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Iceland is a young nation of young museums. When Norwegian fishermen began salting herring in the tiny village of Siglufjouml;reth;ur in 1903 Iceland awoke from a millenium of poverty. Siglufjouml;reth;ur was the capital of the herring industry which transformed Iceland into the affluent nation it is today. This industry was at its peak in 1950, the very year Iceland's first museum opened to the public. Seventeen years later, the herring disappeared and the industry along with it. By the 1980s, little reminder remained of the once great herring adventure that had touched an entire nation.
The Herring Era Museum in Siglufjouml;reth;ur is Iceland's youngest museum. In 1989, a group of interested locals formed the Siglufjouml;reth;ur Museum Society (FAacute;UM), establishing the museum to preserve the herring story for future generations of Icelanders. Its purpose is to tell that story and showcase Siglufjouml;reth;ur's role in the growth of modern Iceland. The museum receives financial support from the Icelandic government, the Icelandic Council of Museums, the Town of Siglufjouml;reth;ur, various funds, companies, societies and individuals.
The first exhibit building, Roacute;aldsbrakki, opened in 1994. A fully-restored 1907 Norwegian-built herring salting station, the largest and best example in Iceland. The second exhibit building, Graacute;na, opened in 2000. It houses a re-built herring oil and meal factory of the 1930s-1950s. A third exhibit building, The Boathouse, is currently under construction.
Our professional and social philosophy is the use of "naturalism and realism" in ambitious exhibits meant to connect Icelandic visitors to their heritage and foreign visitors to Iceland's industrial past. We tell the whole story in a large as life way. For example, to tell the story of herring oil and meal factories in Iceland we built an entire factory. To step into the boiler room in Graacute;na or the bunkrooms in Roacute;aldsbrakki is to be transported in time. The best judge of our success is the approval we receive from lifetime herring workers who come to us and say this is just like it was.
It is this quality of realism which deserved to be awarded. In selecting us for the Icelandic Museum of the Year Award in 2000, the judges said, " The Herring Era Museum's artifacts, exhibits and cultural heritage communication are exemplary, successfully drawing a remarkably realistic and flawless picture of a well-defined period in the story of both Siglufjouml;reth;ur and the nation as a whole. The museum is a credit to the town of Siglufjouml;reth;ur and its heritage."
There is no doubt that the Herring Era Museum is relevant to national and community development and greatly improves the quality of life. It is rapidly becoming the premier cultural center in Siglufjouml;reth;ur. Its dynamic role as heritage museum, tourist attraction, art gallery, concert and lecture venue, banquet and meeting facility ensures its prominence as a place of pride within the community and the nation.
At the Herring Era Museum we define professional excellence as the ability to take the best around you as the bottom line and do better. Knowledge, skill and love of the project combined with belief, patience and perseverence equals excellence. If building this museum has taught us one thing it is to be above all ambitious.
The Best in Heritage
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[Editor's Note: Man's idea of what the christian religion is will always leave people saying, "I felt judged." We're supposed to testify to God's standards not our own. There is a christian social class in this country and to be in it, you have to keep up with all the social standards. Christ in not in it but at least you'll be accepted by man. You'll live under the fear of man and his expectations. You'll spend your time, money, energy and resources living up to unspiritual moral ethics. Better to be known of Christ, be His workmanship, live according to His graces and persevere in the faith than to find in the end He never knew us. Matt. 7:21-23
What is taught here is applicable to all of the Christian woman's life. Everyone should give it a read.]
"Don't take this wrong, but we prayed before our children were born, and all of them were born healthy."
I wasn't sure how I was supposed to take that. We had just told a new acquaintance that our infant son, Paul, had died several years earlier, after we had already grieved three difficult miscarriages. I felt judged. According to this person speaking to me, Paul's death and my miscarriages were easily preventable. It was simple. We hadn't prayed enough. We had neglected to do our part. In short, we were to blame.
This attitude wasn't new to me. I had felt this mixture of judgment and pressure from the day I learned of Paul's heart problem four months into the pregnancy. Concerned friends had rallied around, assuring me of healing for my unborn son. "Pray, believing you will receive," they urged from James 5, "and he will be healed."
So I prayed. I fasted. I recited set prayers. I read books on healing. I asked friends to pray. I begged God. I did everything I knew to do.
Read the rest here

subset: commoncrawl


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Kx'a languages
|Angola, Namibia, and Botswana
|Linguistic classification:
|One of the world's primary language families
(traditionally considered Khoisan)
The Kx'a languages, also called Ju–ǂHoan, are a family established in 2010 linking the ǂ'Amkoe (ǂHoan) language with the ǃKung (Juu) dialect cluster, a relationship that had been suspected for a decade.[2] Along with the Tuu languages and Khoe languages, they are one of three language families indigenous to southern Africa, which are typologically similar due to areal effects.
- ǂ'Amkoe (three dialects, ǂHȍȁn, Nǃaqriaxe, and Sàsí; moribund)
- ǃKung (also ǃXun or Ju, formerly Northern Khoisan; a dialect cluster)
ǂ'Amkoe had previously been lumped in with the Tuu languages, perhaps over confusion with the dialect name ǂHȍȁn, but the only thing they have in common are typological features such as their bilabial clicks.
Honken & Heine (2010) coined the term Kx'a for the family as a replacement for the rather inaccessible compound Ju–ǂHoan (easily confused with the Juǀ'hoan language), after the word [kx'à] 'earth, ground', which is shared by the two branches of the family, though also by neighboring languages such as Kwadi.
Honken & Heine (2010) reconstruct six click families for Kx'a: the five that occur in the most conservative dialects of ǃKung, plus the bilabial clicks of ǂHoan. Bilabial clicks became dental in ǃXun; retroflex clicks became lateral in ǂHoan and northern ǃXun, alveolar in southern ǃXun, and remained retroflex only in central ǃXun. However, Starostin (2003)[3] argues that the bilabial clicks are a secondary development in ǂHoan. He cites the ǂHoan words for 'one' and 'two', /ŋ͡ʘũ/ and /ʘoa/, where no other Khoisan language has a labial consonant of any kind in its words for these numerals.
- ↑ Nordhoff, Sebastian; Hammarström, Harald; Forkel, Robert; Haspelmath, Martin, eds. (2013). "Kxa". Glottolog. Leipzig: Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology.<templatestyles src="Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css"></templatestyles>
- ↑ Honken, H. and Heine, B. 2010. "The Kx'a Family: A New Khoisan Genealogy". Journal of Asian and African Studies (Tokyo), 79, p. 5–36.
- ↑ Starostin G. (2003) A lexicostatistical approach towards reconstructing Proto-Khoisan, page 22. Mother Tongue, vol. VIII.


