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Generally speaking, people's most significant purchases in their lifetime will be in their homes. Making decisions about basement renovations and remodeling should include careful consideration of goals, implementation, and expected costs. Unfinished basements are usually the large usable area of a house and tend to be the most complicated to renovate on a practical level. Only full additions to homes generally require structure, heating, air conditioning, insulation, plumbing, flowing, etc. As a result, their cost and potential to provide more usable space to contribute to the overall home value are significant. This article will address questions of why to remodel a basement, how to renovate for individual goals, and how much homeowners should consider for a basement remodeling services.
Home Value – A very basic one thousand and five hundred square foot home with the main floor for living, and the second floor for sleeping, often has a basement of seven hundred and fifty square feet. Basements are generally cold and wet spaces that are merely used for storage and to allow access to essential home utilities like central heat, water heaters, sump pumps, etc.
Making that space "livable" through a competent basement renovation and remodeling can increase the usable area by 50%, and dramatically improve the value of the home. It is unlikely to improve the home's value by 50% no matter how it elaborates the remodeling. However, finished, renovated basements commonly improve home values by 10% to 25%, and people are looking to sell their home find that a remodeled basement sets them apart from other sellers with similar homes for sale in the area.
Need More Space – Families grow as children get to include, and they get bigger as they age and demand more space. For example, bunk beds rarely work when you have two kids in their teens. Families and households also can grow in other ways; parents age and need help, brothers and sisters, aunts and uncles, and any number of family members may run into challenges.
A basement remodels, basement renovation is often a great option. It is a separate space, within the household, that family can use to recover, rebuild, or retire. Basements offer people the opportunity to either stay out of the way or contribute without interfering with the established practices of the house.
Dad Needs a Project – Whether a handyman or a handywoman, basements are often renovated by people who believe that they can make something to be proud of in their spare time. It is viewed as out of sight, and a place to create a fun space or a refuge from their regular job. Basement renovations are very challenging, and homeowners need to be aware that there are much less expensive hobbies if that is a goal. When people start hammering nails, laying flooring, running pipe, and considering heating and insulation, a hobby may require some professional assistance.
Look at the Existing Basement – There are many types of basements. The most common have an uneven concrete floor angled to the sump pump, have an exposed ceiling, and house the equipment that serves as the foundation for the home. Here are some fundamental questions to consider:
Consider the Purpose – The goal of the basement renovation should always be paramount. Will someone lives there full time or is it just a space for fun? Is there a potential for income from the basement remodeling services? The goal of the work should guide homeowners in their decisions about how much time and money they spent to renovate the basement space.
If the basement remodeling services are intended merely to house a pool table for adult fun, or a kid's space for big toys, that is one thing. If a person or people will be living their full time, a bathroom, temperature controls, and a variety of other factors become significantly more important.
The more demands a homeowner has for their basement remodeling services, the more careful they must be. Creating a living space for an aging parent is a dramatic endeavor that making a cool place to host poker games or creating a kid-friendly place to play out of the rain or snow.
Get All Residents of the Home Involved – People often miss this crucial step. Basements house the heater, the circulation for air conditioning, the plumbing, and once the work is complete remodeling a basement affects all the people living in a home. If the person who will use the basement remodeling services lives in the house, figure out how they can contribute. Even people with no construction skills can help paint, clean, and decrease costs paid to basement renovation professionals.
If it is a space for a family member or family fun, everyone should be prepared to help. Perhaps there will be a morning when one needs to move a water heater, and they may have to take a shower the night before. Depending on the amount of remodeling, there could also be more dusting and cleaning in the main home. If it's just a play area for all, then all can contribute to keeping basement renovation service costs down.
This one is a bit like asking, "what does a car cost"? If you can weld, rebuilt engines, do bodywork, and find and install the replacement part. It gets a lot cheaper. For basement remodeling services, there is a similarly diverse set of skills. Here are the basics:
There are many details involved within each of these steps, and homeowners who are just trying to do a simple basement remodel to create a fun place in the house may not need to do all of them. It is the most straightforward overview.
Basement floor Planning – Lay it out on a piece of graph paper. Pool tables are common basement additions, but even a small table requires some thought. An eight-foot table, for example, needs about 200 square feet of unobstructed space. A bedroom with even a full bed requires a twelve by twelve room. Consider the layout before you spend a penny on materials.
Basement plumbing – Most plumbing runs at the ceiling level in a basement. A good general contractor can run water through the walls, but the challenge is usually adding a toilet. That often requires a jackhammer and an injection pump. That gets complicated and expensive.
Basement ductwork and airflow – Basement remodeling is challenged by temperature. Basements are generally below ground, stay cool in summer, and are too cold in the winter. Adequate heating ducts are vital if people are going to live there. Heat rises, and it's usually best to overheat when people are living daily in a remodeled basement. Having a basement remodeling, renovation professional does it right will save money on energy costs.
Basement electrical – Basement renovations rarely have all the power outlets required. Don't forget; they have very limited or virtually no windows, so the electricity supply is essential. There should be an outlet every several feet to support. There should also be the electrical capacity from above to illuminate basements that are almost always relatively dark places.
Basement flooring – Most basements have concrete floors, and they tend to crack as the house settles. They are also poured at an angle to make water management simpler. There are a few simple choices; lay a subfloor above the existing concrete or lay some cheap carpet or linoleum. Tile isn't worth it. Usually, the basement floor will shift and crack the joints.
Basement ceilings – Most basement renovations use a "drop ceiling." It is hung from the floor joists that support the main floor of the house. They create a vapor and sound barrier to the rest of the house and allow easy access to the infrastructure of a home. People can do a more traditional plaster ceiling, but costs will increase, and access for long-term maintenance will be limited.
Wall Structure – This is the type of job that usually requires someone with professional experience. Basement renovation and basement remodeling services must first deal with short walls, and great care paid to insulation. Most basements are two-piece constructions. One covers the concrete that was originally poured, and the tip level is boxed out with insulation. There are many choices to do this, but haphazard isn't one.
Whether you call it finishing, refurbishing, remodeling, or remodeling a basement, it's essential to have a goal, a budget, and get the family involved. The job can be as simple or complicated as you like. However, making a usable space that works to its purpose takes some time and consideration. Doing it without professional basement renovation and basement remodeling services assistance may seem the cheapest option, but it rarely is. A thought-out plan, getting the family involved, and talking to a basement remodeling professional is usually the most cost-effective path in the long run.
When it comes to maintaining and building a home, people often leave open basements as the final stage of completion. Turn a cold, concrete space below the main level of a house into a usable area with basement insulation installation services. These will not only add value to the property but can also help to save money in the household budget by reducing energy costs, especially if the property owner has chosen to insulate the basement space properly with one of many basement insulation companies available. By choosing to employ professional basement insulation installation services, homeowners can rest assured that their home is protected, warm, and controlled. Basement insulation companies are one of the best places to start when it comes to finishing a house in a professional and timely manner.
There are many reasons why a homeowner may choose to work with one of many basement insulation companies. The first and most important reason may be that the homeowner seeks to fulfill legal requirements for their residential area. In specific climate zones, it may require insulation for basements in residential spaces with a grade of insulation. Basement insulation installation services and providers will be well acquainted with these building codes and will be able to assist homeowners in understanding what requirements they need for their area.
Basement insulation companies may also be able to save a homeowner considerable costs in managing their home's temperature and energy use. Regardless of the size or type of insulation used, most households will save money in these areas when proper insulation installation techniques used. Hiring professional basement insulation installation services will help to ensure that the basement has been adequately insulated, resulting in higher energy savings.
Though residential codes and significant savings in a home's energy costs over time are both important reasons for hiring basement insulation companies, there is also the fact that a properly insulated basement area will be a more comfortable space for the home. When left unfinished, a concrete basement area rarely has a use to the homeowners and often becomes a storage area for unused items. Using basement insulation installation services will enable homeowners to create a usable and enjoyable space that can increase the value of the home in the long-term.
When it comes to hiring basement insulation companies, find a trustworthy and professional team is an essential task. Hiring professional basement insulation installation services can make all the difference when it comes to a finished product that homeowners can rely on to hold up over time.
While searching for the best fit for a basement insulation project, it's important to consider things like experience and industry knowledge. The actual task of insulating a basement doesn't require a degree or professional certifications but finding basement insulation companies that have experience working with multiple spaces and environments will serve to benefit homeowners in the long run. From knowing the types of insulation that will work best for the situation of the home to completing the insulation project quickly, the experienced team should always be the first company that homeowners call.
When it comes to basement insulation installation services, there are many resources available for completing a basement project without the help of the basement insulation companies. However, it is essential to consider the fact that industry knowledge is key to achieving a project of this scale and importance. Anytime a homeowner looks to work within the structure of their home; it is vital to make sure that the team working in their property has experience. From having the right tools available to expert recommendations for the longevity of the basement insulation, hiring professional basement insulation companies will save both time and money. Experienced basement insulation installation services can provide homeowners with peace of mind and knowledge that their home is in good hands.
When starting the insulation project preparation is essential. There are pros to both interior and exterior insulation that one should consider in the context of the home's environment and needs. If insulating an existing home, homeowners should also identify any drains or potential leakage issues in the walls. This preparation will always be made by hiring professional basement insulation companies, as experts will be able to consult homeowners on the potential difficulties and provide expert advice on navigating those roadblocks.
