text:
This article is a stub. You can help the Roblox Wikia by expanding it.
NOTICE: This article was created for archiving purposes.
The 4th of July Weekend 2018 was a celebration of America's Independence Day. Through June 29th to July 4th, 2018, Roblox released some USA-themed items. The 4th of July Fireworks 2018 was given as a starter pack in Roblox High School.
Items featured/released
|Eternal Patriot
|300 Robux
|4th of July Fireworks 2018
|200 Robux
|American Splendor Cape
|250 Robux
|Lady Liberty Shades
|750 Robux
|Firecracker Top Hat
|200 Robux
|Old Glory Wings
|Formerly 25,000 Robux
|Freedom Boppers
|75 Robux
|America's Sunhat
|125 Robux
|Born Free Baby Eagle Shoulder Friend
|300 Robux
|Glorious Eagle Mount
|2,000 Robux
Community content is available under CC-BY-SA unless otherwise noted.


text:
Two images of the central portions of galaxy M82 that include the position of Supernova 2014J (north is at the top, east is to the left in these images). (left) Near-infrared image from the 2-Micron All-Sky Survey (2MASS), before the supernova explosion. (right) Image of M82 including the supernova at near-infrared wavelengths J, H, and K (1.2, 1.65, and 2.2 microns), made Feb. 20 by the FLITECAM instrument on SOFIA.
NASA/SOFIA/FLITECAM team/S. Shenoy
Hina Kazmi, NASA
SOFIA Program Manager
NASA Ames
Margaret Meixner, USRA
Science Mission Operations Director
NASA Ames

subset: commoncrawl


text:
You realize you are a certified mother-in-progress when at the break of New Year's dawn, you are frying lumpiang shanghai and boiling spaghetti from across your equally busy mother-in-law instead of joining the rambunctious crowd outside.
In my in-laws' home in Bocaue - the fireworks capital of the Philippines - firecrackers and aerial lights started dying down one by one by 12 and stopped completely by 1:30am - an otherwise early end compared to previous years. By 6 am, there was absolutely no trace of New Year's Eve on the streets. The noxious smell, the smog, and all leftover firecracker paper and material were gone.
Jigs and I went back home to our pack of dogs and antsy cats by lunch. We slept off the rest of the afternoon and dreamed dreams of beautiful faraway places like Canada (more info here). At dusk, I traipsed the tranquil streets of the subdivision to the small market two blocks away with the used up energy and languor of an elderly. Neighbors flocked quietly among themselves, recalling what had transpired a fortnight and months before that; stories of the past year like expensive caviar on their tongue.
Behind the buried noises of car horns, trumpets, clanking kalderos and the illegal-made-barely-so, was the magenta sky creeping by the light blue horizon. The green grass brushed against the cold wind, and one can hear their tiny voices against the vast space. It is indeed, a quiet New Year. But in the midst of all that silence, there was something in the day that filled the air beautifully like sky lanterns. Hope.
As I walked back home alongside my 6-year old dog, I remembered the good journeys I had last year and the better ones to look forward to in the year to come. Physically weary, I found reason to smile and sing silly songs in my head. I know that I had at least one great story happen to me: The story of a girl who was conceived on July of 2011, the one who baptized her mother by fire. I nurtured her as she nestled privately, an inner secret, in her mother's tensile womb.
This 2012, she will be brought out of the cocoon that protected her for nine months, and shall be made ready to face the world. She is my daughter, my first born, and in a few years, we will tread the streets on a lazy New Year afternoon and talk about deja vu.


text:
Power in Our Hands is a ground-breaking documentary – containing newly digitised archive footage available to the public for the first time – on the Deaf community's fight for civil rights and principally, the right to be heard.
Combining social history and archive film with contemporary interviews, and released in the 125th anniversary year of the British Deaf Association, Power in Our Hands explores the secret history and heritage of the Deaf community in the UK.
It will be essential viewing for a number of audiences, including those interested in political activism and social and civil rights developments; audiences of archive film; and Deaf people, their family members and friends. As such it represents a superb, ready-made opportunity for venues to engage with new groups and diversify their existing programme offer.
At the heart of the Deaf world is British Sign Language (BSL), the first language of many Deaf people. The Deaf community does not see deafness as a disability; instead positioning itself as a significant cultural and linguistic group with a rich and exciting history stretching back hundreds of years, and with the word 'Deaf' (with a capitalised 'D') an expression of cultural identity.
Rather than focusing on medical definitions of hearing loss, Power in Our Hands presents Deaf people as an active and resilient community that has long campaigned for its language to be recognised. From the social scenes of the 1930s, to the 2000 march supporting BSL recognition, this documentary will give people a glimpse into Deaf culture that is mostly hidden from the hearing world.
Genre: Documentary


text:
Dual USB-C Car Charger, Input 12-24V, 35W, Output: USB-A 5V/1A, USB-C 5V/3A, 9V/3A, 12V/2A, 20V/1.5A, black
The USB Type-C™ Dual Car Charger from ednet ensures the fastest possible charging of your mobile devices. The USB-C port with Power Delivery (PD) 2.0 delivers up to 3A output voltage and quickly makes your USB Type-C™ laptops/ultrabooks, tablets, smartphones, and portable gaming consoles ready-to-use again. Charge any type of mobile device using the USB-A Port (5V/1A). The maximum output power of the charger is 35W (total). Protection against overvoltage, short circuit, overcurrent and overheating ensures the safety of your mobile devices as well as the charger itself.


text:
It's Tuesday and almost the middle of October! Definitely fall here in Northern Kentucky and I'm loving it! Fall is probably my most favorite season...especially here where the leaves turn such brilliant colors!
As many of you know, last Wednesday was the fabulous Paper Makeup Stamps October Release Party! We have two challenges running until the 14th celebrating this party. Today I'm sharing the first challenge which was to CASE a card by the new PMS DT member Randee! HERE is her fabulous gallery and THIS is the card I CASE'd. I loved the design of this card and the way she used the Sizzlit Diecut for the image.
I kept the layout the same, the paper piercing and used the same Sizzlit Diecut (Leafy Branch) but changed everything else. The sentiment is one of the brand new Fall Sentiments by Paper Makeup Stamps and are available for purchase HERE.
I used paper from my new cardstock paper pad called "Autumn" by Recollections that I bought at Michaels while down in GA. I just love that it's totally fall and every piece of paper coordinates and is also double sided! To get the rustic look I wanted I did a bit of thumping with a couple ink pads--a technique you can learn about HERE and the technique use for CAS36. I used a light Cocoa (Colorbox) for the base ink color and then thumped using Chestnut Roan (Colorbox).
Card Details
Stamps: Ready for Fall (PMS)
Ink: Cocoa and Chestnut Roan (Colorbox Cateye)
Paper: Autumn Paper Pad (Recollections)
Accessories & Tools: "Leafy Branch" Sizzlit (SU), Threading Water Border Punch (Fiskars), Thumbtack for paper piercing
If you play along with this challenge (But you have to hurry!) please use PMSRP16 and Paper Makeup Stamps as your keywords if you upload to Splitcoast. Or you can just upload your creation to the forum thread HERE.
Don't forget to check out the Countdown to Christmas Sale this week on the Paper Makeup Stamps blog! You only have until Friday to get in on this week's deal!
Color Throwdown #605 Featured Stamper!
3 hours ago


text:
Keith Richards has complained quitting smoking is much harder than "the short hell" of overcoming his previous addiction to heroin.
The Rolling Stones rocker, 75, is a late convert to clean living and has now gone almost teetotal, four decades after winning his battle with heroin in the late 1970s and swearing off cocaine after infamously falling out of a palm tree in Fiji in 2006.
However, he's found one vice impossible to give up as he says no longer lighting up is more difficult than ending his dependence on hard drugs.
"I have tried (to quit smoking)," the Brown Sugar hitmaker tells Britain's Mojo magazine. "So far, unsuccessfully! Lou Reed claimed nicotine was harder to quit than heroin. It is."
Opening up about his difficulties, Keith adds: "Quitting heroin is like hell, but it's a short hell. I mean, the actual process. Cigarettes are just always there, and you've always done it. I just pick 'em up and light 'em up without thinking about it."
Despite his failing willpower, the musician says he has cut down his cigarette intake significantly.
"I've managed to cut it down by a substantial amount every day, and I'm still working on it," the rock legend explains. "Because I realized I don't need it. I realized it's just a useless habit. But hey, when you're 75, habits are pretty ingrained."
The star was once famous for knocking back bottles of Jack Daniels whisky but now drinks only in moderation – although he won't turn down a pint if offered one by a fan.
"I've knocked the hard stuff on the head. I have a little wine with meals, and a Guinness or a beer or two, but otherwise… no. It's like heroin – the experiment is over," he promises.
"Mind you, if I meet you in a bar and you say, 'Do you want a drink?' (laughs) I wouldn't turn it down! I'm not a puritan in these matters. It's just that it's not on the daily menu anymore."