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Thank you for your interest in changing a child's life by becoming a foster parent!
Once you have discussed the possibility of becoming a foster parent with our Family Resource and Recruitment Manager and made a decision to take the next step, you will need to be trained. The mandatory 30-hour training program will prepare you to foster while also helping you make an informed decision about becoming a foster parent. This training, called Massachusetts Approaches to Partnership in Parenting (MAPP), is required by the Department of Children and Families and is offered locally by Plummer Youth Promise staff.
MAPP Training
Location: Plummer Foster Care, 290 Merrimack St, Suite 206, Lawrence, MA
Dates: TBD (Dates will be scheduled when we have enough families express interest)
A light breakfast will be provided during Saturday trainings and dinner during the 6-9 PM evening trainings. Please feel free to bring a lunch during Saturday trainings.
If interested in attending MAPP training, please contact Lili Rodriguez at email@example.com


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-On the news scene in Inyo County, Public Defender Gerard Harvey was arrested Monday following court. According to INET Commander Jeff Hollowell, Harvey was arrested on an allegation of threatening a witness in a case. The witness, Hollowell said, was also a client of Harveys in another case.
That individual reported the alleged threat to INET. The Inyo Supervisors had recently approved a new public defender contract with Harvey, who had earlier been arrested on allegations of being under the influence of a controlled substance. Harvey had said he is in a drug diversion program and doing well. That was prior to the recent arrest.
-Local Cable TV viewers were up in arms over Suddenlinks announcement that they could no longer include KOLO in the TV line-up. Thats the ABC station in Reno. Chuck and Mary Mae Kilpatrick of Bishop wrote to John Tyson, a KOLO personality, to see if somehow KOLO, Channel 8, could continue on the Bishop cable system.
Suddenlink Plant Manager, Mark Bandini, says that as a result of customer phone calls, KOLO is now willing to re-negotiate. He said they were concerned about stepping on KABC in Los Angeles since they are both ABC affiliates. Hope continues for KOLO.
-Tired of being in the dark. After two power outages in Bishop and the Owens Valley, DWP customers wondered what was up. Chris Plakos, DWP Public Information Officer, said that Edison is in the midst of a major upgrade of their transmission line which crosses DWPs line. The process caused DWP to kick off twice. Plakos said Edison thinks they have resolved the problem, but they are continuing the line work this week.
-And, yet, another thing. The State budget crisis pushed Inyo County into suspension of County Resource Advertising contracts. That means a cut of funds to the Bishop Chamber of Commerce.
The Chamber will lose $56,000, designed to fund six projects California High School Rodeo State Finals, Winter Fish Planting on the Lower Owens River, Trout Opener Press Reception, Blake Jones Trout Derby, Bishop Creek Canyon Summer Classic Fish Derby and a Fourth of July Celebration Weekend.
Tawni Thomson, Chamber Director, said they will work to save costs and make projects happen. She called it a struggle.


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Changing your swing could help you in your short game! Watch how Dave Pelz utilizes his pitch swing in different situations.
Dave Pelz shows us the best way to hit wedge shot in the wind, no matter the wind direction!
Dave Pelz shows us a simple lob shot that can help your game. Watch this and use it next time you are on the course.
Dave Pelz shows us how to utilize the cut lob shot.Make sure you try this one in the practice area first!