Basement insulation companies will usually begin the process of insulating a basement by meeting with the homeowner to determine the extent of the basement insulation job. In some instances, this meeting is set up as a free consultation over the phone during which a customer care representative will assess the needs of the client. At this stage, the provider of the basement insulation installation services will be made aware of whether the homeowner requires interior or exterior insulation, whether the walls have been appropriately prepared with damp proofing and waterproofing layers, and will also identify any potential roadblocks that may hinder the basement insulation process. They will also make recommendations to the homeowner for the type of insulation required and the way the homeowner may plan on protecting and maintaining their insulation.
After understanding the nature of the services required, basement insulation companies will then visit the site to make final checks, measurements, and gather any other information that may be necessary to establish a comprehensive quote for the basement insulation installation services. Many basement insulation companies provide this service as a part of an entire basement build and will, at this point in the process, also provide the homeowner with a full-scale CAD rendering of their basement, outlining what they will be creating with their team.
After the team providing the basement insulation installation services has met with the homeowner, established what work they needed to do, and measured the space, they will provide the homeowner with a quote for their services. After the homeowner and the building team have agreed on a set amount, the basement insulation team will get to work on the project.
The time to complete basement insulation installation services depends upon the size of the project and the location of the insulation. If the insulation added to an existing building, it might take less time than if the homeowner has elected to do exterior insulation which usually gets complete in the early stages of the home building process. If the existing home has roadblocks like a drain or leakage, then the basement insulation company may need to workaround.
When it comes to insulating a basement, many insulation materials may be used. It is important to note that the type of material selected for the project should depend upon the location of the insulation, the needs of the space, and any desired sustainability or environmental goals that the homeowner may have. Basement insulation companies can determine these needs during the initial consultation. If the insulation is on the exterior of the home, it is recommended that homeowners look towards extruded polystyrene, expanded polystyrene, closed-cell spray polyurethane foam, or mineral wool versus polyisocyanurate or other materials. For interior insulation, homeowners have more options, as considerations about the weatherproofing element if installing exterior insulation is no longer present. It is recommended that homeowners installing internal insulation to avoid mineral wool batts, fiberglass batts, and cellulose, as they will be less effective in maintaining proper insulation. Professional basement insulation installation services should be able to advise homeowners on alternative options if a more sustainable or environmentally conscious choice is what they desire.
Many basement insulation companies will finish their basement insulation installation services with recommendations for how to care for and maintain the recently-installed basement insulation. If the homeowner has selected a provider of professional basement insulation installation services, there shouldn't be much for the homeowner to maintain, as the provider will have established any potential roadblocks in the beginning and will have made provisions in their installation to accommodate them. If there is a catastrophic event, such as a flood or fire, it is advisable to consult with one of the basement insulation companies to help and suggest a path forward to make sure that the basement remains appropriately insulated and free of mold or residue.
When it comes to selecting basement insulation companies or a provider of basement insulation installation services, it is essential to be informed of all aspects of the process to make sure that the home adequately prepared for basement insulation. It will ensure the longevity of the insulation and will create a streamlined process for the provider and the homeowner. Selecting basement insulation companies that are experienced in basement insulation installation services is essential to making sure that the project is completed promptly, is done with the appropriate materials, and that the plan satisfies any legal requirements or goals the homeowner may have for space. Correctly done, basement insulation installation services can have long-lasting benefits for homeowners. From saving on yearly energy and electricity costs to creating usable space in the home, basement insulation installation services companies should be at the top of the list for homeowners looking to make their basement a more efficient and usable space.
Basement waterproofing is quite merely prevention of water or moisture entering a basement if the basement is below ground level. There is always a danger of water entering the structure through cracks and weaknesses in the walls. Water can build up around the basement, raising the water table and leading to severe hydrostatic water pressure. Waterproofing is vital to keep a basement from feeling damp and becoming infested with molds and wood-boring insects. That all sounds like a lot to deal with, so it will be much less stressful and more time-efficient to hire some professional basement waterproofing services provider. If the basement has not been treated with a basement waterproofing course, there can be a multitude of problems including damage to items stored in the basement.
Most cellars or basements suffer from some degree of damp, and there is much debate about the best solution to prevent or treat this issue. Not to mention, the risk of flood. Therefore, it is worth putting the time and money into bringing in basement waterproofing services.
The basement of a property may rarely be visited, but once moisture enters the structure of the building, it can have profound consequences. Hired basement waterproofing services will be instrumental in preventing and remedying these.
For example, wood-boring insects love the damp, soft environment that moisture causes and the humidity that is often a side effect of a wet basement. Mould and mildew spores also thrive in moisture, and this can cause health issues for anyone in the basement. They can even penetrate the upper levels of the building, exacerbating respiratory problems that may exist with the inhabitants. Bringing in basement waterproofing services will ensure a prolonged defensive measure against these issues.
There is a multitude of reasons behind damp, which professional basement waterproofing services providers will be able to tackle. A very common cause is structural damage to the foundation walls. Basement waterproofing services will be able to detect and locate where the water enters the interior of the basement, then to check for cracks in the exterior wall.
Damp can also enter from weaknesses in the cove joint, or the point where the walls join in a corner. It is commonly caused by hydrostatic pressure which occurs after a substantial period of rain or snow which raises the water table.
Sometimes water can enter the basement over the foundation wall, if water comes from an adjoining property which slopes down towards the building, or if the wall has been built upon the exterior and allowed water access over the foundation wall. Water can seep in through the mortar and enter the basement that way.
There can also be pipe penetrations in the walls which produce vulnerable areas for water to seep in. But whatever the problem, the basement waterproofing services hired in will be able to identify it and, if they can't fix it themselves, will recommend service partners that can.
If any of those problems are noticed, it's likely that a basement waterproofing services provider is needed:
These are dangerous conditions and must be addressed. For best results, hire in professional basement waterproofing services provider. Moisture attacks masonry walls, which can erode the wall. Once the basement waterproofing services provider completed the basement waterproofing project, it's essential to keep the basement as warm and dry as possible to avoid humidity.
With the use of the appropriate basement waterproofing measures, a damp, unpleasant basement can be transformed into a dry, warm space.
Basement waterproofing services can be carried out in three main ways. The treatments are applied to the internal walls, especially in an existing structure, as treating an exterior wall is often a too complicated task. That's why it's best to hire a professional basement waterproofing services provider to do the intricate work.
Basement cavity wall membrane or cavity waterproofing system
This system is widespread and useful among basement waterproofing services. It involves a waterproof layer being attached to walls, diverting any build-up of water out of and away from the basement.
Professional basement waterproofing services will use effective and durable materials, but the effect can be achieved only by correctly applying a plastic lining to the wall. However, moisture can seep in and still cause damage in this case.
Alternatively, basement waterproofing services may spray a waterproof substance onto the wall, which has proven to be more effective than the plastic lining. The basement waterproofing services will then apply a drainage board to the coated wall and add a plaster cover. This method can be useful, however, in basements where condensation and light dampness are the main problems.
Sump and pump water removal
This type of basement waterproofing services technic involves the installation of a pump (or the sump). That removes excess water collected in a sump basin in the basement. Pumps can also be used with the cavity wall membrane basement waterproofing system.
In this case, the collected water is drained away to a safe, external place. The water is allowed into the property but then poured away. This type of basement waterproofing service technic is particularly useful if the area around the basement is prone to flooding. It works on the premise that some water may be expected to enter the basement at some point, so it's better to deal with it and drain it away rather than assume basement waterproofing services are applied to the whole basement.
Additionally, this is regarded as a safe basement waterproofing service, mainly if a backup pump is installed in case of failure, and a warning system put in place in case of any damage or outage on the system. Cement covers the pump mechanism for added security against further water entry.
Cement tanking
A waterproof liquid coating (sometimes called a tanking slurry) is all that's entailed in this brand of basement waterproofing services. It is applied to the wall. It coats the walls and floor in the basement and ensures the walls and floor are waterproof and stops any water from entering the basement. That is a theory about the basement waterproofing service technic, but it needs an expert to apply it correctly, as it can easily be misapplied and redundant. It is another reason to hire a professional basement waterproofing service provider.
The method chosen should reflect the age, position, and use of the basement. The makeup of the structure should also be considered, for example, if the building made of concrete or masonry and waterproofing system was once already used in the past.
It's advisable to consult a basement waterproofing services expert to survey the basement before choosing the most appropriate option for the situation.
Professional basement waterproofing services providers should assess the position of the basement on the water table and the soil types present in the surrounding land. It's essential to carry out this phase of the survey, as it can in the long term save time and money. Both factors have a severe impact on the type of basement waterproofing that will improve effectiveness in the future.
Samples should also be taken from the walls of the basement to check for contamination.
It's not only important to choose the type of basement waterproofing that is most appropriate for the building. Other factors also must be considered. There may be internal wiring or other amenities which need to be moved or raised to keep them from water damage if it arises in the future, and it is advisable to remove them from the site of the waterproofing completely. Other factors in deciding which method to choose, including how much time and financing available, how much noise and disruption can be tolerated, and what finish planned for the treated walls.
It is hard to work against nature, and water may still seep into a basement. Therefore, it's important to look for defects in the waterproofing and act as soon as possible.
With cement tanking and cavity wall waterproofing look out for:
With a cavity basement drainage system, problems that can arise are:
If a problem occurs, it's best to go back to the company that installed the waterproofing in the basement and if that's not possible try to find another one.