text:
Grounding is the quintessentially important missing link to improving your physical, mental, and emotional health.
Connecting to Nature is a spiritual imperative as well.
We are part of Nature, with a physiology that has not changed that much since ancient times, when we lived in more continual and direct contact with the Earth.
The Earth is a storehouse of electrons, which have a negative charge. When we make contact with the Earth, soil, or wet sand at a beach with our bare feet or skin ~ a process called 'grounding' or 'Earthing' ~ we get replenished with the Earth's feel-good (negative) electrons. It's similar to how good, or 'charged up' many notice feeling after a good rainstorm.
Artificial lighting, and any electronic device carries a (positive) charge. Positive in this sense refers to the electrical frequency. Having a positive charge actually is not a positive, as it can lead to increased inflammation, and diminished health.
Modern humans have become increasingly disconnected from Nature. Even when we are outdoors, we are wearing shoes that contain rubber or plastic that insulates us from connecting with the healing energy of the Earth.
While being in natural settings, as I discussed here, still has healing benefits, why not kick your shoes off, and get the full monty?
Watch this short video to learn more.
Don and I do our best to get outside in the early morning, shortly after sunrise. In March, 2017, we made a point to catch the earliest rays of the rising sun every morning. We both enjoyed an increased feeling of well-being, balance, and better sleep as a result.
We also use the Tlyson Plush Grounding Pad (see below) which we sleep on, then take with us to our office. It's a plush, portable pad that is connected to a wire that gets plugged into the ground in your electric socket, essentially allowing you to get the benefits of connecting to the Earth while you sleep, and sit at your desk.
During the warmer months, we began using the patch cord instead. It's very affordable. The patch can go onto the center of the sole of your foot, or wherever you like. The cord is interchangeable with the Pad, and the patches can be reused until they no longer stick. I've actually extended their life by taping the patch on with scotch tape. I never notice it. The cord is plenty long, and the effect of grounding by having the cord attached is very worth it. We have both experienced several benefits from using the pad or patch, which I share below.
I believe in this so much, I set up an affiliate account with Earthing, to help distribute their grounding products, and educational materials.
I highly encourage you to check out the short video above if you haven't already, then watch Grounded, a one hour long documentary by a film maker who works for the National Geographic.
Don cites some scientific studies on the health benefits of Grounding at FullRangeStrength.com.
Don and I live in an upstairs apartment unit, which is certainly not very grounding. There are times when we are awoken by noise. Other times when we are dealing with a lot of pollen on the tree right outside our window.
Then there is this issue with our 4-legged companion, Jasper, who insists on sleeping RIGHT up against me.
Needless to say, we often sadly do not get a chance to sleep soundly through the night.
We also both have, or had, various aches in our shoulders or hips that would cause us to toss and turn through the night, also waking us up.
Given that background, here is what we have noticed since sleeping with the plush Tylson pad on our pillow or underneath our body ~ or the patches ~ and getting our bare feet on the cool dewey grass in the mornings:
As a therapist working with clients that have old unresolved traumas, I know that many people are not very grounded at all. Some are in a near constant state of fight, flight or freeze, without being very aware of it other than feeling a high level of anxiety. This anxiety creates a lot of cortisol in the system, a stress-induced hormone that can increase weight gain, and cause other health problems.
Fight or flight creates a cascade of events through the body. One thing effected is a shutting down of our higher brain center. Who needs higher reasoning when in an emergency? Emergencies require quick responsive actions, not higher thinking.
Over time, we can really begin to change our mental capacity if we do not get help to better manage anxiety and stress.
Don uses the patch cord mentioned above at our clinic. Clients have been very impressed with how easily they rest or even nap during the acupuncture session while plugged in with the grounding cord.
Earthing ~ getting your bare feet on the Earth ~ is very alkalizing to the system. We need to be fully embodied to be able to function and think clearly.
When I work with clients, I always help them to at least have a mental experience of grounding through guided healing visualizations.
Being grounded allows our nervous system to calm down. If we can put our faith and trust in Logos, the Divine Order of the Universe, or God and the Earth to support us, and provide all we need, we find greater peace, and inner strength.
The Earthing Site also has bracelets that can be worn, and patches (mentioned above) that you can stick on the sole of the foot, or elsewhere on the body. It comes with a long cord, and can be used at anytime, including while sleeping.
We use these patches/pads on our clients simultaneous to receiving an acupuncture treatment. They nearly all have noticed how much more deep of a rest they get. A few actually now sleep through the treatment where they had not previous to being hooked up to the pads.


text:
Driver: San Francisco patch v1.02 available now on PC
Ubisoft has released the new patch v1.02 for Driver: San Francisco. However the publisher has not released any patch notes with it, so we don't know exactly what this patch fix or add.
According to details revealed by Driver: San Francisco fans on game's official forum, this new patch changes the menu theme to different tracks, and now the default resoultion is 720p.
The patch is 65MB in size. You can download the patch from the following links:


text:
ZF and Mobileye announced they are cooperating to launch the S-Cam4 family of advanced cameras in 2018. The two companies are working together to provide the camera technology to a major automotive OEM.
The ZF S-Cam4 camera family includes a single lens, mono-camera designed to help meet updated test protocols such as EuroNCAP pedestrian triggered automatic emergency braking (AEB), including a crossing bicycle AEB test. The camera family also includes a premium three lens TriCam4 version to support advanced semi-automated driving functions, adding a telephoto lens for improved long-distance sensing capabilities, and a fish-eye lens for improved short-range sensing with a wider field of view.
"The combination of ZF and Mobileye demonstrates that advanced camera technology is yielding great benefits to drivers and society," said Aine Denari, Senior Vice President, Advanced Driver Assist Systems at ZF.
"This program represents another step in Mobileye's journey with our longtime partner ZF to provide ADAS features that meet the most stringent advanced safety standards as well as deliver valuable semi-automated functionality to the consumer," said Erez Dagan, Senior Vice President, Advanced Development and Strategy at Mobileye.


text:
Erlend Loe, born in Trondheim (Norway) in 1969, has appeared on the stage and worked in film and video production. He has been a critic for the Worker's Newspaper, worked in a psychiatric hospital and been a substitute teacher. Na.ve.Super. is his first adult book although he has written six books for children.
* Loe certainly has some of Salinger's lightness of touch, and often comic voice of his unnamed narrator recalls Salinger's Holden Caulfield. A charming debut novel. The Times * it displays a canny lightness of touch and a great deal of charm. An effortlessly hip and savvy antidote to the rainy day blues. Sleazenation * It is fascinating, how much depth this young author can convey in a simple language - a major talent. Oldenburgische Volkzeitung, Germany * A book overflowing with creative talent on just about every page. Well calculated naivety. Dagbladet, Norway


text:
Great Falls
Society Of Architects Since 1953
This course starts with an explanation of the ANSI and TCNA criteria pertaining ceramic tile and how they affect the product use.
It explains the complexity of using ceramic tile as a suitable source in buildings construction for interior and exterior applications and the potential for designs that are inherit to the product, such as: high quality visuals, and possibility of endless designs using a sustainable product.
The course ends with an overview of the new technologies that are available in the industry, as well as trends and systems.
This course is 1 hour long and is
AIA, IDCEC, LACES, and NKBA approved.
Brought to you by The Masonry Center