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Healer: Prescriptions from the Great Physician
Luke 17:11-19 NASB While He was on the way to Jerusalem, He was passing between Samaria and Galilee. (12) As He entered a village, ten leprous men who stood at a distance met Him; (13) and they raised their voices, saying, "Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!" (14) When He saw them, He said to them, "Go and show yourselves to the priests." And as they were going, they were cleansed. (15) Now one of them, when he saw that he had been healed, turned back, glorifying God with a loud voice, (16) and he fell on his face at His feet, giving thanks to Him. And he was a Samaritan. (17) Then Jesus answered and said, "Were there not ten cleansed? But the nine--where are they? (18) "Was no one found who returned to give glory to God, except this foreigner?" (19) And He said to him, "Stand up and go; your faith has made you well."
These ten weren't asking for signs. They weren't trying to show off. They were lepers. Their bodies falling apart. They were isolated, separated and humiliated by a disease that even allowed a Samaritan, a man of mixed heritage, to find community because no community would allow them in.
That alone tells us something more is here, hidden. Something more is implied in this healing. Consider that the term "sozo" is used for both "healing" and "forgiveness." Something more than just healing has taken place. Something transformative without and within was experienced on that day with one of those lepers.
That is good to know, that brings some comfort for those of us who haven't found the physical healing to take place. But then, when we suffer, we're not far removed from some pretty esteemed company in the Bible. God didn't heal Moses of his stuttering. Jacob, who was quite healthy, actually found himself handicapped after wrestling with God. God didn't answer David's prayer and fasting for his infant son. God didn't raise Ruth's husband and two sons from the dead. God didn't remove Paul's thorn in the flesh nor did he stop the stomach illness of Timothy. Remember that 100% of those who Jesus healed, still died.
I will not be an apologist for an incomplete view of healing packed in a false assurance. Certainly not, when we consider that the symbol of our faith is a cross: a symbol of pain, suffering, humiliation and execution. We, pastors, laity and theologians, have not spoken to this well.
I want to share a story I've never shared in a sermon before because it brings this home for me. The evening before my surgery to remove my cancerous testical, I sat on the couch and listened as a local preacher in our community explained that bad things happen because we've taken Jesus on the throne of our hearts. A week later, as I was still recovering, I saw that same preacher speaking, and on one hand he had a cast. The irony was not lost on me. When asked about why some were ill, Jesus also said (see John 9:1-3), our suffering and pain isn't so easy to explain away. Sinfulness is not always the cause.
The Healer is concerned about you - all of you - your whole being. Our traditions, reasoning, experiences and the Bible, reinforce this as one of the cornerstone pieces of our faith that God is in love with you and me, John 3:16 is that all telling verse and passage of God's love but even it is just one of many. As such, he cares about our mental pain, our physical suffering and the condition of our souls. Our faith tells us in the beginning chapters of the Bible, that this is a soul-making world where our pain and suffering play a role in our journey.
But like Jacob, I find myself wrestling with God, maybe you do too. To give you and I freedom, God has limited, at times what God is going to do. I suspect, that is because the healing I need has far less to do with my physical condition as it does to do with healing my soul; healing my faith. I have an assurance, not pollyanna pie in the sky, wish on a star -hope about God's role and work as the Healer. We are called as God's people to come together and pray for one another for sure but I want to suggest to you, God does not intend this as a prescription for our healing but plan of wellness:
1. Sustenance is where it begins. What are you putting in you and no, I don't mean just food. When challenged by the devil, Jesus had no problem with his response. Now when the tempter came to Him, he said, "If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread." But He answered and said, "It is written, 'Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.' " Matt 4:3-4 (NKJV) In fact throughout his ministry, Jesus pointed this out time and again the health of our soul is dependent on God's word.
2. The second part of the wellness plan is to recognize that Hebrews 6:12 is correct, we can become spiritually dull and weak. A strength plan is also important. Again, there are many verses but I think it is key to consider here Jesus' words again. What we take in, God's words are not merely for us to ponder but to live out. Jesus said of this "…whoever wants to be first among you must become your slave. For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many." Matt 20:27-28 (NLT)
3. It is more than a commandment, it characterized the life of Jesus for he understood the true need for Sabbath, at time to rest. Genesis 31:12-18 makes the importance of Sabbath clear. We find in Mark 1:35; Mark 6:30-31 and Luke 5:16 that Jesus took time to rest, to not work. He took time to go to temple and synagogues. Rabbi David Horowitz, who spent a week with my Academy group in early November, shared much with us about Jewish influence upon our Christian faith. This helped us to understand better the practices of Jesus' life. You see, Sabbath is NOT about worship for 1 hour each week, but it is to be three fold:
1. It is about REST. This is a gift.
2. It is about JOY. It is time together, not alone.
3. It is about Sanctification. In the synagogue, when sending forth, the people aren't sent forth to go in peace. Instead, they "Go To Peace."
My experience; our experience and the Biblical history leave us at times wanting. The path to healing isn't so easy. A doctor once said to a patient before surgery, "I may hurt you, but I won't injure you." Like the lepers, we come wanting healing – we don't want to feel hurt but God comes wanting us to be whole. We know that one leper, went away whole in body and soul. Does your plan of wellness include both body and soul? The path for wellness, for wholeness is available to all, just as it was to the lepers.


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Veterans and the surviving spouses of veterans in Ohio may be eligible for a little-known benefit from the Department of Veteran Affairs. This program offers monthly benefits to help to pay for long-term care when people grow older and need help.
The Veterans Aid & Attendance Pension Benefit offers monthly payments to qualifying people to pay for private-pay nursing home care, in-home care, assisted living communities or board and care. The money is tax-free and is available in addition to other types of benefits that the recipients might receive.
In order to be eligible, the veteran must have served at least 90 days of active duty, and a minimum of one day of the service should have been during a qualifying wartime period. The veteran or the surviving spouse must have less than $80,000 in assets that do not include the veteran or spouse's home or the car. The A & A benefit pays up to $1,794 per month for the veteran's care, $1,153 for the surviving spouse's care or $2,127 per month for the care of a couple. The benefit can be very helpful since it pays for assisted living care, which Medicaid and Medicare do not.
As people grow older, they might want to conduct long-term care planning so that they are prepared for the time in which they might need care. Long-term care planning may help people to prevent the depletion of their assets so that they can preserve them to pass on to their families. Experienced elder law and estate planning lawyers may help older adults to plan their estates in such a way that they might be approved for Medicaid and other benefits to pay for their care when the time comes. They may help their clients to avoid having to deplete their estates in order to receive the care that they need.


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Back To Menu
Southwest Egg Rolls
Southwest style chicken with corn and black beans. Served with dipping sauce of choice
Dipping Sauces (Select 1):Ranch Bleu Cheese Spicy BBQ Chipotle BBQ Garlic Truffle Parmesan Marinara Sweet Thai Chili Queso No Dipping Sauce
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The objective of the course is provide students with the tools to be able to understand and assess price formation in the real estate market from an overall perspective, as well as from financial, institutional and private economic perspectives.
Knowledge and understanding
For a passing grade the student must
Skills and abilities
For a passing grade the student must
Judgement and approach
For a passing grade the student must
The course concerns the real estate market, with emphasis both on real estate and the market, in other words, both general theory as to price formation in the market and the particular characteristics which make the real estate market unique. The first part of the course addresses the time value of capital for cash flows containing a degree of uncertainty. The central moment in the modern portfolio choice theory and capital market theory is reviewed. Fundamental here is diversification through appropriately constructed portfolios and the price setting of risk in according with the CAPM-method. The assumptions for effective markets of different degrees and the logic behind the assumption on non-arbitrage are taken up and discussed. The connection between general capital market theory and practice applied valuation methods are analyzed with the help of current reports and articles.
The particular aspects of real estate, compared with other consumption or savings, are reviewed and analyzed in order to explain that which can appear as household over investment in real estate. The issue of how society's regulation of real estate ownership can be understood as motivated - or not - by the characteristics of real estate is helped with economic theory on transaction costs and collective choices.
The current situation in the real estate market together with current prognoses as to future price developments are discussed from scientific bases. A the last part of the course treats the direct influence on the community as to the character of real estate, through systems of regulation, residential policies or taxes.
de Ridder: "Finansiell ekonomi: om företaget och finansmarknaden". Compendium of articles.