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Defining Our Calling
April 3, 2012 4 Comments
Henry Drummond wrote, "The end of life is to do God's will. . . . That is the object of your life and mine – to do God's will. It is not to be happy or to be successful, or famous, or to do the best we can. . . . It is something far higher than this – to do God's will."
Most of us won't be called to live in a way that's larger than life, in exciting places, doing exciting things. Drummond wrote, "We are neither intended to be apostles nor missionaries nor martyrs, but to be common people living in common houses, spending the day in common offices or common kitchens, yet doing the will of God there, we shall do as much as apostle or missionary or martyr – seeing that they can do no more than do God's will where they are, even as we can do as much where we are – and answer the end of our life as truly, faithfully and triumphantly as they."
He went on to say that a healthy Christian life "is not defined by how happy we are, by how prosperous or healthy we are, or even by how many people we have led to the Lord in the last year. Christian health is ultimately defined by how sincerely we wave our flag of surrender, how earnestly we want to do and be exactly what God wants us to do and be." (quoted in Thirsting for God, Bary Thomas, ebook – loc – 1748 & following, by Gary Thomas)

subset: commoncrawl


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|Pebble Beach Golf Links is ranked No. 9. (Courtesy of Timothy K Hamilton)
WITH EARTH DAY AROUND THE CORNER, Linksmagazine.com published its list of top 10 environmentally friendly golf courses in these United States. Audubon International and Cornell University turfgrass expert Frank Rossi helped make the picks. There are 663 golf courses (about four percent of all U.S. courses) that are certified by Audubon International for their habitat friendly practices.
You have probably heard of at least a few of the following golf courses that made the list. Some have hosted PGA Tour and LPGA events, as well as major amateur tournaments.
1. Vinyard Golf Club (Edgartown, Massachusetts)
America's only true organic course.
2. North Shore Country Club (Glenview, Illinois)
Serves as research facility to find new ways to fight grass disease.
3. Chambers Bay (University Place, Washington)
Only Audubon International Certified Silver Signature Sanctuary course in Pacific Northwest.
4. Mohonk Golf Course (New Paltz, New York)
Composting and recycling program has reduced landfill waste by 50 percent.
5. Saucon Valley Country Club (Bethlehem, Pennsylvania)
Winner: 2008 Environmental Leaders in Golf National Private and Overall
6. Old Collier Golf Club (Naples, Florida)
First Audubon Certified Gold Signature Sanctuary course.
7. Westchester Country Club (Rye, New York)
Winner: 2009 Metropolitan Golf Association Club Environmental Award
8. Stone Creek Golf Club (Oregon City, Oregon)
Winner: 2008 Environmental Leaders in Golf National Public Award
9. Pebble Beach Golf Links (Pebble Beach, California)
Hosted first golf environmental summit in 1995.
10. Sebonack Golf Club (Southampton, New York)
Has plan to use solar-powered golf carts.


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Message Board
Josephine Tey Message Board
Talk about the novels, new and used books that Tey has written!
Author Tey's Book Reviews
Miss Pym Disposes
Takes place in a girls' college.Hidden Jealousies which take a disastrous turn towards the end of the Term Year....
The Daughter of Time
Scotland Yard inspector Grant is lying in his bed in a London hospital. He will spend his time trying to understand why King Richard III is presented as the murderer of his two nephews by all the history books while there are no clues incriminating him. Helped by a young American student who's charged by Grant to consult for him books and letters from the XVth and the XVIth century, Grant will discover that Richard had in fact no good reason at all to ki...


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My story on Austin Mexican Food For Tribeza Magazine. Just for fun.
This story ran in Tribeza magazine a while back. I was driving with my kid yesterday. I told him that good writers were rare in our society and that he should practice his writing. I went on to say, "If I were in charge I'd make you write a new essay every day." He immediately countered with, "If you did that I would be a much more rebellious child..." Touche' This article may not appeal to everyone but it's a classic example in the editorial world of getting more work because you can put two disciplines together. It's cheaper to put a writer and photographer on a plane if they are the same person........ And you get paid for both parts....
A Taste of Mexico
There is a time and place for shiny, novel, ersatz, newcomer Mexican food, but the time is generally after an evening of drinking and the place is usually somewhere I really don't want to be. Like most Austinites, I want my Mexican food to be authentic, tasty, and time tested. There has always been an uncomplimentary inflection involved in the discussion of Tex-Mex food that stems from the conceit that the clichéd gooey-cheese, orange grease, and tortilla-laden cuisine, cut with hot peppers, was invented only to insulate the human system from the onslaught of margaritas and beer and doesn't really constitute nutrition or "cuisine."
I couldn't disagree more. Some of my all-time-favorite meals have come from a handful of Mexican restaurants sprinkled around Austin—meals that married incredible combinations of ingredients with masterful preparation. In fact, when "foodie" friends from either coast hit town in search of great meals, we usually default to one of three established favorites. These are restaurants that have three things in common: (1) They've stood the test of time and are just as relevant to diners today as they were the day they opened. (2) They've focused on providing engaging dining experiences that combine great food with just the right ambience. (3) The food is still the compelling reason for their existence.
The three restaurants I refer to are Fonda San Miguel, Manuel's (on Congress Avenue), and El Azteca. They are totally different in style, presentation, and aesthetics, but each provides a rich experience in its own right.
In fairness, I should make this disclosure before going any further: We've been going to Fonda San Miguel for more than 25 years and El Azteca for at least that long, and we were around for the birthing of Manuel's, which turns 25 this year.
These three restaurants offer totally different dining experiences; El Azteca is the prototypical family-run Tex-Mex-style restaurant serving traditional dishes that blend the tastes of South Texas and Old Mexico. Along with Matt's El Rancho, El Azteca has set the standard for Mexican "comfort food" in Austin for decades. It's the perfect place for cabrito and all our usual "combination plate" favorites. It's very casual, with prices to match.
Manuel's is the opposite of El Azteca's homespun, East Side, laid-back feel. Located at the epicenter of downtown, Manuel's is sleek and stylish. A study in black and white with touches of warm neon. The crowd on any given day is composed of young downtown professionals, a mix of advertising and magazine creatives with a blend of politicos and attorneys thrown in for flavor. The food is a perfect blend of interior Mexican traditionals with a generous nod to ongoing culinary evolution. And the presentation of the specialties is second to none.
Then there's Fonda San Miguel: a world-class restaurant with a split personality. It can't seem to decide between being a celebrated destination dining venue or a museum-quality art gallery, so it gracefully merges both inclinations to present a unique visual and gustatory experience beyond that of any other restaurant in Austin. Chef Miguel Ravago is doing wild and wonderful things that marry the finest traditions of haute cuisine with nuances of Old Mexico. When the food is combined with the incredible collection of art, the result is an evening that is very much a special occasion.
I'll start with our Tex-Mex traditional, El Azteca. The building is modest and shows its age. The restaurant has been there for 46 years, after all. Walking in the front door, we were greeted by Daniel Guerra, the son of the restaurant's founders. The walls are decorated with won- derfully kitschy Mexican calendars depicting "ripped" warriors atop Mayan pyramids and ample, half-naked women in ceremonial outfits from the ancient Aztecs, if the ceremonial outfits had been designed to be worn by Jessica Simpson at a car show. The calendars are a tradition started by Daniel's father. He imported them from Mexico to be given away to regular customers. Now they are available for sale.
The highlight of our recent lunch was roasted cabrito (young goat) served in tasty, small chunks and accompanied by a traditional mild sauce, guacamole salad, and frijoles à la charra. The cabrito is a specialty of the house, and it was just right, almost crispy on the outside, tender and moist on the inside. We also ordered a vegetarian combination plate that took us right back to our early Austin Tex-Mex roots.
Refried beans, rice, a vegetarian taco, acres of wonderful queso, and an enchilada. Nothing heroic, just perfectly proportioned, and served promptly. From the fresh, hot chips to the easy-to-eat house-made salsa, everything about El Azteca says "rich, comforting food served up by family." The one thing that will surprise you is just how affordable the food is.
Manuel's Downtown is a great blend of streamlined, modern decor fused with authentic interior Mexican dishes that never disappoint. I love coming in for lunch with a fairly large party and sitting in one of the rounded, plushly upholstered corner booths with a view of the entire dining room. But the restaurant really comes alive during the dinner service, with the kind of bustling energy you normally experience in the most popular New York cafés. The waitpeople, dressed all in black, whip through the room. The patrons, also dressed mostly in black, meet and greet with alacrity, though the lucky ones who've already been served are oblivious to everything but the beautiful presentations and addictive smells and tastes of the great food.
On a recent visit we sampled an interesting trio of disparate dishes. The camarones veracruzanos, served on a bed of perfectly cooked rice, was a shrimp lover's wish come true. Huge, plump sautéed shrimp, painted with a delicately spicy red veracruzano sauce, dominated the plate. The folks in this kitchen do seafood really well. Next we turned our attention to a crowd-pleaser, the enchiladas verdes. I order these chicken enchiladas covered with a piquant tomatillo sauce nearly every other visit to Manuel's. The blend of cheese, chicken, and salsa is as close to perfection as you'll find in Austin. On my last visit, I was pushed to try something new, so as a compromise I ordered the enchiladas banderas. The banderas are like an ultimate enchilada/ salsa pairing "taster" plate. Your choice of chicken, beef, tender pork, cheese, or mushroom enchiladas is sauced in all three of Manuel's handcrafted signature salsas: verde, suiza, and adobada. Now I have a new favorite dish.
Most of the entrées are served with black beans and Mexican rice. Another dish that blew us away was the chile relleno en nogada. This is a roasted poblano pepper stuffed full of shredded pork, almonds, and raisin picadillo, topped with a walnut cream brandy sauce. A visual note that took the presentation to the next level was a sprinkling of brilliant vermilion pomegranate seeds. For lunch I can never resist the pork tacos, and I have another friend who is just addicted (really, in a very clinical way) to the ceviche.
I saved Fonda San Miguel for last because it's so different from any other restaurant and even our own cultural expectations of what a restaurant can or should be. The luxe quality of the food is a given. But the food is just one part of an amazing blend of art, decor, cultural touchstones, attention to craft, and details, all of which come together perfectly. In most restaurants, waiting for your table is a bothersome experience that requires the more compulsive among us to keep one eye on our dinner companions and the other on the seating hostess to prevent "bureaucratic table loss." At Fonda San Miguel your short stay in the atrium area will find you surrounded by exotic plants, graceful design nuances from the best of Old Mexico, and a collection of exceptional art. That would be real, museum-quality pieces that rotate through the restaurant from Tom Gilliland's remarkable collection of eclectic and renowned international artists. Combine this with drinks from a well-versed bar staff and perhaps a plate of salmon tostadas to munch on, and you'll find me hoping it takes at least half an hour for our table to be ready.
The two dining rooms are amazing. The larger room is delicately lit with strands of small spotlights that supplement the warm glow from a grand collection of majestic hanging bronze fixtures in the center of the room. The smaller room has some of my favorite paintings, and it also has a graceful sense of privacy about it. There is always one problem that afflicts Fonda San Miguel regulars, though. In a nutshell it's this: If you order one dish you don't get to order something else. Go for the Jaliscostyle steak caballero—a succulent 16-ounce bone-in ribeye served with chile de arbol chimichurri—and you won't have any room left to even try the enchiladas suizas de jaiba (enchiladas stuffed with crab and covered with a white sauce). It's a sad state of affairs for the indecisive.
On one of our recent visits we went with a dish that transcended the entire category of Mexican food. It was the cordero. Four plump, perfectly grilled lamb chops served with a chipotle cheese potato casserole and a mixed green salad. The lamb was easily as good as any cut of meat you'll have at any premium steak house, while the subtle bite of the potato casserole provided a perfect counterpoint. Also sampled was a classic pescado Veracruzano. A broiled fish fillet in a traditional Veracruz tomato sauce sprinkled through with onions, Spanish olives, and capers. It was a definitive rendition of a popular dish. The range of the menu is breathtaking, and the kitchen rarely stumbles. Add in a few extras like the person in the corner show kitchen continually making hand-formed flour and corn tortillas that come hot to your table, and a well-stocked selection of fine wines, and you'll understand why people come from all over Texas for the Sunday buffet or from as far away as Paris to sample the offerings.
So the next time one of your confederates suggests "grabbing some Mexican food" at some new place that used to be an auto shop or at some dive that puts grated cheddar cheese garnishes on the tacos, that will be the perfect time to step up everybody's game with a visit to one of the genuine masterpieces of Mexican cuisine. From basics to blue sky, these are the restaurants that deliver what you really want. If you haven't been to these three temples to the various genres of Mexican food, I truly envy you. Now you get to try each one for the first time!


