trail in Spurn Point.