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Marching to Vegas: On Washington State and PatiencePosted by Adam Butler on December 5th, 2014
This is a column about Washington State. It's an odd premise and one we don't usually delve in to. The Cougar program has won thirteen of their previous thirty eight contests, just 34% of their games. It's a great batting average; a terrible win percentage. They've been outscored by 202 points. A great bowling score; a terrible scoring differential. By almost all basketball metrics, the Cougars have been trending downward since 2011: fewer points, lesser efficiencies, fewer fans, and fewer wins. It's not looking good for a team – a program – just a handful of seasons removed from a top-10 ranking. Alas, their heyday came amidst UCLAs and that program is on to another coach as well.
So when Ernie Kent was hired, it seemed to be a shot in the arm. Albeit a surprising and interesting one, Kent won't soon be accused of being "low energy." He might be exactly what Washington State needed. He knocked on doors pretending to be lost, engaging with the Palouse, embracing his new home and reminding people that basketball, Cougar basketball, could be fun. That the downward trends of yesteryear could soon be over. He took the stage at media day and dropped names like Roy Williams and John Calipari. As soon as he was Mr. Cougar (or is that Butch?), he got on stage and told us about all his famous friends. He'd consulted the brightest minds about being a great coach. Tom Izzo was noted at Pac-12 media day. Marketing sometimes isn't about product recognition as much as market expansion. Maybe you won't be a WSU fan, but you sure could be a basketball fan. The room swooned at Ernie's words.


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Lions' trademark fourth-quarter magic has them in control of the NFC North
Seven wins. Seven margins of victory fewer than seven points. Seven fourth-quarter comebacks.
That's the season in a nutshell for the Lions, who locked up a crucial 16–13 win over the Vikings on Thanksgiving and have taken control of first place in the NFC North—something that seemed practically impossible just six weeks ago after Minnesota's fast and furious start to the season. Detroit's win completed a sweep of the Vikings this season, and at 7–4 the Lions hold a clear advantage in a tight playoff race.
Against Minnesota in Week 9, the Lions stole a victory after a 58-yard Matt Prater field goal pushed the game into overtime, then Golden Tate issued a huge mic drop with his 28-yard touchdown reception on the first possession of the extra period. This time, it was top cornerback Darius Slay who played hero, stepping in front of Vikings receiver Adam Thielen and picking off Sam Bradford with 38 seconds left in the fourth quarter, setting up Matt Prater's game-winning 40-yard field goal.
Watch: Sam Bradford's late interception gives Lions win on Thanksgiving
The Vikings now fall to 6–5 and face plenty of uncertainty going into their final five games of the season. Last week, Minnesota halted a four-game losing streak with a 30–24 win over the Cardinals, holding Carson Palmer to just 198 passing yards and sacking him four times. Now that looks more like a fluky win against a fading Arizona squad instead of a turning point that put their season back on the upswing.
It was said plenty of times heading into this Thanksgiving Day, but rarely has there been a slate of games on the last Thursday in November featuring so many quality teams (every team in action is at or above .500 for the first time since 1935) with so many crucial playoff race implications. The first game of the day didn't disappoint.
The first quarter was all offense—both teams opened with touchdown drives that gobbled up most of the clock in the first quarter. Stafford had complete control the first drive of the game, taking the offense 75 yards on a perfectly balanced drive with six passing plays and six rushing plays (including one Stafford scramble). He spread the ball around, completing passes ranging from two yards to 20 yards to Anquan Boldin, Golden Tate and Marvin Jones Jr.
Watch: Aretha Franklin performs four-minute national anthem
The Vikings' opening drive was nearly thwarted by two potential turnovers which were overturned after the fact. Ziggy Ansah roughed up Sam Bradford on a strip sack, but the fumble was ultimately ruled an incompletion. Immediately following that, Glover Quin intercepted a Bradford pass intended for Laquon Treadwell and returned it 71 yards, but a pass interference call on Slay brought it back, putting the Vikings on the Lions' 15-yard line. Minnesota escaped with seven points on the board.
But after fans got their hopes up for a potentially high-scoring Thanksgiving matchup, the defense took over for an extended stretch of the action—the teams traded punts and turnovers on downs, with the Lions getting three points in the second quarter and the Vikings tying it up midway through the third.
Bradford played conservatively for the majority of the game, leaning on short passes to move the ball, but he found his stride in the third quarter, completing a 41-yard pass to Jerick McKinnon, the Vikings' longest play of the game, which set up a game-tying Kai Forbath field goal. On the following drive, Minnesota executed a reverse to Cordarrelle Patterson for 22 yards, immediately followed by a 15-yard rush up the middle for Asiata. Another field goal at the end of that possession gave the Vikings a 13–10 lead early in the fourth quarter.
Hair model grabs microphone and delivers forgettable halftime performance
But if nothing else, the Lions know how to execute a fourth-quarter comeback—they had done it six times so far this season entering Thursday. Stafford led the offense from its own two-yard line to get the tying field goal with 1:45 remaining, and Slay's interception put the bow on the package.
Minnesota looked like the stronger overall team for much of the afternoon, but the Vikings lacked the big plays from defense and special teams on which they have relied so much this season. Injuries to center Joe Berger and left tackle Jeremiah Sirles certainly didn't help, either. The Lions have yet to put together a complete game this season, and they have flirted with disaster in every single one of their wins.
The NFC North battle isn't a done deal just yet: The Vikings host Dallas next week, but with games ahead at Jacksonville and Green Bay and at home against Indianapolis and Chicago, they have a far more favorable schedule than the Lions, who play in New Orleans, New York and Dallas in addition to hosting Chicago and Green Bay down the stretch.
The Lions might be sharing their turkey on Thursday night, but they are no longer sharing their division lead.