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Rolex Lady-Datejust 28 Oyster, 28 mm, Oystersteel, white gold and diamonds M279384rbr-0011
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- Reference
- M279384rbr-0011
- Model case
- Oyster, 28 mm, Oystersteel, white gold and diamonds
- Bezel
- Set with diamonds
- Water resistance
- Waterproof to 100 metres / 330 feet
- Movement
- Perpetual, mechanical, self-winding
- Calibre
- 2236, Manufacture Rolex
- Power reserve
- Approximately 55 hours
- Dial
- White mother-of-pearl set with diamonds
- Certification
- Superlative Chronometer (COSC + Rolex certification after casing)
Mother-of-Pearl Dial
Diamond-Set Bezel
White Rolesor
Model availability
All Rolex watches are assembled by hand with the utmost care to ensure exceptional quality. Such high standards naturally restrict Rolex production capacity and, at times, the demand for Rolex watches outpaces this capacity.
Therefore, the availability of certain models may be limited. New Rolex watches are exclusively sold by Official Rolex Retailers, who receive regular deliveries and independently manage the allocation and sales of watches to customers.
Bucherer is proud to be part of the worldwide network of Official Rolex Retailers and can provide information on the availability of Rolex watches.
The classic Rolex feminine watch, the Oyster Perpetual Lady-Datejust appeared in 1957, carrying the elegance of the Datejust in a small 28 mm size perfectly suited to a slender wrist. This year, Rolex presents a new gem-set version of its Lady-Datejust. This watch, crafted from 18 ct gold, showcases the captivating shine of the diamonds that adorn every surface.
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Tye M. Sanders
Food & Lifestyle Blog Bio
As the classic Gen X'er: I seek fun and meaningful work/projects, value the ability to set my own hours, and thrive with a flexible schedule (work-from home). None of these traits mean that I'm out of touch; I know what it's like to juggle a family and seek to fulfill personal goals.
Although I've only attended food handling courses, I have been a family cook since I was a tender 7 years old (31 years as a home cook). Since my family was poor, I made creative and tasty meals out of what I could find in the pantry for my younger siblings. When the ingredients list grew, so did my desire to cook a variety of meals.
I'd watch Julia Child prepare magnificent meals on the television before I ran out the door to school. I also found joy in watching the television cooking segments on the news. I knew then, that cooking would be a huge interest in my life.
Born in California and raised in Texas as an Army Brat, my roots are deeply instilled in the military lifestyle. I learned to quickly adapt to new environments and share life experiences with many people from various backgrounds. My experience as a military dependent had a lasting impression on me that help me to give great recipes and advice to others based on past experiences or friends' experiences.
I married my 1st true love when I was a young 21 year old woman. Already having a son as a teenager made me mature faster and learn how to be a thrifty, supportive, and creative wife and mother at a young age.
My natural progression for a career was supporting the Army somehow. I started on a project at AT&T with the Paralyzed Veterans of America, and then acquired a wonderful job as a Commercial Sponsorship, Advertising, & Grants Manager (civilian DoD) in Kentucky.
When my first husband deployed to Bosnia, then Iraq, I juggled my growing family stateside with the help of friends. It was during that time, I began to journal and experiment with food as a therapeutic stress reliever.
The aftermath of the war in Iraq contributed heavily to the divorce of my 1st marriage, but my journaling and meal creations stayed with me. While working on base in Kentucky, I met my second husband, who fully supported and appreciated my approaches to stress relief; he supports my efforts till this day.
I know that mistakes in both cooking and life experiences help us fine tune our craft as people and/or home cooks. I hope to bring you many useful recipes that are family friendly and provide you with a few bits of advice that worked for me and my loved ones in the past.
Even though I still have life struggles (Crohn's disease, IBD, lactose intolerant children, husband with high blood pressure) they only present a challenge that I'm happy to tackle.
For those of you who need a mood pick-me-up or a few quick and yummy recipes….this is for you!
💖The Recipe: Ayanna's Fast & Easy Cheesy Enchiladas💖
💕💕Thanks for joining me Tye and sharing💕💕
Thank you all for stopping by! ❤💋


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Friday, December 31, 2021
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People who want to share their religious views with you almost never want you to share yours with them.
I'm a 50ish geek, and my mind is so stuffed with useless trivia, that I have difficulty remembering how to cross the street!!


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This is the alleged video leaked by Omelly of 50's girl, Cuban Link. pic.twitter.com/49tHQ6RZL2
— DablogaformerlyknownasOWJ (@ofcwapjuices) February 4, 2020
jamira haines (Cuban Link) _cuban_link sextape and nudes photos leaks online. French Montana has released the video of 50 Cent's girlfriend Cuban Link sucking her ex boyfriend Omelly's dick Meek mill artist. Instagram. @_cuban_link


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Wabash units 1158-1189 were delivered in 1951-52. In the 1960s, they were renumbered into the 600-726 series. Wabash 1189 has been preserved and is currently operational at a railroad museum in Illinois.
EMD F-units were a line of diesel-electric locomotives produced between November 1939 and November 1960 by General Motors Electro-Motive Division and General Motors-Diesel Division. Final assembly for all F-units was at the GM-EMD plant at La Grange, Illinois and the GMDD plant in London, Ontario, Canada. They were sold to railroads throughout the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
Structurally, the locomotive was a carbody unit, with the body as the main load-bearing structure, designed like a bridge truss and covered with cosmetic panels. The so-called bulldog nose was a distinguishing feature of the locomotive's appearance, and made a lasting impression in the mind of the traveling public.
The F-units were the most successful "first generation" road (main line) diesel locomotives in North America and were largely responsible for superseding steam locomotives in road freight service. Before this, diesel units were mostly only built as switcher locomotives, and only used in rail yards.
F-units were sometimes known as "covered wagons", due to the similarity in appearance of the roof of an F-unit to the canvas roof of a Conestoga wagon, an animal-drawn wagon used in the westward expansion of the United States during the late 18th and 19th centuries. When a train's locomotive consist included only F-units, the train would then be called a wagon train. These two usages are still popular with the railfan community.
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Malcolm Gladwell: What I Read
The author of 'Outliers' explains why he runs 24 hours behind the news cycle
How do other people deal with the torrent of information that pours down on us all? Do they have some secret? Perhaps. We are asking various people who seem well-informed to describe their media diets. Malcolm Gladwell, author of The Tipping Point, Blink and Outliers, filled us in on how he gets--or doesn't--his news.
Since my brain really only works in the morning, I try to keep that time free for writing and thinking and don't read any media at all until lunchtime, when I treat myself to The New York Times--the paper edition. At this point, I realize, I am almost a full 24 hours behind the news cycle. Is this is a problem? I have no idea. My brother, who is a teacher, always says that we place too much emphasis on the speed of knowledge acquistion, and not the quality of knowledge acquistion: I guess that means that the fact that I am still on Monday, when everyone else is on Tuesday, is okay.
I made the mistake of reading some of the earlier versions of this column, and I fear that I'm on the extreme low end of media consumption. I think that this is because I grew up in a family that didn't get a daily newspaper, didn't have a television, and never went to the movies. We just read books and went for walks. Not much has changed. I check in, every now and again, with The Awl, Espn.com and Crookedtimber.org but not much else. I subscribe to one person's Twitter feed: my friend Jacob's. I try and read whatever he links to. But long ago I decided that I would basically outsource my political opinions to him—so I'm always left with the question of why, if I've already signed over my thinking to him, I'm also reading the sources of his thinking. Isn't that inefficient?
On Saturdays, I replace The Times with the Wall Street Journal--which I think has a wonderful weekend arts section, and the weekend edition of the Financial Times, which has many wonderful things as well, including my fellow-Canadian Tyler Brûlé, of whom I am slightly in awe. Every once in a while I drop by the local magazine store, and buy my true love: car magazines: Car and Driver, Road & Track and—best of all—the brilliant English CAR, every issue of which I have read cover to cover going back to forever.
I try to get to Bobst Library, at New York University, about once a week, to make my way through my favorite academic journals. I don't really have a set pattern: mostly I just browse through the databases, or root around in the footnotes of things that I've liked. In the evening, before going to sleep, I read books. Right now I'm finishing up the Keith Richards autobiography. The great test of any memoir is that the author's life has to be more interesting than the reader's life. He passes that test with flying colors, although the bar is rather low in my case.