text:
This freshman . . . was a football player and apparently a popular student at Kilgore. He was having problems with a girlfriend and apparently his grades were not very good. He was playing cards with another male and two females in the room when he became excited and started throwing things and stating he was going to leave school. He went into the bathroom and locked the door; and when the other people did not hear from him they forced the door open and found him hanging in the bathroom by a belt.
—Introduction to the autopsy report on Rodney Edward Williams, December 9, 1989
Jasper, Texas–In the nine years since a coroner's verdict of suicide seemed to close the book on the circumstances surrounding the death of their son Rodney, Albert and Katie Faye Williams have been waging an uphill battle to add the final chapter. The rallying cry of that struggle–"Getting Away With Murder!"–has been stoking passions in this East Texas town inflamed recently by the white supremacist killing of a black man who was dragged behind a pickup truck by his ankles until an arm and his head were torn off.
Although Rodney died in Kilgore, a rural community about 100 miles from his hometown of Jasper, the FBI, which is investigating the dragging murder here, is being asked by the Williams family and civil rights leaders to look into the Kilgore hanging.The Reverend Billy Robinson of the Jasper chapter of Al Sharpton's New York–based National Action Network says the bewildering case is far from cut-and-dried, and is planning to write to Attorney General Janet Reno asking for an investigation to determine whether Williams's civil rights were violated.
A Justice Department source, who emphasized that he was not commenting on the case, said any consideration given to such a request probably would amount to a limited analysis of existing evidence, not a reopening of the investigation. Reno, Robinson says, also will be asked to review a series of bizarre incidents in the past 10 years that have charged the racial atmosphere in East Texas's oil and timber country.
For example,Smith County, which is 134 miles from Jasper, has been another alleged hotbed of racially motivated bloodshed.About 32,000 blacks live in the county, which has a population of 151,000.
In 1990, in Tyler, a town of 80,000 in Smith County, Thomas Ladner, James "Bo" Hyden, and Ray Horton–three white former cops–went to prison for the 1987 murder of 34-year-old Loyal Garner Jr., a black truck driver who died after being beaten while he was in jail.
In 1992, Annie Rae Dixon, a bedridden, 84-year-old black woman, was shot to death in her home during a botched drug raid.
Eleven months later, another black man, Jesse Rose, died after being arrested during a drug raid. It was ruled an accidental cocaine overdose.
In 1993, Demetrius Cortez Caddell,a black man who pleaded guilty to organized criminal activity, died after suffering an asthma attack in jail.
On the surface, Rodney Williams's death appeared to be suicide: almost everyone, including the 19-year-old freshman's head coach at Kilgore Junior College, where he played defensive end for the Kilgore Rangers, concluded that it was Rodney, after all, and Rodney alone, who was guilty of taking his own life.
"We wish that we could make this incident disappear . . . but in our minds it did happen and we have no doubt that it happened as it was presented to all of us," coach Jim Miller would later declare in a letter to the Williams family.
A January 29, 1990, letter to the family from Kilgore Police Department detective sergeant Maxey Cerliano also was not crafted to ease the grieving parents' doubts. Toxicology tests had determined that no drugs were in Rodney's system but that he was drunk the night he died. "It should be noted," pointed out Cerliano–who is now assistant chief–"that the Blood Alcohol is .11 gram per milliliters and the legal intoxication level in Texas is .10." Four months later, after receiving written complaints from the family, Cerliano declared that "there was no evidence of foul play" and that case 89-9147 was closed.
Anguish ceded to dogged suspicions about events the Williams essay went unquestioned throughout the police investigation. Among the rumored motives for Rodney's death was his troubled romance with a white Kilgore College coed. (The woman, who left Kilgore College after her freshman year, could not be reached for comment.)
Several weeks before Rodney died, Katie Faye Williams, 48, wrote to her son, warning him "that even today some people are still prejudiced" and fear the taboo of interracial love. "I told him that someone was going to kill him if he didn't stop liking the white girl," she remembers. Her husband claims that two days before Rodney's death, an unidentified woman called radio station KKDA-AM in Grand Prairie, Texas, saying "she had heard that there was going to be a hanging of a black boy at Kilgore College." (The current station manager said he had no recollection of the call.)
Another account has it that Rodney knew too much about alleged drug dealing on campus. The drug dealers reportedly wanted Rodney to get on their gravy train, and when Rodney refused he was silenced.
"Rodney knew that [some people] were doing drugs and couldn't stand it," claims Mr. Williams, a 49-year-old long-distance truck driver who had a close relationship with the boy he nicknamed "Dodie Mite." He said he suggested that Rodney complain to the coach, but Rodney said he didn't want to be labeled a snitch.
An autopsy indicated that Rodney died of "asphyxiation by hanging," but the Williamses have come to believe he died at the end of a hangman's rope. "My baby would not have hanged himself," Mrs. Williams insisted in one of her letters to Detective Cerliano, pleading with him to do something about the alleged crime.
With tempers running high in Jasper, partly because of recent attempts by blacks to leave no stone unturned as they dig into the town's racial history, some might say that Albert and Katie Faye Williams concocted a murder fantasy to attract media attention. But the lynching of James Byrd has contributed to a reassessment of race relations in East Texas, and Rodney's death, his family maintains, will always stand as a reminder of bigotry and hatred in Kilgore. Even now, Katie Faye Williams is overcome by guilt for not pulling her son out of the predominantly white community. "He begged me, 'Mama let me come home; they're prejudiced up here.' "
RESENTMENT OF BLACKS is not the kind of image Kilgore likes to project. In the little oil-rich town that was founded by plantation owners during the Civil War, spring is highlighted with blooming azaleas and dogwood trees.
One promotion claims that "Kilgore offers several ingredients that make up a great quality of life" for its 11,000 residents, 22 percent of whom are black. Its police force boasts of a department "where civic pride is justified." But the stain of racism has spread across this idyllic picture.
Blacks say the racial climate in Kilgore worsened after it was learned that it was a Kilgore police officer, Frank Baggett Jr., who shot and killed Annie Rae Dixon during the botched drug raid in neighboring Tyler in 1992. The raid by Baggett and other officers, who were out of their jurisdiction, was prompted by an informant who said he had bought crack at the house from one of Dixon's relatives. Baggett maintained that his gun fired accidentally when he stumbled through Dixon's bedroom door. No drugs were found, and no charges were filed. An inquest jury deadlocked and the case went to the grand jury, which did not indict Baggett.
"If it was not a question of murder," says Andrew Melontree, the only black-elected commissioner in Smith County history, "we were at least looking for manslaughter."
But it was murder in the case of four whites who were slain by a black gunman–and the incident triggered accusations of racism. Saying he "felt like doing something devious," DaRoyce Lamont Mosley shot the victims in the head at point blank range during the robbery of a Kilgore bar in 1994. According to court documents, Mosley was one of two men who burst into the bar just before closing and demanded money. Sandra Cash, a waitress, gave the men a tackle box with the night's receipts.
Mosley then shot Patricia and Duane Colter, Luva Congleton, and Alvin Waller, all of whom were customers. He confessed to the murders, but said an accomplice wounded Cash, who was shot three times and is paralyzed from the waist down. Mosley was sentenced to death. Last month, the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals upheld the capital murder conviction against him.
Six years before this upsurge in racial violence, a wide-eyed Rodney Williams had won a scholarship to play football at Kilgore College, located in the heart of the East Texas piney woods, and home to the award-winning Kilgore Rangerettes drill-and-dance team.
The six-foot-three, 200-pound defensive end, who was studying criminal justice at the two-year community college, became one of the most popular players on the team and a big man on campus. "I always appreciated your son's attitude and cheerful disposition," Ray Woodard, one of Rodney's coaches, would later write to his parents.
Although Rodney's brief football career was plagued by injuries, he seemed to fit the definition of manhood for the coed, who fell under the spell of an interracial romance. He was her O. J. Simpson. Albert Williams says a black police officer told him that "the white girl stayed many nights in Rodney's room. So Rodney's involvement with her was no secret."
"I for one objected," says Katie Faye. "I told her he was not safe there all by himself because it was a prejudiced town; she could get him in trouble."
On October 4, 1989,the young woman began to bare her soul about the stormy affair, hinting sadly in love letters to Rodney, which were released by the Williamses, that theirs was no common relationship.
"Hello Sexy," one missive began. "How's your day? I hope you feel a whole lot better than you did last night. I shouldn't have asked you to walk me to the library and shouldn't have stayed. . . . But I'm glad that I did. I like you holding me. I was tossing and turning but you still managed to hold me and to keep me covered up. . . . I hope you get better so you can play good Saturday."
It seemed as if the couple knew that their destiny together was doomed. The woman ended her letter urging Rodney not to "get too mad today. Just ignore people. I'm sorry I have caused you trouble. But I don't care what people think!"
But Rodney cared.
He had complained to his mother about jeers and racial taunts against his girlfriend. "He said that white guys told her if they knew she wanted a black guy they would have rolled over in the mud," Katie Faye Williams recalls.
On October 10, the woman wrote another letter, again reminiscing about a night of "passionate love" and imploring her lover:"Do I have to stay in Hell-Rise tonight, or are you going to let me sleep in your arms once again? If you want me to sleep in the Hell-Rise, I will, but I will complain."
For the next two months, Rodney would make frequent visits to team doctor Wayne E. Forston for treatment of bruised shoulders. "These were not considered serious injuries, nor was it unusual for us to see him as frequently as we did," Forston noted.
But all of Rodney's injuries may not have been game-related; he was tackling opponents off the field as well. "He was getting into fights over her," his mother alleges. One night, she says, the lovers themselves got into a brawl, and Rodney was arrested. Mrs. Williams, who does not remember what the argument was about, says she told the woman, after the charges were dropped, "You gon' get him killed."
LITTLE DID KATIE FAYE WILLIAMS know that her warning would be the epitaph in the chronicle of a death foretold. On Wednesday, December 6, the day the Williamses say an anonymous female called radio station KKDA warning that a "black boy" would be lynched at Kilgore College, Rodney's girlfriend told his parents that Rodney had received a disturbing phone call.
According to Albert Williams, "She thought that someone had died in his family because he was really upset and he started packing, saying he was going home."
On December 8, the last day that Rodney would be seen alive, coach Woodard, who is no longer at Kilgore College, learned that Rodney would not be returning for the spring semester.
"This puzzled me, because I thought that Rodney was happy here," he said in his letter to the Williamses. "I knew that the season had not gone exactly the way he wanted it to. He sprained his ankle early on, and about the time he was over his ankle injury, he hurt his shoulder. Every time I thought he was over his shoulder injury, he would reinjure it. I am a former player, and I did not expect Rodney to play hurt. Rodney was very proud, and he tried to play with his injury. I saw that he was in pain, and it got to the point where I would not let him participate. I tried to explain to him that I understood players getting injured; I knew that Rodney's best football was still ahead of him."
Rodney called home around 3:15 p.m. that day. "Something happened that week that made Rodney want to come home, but he didn't tell me on the phone when he called me," his father says.
Around 5:30, Woodard ran into Rodney in the college cafeteria and confronted his player about a report that he had dropped out of school. Woodard talked him out of leaving.
"He told me that he had thought about it, but that he was definitely going to return," according to Woodard. "He said he was going to work hard again this spring, and that he would be an all-conference player in the fall. We discussed Jasper, and he said that they had some players that we needed. . . . He told me he would help recruit them to come to Kilgore. It seemed to me that Rodney had just had fleeting doubts about playing football. I left his table feeling very good about our conversation."
But Woodard sensed that Rodney was depressed. He understood that young black men like Rodney succumb to any number of pressures, including broken family ties and the burden of succeeding in a white world while facing subtler forms of racism.
The coach later confided to the Williams family that he had experienced some pressures similar to those Rodney faced when he played football at Kilgore College. "Even though I was very happy here," Woodard explained, "there were times I considered quitting and going home. I missed my family and friends, just as Rodney did. I am also from a small town, and I felt I knew what Rodney was going through."
Mrs. Williams spoke to her son around 8 p.m. "He said he was coming home the next day," she sobbed. At about 11:30 p.m., the phone rang.The operator said it was Rodney calling collect. But the voice on the other end was that of Randy Matthews, a friend of Rodney's. He told Mr.Williams that Rodney had hanged himself.
Three hours later, Albert Williams, accompanied by Rodney's grandfather Reverend J. Harvey Lewis, two other ministers, and one of Rodney's uncles, arrived at the Kilgore police station. They were greeted by Detective Cerliano, who told them Rodney had committed suicide. Cerliano added that Rodney did not leave a suicide note, and a preliminary investigation had determined that he had been drinking and had a "girl problem."
Reverend Lewis, who has since died, began to act like a medical examiner conducting an investigation into an unsolved murder. In a 1989 statement, the reverend wrote:"First, I asked him, 'What did Rodney hang himself with?' He said, 'A belt with hooks on both ends.' I then asked him where the belt was, but he hesitated before he took the belt out [of] a brown envelope. He laid it upon the desk. I asked him about the fingerprints [on] the belt. He stated that type of nylon belt would not show fingerprints [and that] he did not see the belt around Rodney's neck because [it] had been removed by two boys that found Rodney hanging."
Reverend Lewis reasoned that if Rodney had "hooked the belt over the rod and slipped it [around] his neck there would only be six inches [of] space between his neck and the curtain rod"–not enough to break his grandson's neck. "The officer said his neck was not broken," he wrote.
Two days later, Reverend Lewis, the Williamses, other relatives, and the two students who said they found Rodney hanging returned to the dorm to pick up Rodney's personal effects. After the students described how they'd found Rodney–hanging from the shower rod, tongue hanging out, body turning blue–the reverend reenacted the hanging. "I went through the motion of a presumed hanging," he wrote. "When I began to choke, I stood up and took the belt off my neck. I told them my grandson did not hang himself."
Later, Albert Williams questioned Randy Matthews, who allegedly told him that he, Rodney, and two other students were "barbecueing and drinking" with Rodney shortly before he died. According to Williams, Matthews said that Rodney suddenly began smashing bottles and turning over tables. Matthews said he asked Rodney for his home number to call his mother and Rodney gave it to him, and went into the bathroom.
What happened next continues to baffle the family. According to Albert Williams, Matthews said that while he stayed behind trying to contact him and his wife, the other students left to attend a party. Frustrated that the Williams's phone was busy, Matthews reportedly gave up and went to look for his friends, and upon finding them asked where Rodney was. But according to the reverend's statement, Randy "told Rodney he was leaving and Rodney told him" he would soon follow.
"Randy said he was gone only five minutes," the reverend added.When nobody recalled having seen him, Matthews left the group and returned to Rodney's dorm room.
Matthews found the front door open, but the bathroom door was locked. When he knocked and then tried to open it, he did not get a response. Concerned that something was wrong, he headed back to the party to alert the other students that something apparently had happened to Rodney, and they should come back to check on him. Matthews told Albert Williams they finally jimmied the lock with a clotheshanger and found Rodney hanging. (Emma Matthews, Randy's grandmother who lives in Silsbee, 51 miles from Jasper, told the Voice that Randy, now 27, got a scholarship after attending Kilgore College and moved to Tulsa, Oklahoma. His phone number and address are unlisted.)
Albert Williams says that a federal probe into his son's death might clarify whether a Kilgore College security guard who called police to investigate "an attempted suicide" had said that Rodney left a photograph of the white woman and a suicide note behind, which "said something like, 'No one has to worry anymore.' " The guard allegedly handed the evidence to a police officer at the scene. (Kilgore police did not return calls asking for comment.)
Other crucial evidence in the case is missing.
"When we asked for his clothes, they sent clothes that belonged to a man who had been shot," Mr. Williams recalls. Detective Cerliano later notified the Williamses by letter that Rodney's clothes "may have been destroyed."
In his last days, Rodney Williams had embraced a new love, a black woman. He began to see more of a future with her. He shied away from Kilgore College's preppie world, and seemed to cherish life more. "You can find material values anywhere, but you can't find a new life," Rodney writes in an unfinished draft of an English term paper dealing with life after death. "Some people say that life goes on, but that is not true. Once you lose your life, which should be your most valued possession, there is no returning. My life to me is my most valued possession."
Research assistance: Vicki Shiah and W. Michelle Beckles