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Another Zombie Decay item has risen from the dead.
This has got to be the tiniest zombie head I have ever made 🙂 and the cutest!
This little zombie head sits amongst bloody putrid lime green flower petals
for that dark diva that likes to rock her love of horror on the outside!
You can purchase it in my Etsy shop HERE!
LDG Nicole


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Grilled Romesco Sauce
Serves about 2 cups sauce
Serve this flavorful sauce with Spanish Fish Tacos or over grilled chicken, steak or fish.
- 1 slice good-quality white bread
- 1 large bulb garlic, end cut to expose all the cloves
- Extra virgin olive oil (EVOO), for drizzling, plus about 1/3 cup
- Salt and pepper
- 1 red onion, quartered
- 2 large red bell peppers
- 2 chili peppers, such as serrano or Fresno
- 2 ripe vine or plum tomatoes
- 2 tablespoons fresh thyme
- A small handful of Marcona almonds
- About 1 1/2 tablespoons sherry vinegar
- Pre-heat the oven to 400°F and pre-heat the grill to medium-high or pre-heat the broiler.
- Toast the bread in the toaster on the medium setting. Once it pops up, let it stand for a few minutes, then toast again.
- Cool and dice into croutons.
- Dress the garlic with a drizzle of EVOO, salt and pepper and wrap in foil. Roast to tender, 35 minutes; cool and remove the cloves from the skins.
- Meanwhile, dress the onion with another drizzle of EVOO and char the onion and peppers on the grill or under a hot broiler. Cool the large peppers in bowl to handle, then wipe off the charred skins and seed. Char the tomatoes and wipe off most of their skins. Add all the ingredients to a food processor, along with the roasted garlic cloves, thyme, almonds, croutons, vinegar and about 1/3 cup EVOO. Pulse into a thick sauce. Serve with Spanish Fish Tacos.


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Latest Articles
The Cost of Personality: Will Charming Towns Price Us Out?
America is filled with beautiful places: gorgeous beach towns, quaint historic towns, mountain getaways surrounded by lakes, ski slopes, and charming ski lodges. We can all rattle off a list of charming places we love and visit, strolling up and down their quaint streets, eating at their expensive cafes, and then driving a few hours home, to our mass-produced development home that we own or lease.
After all, it's fun to visit perfect places, but how many of us can actually afford to live there?
As people discover quaint beach towns, or great little undiscovered ski destinations, or that historic town right on the river, the real estate skyrockets, and soon they become places where people come to shop and eat, but only the wealthy can actually live in those charming Victorian homes.
Examples are plentiful; consider the cost of a one week lease agreement on a Cape May Victorian home in summer ($5,000), or the cost of a weekend in Nantucket. Want to move to Santa Barbara to enjoy the Spanish tile roofs, mountains, beaches, and wineries? You better be able to afford a home that costs seven digits, or an astronomically high lease agreement on one.
Once upon a time, Boulder was a town friendly to students and hippies; now only the wealthiest "trustafarians" can afford to live there.
The list goes on and on, from Annapolis, MD to Napa, CA, Sanibel Island, FL to Evergreen, CO. The places with great natural beauty, or historic charm, or strong personalities all develop reputations for them, and suddenly prices shoot upward.
And here's an even more disturbing problem: as prices rise, independent businesses are slowly squeezed from the market. First they can no longer afford the startup costs, so no new small businesses can enter the market, as time goes by more and more existing small businesses fold as they can no longer afford the high costs associated with having a business in such an expensive area.
The result is that large chains, with the money and reach necessary to be able to survive recessions, take root and the very personality that once made the town so desirable has now faded. Look no further than the chain-studded shopping districts of Boulder and Santa Barbara, once renowned for their unique and quirky shops and restaurants.
There are still undiscovered gems in America, but they grow fewer each year, as populations grow but the historic, the beautiful, the charming places in this country dwindle. If you want an affordable little cottage in a California beach town, you're out of luck: they don't exist. In ten years from now, it may no longer be affordable to buy a ski lodge near Colorado's better ski slopes.
Twenty years from now, there may not be any affordable beachfront condos in Florida. When we can no longer buy real estate in these desirable areas, we will resort to a week-long lease agreement here and there, to at least be able to visit, but the world is a limited place, and humanity's zest for reproduction and desire for the best are limitless.
Brian Davis is a real estate investor, landlord, and spectator of real estate trends. He currently manages EZ Landlord Forms, an online resource that helps landlords create state-specific lease agreement forms and understand their state's landlord-tenant laws.
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Please Help Raise Funds for Brad's Dental Surgery
My bandmate (awesome harmonica player) and soul brother Brad Bauman is scheduled for much needed extensive dental surgery on May 30th, then being fitted for implants/permanent denture. In his own words, this is what he's having done:
"All uppers and lowers extracted except three premolars each side on bottom which are to be crowned and used for a permanent bridge across bottom front. I have too much bone mass in upper and lower back so some bone must be removed (alveoplasty) at the time of the first surgical extraction visit. I heal for 4-6 weeks then start with the dental visits for crowns, temp bridge, and temporary upper denture. Go back to surgeon for four upper implant screws to eventually hold in the upper denture (Implants needed for two reasons: 1. My upper bone structure is not conducive to a regular denture. 2. I need permanent support to keep the denture in while playing). 4-5 months total if all goes smooth procedure and financial wise. All surgery performed by Dr. Richard Paul in Griffin. All dental procedures by Dr. Steve Drescher at Midtown Atlanta Dental."
Even at a discount, these procedures will cost $20,400 total over time. That said, he needs to come up with at least $3,500 more before the May 30th surgery date.
What can you do?
Rather than use a service like GoFundMe where a significant percentage of funds raised would go toward administrative fees, it makes much more sense to gift the funds to him directly via PayPal (his address is email@example.com). Every little bit helps; thank you in advance for helping to lift up our friend.
We set up a closed Facebook Group where Brad will keep us updated. Please join it: https://www.facebook.com/groups/840209136129876/