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Domaines Ott - Bandol, Coeur de Grain, Chateau Romassan Rose 2014 MagnumLimited Stocks
Country of OriginFrance
Producer Information
Key Information
- AppellationBandol
- BrandDomaines Ott
- RegionProvence
Other Information
- Grape TypeCinsaut/Cinsault
- Grape TypeGrenache/Garnacha
- Grape TypeShiraz/Syrah
- Vintage2014
Chateau Romassan is located in the Bandol appellation where the land is comprised of limestone, sandstone and marl of the late Cretaceous marine period. These poor soils are offset by the large amount of stone in the soils throughout this appellation.
The Bandol appellation is known for its terraced landscapes built from the hard stone with vines, which are planted into vast terraces with varying exposures. Cultivation methods are traditional and the soil is mechanically tilled and young shoots are trained with the greatest care to the plant.
The following grapes are used in making this Rose Cabernet Sauvignon for its complexity, blending elegance and vigour, Cinsault for its finesse and fullness Grenache to add warmth to the wine Syrah in small quantities to round of the wine, give colour and a touch of liquorice.
The grapes are all hand picked and go through a stringent selective grape sorting, and then go through an extremely delicate pressing process.
Fermentation is done in thermo-regulated vats followed by ageing in oak casks for 6-9 months.
This Rose has a bouquet reminiscent of plants with notes of fruits and spices, apricot and grapefruit pulp.
An outstanding alliance with scallops, salmon marinated in dill, sweet and sour pork.
It is best served at 50-54 degrees Fahrenheit.
Limited Stock.
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Chief's, officers' actions should be investigated
The circumstances surrounding what happened Oct. 30 during what was supposed to be a routine police welfare check demand a full, fair, impartial, independent investigation.
Rockford Mayor Larry Morrissey thinks the issue is "resolved" and said he would decline the police union's request for an investigation involving Police Chief Chet Epperson, three officers, and what was and wasn't said during a call to the home of NAACP Rockford Branch President Lloyd Johnston.
We think otherwise.
The Fire and Police Commission should assert its authority and call for just such an investigation. If everything was done in "textbook" fashion, as the mayor contends, an investigation will prove it.
The importance of an investigation goes beyond simply what happened at the Johnston home.
It's unfortunate, but the Rockford Police Department is viewed through a prism of distrust in many segments of the community. That's not an unusual challenge for law enforcement agencies, but in Rockford, the intensity of the distrust runs particularly high.
A probe of the Oct. 30 incident, and public airing of the investigation's results, could be a step toward re-establishing trust.
There's more, of course. It's no secret that there's a rocky relationship between the police chief and the police union. In 2007, Epperson was on the wrong side of a 276-6 no-confidence vote held by the union. We doubt the chief would get even six votes today.
Although the chief doesn't have to be popular to be effective, he does have to be fair, and consistent in disciplinary and policy matters.
A thorough investigation would determine whether Epperson's actions were consistent with department policy — or show that Johnston benefited because he happened to have the chief's cellphone number.
A thorough investigation also would determine whether the officers acted as they were supposed to. It's not appropriate to investigate the chief without investigating the officers, and vice versa.
It's fortunate that the situation at the Johnston house was resolved peacefully, but there are too many questions to allow the incident to fade away, not the least of which is a leaked police report. We don't know why it was leaked or whether it is accurate because the official report is being kept from us. The city rejected a Rockford Register Star request for the report filed in accordance with state open-records law.
Why the secrecy if everything was done the way it was supposed to be done? Are there discrepancies in the reports? In the absence of information, conspiracy theories fill the vacuum.
It's equally important that members of the Police Department know the full story about what happened. Poor morale in the department is more than theory.
Bookings by Rockford officers into the Winnebago County jail have been declining since 2008, when 10,069 suspects were taken into custody by Rockford officers. As of Sept. 18, Rockford officers had booked 4,886 people into the jail. There could be many reasons for the decline, but Rockford doesn't feel that much safer.
That may seem to be a separate issue from the incident at Johnston's home, but it is related. If the leaked report and officers' version of the story are true — that Epperson told Johnston not to allow officers into his home — he undercut the officers on the street. How could they ever be confident in their actions if they don't think the chief has their back? Could that be why bookings are down?
Officers have a difficult job working in a city that is considered one of the most dangerous in the country. If they don't think they have the support of the brass downtown, the job becomes nearly impossible.
An independent investigation would not eliminate the tension between the rank-and-file officers and the administration, but it may keep it from escalating.


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Get a load of this hover-tastic wireless computer mouse by KIBARDINDESIGN, which is purportedly in the "testing period and research market" stage of development. According to the design studio's website, the mouse — product designation: "The Bat" — levitates at a height of 40 millimeters on its own, or 10mm beneath the weight of your 1000g (~2.2-pound) hand. The whole setup comprises a base/bat-pad and a floating left-/right-click mouse conjoined with a magnetic ring. Also there's a scroll wheel. I guess we'll still need those where we're going.
This unholy chimera of pseudo-futuristic and unaccountably retro tech is ostensibly designed to relieve pressure on the median nerve of the wrist, which the studio claims will prevent and treat the numbness, tingling, and muscle damage of the hand that's characteristic of repetitive use injuries like carpal tunnel syndrome.
Now, is the Bat actually therapeutically useful in this regard? Unknown. We haven't tried one. Come to think of it, we kind of doubt anyone else has, either. Here's a better question: does the "Bat" even exist? Because to us it looks a little like someone took a Microsoft Arc Mouse, fixed it to a plastic ring, and added a few aesthetic details with the help of some carefully applied modeling clay and a couple coats of Krylon.
Microsoft Arc Mouse:
KIBARDINDESIGN's Bat:
But let's give KIBARDINDESIGN the benefit of the doubt and assume this is, in fact, a real mouse that is actually undergoing active testing and ask perhaps the biggest question of them all: the age of the mouse may be over, but is the age of the levitating mouse at an end, as well? Before it even had a chance to begin?
I mean, yeah. Probably. Still — if this thing's real — it's a goddamn hovermouse. And that's got to count for something in this day and age, right?


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Farmers and laborers have waited for hours in a long line outside the polling station in the impoverished village of Kirdasah, on Cairo's western outskirts, but their spirits are high.
Most are here to vote for the same candidate. "It's a rural town so everyone here is supporting the Muslim Brotherhood," says Soaad Abdullah Wahab, a 40-year-old housewife, waiting to mark her ballot for the Brotherhood's presidential candidate, Mohamed Morsy. "It's because people here are more attached to religion."
And it's not just Kirdasah. Judging by informal exit polls from the first democratic presidential election in Egypt's history, a great number of Egyptians — possibly many more than expected — are similarly "attached to religion."
More than a year after a popular uprising ended the 30-year-reign of President Hosni Mubarak, the first presidential race of the so-called Arab Spring has pitted the former officials of the ousted regime against the Islamists that it once banned and imprisoned. The Brotherhood captured the lion's share of parliamentary seats last winter, but prospects for a similar showing by its presidential candidate, Mohamed Morsy, had been widely dismissed by pundits ahead of this week's vote. Morsy was labeled uncharismatic and unpopular by the Egyptian news media, while many analysts believed he had thrown his hat in the ring too late. Even if the Brotherhood's Freedom and Justice party may be the most organized show in town, analysts and political rivals believed that not all of the movement's supporters would simply back whichever candidate was endorsed by the Brotherhood's leadership. And Morsy had been a last-minute choice — a "spare tire" as his critics have derisively called him — after the original Brotherhood pick, Khairat el-Shater, was disqualified by an electoral commission chosen by the ruling military.
(SPECIAL: The Middle East in Revolt)
But the naysayers may have miscalculated. It's hard to determine whether Morsy is in the lead, but he's clearly doing far better than anyone had expected. And as electoral officials begin counting the ballots after the polls close at 9 p.m. Thursday, the Brotherhood may well have to prepare itself for a run-off. By late afternoon, all five of the frontrunner candidates, including two Islamists, two former regime ministers, and a pan-Arab nationalist, claimed to be in the lead. A five-way tie is highly improbable, but analysts say a run-off vote in June between the two leading candidates — guaranteed if no candidate captures more than 50% of the votes — is almost certain.
The Brotherhood says it's the movement's discipline and organization that trumped the rivals in the end. "We have more experience," said one Brotherhood official, Khaled Tantawy, matter-of-factly, as the men around him tapped on computers in one of the group's operations centers in the poor Cairo suburb of Shubra al-Kheima on Wednesday. The group's observers, spread out at polling stations across the country, have provided their local offices with regular updates and reports of violations over the two days of voting, while tables of volunteers run outdoor help centers to guide Egyptians to their polling stations. The latter is a tactic that worked well for the Islamists during parliamentary elections — so well, perhaps, that supporters of another Islamist candidate and possible contender for the run-off, the more liberal former Brotherhood official Abdel Moneim Aboul Futouh, followed suit.
But the Islamists certainly face a strong opposition, spurred — they allege — by the ruling military and state media. Indeed, another underrated frontrunner who has surged into the foreground this week is Mubarak's former Prime Minister and ex commander of the Air Force, Ahmed Shafik. Liberal youth and Islamists say Shafik, along with the former Arab League chief Amr Moussa, are "felool" candidates — remnants of the old regime. Voters pelted Shafik with shoes as he visited a polling station on Wednesday. And many of the same youth activists who participated in last year's uprising have fought hard to discredit the men who they say want nothing more than to restore the old order.
(PHOTOS: Egypt's Presidential Elections: Free and a Free-for-All)
But Shafik's surge in popularity — and indeed Moussa's popularity all along — underscores a sentiment that doesn't sit well with Egyptian revolutionaries: some people miss the old order. And many others are willing to vote for a candidate associated with it, if it means a return to pre-revolution social stability. As voters stuffed their choices into plastic ballot boxes near the Giza pyramids, many lamented the rising atmosphere of insecurity since the uprising, and the disastrous effect that more than a year of political turmoil has had on the tourism industry — a sector that generates the livelihoods of many Egyptians. "We're all voting for Ahmed Shafik," said Hag Gabr, a factory owner. "We're not here for the oil, the sugar, and the 20 pounds," he added, referring to rumors of material support handed out by the Muslim Brotherhood in the days ahead of the vote. "We're here for the safety and security."
Many who voted for Moussa or Shafik explained they were motivated by their sheer opposition to the Islamists. And many Christians, who make up roughly 10% of Egypt's 85 million, said they voted for Shafik because the Coptic church had pushed them toward the most anti-Islamist choice. "Voting for the Brotherhood was a mistake we made once," said Hassan Saqr, a businessman, referring to the parliamentary election. "But they cheated us and lied to us. They told us they'd bring security and put people in good jobs, and none of that happened." Saqr voted for Ahmed Shafik too.
The run-off will likely prove even fiercer than first round, once 13 candidates have been whittled down to two. Those two could include Mohamed Morsy, Ahmed Shafik, Amr Moussa, or Abdel Moneim Aboul Futouh.
And although monitors and voters reported a relatively clean process with few violations — at least compared to the intimidation, violence and fraud of Mubarak-era elections, — allegations of rigging and other irregularities (filed mostly against Shafik and Morsy) could still tip the end game. Monitors affiliated with the Islamist candidates accused monitoring judges of pressing illiterate voters to choose Shafik, and claimed his campaign of bussed people in. The other side accused the Muslim Brotherhood of handing out food — indeed, villagers in Kirdasah admitted to having received it — and local media reported by Thursday evening that most of the candidates had violated electoral rules. God knows who's going to win, many Egyptians said, when asked for their predictions. Osman Mohamed Azmi, a government bureaucrat, was one who wouldn't say who he voted for as he exited a polling station in central Cairo. "But," he added, "I feel like a first class Egyptian citizen, who stated his opinion."
With reporting by Sharaf al-Hourani