text:
Midtfjellet Day 2019 – Sports, games and fun
Several hundred people took to the mountains last weekend to join the festival, which was arranged for the sixth year running.
Several hundred people took to the mountains last weekend to join the festival, which was arranged for the sixth year running.
This website uses cookies to provide you with the best browsing experience.
Find out more or adjust your settings.
This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.
Strictly Necessary Cookie should be enabled at all times so that we can save your preferences for cookie settings.
If you disable this cookie, we will not be able to save your preferences. This means that every time you visit this website you will need to enable or disable cookies again.
This website uses Google Analytics to collect anonymous information such as the number of visitors to the site, and the most popular pages.
Keeping this cookie enabled helps us to improve our website.
Please enable Strictly Necessary Cookies first so that we can save your preferences!


text:
August 1st, 2008 9:28 AM by Lehel Szucs
It is the top percentage principle of real estate sales, and it's a theory I have embraced for several years to good effect. But in order for the theory to have a positive effect on sales, clients must understand it as well as I do. In other words, I can help my clients succeed by coaching them on the top percentage principle of real estate sales.
The Top Percentage Principle of Real Estate Sales
This principle states that only a certain number or percentage of homes will sell each month within a specific neighborhood, and a house will not sell until it enters into that top percentage of real or perceived "deals." For example, lets say the top percentage in a certain neighborhood is 10%. This means that if a home owner in the area wants to sell their home, they will need to be in the top 10% of real or perceived "deals" within that area. If they are not, they will need to break into the top 10% of deals for next month or the home will still not sell. The actual percentage number will fluctuate with area and time, but the concept itself will hold steady.
What This Means to Sellers
For sellers, the most important thing they can do is get into that top percentage of homes that are selling and get there quickly! This can be done a few ways, but remember first that perceived value is just as important as tangible value. Perceived and tangible value can be created by a combination of proper marketing, benefits, and competitive pricing.
More often than not, home sellers do not mind the first two factors, but find the third (competitive pricing) to be excruciatingly painful. Despite the pain, real estate owners need to have their Realtors evaluate the market and get their property priced according to what has sold in the current month. This needs to be done quickly, because time is not the cure when new listings are coming up every day. New listings make it even tougher to get into that top percentage.
If a seller client says things like, "I can just wait for the right buyer/market" ... or "I don't really need to sell" ... or "I need xxx dollars despite what the research says," then the best advice for that client in this market might be to just get out of the market. This truly is not a time for unmotivated sellers to "play the market" and just see if they can get some unjustifiable price. For motivated sellers who really want to sell, careful adherence to our top percentage principle will help them find buyers and ultimately get their home sold.
What It Means to Buyers
Home buyers also need to understand a few things about the current market. Despite what the headlines read, the best deals on the market are selling, and often selling fast. Basically, if home shoppers want to become home owners by finding a good deal, they need three things—good help, reasonable expectations, and the ability to move quickly.
Real estate is a joint effort between the agent or broker and the clients they represent. In order to achieve success, both parties must understand the market in the same way. This kind of shared knowledge comes from the agent coaching the client on the path toward success. And often that path lies within the ten percent.


text:
Show Some Skin
Growing up, I had absolutely awful skin- I'm taking major breakouts like 100% of the time. It is so hard to have acne! It affects everything from your social life to your self-confidence, it is really tough. I have so much respect for individuals who deal with acne for extended periods of time, it definitely wears on you. A couple of years ago, I started using a Clarisonic (which I love!) and some Philosophy cleansers- Purity is my absolute favorite! Its a mild cleanser and works flawlessly with the Clarisonic... it is a freaking miracle worker.
Enter PMD (Personal Microderm) and Active Argan Oil... ahhh my two new favs. I'll chat more about these lovlies below!
Here's a quick vid of my routine- I use my Clarisonic every day and my PMD once a week...
If you have never used a Clarisonic you are seriously missing out! I love how it gently exfoliates your skin while giving it a deeeeep cleaning. This thing takes off 100% of my makeup (I swear) so I always feel like I go to bed with a totally clean face.
Now onto this guy. Holy crap I am obsessed with this thing. It exfoliates inch of your face- so its seriously baby smooth when you are done. It works with a little disc and creates a vacuum on your skin (which pulls up the dead skin) amazing right? You do have to be careful though, you can burn your skin if you go over it too many times!
For reals, this is my new favorite skin care tool. Its a must have for your regular routine.
Saving the best little golden nugget for last. And when I say golden nugget, I actually mean there's gold flakes in this... for reals! This Active Argan Oil is like magic in a bottle. It nourishes the skin without making it oily (you know how some serums can do that? I hate hate hate when it happens).
The major selling point on this oil for me is that it moisturizes and improves elasticity. Honestly, if you want to prevent wrinkles, you have to start right now! This liquid gold is basically a bunch of vitamins for your skin. Applying it right after a hard core PMD exfoliation treatment ensures that it gets absorbed on open pores. In my opinion, that is key to actually benefiting from the product.
I can't say that I have perfect skin or anything, but it is a far cry from my days of cystic acne! Adult acne is totally normal and hope these tips can help you guys take better care of your skin :) Let me know if you have any tips or tricks that have helped with your skin- I'd love to get some of your dirty skin secrets :)
Your comment will be posted after it is approved.
Leave a Reply.
I'm a college-grad, certified group fitness instructor and certified personal trainer looking to get my healthy to the next level. I hope you can find a little something here that will help you on your journey too.
December 2013


text:
Regional Detroit Builders Association Hosts Parade of Homes Through June – DBusiness Magazine
The Building Industry Association and our members all share that vision and are proud to present the 2019 Parade of Homes. The Building Industry Association serves as an advocate for housing issues and partners with local and state government to insure high standards of construction and development are met while incorporating sensitivity to the.
How to successfully grow a relationship and establish a successful home | Standcode The Brainly community is constantly buzzing with the excitement of endless collaboration, proving that learning is more fun – and more effective – when we put our heads together. Help the community by sharing what you know. answering questions also helps you learn!Call for Entries: Submit Your Projects for the 2019 Best of LaCantina Competition – Architizer Journal Bed Bug Exterminator Tucson (sierra Vista) Az ContentsBug services. flea removalInformation. bed bugs.Mule mountain pesthigh standards set1941 usaaf serial numbersTruly Nolen Sierra Vista, AZ guaranteed solutions for pest and termite control for your home or business in Sierra Vista, AZ. Free inspection or buy online! Hire the Best Bug and Insect Exterminators in Sierra Vista, AZ.So it was a worrying sign when spending slumped in late 2018 and early 2019, dragged down by stock market volatility, a. Call for Entries: Submit Your Projects for the 2019 Best of LaCantina Competition – architizer journal 3 Things to Know in the Housing Market Today! Some we just don't know yet.
Among those arrested in the dawn raids was Luca Gramazio, ex-leader of Silvio Burlesconi's Forza Italia caucus in the lazio regional assembly. The accusations are of corruption and mafia.
This afternoon and early evening a few thunderstorms are possible as a cold front moves through the area. announced in September they would open another Analog in the two-level building at 1405 5th.
WEST BLOOMFIELD – The Home Builders Association of Southeastern Michigan has named the winners in its 24th annual Parade of Homes architectural judging. Parade of Homes is an exhibition of 43 new model, under construction and pre-construction homes and condominiums located throughout southeastern Michigan. The showcase takes place unitl june 30.
Riemer Floors, Inc. – Carpet & Flooring Store – Bloomfield. – Regional Detroit Builders Association Hosts Parade of Homes Through June – DBusiness Magazine The Home Builders Association of Southeastern Michigan will host its 30th annual Parade of Homes, an exhibition of new model homes across the region, for the entire month of June.
Since May, we've been counting down Detroit's 100 Greatest Songs, tallied from voting by thousands of music fans and hometown music experts. Now with the unveiling of the Top 10 songs, the list is at.
mid-year housing market update: Three Things to Know Today Shifting trends and industry-leading research are pointing toward some valuable projections about the status of the housing market for the rest of the year. The 3 areas of the housing market are critical to understand: interest rates, building materials, and the outlook for an economic slowdown.
The Home Builders Association represents members who are affiliated with the building and remodeling industry in the Sioux Empire area. Located in Sioux Falls, SD we provide the most current information related to issues facing our industry and community, and work to enhance business opportunities and a competitive edge for our members.
The correlating theme of the 2014 event is "The Dude's Homebrew Competition". With so many home brewers. The Niagara Homebrewers Association will be on-hand lending support to the cause. To learn.