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Continental's Executive Board decides on one of the largest organizational changes in the company's history.
New holding structure: Three strong business sectors under the umbrella of Continental AG. Transformation of the Powertrain division into an independent legal entity with a new name and management by the start of 2019; partial IPO expected starting mid-2019. Reorganization of the Automotive divisions Chassis & Safety and Interior; creation of a central Automotive R&D function. Rubber business with the Tire and ContiTech divisions to remain independent. CEO Dr. Elmar Degenhart: "These changes strengthen the competitiveness of Continental and its successful values alliance for top value creation in the long term."
Drive systems area aligned to meet the requirements of markets and customers
Subject to the approval of Continental AG's Supervisory Board, the Powertrain division will be transformed into an independent legal entity with a new name at the beginning of 2019. Andreas Wolf (57) is to assume responsibility for the new Powertrain company. He is currently in charge of the Body & Security business unit in the Interior division.
Powertrain will continue to be in charge of all future business involving hybrid and electric drive systems and all current battery activities, in addition to the combustion engine business. This includes, for instance, the joint venture for 48-volt battery systems recently announced.
At the same time, Continental is preparing a partial IPO for the new Powertrain company, which could take place staring mid-2019. Continental does not, however, plan to relinquish control of the Powertrain business in the medium or long term.
In the new business sector, Continental can envision producing battery cells comprised of solid materials (solid-state technology) in the future, also after this change has been implemented. This would require an attractive business model. A decision in this regard is not expected until after 2020.
The key points agreed upon with the employee representatives in "Continental in Motion – our Alliance for the Future" on April 18, 2018, apply to the planned organizational changes at Powertrain.
The foreseeable change in the drive systems business is the reason why a new independent legal entity is being created. The way the market evolves will largely be determined by political demands regarding emission limits. The pace at which political decision-makers are pushing regulations varies, particularly in key markets, including Europe
, North America and China, as well as Japan and South Korea, and growth markets such as India. This requires a great deal of flexibility on the part of the industry in order to be able to react quickly to the individual needs of the various markets, regulatory authorities, societies and customers.
Reorganization of the Chassis & Safety and Interior divisions
The operations of the two other Automotive divisions Chassis & Safety and Interior will be realigned with the changing requirements and future opportunities presented by the markets and will be divided into two newly created business areas called "Autonomous Driving Technologies" and "Vehicle Networking Technologies" by the beginning of 2020.
The Autonomous Driving Technologies business area will thus comprise automated and autonomous driving as well as all familiar chassis functions including for example electronic and hydraulic braking, stability and chassis control, and electronic air suspension. The Vehicle Networking Technologies business area will deal with a vehicle's internal connectivity as well as its external connectivity with other vehicles and traffic infrastructures. The details are expected to be worked out and announced by mid-2019.
With this reorganization, Continental is above all pursuing the goal of gearing its business with pioneering technologies toward continuing profitable growth, while exploiting this and future growth opportunities faster and more efficiently. In its new automotive business (without the Powertrain division), the technology company expects to increase sales from about €19 billion in 2017 to approximately €30 billion in 2023.
The creation of a central Automotive R&D function will support the realignment of the automotive business. In this new function, the development activities of the current Interior and Chassis & Safety divisions as well as the R&D activities of the current central functions will be integrated, where they will play a more crucial role and be strengthened at the operational level. Approximately 12,000 to 15,000 software and hardware engineers will join together in a global Continental powerhouse for advanced development and application engineering.
In the two new business areas Autonomous Driving Technologies and Vehicle Networking Technologies, there will be some 17,000 further engineers.
The goal of this integration is to maximize R&D productivity and achieve a smooth, speedy product launch, which is crucial in the industries relevant for Continental. This will be made possible primarily by concentrating R&D faculties on the functions in the vehicle and its surroundings, regardless of which electronic assemblies and systems these are assigned to later on. This focus on functions will facilitate the creation of pioneering solutions for greater safety, comfort, convenience and connectivity on the roads.
Rubber sector: Continental retains ownership of its nucleus
The Tire ("Tire Technologies" in the future) and ContiTech divisions currently make up the Rubber Group, which in the future will be reported as a "group sector" with the new name "Continental Rubber". The two business areas will continue to specialize in the development of technology products based upon rubber and plastics.
This business, which is the nucleus and origin of the 147-year-old Hanover-based company, will continue to be owned by Continental.
The issuance of non-controlling interests, in the form of an IPO for example, is not planned at present, but is an option for the future. Several years ago Continental already undertook preparations, making it possible to create a new legal entity out of this business. No further steps need be taken for this at present.
Continental develops pioneering technologies and services for sustainable and connected mobility of people and their goods. Founded in 1871, the technology company offers safe, efficient, intelligent, and affordable solutions for vehicles, machines, traffic, and transport. In 2017, Continental generated sales of €44 billion and currently employs more than 240,000 people in 61 countries.


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sterile field
Sterile Fields by dewi susanti A sterile field is described as an area free of microorganisms. The primary function is to keep the patient healthy and safe from infections. Common places include surgery and isolation rooms. The area is considered fully aseptic if the items and attending personnel are sterilized and free of microorganisms Sterile Sites The sterile field isRead more


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The day after Bloomday.....
time for Pam's Foliage Follow-Up.
I'll do the same as for Bloomday...
photos with few words.
'Gold Dust' Acuba
Yucca 'Color Guard'....thought this was a goner...deer & flood.
But, it's putting on pups.
Lots of figs this year. We'll see if they make it to ripeness.
Yucca 'Color Guard' in New Front Bed.
Grass Bed from back.
Purple Fountain Grass, Lemon Grass, African Iris...salvias & yarrow.
Grass Bed from side.
Mexican Feather Grass, Gulf Muhly, prickly pear and Spanish Bayonet yucca, rosemary, etc.
Grass Bed from front.
Agave Lophantha in front.
Sago Palm...this poor thing had a hard time this last winter.
Along side, in Fenced Yard.
Aralia, purple heart, lamb's ear, dianella, liriope, asparagus fern.
Filling in slowly.....
Yucca Rostrata in Island Bed in front.
This is really growing. I hope I'm not sorry about where it sits.
Soft Leaf Yucca....thought this one wasn't going to make it back
from the Halloween Flood. But, it's looking good.
One of my new succulent pots.
The other one...
Fits into the 'Tropical Corner', on the porch.
So, that's it for this month.
We have more foliage here, than blooms.
But, we like it that way.
Go over to Pam's, and see more great foliage.
'Til later...
Take care...