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Extend launches line of towable mini-excavators
Patrick FlanneryProducts
Mar. 11, 2010 — Extend Manufacturing has introduced a new line of TMX Towable Mini-Excavators. According to the company, the TMX units are designed to provide exceptional power in a towable, easy-to-maneuver package, and offer a powerful excavating solution for a wide variety of markets, including rental, municipal, landscape and plumbing.
Mar. 11, 2010 — Extend Manufacturing has introduced a new line of TMX Towable Mini-Excavators. According to the company, the TMX units are designed to provide exceptional power in a towable, easy-to-maneuver package, and offer a powerful excavating solution for a wide variety of markets, including rental, municipal, landscape and plumbing.
Featuring a quick-on and quick-off hitch system, the TMX units can be hooked behind a standard 1/2-ton pick-up, van or light-duty tow vehicle. No trailer is needed, and no CDL license is required, making it an attractive option for both do-it-yourselfers and small contractors. Lockout drive hubs enable towing at highway speeds of 65 mph.
Unlike conventional mini-excavators, TMX units eliminate tracks by utilizing zero-turn technology common on lawn mowers. The zero-turn rotation enables convenient access to tight locations and allows work on well-established lawns or greens by virtually eliminating the potential for turf damage. The drive tires are designed for mud terrain, ensuring performance and traction in demanding applications. Featuring a highly efficient orbital motor with tapered roller bearings on the output shaft, the wheel motors allow plenty of durability for challenging loads.
Weighing only 2,941 pounds (1.5 ton class), the TMX features an 8-foot digging depth. The company says that similar digging depth on traditional mini-excavators is typically only found on a 3-ton class or larger machine. With a 6,600 pound digging force, the company says that the TMX unit offers a minimum of 21 percent more digging force than similar sized competitive excavators, making it one of the most powerful excavators for its size and weight class. The unit features a 7-foot 2-inch loading height with a swing radius of 140 degrees, allowing easy digging access next to walls and other obstructions.
In addition to digging power, the TMX offers a 72-inch, 4-way blade system for efficient backfilling and grading after excavation work is complete. The blade features 21 degrees of tilt, making it ideal for precision grading. A fully hydrostatic drive provides ease of operation and ample power at the touch of a finger for both the backhoe and blade.
Contractors may expand the benefits of the TMX even further with the use of the auxiliary hydraulic tool circuit, which has the ability to power hundreds of hydraulic tools including jackhammers, pumps and saws. An electronic control circuit reduces the amount of hydraulic hose needed and enhances efficiency. The TMX Towable Mini-Excavators are available in either gas or diesel models. The gasoline model features a 20 horsepower Kohler command engine, while the diesel version is powered by a 21.5 horsepower Kubota diesel engine.
Though the overall design is compact, the operator's platform offers spacious and roomy comfort with convenient armrest-mounted joystick controls for both digging and grading. The seat is offset 4 inches from center providing an unobstructed view of the digging arm, bucket and backfill blade.
TMX Towable Mini Excavators are manufactured by Extend Manufacturing, Weston, Wis. For more information please visit www.tmx-excavator.com .
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Anderson looks back at the lives lost in the killing spree near University of California, Santa Barbara.
Family and friends gathered today for a vigil honoring those who were killed in the rampage.
Post by: AC360
Filed under: Isla Vista rampage
You must be logged in to post a comment.
Anderson Cooper goes beyond the headlines to tell stories from many points of view, so you can make up your own mind about the news. Tune in weeknights at 8 and 10 ET on CNN.
Questions or comments? Send an email
Want to know more? Go behind the scenes with AC361°