text:
Company Grew Net Sales by 14% to $1.7 Billion; Realized and Announced
Price Actions Expected to Overcome Inflation in 2018
TOLEDO, Ohio--(BUSINESS WIRE)--
Owens Corning (NYSE: OC) today reported consolidated net sales of $1.7
billion in first-quarter 2018, compared with net sales of $1.5 billion
in first-quarter 2017, an increase of 14%.
First-quarter 2018 net earnings attributable to Owens Corning were $92
million, or $0.82 per diluted share, compared with $101 million, or
$0.89 per diluted share, during the comparable quarter in 2017.
First-quarter 2018 adjusted earnings were $90 million, or $0.80 per
diluted share, compared with $97 million, or $0.85 per diluted share,
during the same period one year ago (See Use of Non-GAAP Measures, See
Table 3).
"Owens Corning is on-track to deliver another year of strong financial
performance, despite the greater than expected inflation that we have
experienced," said Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Mike Thaman.
"The company grew revenue in the first quarter by 14%, but inflation
negatively impacted margins in all three businesses. We had good
realization on our price actions in the quarter and have announced
additional pricing actions intended to address our inflation outlook. We
are confident in our ability to manage current market conditions and
achieve our targets, as the strong fundamentals of the businesses remain
Consolidated First-Quarter 2018 Results
Other Significant Matters
2018 Outlook
Next Earnings Announcement
Second-quarter 2018 results will be announced on Wednesday, July 25,
First-Quarter 2018 Conference Call and
Wednesday, April 25, 2018
11 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time
All Callers
Live dial-in telephone number: U.S. 1.888.317.6003; Canada
1.866.284.3684; and other international +1.412.317.6061.
Entry number: 461-6124 (Please dial in 10-15 minutes before conference
call start time)
Live webcast: https://services.choruscall.com/links/oc180425.html
Telephone and Webcast Replay
Telephone replay will be available one hour after the end of the call
through May 2, 2018. In the U.S., call 1.877.344.7529. In Canada, call
1.855.669.9658. In other international locations, call +1.412.317.0088.
Conference replay number: 101-18-778
Replay available at https://services.choruscall.com/links/oc180425.html
Webcast replay available until April 25, 2019
About Owens Corning
Owens Corning (NYSE: OC) develops, manufactures and markets insulation,
roofing, and fiberglass composites. Global in scope and human in scale,
the company's market-leading businesses use their deep expertise in
materials, manufacturing and building science to develop products and
systems that save energy and improve comfort in commercial and
residential buildings. Through its glass reinforcements business, the
company makes thousands of products lighter, stronger and more durable.
Ultimately, Owens Corning people and products make the world a better
place. Based in Toledo, Ohio, Owens Corning posted 2017 sales of $6.4
billion and employs 19,000 people in 37 countries. It has been a Fortune
500® company for 63 consecutive years. For more information, please
visit www.owenscorning.com.
Use of Non-GAAP Measures
Owens Corning uses non-GAAP measures in its earnings press release that
are intended to supplement investors' understanding of the company's
financial information. These non-GAAP measures include EBIT, adjusted
EBIT, adjusted earnings, adjusted diluted earnings per share
attributable to Owens Corning common stockholders ("adjusted EPS"),
adjusted pre-tax earnings, free cash flow and free cash flow conversion.
When used to report historical financial information, reconciliations of
these non-GAAP measures to the corresponding GAAP measures are included
in the financial tables of this press release. Specifically see Table 2
for EBIT and adjusted EBIT, Table 3 for adjusted earnings and adjusted
EPS, and Table 8 for free cash flow.
For purposes of internal review of Owens Corning's year-over-year
operational performance, management excludes from net earnings
attributable to Owens Corning certain items it believes are not
representative of ongoing operations. The non-GAAP financial measures
resulting from these adjustments (including adjusted EBIT, adjusted
earnings, adjusted EPS and adjusted pre-tax earnings) are used
internally by Owens Corning for various purposes, including reporting
results of operations to the Board of Directors, analysis of
performance, and related employee compensation measures. Management
believes that these adjustments result in a measure that provides a
useful representation of its operational performance; however, the
adjusted measures should not be considered in isolation or as a
substitute for net earnings attributable to Owens Corning as prepared in
accordance with GAAP.
Free cash flow is a non-GAAP liquidity measure used by investors,
financial analysts and management to help evaluate the company's ability
to generate cash to pursue opportunities that enhance shareholder value.
Free cash flow is not a measure of residual cash flow available for
discretionary expenditures due to the company's mandatory debt service
requirements. As a conversion ratio, free cash flow is compared to
adjusted earnings. Free cash flow and free cash flow conversion are used
internally by the company for various purposes, including reporting
results of operations to the Board of Directors of the company and
analysis of performance. Management believes that these measures provide
a useful representation of our operational performance and liquidity;
however, the measures should not be considered in isolation or as a
substitute for net cash flow provided by operating activities or net
earnings attributable to Owens Corning as prepared in accordance with
When the company provides forward-looking expectations for non-GAAP
measures, the most comparable GAAP measures and a reconciliation between
the non-GAAP expectations and the corresponding GAAP measures are
generally not available without unreasonable effort due to the
variability, complexity and limited visibility of the adjusting items
that would be excluded from the non-GAAP measures in future periods. The
variability in timing and amount of adjusting items could have
significant and unpredictable effect on our future GAAP results.
Forward-Looking Statements
This news release contains forward-looking statements within the
meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. These forward-looking statements
are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors and actual results
may differ materially from those results projected in the statements.
These risks, uncertainties and other factors include, without
limitation: relationships with key customers; levels of residential and
commercial construction activity; competitive and pricing factors;
levels of global industrial production; demand for our products;
industry and economic conditions that affect the market and operating
conditions of our customers, suppliers or lenders; domestic and
international economic and political conditions, including new
legislation, policies or other governmental actions in the U.S. or
elsewhere, including the impact of recent tax reform legislation and
related actions, interpretations, and regulatory guidance on our
financial condition and results of operations (including the assumptions
we make related thereto); foreign exchange and commodity price
fluctuations, our level of indebtedness; weather conditions;
availability and cost of credit; availability and cost of energy and raw
materials; issues involving implementation and protection of information
technology systems; labor disputes; legal and regulatory proceedings,
including litigation and environmental actions; our ability to utilize
net operating loss carry-forwards; research and development activities
and intellectual property protection; interest rate movements; uninsured
losses; issues related to acquisitions, divestitures and joint ventures;
achievement of expected synergies, cost reductions and/or productivity
improvements; defined benefit plan funding obligations; price volatility
in certain wind energy markets in the U.S.; and factors detailed from
time to time in the company's Securities and Exchange Commission
filings. The information in this news release speaks as of April 25,
2018, and is subject to change. The company does not undertake any duty
to update or revise forward-looking statements except as required by
federal securities laws. Any distribution of this news release after
that date is not intended and should not be construed as updating or
confirming such information.
Owens Corning Investor Relations News
Adjusting income (expense) items to EBIT are shown in the table
below (in millions):
The reconciliation from Net earnings attributable to Owens Corning
to EBIT and Adjusted EBIT is shown in the table below (in
Three Months Ended
A reconciliation from Net earnings attributable to Owens Corning
to adjusted earnings and a reconciliation from diluted earnings
per share to adjusted diluted earnings per share are shown in the
tables below:
March 31,
Table 6
Owens Corning and Subsidiaries
Segment Information
The table below provides a summary of net sales, EBIT and
depreciation and amortization expense for the Composites segment
(in millions):
The table below provides a summary of net sales, EBIT and
depreciation and amortization expense for the Insulation segment
(in millions):
The table below provides a summary of net sales, EBIT and
depreciation and amortization expense for the Roofing segment (in
Corporate, Other and Eliminations
The table below provides a summary of EBIT and depreciation and
amortization expense for the Corporate, Other and Eliminations
category (in millions):
The reconciliation from net cash flow (used for) provided by
operating activities to free cash flow is shown in the table below
(in millions):
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180425005400/en/
Source: Owens Corning
Owens CorningMedia Inquiries:Chuck Hartlage,
419-248-5395orInvestor Inquiries:Thierry Denis,
Need help? Contact our Investor Relations team.
Scott Cripps
Vice President, Investor Relations
Amber Wohlfarth
Leader, Investor Relations
Sandy Miller
Specialist, Investor Relations


text:
Bridal Makeup Specialist
Your wedding day is all about making memories, and enjoying your special morning in a calm, relaxed, fun atmosphere. I arrive in plenty of time, to set up and meet the bridal party, ensuring the morning runs smoothly. I'm there with you, and your bridal party, until you are all ready to walk out the door ensuring all the last minute touchups are complete, before you leave for the ceremony.
For more information on wedding packages or if you'd like to book a trial for your wedding, please use the contact form.Contact Me
Tel: 087 989 2556
Copyright © 2020 Anne Marie Doherty Makeup · Theme by 17th Avenue
Copyright © 2020 · Ivy on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in


text:
Alluviale Wines Sauvignon Blanc Semillon 2015 Hawke's Bay
Calm yet focused bouquet of waxy fresh peach and citrus fruits, hay and dry stone mineral, light spice and a core of energy. On the palate - dry, vibrant and very textural with plenty of acidity and waxy textures combined with flavours of citrus - esp grapefruit, lemon and peach; hay and mineral layers return. A very youthful example with integration and time on its side. Drink now and through 2025.
92 Points


text:
Find A Naughty Lesbian Hookup
Are you feeling naughty and want to meet someone new? Naughty Lesbians International can hook you up with hot, flirty lesbians. Find friendships, flings and love - have a hot lesbian hookup. Our lesbian dating site is flirty, dirty and is ready for you. Meet lesbians in your area and further afield if you prefer. Join us to find a girl for you.


text:
4 oz.
The Wildlife Research Center® Coyote Urine Cover Scent masks human scent on predator hunters. This strong natural odor not only masks human scent, but it also can trigger competitive behavior in wild coyotes. The natural coyote urine has a very strong, natural odor that deceives coyotes. You can smell the difference. Comes in 4 oz. amber bottle.
Manufacturer model #: 523.