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Every day I work with an RTF export from non-Microsoft software, which is a Word-like document set out with multiple tables. I would open this file in Word 2003.
Unfortunately, a lot of the table rows are redundant (see below description) and it would be really convenient if there was a quick way to delete them all, seeing as these RTF exports can go on for about a hundred pages (which is why I decided not to delete them all by hand).
The rows that need to be deleted are of the form: Blank cell, Blank cell, Blank cell with a tab in it, Cell containing three characters: a space, then a zero, then another space. i.e. with the backwards-P symbol on it's [][][tab arrow][sp 0 sp]
On my first try at macros, I was able to delete just one row like that. However, it won't delete any other rows like that. And finally, because I've got multiple tables all with the same problem, I would dearly like to be able to delete those rows in other, separate, tables in that same document.
Thank you in advance for any help.


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Community and people come together to support one another during the Pandemic. How friends found new avenues of hope amidst that hardship of today's uncertain world.
Tag: Argyll
A Highland boy and Glasgow girls
In the twilight of his life, Donald Sutherland compiled his memoirs. Published in the 1960s, entitled 'Highland Childhood', it recalled … More


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Prep time: 30 minutes
Serves: 4 to 6 people
- ½ loaf Italian bread
- 3 tbsp olive oil
- 28 oz diced tomatoes, any flavor
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1.5 lbs boneless chicken breast
- ½ cup shredded parmesan cheese
Place bread in large bowl. Pour 2 tbsp of oil and tomatoes over bread. Let soak for 10 minutes. Cut chicken into large pieces. Heat 1 tbsp oil in a large skillet on medium heat. Add garlic and cook 1 minute. Add chicken and cook through. Remove from pan. Pour bread mix into pan and cook for 5 minutes on low/medium heat until warmed. Return chicken and gently stir into bread. Sprinkle with cheese.
Side dish
- 1 to 2 summer squash, chopped
- 1 to 2 zucchini, chopped
Steam veggies over simmering water until fork tender.
The Dinner Daily is New England's easy to use and budget friendly dinner planning service designed by moms for moms! Each week menus are prepared based on what is on special at several New England based grocery stores. Each week, subscribers are provided an easy to use one page menu chart, an organized shopping list, and links to on line coupons for items on the shopping list. Meals are kid friendly, kid tested and reviewed by a Registered Dietitian. The Dinner Daily is your answer to the "What's for Dinner?" Dilemma! www.thedinnerdaily.com


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The Worlds of DC greets its newest hero…
Spoiler-free review
Starring: Zachary Levi, Mark Strong, Asher Angel, Jack Dylan Grazer, Djimon Hounsou, Grace Fulton, Ian Chen, Jovan Armand, Faithe Herman, Cooper Andrews, Marta Milans
Directed by: David F. Sandberg / written by: Henry Gayden (story by Henry Gayden & Darren Lemke, Shazam created by Bill Parker & C.C. Beck) / 132 minutes
What's it about?
Foster child Billy Batson, granted god-like powers by a mysterious wizard finds he must grow-up sooner than expected when he finds himself faced against the threat of an ancient evil…
In review
Warner Bros. Pictures and New Line Cinema's Shazam! Is the latest offering from the 'Worlds of DC' cinematic universe, a sweet, fun and funny superhero romp that wears its childlike innocence and sense of adventure with pride. It doesn't reinvent the wheel or stand amongst the very best of the genre but Shazam! is non-the-less a good time and a crowd-pleaser with a spirit that harkens back to the Christopher Reeve Superman films.
Based on one of DC's lesser known – but oldest – characters (who at one point was selling more comics than Superman and originally known as Captain Marvel until legal issues got in the way), Shazam! sees troubled fourteen year old foster child Billy Batson (Asher Angel), struggling to adjust to life with his new adoptive family, encounter a mysterious wizard (Djimon Hounsou) who believes Billy to be pure of heart and selects his as a successor to his incredible powers – by merely saying the word "Shazam" (which on the face of it seems silly but is actually an acronym of Greek gods Solomon, Hercules, Atlas, Zeus, Achilles and Mercury), Billy's body transforms into that of a muscle-bound adult (Zachary Levi) endowed with an almost limitless range of powers and becomes the only hope of preventing evil demons, known as the Seven Deadly Sins, from being unleashed upon the world by the crazed Dr, Sivana (Mark Strong – formerly Sinestro in Warner's ill-fated Green Lantern) who plans to seize the power of Shazam for himself.
Shazam! doesn't hide from the fact that it's essentially a superhero version of Tom Hanks classic Big (with a hint of Spielbergian magic) and much like Spider-Man: Homecoming did with the coming-of-age films of John Hughes, it simply goes along with it. Although the opening act may be a little sluggish it serves to give viewers a proper introduction to the characters and draw you into Billy Batson's story – a significant part of which is his friendship with his foster brother and superhero fanboy Freddy, superbly played by It's Jack Dylan Grazer and it's the chemistry between the cast and their respective characters (which also includes an undeniably cute turn from the talented Faithe Herman as young 'sister' Darla) that really makes things click. Angel and Grazer are obvious standouts but it's when Zachary Levi enters the frame that Shazam! hits its stride. The former Chuck star is absolutely the perfect choice to play the empowered version of Billy and he exudes the right combination of youthful excitement, awkwardness and physicality the role demands, handling all the action, heart and humour (an integral and well executed element of the film) with equal skill and with a believability and vulnerability that sells the idea of a boy in a man's body. As Sivana (whose father is played by John Glover – Smallville's Lionel Luthor), Mark Strong provides a decent amount of menace and danger – pitched with an appropriate touch of corniness. Sivana is by no means one of the all-time "great" villains but Strong does well with the character, for which we do get a bit of a backstory that helps define his motivations.
Shazam! is not as action orientated as other comic book blockbusters but it still has a fair measure, mostly reserved for its hero-forging middle section where Billy/Shazam must quickly master his abilities in a deadly face-off with Sivana and the climactic finale as he grapples with the creepy CGI-horde of the Seven Deadly Sins and director David F. Sandberg (Annabelle: Creation) has a firm grip on it all. These moments are certainly exciting but in the end it's the family-focused, character driven aspects of Shazam! that make it all-the-more appealing and whilst it may make some fans hungry for a return of Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman it expands the DC film universe as it continues to find itself on firmer footing.
The bottom line: a solidly entertaining comic book flick with a great leading cast, Shazam! successfully balances emotion, laughs and superhero punch-ups to engage the masses.
Shazam! is in cinemas now.
Image(s) used herein are utilised for illustrative purposes only and remain the property of the copyright owner(s).