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THERE would be no glorious bursting forth of nature at Easter-time without the cyclic journey of the Sun.
The Sun-cycle ushers springtime into the world above the equator, and the ancients regarded this as the reincarnation season of the year.
The celebration of Ēoestre or Ostara is an old pagan festival, and is the origin of the word Easter.
She is the goddess who symbolized the dawn, the warm Spring sun, the resurrection of Spirit in Earth, and much more.
"Just as there is a real Christmas—the time of winter solstice, explains the Theosophy School text, The Eternal Verities, The Easter Lesson (251):—
"there is a real Easter, a Sun-cycle, the time of the Vernal Equinox."
In the legend, when the beautiful Goddess Ēoestre saw all this wonderful work of hers, she said: "Hereafter, every year I will have one day called Easter, after me. That day, all shall celebrate the awakening of Life from its winter sleep. Then shall all people be joyous and glad, and give each other eggs as gifts,
for the Egg shall be my symbol. So it is fitting, for all Life is first within the egg."
The Pysanka
The art of the decorated egg in Ukraine, or the pysanka, dates back to ancient times. Pysanky is a 4,000 year old tradition. No actual ancient examples exist, as eggshells are fragile.
Many Springtimes
Goddesses related to Ostara were known in ancient cultures around the Mediterranean, and were celebrated in the springtime: Aphrodite from Cyprus, Astarte from Phoenicia, Demeter from Mycenae, Hathor from Egypt, Ishtar from Assyria, and Kali from India.
The Pysanka are perhaps some of the most impressive egg designs of Easter. These Ukrainian treasures (examples here) are hollowed-out eggs decorated with traditional Ukrainian folk designs.
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What is a pysanka?
A Sacred Symbol
The Norse were not the only peoples that exchanged colored eggs at the time of Vernal Equinox. The Egyptians regarded them as sacred symbols, and hung them in their temples. (See: Ancient History Encyclopedia)
The cosmos in the form of an egg was the most widely diffused belief of antiquity. In the egg is Life, which is Light, and from the One white light come all the colors.
"The Egg was incorporated as a sacred sign in the cosmogony of every people on the Earth," writes H. P. Blavatsky in The Secret Doctrine,
"and was revered both on account of its form and its inner mystery."
"From a latent 'nothing' was produced an active something, needing only heat," she says. "Gradually evolving and breaking its own shell, the creature appeared to be a self-generated, and a self-created being."
"This must have been a standing miracle from the beginning!"
"The gradual development of the invisible germ within the closed shell, the inward working, without any apparent outward interference of force, symbolized the origin and secret of Being."
(H. P. Blavatsky, The Secret Doctrine 1:359, The Mundane Egg)
Chicks Hatching
"If an egg is broken by an outside force, life ends. If broken by an inside force, life begins. Great things always begin from the inside."
"The secret teaching explains the reason for this reverence by the Symbolism of the prehistoric races. The "First Cause" had no name in the beginnings. Later it was pictured in the fancy of the thinkers as an ever invisible, mysterious Bird that dropped an Egg into Chaos, which Egg becomes the Universe. Hence Brahm was called Kalahansa, "the swan in (Space and) Time." He became the "Swan of Eternity," who lays at the beginning of each Mahamanvantara a "Golden Egg."
"It typifies the great Circle, or O, itself a symbol for the universe and its spherical bodies."
In the symbolism of ancient thinkers, the Universe was produced by an Egg dropped into Chaos by an ever invisible, mysterious Bird called Kalahansa, "the swan in (Space and) Time."
"As a Circle and a Sphere, the Golden Egg was chosen as the symbolic representation of the Universe, and of our earth, and the ovi-form shape of our globe must have been known from the beginning of symbology, since it was so universally adopted."
(H. P. Blavatsky, "The Mundane Egg")
An Easter Song
(Theosophy School Songbook)
Click here or below to view or download
the original sheet music.
"Life laughs in bud and bloom
from out the bough,
'Tis Easter now!
The Sun his golden journey makes
In circle wide across the sky.
O, Radiance, teach us how
To mirror in our eyes the gleam,
To let shine forth the Light we dream,
This Easter now!"
The pysanky have been found in many sites, and fragments have been discovered in the graves of both children and adults.
Trypillian Pysanky:
Modern Expressions of Neolithic Designs
The Trypillian Neolithic culture flourished in central and western Ukraine between 5400 BC and 2700 BC. Its pottery designs (and colors) have been adapted by modern pysanka artists. While these are traditional Ukrainian designs, they are traditional pottery designs.
Beautifully and intricately designed. Ostrich egg pysanky have become common in Ukraine in the last few years; the eggs are obtained from the Askania-Nova reserve in the Kherson region, a huge open-air animal preserve.
(click here for link)
The first manifestation of the Cosmos in the form of an egg was the most widely diffused belief of antiquity. It was a symbol adopted among the Greeks, the Syrians, Persians, and Egyptians.
In an Egyptian Ritual, Seb, the god of Time and of the Earth, is spoken of as having laid an egg, or the Universe, "an egg conceived at the hour of the great one of the Dual Force."
"At the 5000 year old Loughcrew megalithic cairn T in Ireland, the rising sun on the mornings around the equinoxes (March and September) illuminate the passage and chamber.
In the video below the inner illumination by the sun in the chamber during the Spring Equinox has been compressed from 50 minutes to 40 seconds.
"The backstone of the chamber with its engraved sun symbols is bathed in a blaze of golden light during the 50 minute illumination. The sunbeam moves from the backstone to the sill stone and the stones in the main chamber."
"The ancient sun-worshipers regarded the Great Spirit as a nature-god, identical with nature," writes H. P. Blavatsky in Isis Unveiled, "and the sun as the deity, 'in whom the Lord of life dwells.' The sun is the source of the souls and of all life."
The Living Universe
Duane Elgin's The Living Universe explores a new paradigm that is vital for building a sustainable future; namely, a shift from regarding the universe as fragmented and dead to seeing it as unified and alive.
Universal Egg Symbols
With the Greeks the "Orphic Egg" is described by Aristophanes, and was part of the Dionysiac and other mysteries.
With the Egyptians, "Ra" is shown, like the Hindu Brahma, gestating in the Egg of the Universe.
The Mundane Egg
Its consecration and significance was explained by Porphyry who called it a representation of the world.
(All the above collated from The Secret Doctrine 1:359)
Change to a Consciousness
of Oneness
Environmental and social justice activist Julia Butterfly Hill explains that when we act from a consciousness of oneness we make mindful decisions that consider the whole rather than just ourselves.
Goddess of Spring
The names Oestre or Eastre, mean "movement towards the rising sun," and in Germany and the Norse lands is named Ostara.
As a solar deity, Ostara is celebrated on March 21st at the Spring Equinox, because the days are brighter and growing longer.
She is a goddess of the dawn and the spring, and her name derives from words for dawn, the shining light arising from the east.
(Our words for the female hormone "estrogen" derives from her name.)
Universe: A Living System
Duane Elgin is an internationally recognized speaker, author, and social visionary who looks beneath the surface turbulence of our times to explore the deeper trends that are transforming our world.
"The human body is made up of 50-100 trillion cells differentiated into many integrated communities (that we call organs) collaborating harmoniously to create a whole human being," Elgin says:
"Imagine that each of the seven billion humans on our planet is a cell in a whole body of humanity, each with its own function and gift."
H. P. Blavatsky, The Theosophical Glossary
"Ostara is a fertility Goddess, the northern counterpart of Astarte and Ishtar. She is associated with the Moon, with eggs, Dawn, and the East – all symbolizing her primary qualities of bringing birth, rebirth and renewal to a winter-weary world.
"She is originally associated with the Hare. Unlike rabbits, hare babies are born fully furred, with their eyes open."
"The word Easter evidently comes from Ostara, the Scandinavian goddess of spring. She was the symbol of the resurrection of all nature and was worshipped in early spring. Eggs were symbolical from an early time.
"It was a custom with the pagan Norsemen at that time to exchange coloured eggs called the eggs of Ostara. These have now become Easter-Eggs."
As in many ancient cultures, Ukrainians worshipped a sun god (Dazhboh). The sun was important – it warmed the earth and thus was a source of all life.
Eggs decorated with nature symbols became an integral part of spring rituals, serving as benevolent talismans.
In pre-Christian times, Dazhboh was one of the main deities in the Slavic pantheon; birds were the sun god's chosen creations, for they were the only ones who could get near him.
Humans could not catch the birds, but they did manage to obtain the eggs the birds laid. Thus, the eggs were magical objects, a source of life.
With the advent of Christianity, via a process of religious syncretism, the symbolism of the egg was changed to represent, not nature's rebirth, but the rebirth of man. Christian religious teachings embraced the egg symbol but likened it to the tomb from which Christ arose.
Christian or Pagan?
Acharya was a scholar classically educated in archaeology, history, mythology and languages. Acharya specialized in religion and mythology, critiquing and comparing them, and providing unique insights into their origins.
Although born into a Christian (Congregationalist Protestant) family, Acharya did not subscribe to any particular religion, nor was she a hardcore "atheist."
As a leading researcher and an expert in the field of comparative mythology, Acharya S. (D.M. Murdock), was made a fellow of the Committee of Scientific Examination or Religion, which examines the connections between religious belief and our ancient connection with the Sun.
"Acharya was also a member of the American School of Classical Studies at Athens, Greece, and spoke Greek, French, Spanish, Italian, German and Portuguese.
"Acharya will challenge your beliefs, if you have had any form of religious upbringing, but if you watch and listen closely and add the dots together you will see that her conclusions have a solid [and Theosophical] grounding."
Mundane Egg Myths
With the acceptance of Christianity in 988, the decorated pysanka, in time, was adapted to play an important role in Ukrainian rituals of the new religion.
Many symbols of the old sun worship survived and were adapted to represent Easter and Christ's Resurrection.
The Christ Sun
"As expressed in Asgard And The Gods: 'Christianity put another meaning on the old custom, by connecting it with the feast of the Resurrection of the Saviour,
"…who, like the hidden life in the egg, slept in the grave for three days before he awakened to new life."
"This was the more natural," Blavatsky writes in the Theosophical Glossary (Easter), "since Christ was identified with that same Spring Sun which awakens in all his glory, after the dreary and long death of winter.
"There was the 'Mundane Egg', in which Brahma gestated, with the Hindus the Hiranya-Gharba, and the Mundane Egg of the Egyptians, which proceeds from the mouth of the 'unmade and eternal deity,' Kneph, and which is the emblem of generative power.
"The Egg of Babylon, which hatched Ishtar, and was said to have fallen from heaven into the Euphrates.
"Eggs were symbolical from an early time. There was the "Mundane Egg", in which Brahmâ gestated, with the Hindus the Hiranya-Gharba, and the Mundane Egg of the Egyptians, which proceeds from the mouth of the 'unmade and eternal deity,' Kneph, and which is the emblem of generative power. Therefore coloured eggs were used yearly during spring in almost every country.
"In Egypt they were exchanged as sacred symbols in the spring-time, which was, is, and ever will be, the emblem of birth or rebirth, cosmic and human, celestial and terrestrial."
"They were hung up in Egyptian temples and are so suspended to this day in Mahometan mosques."
Theosophical Glossary (Easter, Eggs)
– H. P. Blavatsky
Happy Easter!


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|Regulations, legislation, and information about the Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act of 2004 (IDEA).
|Measuring the Achievement of Students with Disabilities
|A summary, final regulations, and guidance allowing states to develop modified academic achievement standards for certain students with disabilities.
|Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) Policy Documents
|Policy-related correspondence from the Office of Special Education Programs that describes the interpretations of IDEA or the regulations that implement IDEA.
|Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA) Sub-Regulatory Policy
|Policy directives, technical assistance circulars, memos, state unified plan guidance, and other sub-regulatory guidance issued by the Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA).


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Castle Frankenstein/Mummy Bouncer
- Actual Size: 15x15
- Setup Area: 20x20x15H
- Outlets: 1
- Age Group: Toddler-Adult (600 lb. weight limit)
- $195.00
This Frankenstein/Mummy themed standard unit is a large 15x15 bounce houses that allow for lots of fun bounce time! Bring a ball in these units because there is a basketball hoop inside, the covered top allows for children to stay cool during hot summer days along with the large netted sides makes for a perfect summer or indoor party!


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Captain Towing Dallas
Best Towing Company Dallas
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About Dallas
Dallas () is the most populous city in the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex, the fourth-largest metropolitan area in the country at 7.5 million people. It is the largest city in and seat of Dallas County in the U.S. state of Texas with portions extending into Collin, Denton, Kaufman and Rockwall counties. With a 2020 census population of 1,304,379, it is the ninth most-populous city in the U.S. and the third-largest in Texas after Houston and San Antonio. Located in the North Texas, the city of Dallas is the main core of the largest metropolitan area in the southern United States and the largest inland metropolitan area in the U.S. that lacks any navigable link to the sea.Dallas and nearby Fort Worth were initially developed due to the construction of major railroad lines through the area allowing access to cotton, cattle and later oil in North and East Texas. The construction of the Interstate Highway System reinforced Dallas's prominence as a transportation hub, with four major interstate highways converging in the city and a fifth interstate loop around it.
Neighborhoods in Dallas, Texas
Belmont Park, Bluffview, Bonton, Bryan Place, Casa Linda, Casa View, Cedars, Eastwood, Eastwood Hills, El Tivoli Place, Elmwood, Far North Dallas, Forest Hills, Forest Meadow, Glencoe
Things to do in Dallas, Texas
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About Breast Care Awareness Month
Staff Writer
Journal Star
October 2009 is the 25th anniversary of National Breast Cancer Awareness Month as an organized partnership of national public service organizations, professional medical associations and government agencies working to promote breast cancer awareness. Its purpose includes sharing information about the disease and greater access to breast cancer screenings. Its mission recognizes that while great strides have been made in both awareness and treatment of breast cancer, much remains to be accomplished. Among its goals is empowering women to take care of their health, including the practice of regular self-breast exams, scheduling medical visits and having annual mammograms. Further information is available at its Web site, www.NBCAM.org.