text:
Hello everyone!
Do you miss me?
I am on vacation mode at the moment. Sorry for not updating any post in here and no blog walking for the time being. Will catch up with you later!
See ya! 😘
Saw the pictures in FB, hehe…
Peace! So cute! Hahaa. Have a great week yo. 😀
Taking Blogging to the Fangirl Level
순위가 행복인 배우
Adventures with tiny creatures
Cross Stitch Patterns for Modern Stitchers
Stitchers are people who count
Personalised Handcrafts
Menulis Kata
Reading, Writing, Drinking Tea
The word will still be beautiful in me eys when your gone.
do you know me?
A country woman blogger who wanders around and carries her craft tools!
Blog. Deactivated. Repeat.
Join Me to Hunt Good Food in Kuching!
Topnotch stories about love, passion, fashion, beauty and beautiful things in life
Life is Full of Chance Encounters
Rantings, ravings & ramblings of a rollicking mind
Just another WordPress.com weblog


text:
An older white male film star using a slur against a person of a different gender, race, or sexual orientation is sadly common in the news today. Liam Neeson (Taken, Schindler's List) has disappointingly joined the list of stars that have lost their lustre due to these kinds of remarks. However, the regularity of these events and their aftermath raises the question of what the role of the media is- and whether '#cancelling' is really the most progressive way forward.
Thanks to the bravery of those who spoke out and began media campaigns such as #MeToo and #OscarsSoWhite, the systems of privilege, sexism and racism behind the bright lights of Hollywood have started to come down. Once loved performers have found there is a media spotlight they don't enjoy being under so much, and this purging of Hollywood's powerful has opened the doors to the possibility of a far more equal future. According to one article from NYTimes, 'nearly half the men who have been replaced were succeeded by women'. This progress is great, and a welcome change to Hollywood. One hashtag, however, could be seen as far less progressive, and could be damaging the media industry as a whole- '#cancelled'.
'#cancelled' refers to the act of retracting all acknowledgement and support of a person after they have said or done something problematic or harmful in the public eye. They are collectively shunned, their work binned, gotten rid of, branded and removed. Gone. Cancelled. While the Weinsteins and Spaceys of Hollywood should be #cancelled and locked away for good, there is a huge difference between the scale of their crimes and Neeson's. Surely this means he should face a different fate?
To catch up, Neeson revealed in an interview that 40 years ago he spent a week's nights roaming the streets looking for a 'black bastard' to kill after his friend was raped by a black man. it
In a time of Trump's America and migrant crises, a time of increasing disparity and separatism, the role of media should be to focus on education as well as justice. #Cancelling leads to more isolation, which serves only to breed further hate. Some celebrity figures such as Whoopi Goldberg have begun to see this and have given more understanding responses to the scandal. The black feminist icon reminds us that while a celebrity, Neeson is also a human being. "You can't be surprised that somebody whose loved one is attacked is angry and wants to go out and attack" Goldberg says, adding he "realised it was too dark" and went and "got himself help".
Celebrities who have said things they shouldn't have are a better inspiration for us when they learn from their mistakes, grow and become better people. #cancelling gives no opportunity for growth, and makes us, the public, guilty of forgetting celebrities mess up just as all of us do. A true apology from Neeson is what we need, and the media needs to fill its role and show an example of kindness in accepting it.
Yes, bring the wrongdoers to trial for their crimes, but remember to set an example- showing the ability to forgive and understand as demonstrated by Goldberg highlights a brighter, more educated future for media.
Barnaby Howe
Image credit: nme.com / Getty Images


text:
The Union Jack is the national flag of the UK. It is a combination of the cross of St. George (the patron saint of England), the cross of St. Andrew (the patron saint of Scotland) and the cross of St. Patrick (the patron saint of Northern Ireland)
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland includes Scotland, Wales, England and Northern Ireland. The symbol of Wales is the red dragon or dragon of Cadwallader.


text:
Struggling with an addiction is difficult enough in itself—but for the LGBT+ community, there are added challenges that mainstream rehabilitation facilities often don't address.
That's why The Cabin has opened Resort 12—a rehab that's tailored to the needs of LGBT+ people living with addiction and trauma, the first of its kind outside of the United States.
"Gay men and women use drugs at a much higher rate than heterosexual people," says Stuart Fenton, a counsellor at the newly opened Resort 12.
"Studies show that this comes from stigma, bullying, being marginalised, homophobia and all these other factors," he says. "Which makes the level of drug use in our community much higher than heterosexuals."
"Not only are our clients talking about these issues, they're talking about taking a lot of risks and being very vulnerable and that's just amazing."
Fenton himself knows what it's like to enter a rehab program where the staff might not be familiar with the nuances of the unique problems faced by the LGBT+ community.
"I was an intravenous crystal meth addict, and I was using GHB and combining that with my sexual behaviour," he tells SBS.
"When I went to rehab, most of the workers were middle-aged women and I remember censoring what I would talk about, I had a lot of shame about my sexual behaviour.
"I'm HIV positive and I can remember on a lot of occasions that I didn't feel safe to talk about that in that environment. I knew there wasn't a lot of understanding about HIV and those sorts of things."
For those that are able to afford the service, Resort 12 provides a safe environment for clients to be vulnerable and open up about the issues they're dealing with.
"When clients sit with me to talk about that stuff, I'm already in their world," he says. "I understand the other linked-in issues that can come about and offer them suggestions that they haven't thought of."
As well as employing staff who have an intimate knowledge of the issues clients face, Resort 12 offers workshops themed around issues including homophobia, stigma, cybersex or any issues that are unique to the LGBT+ community.
The facility in Chiang Mai has only been open for the last five weeks but Fenton says in that time, there's been "been amazing discussions that I've never witnessed in my 10 years of working in treatment facilities".
"Not only are our clients talking about these issues, they're talking about taking a lot of risks and being very vulnerable and that's just amazing," he says.
Fenton says it's been rewarding to see people "feel safe to talk about the things that have been holding them back their whole lives".
"For me, with any client, whether they are LGBT+ or otherwise, it's amazing when they're able to let go of their trauma and grief and sadness and heal."


text:
Silver Producer Calls Out CFTC and Bank Manipulators
This interview with Mr. Neumeyer, former founder of First Majestic Silver, covers the most important trends in the precious metals market. Above all, Mr. Neumeyer talks about the ongoing silver price manipulation, and the open letter that First Majestic Silver's CEO has written to the CFTC about the blatant price manipulation in the silver futures market.
Mr. Neumeyer was the original and founding President of First Quantum Minerals Ltd. (T-FM). Mr. Neumeyer founded First Majestic Silver in 2002. Mr. Neumeyer has also listed a number of companies on the Toronto Stock Exchange and as such has extensive experience dealing with the financial, regulatory, legal and accounting issues that are relevant in the investment community. In 2012 he received the Entrepreneur of the Year award in mining from E&Y. In 2015, Keith started First Mining Finance Corp.
Courtesy of Futuremoneytrends (click to see the new gold mining company founded by Mr. Neumeyer)


text:
That Was An Intense MovePosted: December 17, 2019 Filed under: Life. Don't talk to me about life., Me! | Tags: home, moving, Writing Leave a comment
OK. After two weeks, we finally have the Internet again.
I am far, far behind on all of my writing. Aside from the burden imposed upon us by the lack of Internet, much of this has been because of the new responsibilities of homeownership; there is a lot to do around this condo to bring it up to the standards that my wife and I prefer. We're particular about things like a properly watertight basement and having a place to hang a towel in the bathroom, so we've been doing a lot of drilling, mixing, pointing, and mounting.
The original sea of boxes has shrunken to a mere puddle. Better yet, our cats have forgiven us for moving to a place easily twice as large as our last apartment. Alas, they are immune to otherwise logical arguments about value appreciation and equity.
This place, the first that either of us has ever owned, is already starting to feel like home. Much of the reason for this is the fact that we've successfully screwed our two six-foot bookshelves to wall studs, ensuring that they will never topple over like the tower of Babel and crush us with words. Even so, we find that we don't have nearly enough space for books.
This is not a decor issue. Bookshelves are Serious Business. Many of our books are still in boxes and need homes pronto. We are, of course, scouring Craigslist and the local thrift stores, because buying used is eco-friendly and ideal. Meanwhile, a little more box time won't hurt our booky buddies' feelings. There's time.
Other things I have learned in the course of this move:
- I do not value my single-issue comic books anywhere near as much as I value the ones I can just read. This even goes for my Saga issues, which I gobbled with relish back in my profligate youth. It's the reading experience that I care about now, not a. getting them first or b. collecting them, or even c. someday selling them for a profit. Trades are better for that. I'll be letting my issues go. (And my issues with issues, too. Life's too short, you know?)
- YouTube can save you thousands of dollars on home repairs.
- Everything you need, from electronics to picture frames, will eventually turn up at a Saver's.
- There are only a certain number of things you can handle in your life at once. When you reach your load limit, something will give and you won't necessarily be able to predict what. When my wife's mother became critically ill last year, I dropped a class. This time, I dropped the writing ball. Aside from the factor of our lack of Internet, it's a good object lesson in stress management.
Part of the reason that I'm getting back into the swing of things with a personal blog post is to shake off the rust. But now that I've done that, I'm off to bang out an article that my fantastic editor at Etekly has already been amazing about because HOLY CRAP is it ever late. Book Riot, too. My god. May the heavens forever bless lenient editors.
One more thing: I'm experimenting with affiliate marketing on this here blog, and I'm 100% aware of the problematic nature of buying new. Sometimes you have to, but I'd rather promote high-quality thrift. My hope is that people will opt for the "used" option when they click and buy. Meanwhile, I'm working on a new affiliate program that centers more on consignment and reuse. Hard fact though it is, your girl's gotta eat. Stay tuned for the changes.
It's good to be back.


text:
This first week of April plays host to a few good birthdays, My dear sweet cousin Chelsey who is in her final year of pottery school in Fredericton NB, and a new found blogger friend Gary . Now these folk are pretty cool, and so are the Ramones, so here you go. turn up your speakers and join in the chorus! I don't wanna grow up!
This is one of Chelsey's bowls from last spring. I am dying to see the new stuff.