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No longer posting
This episode was ok... It was unfortunate the young trainer kept getting his capture attempts screwed over by TR. Jessie ends up catching the 1st Yanma he tried so hard to capture himself, a form of stealing really. It was really cool how they did show how Yanma evolves, it learned Ancientpower, and then evolved into Yanmega. It was funny how TR thought that the Boss gave them a new Yanma who had already learned Ancientpower. I'm glad the Young Trainer finally was able to catch a Yanma as his 1st Pokemon in the end.


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The days pass by and the work of our allies is becoming more coordinated, and it is bearing results. The scale of activities is becoming bigger and soon there will be an overwhelming push forward that will be very noticeable. We are working now on many fronts and expect to see some rapid developments very shortly. Your role in what is happening is to hold your focus on what you perceive as the outcome, thus giving it more energy where it is needed. At the same time powerful streams of energy are reaching the Earth from many other sources and Galaxies. The interest and assistance being given to you is immense, and certain to help you achieve your goal which is Ascension. For our part we stop any attempt to prevent it, and use our technologies to ensure both you and Mother Earth reach your destination. It is necessary as the dark Ones will resort to any means, even if it threatens their own existence. Have no fear, we are in control and they are well aware that we stand in their way.
Those souls who are unaware of the end times, obviously put a different interpretation on events that are going on around them. It is understandable that they fear the outcome, but be assured that as our allies follow their course of action it will be evident that a force for good does exist. Like you we wish to see an ever growing purge of the criminals who are responsible for taking away your rights. Once it becomes public knowledge it will enforce the idea that you are not alone in your fight against evil. Indeed that has been the case for a very long time, and members of the Galactic Federation of Light can take credit for guiding your experiences in such a way that you have survived. There has additionally been careful planning over a long period of time to keep the balance of energies upon the Earth. That was partly achieved by arranging for highly enlightened souls to incarnate at appropriate times to lead you forward in the Light.
Understand that your experiences are the result of the Law of Attraction, that has allowed the souls of a lower vibration to join you. The vibrations of Earth in comparatively recent times have in fact dropped considerably, and as a freewill planet it has been left to find its own level. However, when the decision was made to increase the vibrations, we became more involved in your upliftment. Today you stand tall and realize that you have achieved a remarkable turnaround in a very short period, particularly during the last 40Â years or so. There is no going back, as the Light is now well established upon Earth and still growing. It is increasing exponentially and will soon reach a point when Ascension can take place.
Man people look for some outlet for their abilities to contribute to the changes. You are known to us and at the right time you will find an opportunity to use them. In the present time, by merely being a point of Light and spreading your peace around you will help others. There will also be occasions when questions will be asked for which you can give answers, so do not hesitate to do so. Clearly some people are not ready to hear the truth, but there is no longer the time left to hide it away. There is ultimately only the One Truth and that will be made fully known in good time, as there are souls who are ready to receive it. Hitherto you have followed your inclinations and achieved your own understanding, but there has to come a time when the Truth is needed to bring you all together.
Your personal path to Ascension is the one that is important, so do not be unduly concerned as to how more general events work out. Certainly the changes we have promised you will come to pass, as the old structures must make way for those of the New Age. Your awareness has been opened to all of the new possibilities and they will come into your lives, but some are more long term and will follow on the after the initial changes have occurred. The Governmental changes are obviously vital to allow a more spiritual representation amongst those who will lead you. Instead of putting self first they will honor their oath to serve you, and will be chosen for that reason. Most governments throughout the world stopped serving the people a long time ago, and allowed themselves to become vassals of the powerful banking families. They also must be removed from power plus their largely ill gotten gains, and also their minions who are to be found all over the world. The extent of the Illuminati power will astonish you, and it reaches into the most high places including royalty and religion.
A vast empire such as the Illuminati's cannot be dismantled overnight, but now it has been severely weakened it will fall apart. Those at the top know their time is nearly up, and we still hope that they will surrender and cease their actions against you. Their plans cannot be viewed as less than horrific, and set out to severely reduce the population of Earth by whatever means they could use. Two World Wars and many others since the first one took place have caused the loss of millions of lives, and have been started deliberately to engulf the world in turmoil and disaster. A third World War was planned but we have stepped in and prevented steps to start it in the Middle East. Indeed, we have put a stop to the use of nuclear devices as weapons of war, as divinely decreed.
Peace will suddenly come upon you as there is a plan to enforce it by preventing the use of all weapons that will have become de-activated. There will no hiding place where they can avoid our detection, and underground bases will be destroyed so that they cannot be used again. Neither will there be any escape for the guilty who are known to us, and will be prevented from continuing their actions against you. One day they will fully understand the extent to which they have contributed to the Illuminati plan, and its total affect upon the population right down to how each individual has been affected. It will be a time to reflect upon their disobedience of the Laws of the Universe, and they will answer to God. As with any soul who has fallen so far as to have forgotten that their true selves are of Light, they will be given every chance to find their way back.
I am SaLuSa from Sirius, and tell you that the fallen are equally loved by God, who does not judge any soul but surrounds them in Love and Light.
Thank you SaLuSa.
Mike Quinsey.


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Oct. 23, 2012 — -- Parents in a southern California community are considering legal action over the constitutionality of a form of yoga being taught to their children, which they claim is introducing religion into public schools.
Last month, half of the students attending classes in the Encinitas Union School District K-6 elementary schools in San Diego North County began taking Ashtanga (Sanskrit for "eight-limbed") yoga for 30 minutes twice per week. In January, the other half will begin the lessons.
Concerned parents have now retained constitutional first amendment attorney Dean Broyles, who says that Ashtanga yoga is a religious form of yoga, and that religious aspects have been introduced into the schools.
"The poses and positions are acknowledged by Ashtanga and Hindi yoga as forms of worship and prayers to Hindu deities," he told ABC News. "They have a spiritual and religious meaning behind them."
Broyles said that although he was at first skeptical that there were truly religious belief and practices being taught to kids, the more he investigated and spoke with parents, the more he realized it was a constitutional issue.
Broyles says that he brought up the matter at a Encinitas Union School District (EUSD) trustees meeting, along with 60 concerned parents, on October 9. Now the EUSD trustees will be reviewing whether the grant money violates the religious freedom of students and parents.
The yoga, which is being taught in all nine of the schools in the district, is being funded by a $533,000 grant from the Jois Foundation, a nonprofit that promotes Ashtanga yoga across the world. All of the instructors teaching the students are certified and trained by the Jois Foundation in Ashtanga yoga.
Broyles points to hedge-fund billionaire Paul Tudor Jones and his wife Sonia Jones, who is a known dedicated disciple of Sri Pattabhi Jois, the recently deceased master of Ashtanga yoga, as the money behind the EUSD yoga program. The district's program will be studied by the University of Virginia and University of San Diego to look at benefits of Ashtanga yoga, as outlined in a letter sent to parents by EUSD Superintendent Tim Baird.
"The study will look at the way that public school systems can impact student learning, health, positive relationships, and overall wellness through the implementation of a holistic approach to student wellness," Baird said in the letter.
The Tudor Joneses, Broyles says, were instrumental in the founding of the Jois Foundation and put up the money for the EUSD Ashtanga yoga grant. He says that parents are now not only questioning Hindu religion entering their schools, but the validity if this study being undertaken.
"We think that children are being used as guinea pigs," he said. "Following the money, you see what's going on … It would be like a charismatic Christian organization funding classes in worship and praise, and also funding a research center at a public university that is studying whether this is an effective form of exercise."
Baird told ABC News that he completely disagree that the school district is teaching religion.
"Yoga is a physical activity that's completely mainstream," Baird told ABC News. "It's done in universities and churches around the world. I understand it has a cultural heritage coming from India, and there are people that use yoga in their religious practices … We are creating lesson plans in kid-friendly language that is really redesigning the program. We are not using cultural references. We are not using Sanskrit. We've changed the names to gorilla pose, and mountain pose."
Broyles says that though it has been argued that the in-school yoga programs have been stripped of their spirituality, he thinks that kids in EUSD are being exposed to Hindu thought and belief within the school.
"On the wall there was a poster that showed the Ashtanga. There are words showing what the limbs are," he said. "The ultimate goal is to be absorbed into the universe, which is called Samadhi. They had a poster depicting that. Fundamentally it is a Hindu religion being taught through Ashtanga yoga."
Baird told ABC News that there are no Hindu figures on the wall.
Children are also being taught eastern meditation techniques to calm themselves, where one clears the mind of all thoughts, poses that were imparted by Hindu deities, and in one class were trained in drawing mandalas, according to Broyles.
Parents also raised specific concerns about the program aside from the religious aspects, saying that the fact that kids are taking 60 minutes of the 100 minutes per week allotted for physical education to do yoga is inappropriate. Broyles said that for 40 minutes per week the kids are not getting PE, and that they're not offering anything for kids that are opting out of the program.
Baird told ABC News that only 3 to 4 families at each school have opted their child out of the program, and that those students are using the time for a variety of other activities that differs from school to school.
Broyles says that there are some yoga enthusiasts in favor of the program; he says that people in the district don't really understand eastern mysticism, yoga's roots in Hinduism, and what's being taught.
"If we were introducing Christian worship of bowing, there would be outcry in the community," he said. "Allowing our public schools to actively promote the beliefs and practices of one religion over others to young impressionable children sets a dangerous precedent."