text:
Members of the Woodridge Local Board of Education Jan. 14 unanimously approved seeking the voters' approval of the renewal of an existing levy on May 6.
The levy, approved in May 2009, expires at the end of this year. The Board agreed to ask voters to approve the renewal of a 10.87-mill, 10-year levy which would generate $5.27 million annually for the district's general fund.
The County Fiscal Officer has certified to the School Board that the total current tax valuation of the School District is $4.46 million and the estimated annual tax levy required throughout the life of the proposed levy to produce the annual amount of $5.27 million as set forth in that resolution, calculated in the manner provided by law, is 10.87 mills.
On Dec. 10, the Woodridge Local School District Board of Education took the first step toward putting the renewal of an existing tax levy before voters on the May 2014 ballot. If passed, the levy will have a duration of 10 years. Passing this latest resolution to place the issue on the ballot is the second step.
"We go in the red, (by approximately $3.5 million) cash balance wise, in 2015-16 if we don't put the levy back on the ballot and renew it," School District Treasurer Deanna Levenger told the Board in November. The school district's general fund budget this year is approximately $24.002 million.
The body faces a Feb. 4 deadline for submitting the necessary paperwork to the Summit County Board of Elections to get the issue on the May 6 ballot. The idea of pursuing a levy that's 10 years in duration was the recommendation of the district's Finance Committee. Five years ago, the school district merged two levies which were both up for renewal into an 11.38-mill emergency operating levy, five years in length.
Editor's note: Reporter Ellin Walsh contributed to this article.
Email: email@example.com
Phone: 330-541-9420
Facebook: SteveWiandtFallsNewsPress
Twitter: @SteveWiandt_RPC


text:
DALLAS – Up to 2,000 immigrant children will be cared for in Dallas under a plan announced by County Judge Clay Jenkins at the Texas Democratic Party Convention June 28. Federal dollars would pay for the plan. Desperate Central American children, traveling alone, fleeing stunning poverty and violence, have fled into the United States. Around 50,000 of them are in temporary housing around the Texas/Mexico border.
Since Jenkins aired his plan, different letters to editors have appeared in the Dallas newspaper. Some of them would brutally toss the children back across the Mexican border or return them to war-torn Central America. Some say that Judge Jenkins is cynically using the children as an election-year ploy to enhance his re-election effort. Others see the humanitarian side of the proposal.
Union people aren't a bit surprised to see Jenkins step out from the crowd on a controversial issue. Since he was elected to the county's highest office four years ago, Jenkins has consistently stood up for poor and working people. When American Airlines employees desperately needed help, for example, Jenkins joined them on their picket lines. Most recently, Jenkins has distinguished himself by pushing for higher wages for all county employees, including those who are contract labor.
Photo: Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins speaks to reporters at a 2012 rally supporting American Airlines workers. Jim Lane/PW


text:
The use of ice on a soft tissue injury
It's been a busy few months in the Habit physio clinics with winter and snow sports accounting for many of the soft tissue injuries we treat. Now we're getting into summer, with warmer, longer days even more people are out being active and exercising. This is brilliant and as a health professional I whole-heartedly encourage this! However, this brings a greater risk of picking up common injuries such as knee or ankle sprains and muscle strains.
According to ACC statistics summer brings a rise in claims, the most common being soft tissue injuries with beach-related activities such as surfing and boating being some of the main culprits. ¹ ²
Cryotherapy (the use of ice) is well-known and commonly used in the management of acute soft tissue injuries. However, this is not always done in the most effective manner and is not always as simple as reaching for a bag of frozen peas.
This article aims to bust some of the myths around the use of ice in the acute stage of an injury and give you the tools and knowledge to optimise your recovery.
What is an acute soft tissue injury?
Soft tissue refers to tissues that connect, support, or surround joints and other structures in the body, including muscles, tendons, ligaments and other fibrous tissues. Any injury to these tissues can result from a sprain, strain or contusion and is considered acute in the first 72 hours. In this stage of an injury you might expect to experience pain on movement, swelling or bruising of the injured area. ³
Why do we use ice after a soft tissue injury?It is a common misconception that ice reduces the swelling associated with an acute soft tissue injury. Research has shown that ice alone will NOT achieve this. ⁴
What applying ice WILL do is decrease the temperature of the injured soft tissue. This has two main benefits:
1. Reducing pain
Applying ice is a great way of providing short term pain relief after an injury. By cooling the skin, you are slowing down the speed that nerves transmit the pain signals from the injured tissue to your brain. This pain-relieving effect will enable you to mobilise and gently exercise the injured area more effectively, which will help to reduce swelling. ⁵
2. Reducing secondary damage to healthy surrounding tissue
After sustaining an acute injury your body triggers an inflammatory response, which is why we experience swelling. This is necessary to help heal the injured cells. However, this can be damaging to the healthy, uninjured cells nearby. By applying ice we are aiming to reduced the metabolic activity of those healthy cells, which helps protect them. ⁴
What's the best way to apply ice?
While frozen peas and ice packs are useful when nothing else is available (and are often less messy!) crushed ice in a plastic bag applied directly to the skin is best. This will enable the
skin to be cooled to 10˚C, whereas frozen peas and ice packs will not lower the skin temperature below 13˚C. This doesn't seem like much of a difference but to achieve the pain-relieving benefits of cryotherapy we need to try and achieve cooling of the tissue to a temperature of 10˚C. Apply the crushed ice for 20 minutes every hour where possible.
Can anyone use ice after an injury?
Cryotherapy isn't for everyone and is contraindicated for some health conditions. These include:
- Active deep vein thrombosis (DVT)
- Areas near a chronic wound eg. an ulcer
- Raynaud's disease
- Impaired circulation 6
For other health conditions, cryotherapy should be used cautiously, and you should discuss this with your Physiotherapist or GP. These include:
- Cardiac failure
- Hypertension
- Areas of impaired sensation
- Infected tissues
- Areas of broken skin due to infection risk 6
What else can I do to speed up my recovery?
As mentioned earlier, ice alone will not reduce the swelling associated with an acute injury. In the first 3 days it is important to use ice in conjunction with a few other simple, self-management techniques. To remember these techniques, just think POLICE, which stands for:
PROTECT the injured muscle or joint. The amount of protection required will depend on the extent of the injury and may involve the use of crutches or a sling initially. The No HARM protocol should also be applied – no heat, no alcohol, no running or strenuous activity, and no massage. This is important in the first 72 hours to minimise bleeding within the injured tissue and reduce the risk of making the injury worse. However, this doesn't mean you should be fearful of moving at all. Severe pain or an inability to weight bear permitting you should begin to optimally load the injured area. ³
OPTIMAL LOAD simply means you should try to walk and begin gentle range of movement exercise, for example bending and straightening your knee or trying to write the alphabet with your ankle. If you have any concerns with this book in with one of our physiotherapists and they will be able to guide and progress this.
Hopefully you will remember from earlier…
ICE will help to reduce the pain and enable you to optimally load the injured joint or muscle.
COMPRESSION will help to keep swelling at bay when you're up and about and on the move. This can be as simple as using a tubigrip or compression bandage. If you don't have this at home most physio clinics or pharmacies will stock them.
ELEVATION of the injured area above the level of the heart will allow gravity to further reduce swelling. Do this little and often in the first 3 days and for an added benefit, this can be used alongside the gentle range of movement exercises mentioned above. When elevating it is important to remove your compression bandage and to slowly return the injured area to a seated or standing position. Doing this too quickly will result in a 'rebound effect' where the swelling will drain back towards the injury site, which can be uncomfortable. ⁴
After reading this hopefully you will now have a better understanding of when, how and why to use ice after an injury and what else you can do to speed up the early stages of your recovery. After this it is important to be assessed by a Physiotherapist to help guide the next stage of your rehab and get you back fighting fit!
Alex Ormerod is a physiotherapist at Habit Majestic in Wellington.
- NZ Herald. (2018). ACC details its 440,000 summer claims. [online] Available at: https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11194867 [Accessed 14 Sep. 2018].
- FORRESTER, G. (2018). Summertime ACC claims for injuries on the rise. [online] Stuff. Available at: https://www.stuff.co.nz/manawatu-standard/news/88090935/summertime-claims-for-injuries-on-the-rise [Accessed 14 Sep. 2018].
- Sports Medicine Australia. (2018). Soft Tissue Injuries | Sports Medicine Australia. [online] Available at: https://sma.org.au/resources-advice/injury-fact-sheets/soft-tissue-injuries/ [Accessed 23 Sep. 2018].
- Bleakley, C. (2015). Acute Management of Soft Tissue Injuries. [ebook] ACPSEM. Available at: https://www.physiosinsport.org/media/wysiwyg/ACPSM_Physio_Price_A4.pdf [Accessed 14 Sep. 2018].
- Algafly, A. A., & George, K. P. (2007). The effect of cryotherapy on nerve conduction velocity, pain threshold and pain tolerance. Br J Sports Med, 41(6), 365-9; discussion 369. doi:10.1136/bjsm.2006.031237
- Clinical Edge. (2018). Clinical Edge - 5 minute physio tip - Crushing the myths of ice application. Is ice useful for acute injuries and does it reduce swelling?. [online] Available at: https://www.clinicaledge.co/blog/5-minute-physio-tip-crushing-the-myths-of-ice-application-is-ice-useful-for-acute-injuries-and-does-it-reduce-swelling [Accessed 14 Sep. 2018].


text:
Led by MVP favorite James Harden, the Houston Rockets have won 15 straight and lead the entire NBA with a 49-13 record.
But most people believe the Warriors, currently half a game behind Houston in the standings, are still the superior squad.
Hall of Famer Scottie Pippen knows Golden State probably has another gear, but says the Rockets are "the best team today," via ESPN:
They're the best team today. But I don't know if they're going to be the best team come June. I do realize that the Golden State Warriors are in a comfort zone right now. They have another level that they can raise their game obviously.
James Harden Says Rockets Can't Relax With Best Record


text:
Mohamed Ahmed Elmi (Dhooley)Tuesday January 23, 2018
WardheerNews recently published an opinion piece The Perils of Arrogance and Clan Chauvinism that made sweeping and quite deceptive statement on Sanaag Region, painting it as either occupied or part of the secessionist sphere of control. "Having put their relative military might to the test by occupying all the unionist regions in the north —except for Buuhoodle district," Osman concludes unequivocally.
The purpose of this brief response is to illuminate Sanaag Region, Somalia's second largest region. Important to mention, however, is the root causes of the occupied Sool region.
The militarization of Sool and Buhotle district in Togdheer Region, the principal homeland of the Dolbahante, did not happen overnight. Las Anod was in the hands of Puntland when Haabsade, a Dolbahante, held the Interior Minister of Puntland. In 2007, Haabsade was sacked from his post; he then switched sides to tip the balance in favor of "Somaliland" with the full backing of his own sub-clan.
In the ensuing weeks, the disgruntled minister had led Somaliland forces in alliance with heavily armed local clan militia to the fall of Las Anod. Puntland made multiple attempts to re-capture the city in the next 2 -6 months, but it was undermined by a series of defections in the ranks of its military and found itself fighting in the hearts of Sool region against an unholy alliance.
"Somaliland" then deployed more troops and expanded eastward into surrounding villages while capitalizing on the vacuum left by Puntland and the fission of Dolbahante clan, complicated by divided traditional and political leadership.
Sanaag Region
Sanaag Regionis the principal homeland of the Warsangeli clan.
ThereareseveralfactorsthatcontributetotherelativepeaceandstabilityinSanaagregions. TheWarsangeliSultanate haslong history of civilization, characterized by defined population, defined territory, and organized political structure. The borders of its territoryextend to the west ofErigavofrom Bosaaso (Bari region), straddling from the shore ofLaasoSuurad, ("Ras Surad") in the Gulf of Aden totheplateausofSoolHaud (a land mass the size of Sool and Awdal regions combined).
Traditional and modern governance structures exist to maintain equilibrium amongst the clans in the region. Court systems that hear and adjudicate claims and public disputes have been established. A 2016 study by OCVP found the level of mutual trust between the elected executive and council members and their constituents to be as high as 90 percent. The police are regarded to be the formal institution providing security, per OCVP.
In addition, several districts have functioning police headquarters. The construction of one major penal institution in the capital of Sanaag region is nearly complete; additional corrections facilities are planned to be constructed in Dhahar whose residents recently elected a new mayor and an executive committee.
The recent tour of the Federal Minister of Planning, Gamal Hassan, with a sizable delegation of dignitaries and government officials, corroborates this relative stability and law and order in Sanaag and Haylan regions. During his tour, Gamal saw the progress of several infrastructure projects, including the Maakhir University and the rehabilitation of the main road that connects Ceeldaahir of Bari region to Ceerigaabo, Sanaag. Gamal is the first federal official to tour Sanaag region. In an interview with BBC Somali, Gamal said he held discussions with community leaders, the civil society, and government officials to assess the country's general security, economic growth, and development.
The minister emphasized in his interview that the federal government has a mandate to reach every region in Somalia and that the community cannot be denied of their share of development resources.
The Sanaag region has its share of problems based on a systematic and prolonged economic marginalization, exacerbated by UK and UN involvement in Somalia's internal affairs. For instance, Matt Baugh, UK Senior Representative for Somalia sent a letter dated February 21, 2011 toHE Mohamed Ali, Somalia's former Ambassador to Kenya. The letter expresses the intention of the UK Government to bolster the security sector of "Somaliland" and if necessary bypass UN Sanctions Committee regarding the arms embargo imposed on Somalia. "I am sure you can appreciate Somaliland currently offers greater stability and a framework to which we can give targeted support," the UK representative passionately writes in his letter.
Under the last permanent government, the administrative jurisdiction over this area was divided into five districts: Laas Qoray, Ceelafwayn, Badhan, Dhahar and Ceerigaabo (Erigavo). The people of Badhan, Laas Qoray, Dhahar and some of those to the east of Ceerigaabo and the West of Boosaaso belong to the same sub-lineage entity. The made the situation much worse by diverting priorities for development. The people proved, however, their resilience and firm resolve to build the capacity of modern yet fragile institutions that deliver basic services.
The Secessionist Incursion
The current regional administration in the region maintains a strong, disciplined, and well-trained armed forces serve the primary deterrence against secessionist aggression. Incursions from the West of Erigavo happened numerous times in the past but was summarily reversed. The illusion of closing a defunct, colonial border is a shared sentiment.
For instance, the famous Dhahar battle prompted the former "Somaliland" president to fire his "defense minister" after heavily armed forcesunder his commandmet their first ignominious defeat.
The sacking of the late "defense minister" in the middle of an ongoing armed conflict was humiliating to the hard-core secessionists who had been hoodwinked to believe the historical myth of the "British Somaliland" protectorate's border.
The perils of "Somaliland" was painfully evident. The Dhahar battle reminded the arrogant secessionists of their limits and was reminiscent of multiple battles the SNM had lost in Damalla-Hagare, Carmaale, and Ceerigaabo. It kept the secessionist aggression at bay.
An editorial by the Somaliland Times lamented the failed strategy only to recycle the old myth, "The DhahardebaclerevealedthatSomaliland'sarmedforcesareinapitifulstateandcannotbereliedupontodefendthecountryletalonesecureitsborders," wrote an editorial by the Somaliland Times. Since then, the Warsangelihad resolved to participate in Somalia's reconciliation and peace process at the national level while building peace, security, and democratic institutions in Puntland. Court systems exist in Sanaag to promote peaceful resolution of conflicts. The region has experienced the return of its large diaspora and the reconstruction of the country's infrastructurefor the past five (5) years.
Is Sanaag Region Occupied?
I take the wild assertion that secessionists have occupied all the unionist regions as Osman would have us believe with a pinch of salt. Rather than putting out the raging fire in Sool region, Osman wishes to export chaos —or smuggle the false narrative to the highlands of Sanaag Region. The recent clash between two feuding sub-clans of Isaq in Ceelafwayn District is not a recurring incident but noticeably an isolated case. It is traceable to unresolved feuds on scarce resources.
The Sool debacle has dragged on for years and is an indirect tax on the stability of the whole region. Markus Hoehne, in his book, Between Somaliland and Puntland: Marginalization, Militarization and Conflicting Political Visions attributed the crisis in Sool to what he calls "border entrepreneurs."These leaders with conflicting political visions outbid one another and sell their lands to the highest bidder in quest for political appointment and personal greed.
Dr. Ali Khalif's disappointing defection to Hargeisa reflects a pattern ofself-serving actions that continue to dash the hopes of the people in the region, their constituents.Thedisloyalty, impulsiveness, or the blind devotion to personal interest more pronounced than any region in Somalia and undermines confidence in any future peace process. Paulo Friere observed the phenomena in his celebrated book, The Pedagogy of the Oppressed, "Their ideal is to be men; but for them, to be men is to be oppressors. This is their model of humanity."
I admit we have different values with which we correctly or incorrectly judge things. It explains that humansare conditioned by their immediate environment and/or prevailing social conventions.
Having open and constructive debate on the Sool debacle isessential but the media's wild assertions and half-truths at the expense of the peace in Sanaag Region under insulting and sweeping fabrications causes more damage than occupation. Such false alarms would barely find a path for genuine dialogue and reconciliation.
We must examine our paradigm and change the way we interpret and perceive things. We must examine our thoughts with a view that there is another sideo four made-upreality. When a large section of a marginalized community is steeped in historical myth, they are bound to suffer from chronic leadership crisis..
The Formation of SSB
SSB is a political movement that is currently brewing and gaining strength. SSB stands to establish itself a potent alternative to the skewed and false narrative as "the disputed regions" allude to the unsuspecting reader.SSB stands for Sanaag,parts of Sool and Bari regions—basedon the historic lands of the Warsangeli clan. Although Puntland undertook to exploit the Galgala conflict, SSB is committed to work with various stakeholders, including Puntland, to ensure the region does not become a permanent haven for terrorists.
When Puntland quickly defeated the terrorist group in Gara'ad,Mudug,and Hafun,Bari, many people accused it of double standard. Puntland is accused of prolonging the instability in Galgala because it is a Warsangeli territory, not a Majeerteen area. In addition, Puntland intends to keep benefitting from the stream of funds it gets under the pretext of war on terror
As the conflict theory posits, our fundamental relationship is not one based on cooperation but competition over scarce resources; likewise, the relationship is born out of the constraints that are created by powerful states or major institutions such as the UN, which all distribute resources and power unequally.
SSBis creating a new political realityin the areas under the jurisdiction of the clan. It has made considerable contribution. The organization drafted and passed its Constitution, which sets out the vision, direction, and rules that will govern its members and the leadership. The deliberation process took up to 16 months. Among its accomplishment include the evacuation ofdozens of wounded troopsfor treatment abroad. The troops were wounded in defense of Galgala from the al-Shabab ambush, which wounded over 50 soldiers and killed 7 in April of last year.SSB aims to achieve the following:
= Amplify the community's voice and participation in the federation of the rest of Somalia and the review of the Constitution= Work with the executive and members of the legislative branches of the federal government to find a viable, long-term solution for SSB regions= Build and strengthen regional security and police forces and the capacity of local governments= Change the skewed narrative about the region's disputed status at the national and international levelSSB aligns its vision with the peace and state-building goals as set in the Somalia Development Plan, the Somali Compact, and New Partnership for Somalia. In addition, SSB embraces transparency, accountability, advocacy, and high-impact, sustainable development solutions as its core values. The SSB's management team is comprised of the Executive Director, Col. Abdiwahid, who is also a chair. The four (4) Committees areas follows:= Finance Committee= Defense and Policy Committee= Public and Media Relations Committee= Community Engagement
Sanaag Region and by extension Sool need comprehensive national solution. It is my belief that finding a viable political solution for the so called "disputed regions" remains a core issue of a future Somali government and a united nation-state.
The federal government must not abandon the people of Sanaag and Sool or leave them to the tender mercies of an aggressive and expansionist secessionist administration that is clearly backed by Ethiopia and UK as it is evident in the Matt Bough's letter to Somalia's Embassy in Nairobi.


text:
A fine pure wool scarf in Biarritz Nuit, our jewel coloured take on the Mediterranean coast!
With a lightly fringed hem and generous length and width, it feels beautifully soft to wear as a scarf or a wrap and will add style to any outfit.
Comes in a dove grey gift box, stamped with our iconic Bird on a Branch logo to make a lovely Mother's Day, birthday or anniversary present.
100% wool
Dry Clean only
70cm x 180cm