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Service to man will help your divinity to blossom, for it will gladden your heart and make you feel that life has been worth while. Service to man is service to God.
True Devotion means becoming the hand of the divine. Whatever comes your way, you will know how to transform it into something beautiful.
Teachers are reservoirs from which, through the process of Education, Students draw the water of life. The end of Education is Character.
Sathya Sai Prem Sadan is an orphanaze home...


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At NEPA BlogCon on Saturday
September 10, 2015
As I said in early August, Kyle and I are going to NEPA BlogCon again this year. Both of our businesses; Coalwork and Plain, are sponsors and we each purchased a personal ticket.
I'll be the guy with the GoPro camera clicking away. Will we see you there?


text: Celebrity Parents Jessica Simpson asks to kiss Britney's pregnant belly...? By Staff Author Published on August 24, 2006 04:42 PM Share Tweet Pin Email Although we now know this untrue thanks to K Fed's denial, Us Weekly reported that Jessica Simpson was insulted when Britney Spears rebuffed her attempt to kiss Brit's 36 weeks pregnant belly at the Teen Choice Awards over the weekend. Apparently, Jessica asked Britney if it would be okay to kiss the bump, to which Britney replied, "Hell no!" Granted, Britney could have simply declined, but still, why should Jessica be insulted? Britney's body, Britney's decision, we say. CBB reader Victoria asked us to post a poll asking our readers who are soon to be or already moms what they thought when people asked them if they could touch or kiss their belly. Answer away, and share stories in the comments if you're interested. Source: Us Weekly Thanks to CBB readers Mary Beth and Victoria.


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From 2010.igem.org
- With a pipette tip, punch a hole through the foil cover into the corresponding well to the Biobrick™-standard part that you want. Make sure you have properly oriented the plate. We recommend that you do not remove the foil cover, as it could lead to cross contamination between the wells.
- Add 10uL of diH2O (deionized water)
- Pipette 1 or 2uL of the resuspended DNA Transformation into your desired competent cells, plate bacteria with the appropriate antibiotic* and grow overnight.
- Pick a single colony and inoculate broth (again, with the correct antibiotic) and grow for 18 hours.
- Use the resulting culture to miniprep the DNA AND make your own glycerol stock (for further instruction on making a glycerol see this page). We recommend using the miniprepped DNA to run QC tests, such as restriction digests and sequencing.


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I have had my SyncUp for a few months and it was working fine. Then suddenly it showed my battery was dead and it turned out my alternator had to be replaced ($650). Now the SyncUp won't work at all - it is offline even when the lights are on, despite repeated attempts to unplug it and get it to work. Most importantly, I am now seeing a number of concerns from people that their batteries and alternators started died shortly after they got the device and I'm concerned it has been damaging my car and was the reason for the alternator breaking in the first place. Has anyone else had this issue?
Best answer by tmo_amandaView original


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Bram is now trotting steadily along, happy with his ability to carry things along with him. (And, consequently, leaving a mess everywhere!) He's very cute with his penguin like walk and his determined little face, with those chubby cheeks and golden curls :).
With walking come the first walking shoes, to protect the feet against sharp objects outside. And Poco Nido has the perfect sweet shoes exactly made for this purpose!
The Mighty Shoes come in a size 20 to 26, are made from chrome-free leather with a thin, super flexible sole which protects little baby feet but doesn't restrict growth and development. There are three styles (a desert boot, a Mary Jane and one with velcro closure) and 4 colours — a plain tan colour and a yellow, blue and red style which are etched with adorable circus, woodland or nautical illustrations!
Bram loves his little shoes, which proves to me that they are comfortable as much as they are practical. Plus, toddler shoes don't come much cuter than these. Right?


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The name Jeani Ferarri is well-known around Turlock, and the long-time champion of goodwill is being recognized for her contributions to the community as the Turlock/Modesto Branch of the American Association of University Women's Outstanding Woman of the Year.
"She is somebody who is really outspoken about what she thinks is right, and is willing to do something about it," said Hanna Renning, co-program vice president of AAUW. "She has worked very hard and devoted a great deal of her energy and time to many great causes."
To be honored by the AAUW is incredibly meaningful, said Ferrari.
"So many women in that group do so much, so this coming from that group is especially significant," she said. "As I look at my community, I notice that women have such a heart for their community and that makes me really proud."
A Turlock resident for 51 years, Ferrari has made it her mission to give back to her hometown since 1974, when her community work began with volunteering in her son's kindergarten class. She was an instrumental part of many events at Julien Elementary school, such as Earth Week and the annual Halloween Carnival, and also served in the parent-teacher association. Ferrari helped to develop Turlock Unified School District's GATE program as well, and assisted in the passage of Measure N in 1997, which helped to add a second high school in Turlock.
"It must be my nature to want to fix things," said Ferrari. "What drives me is just my personality. I like taking on challenges."
Ferrari has not only helped shape the youth of the city, but also its land. A founding member of the Farmland Working Group, she works to preserve the area's farmland and sustainably grow Turlock's urban communities. She was a pivotal member of the Turlock Downtown Revitalization Committee, and helped to bring a downtown farmers market to the area as well and has served on the Turlock Certified Farmers Market Committee since its inception. Ferrari also played a huge role in the reconstruction of the Carnegie Arts Center, knocking on doors around the community to raise funds for the building.
While Ferrari's past contributions to the city could fill the pages of a novel, her current focus is the Turlock Library. By working to raise funds, her hope is that the library is expanded and updated by 2020.
"I love living here for so many reasons," said Ferrari. "I love our downtown, I love our farmers market, I love the Carnegie...I love all of the things that this town offers. It's such a great community."
Ferrari will be honored by AAUW at 7 p.m. March 23 in Berg Hall at Covenant Village, 2125 N. Olive Ave. in Turlock. Ferrari will be speaking at the program, and all are invited to attend the free event.


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More Dubai residents can own their own yacht
More and more Dubai residents have been given the opportunity to own their own yacht.
Emirates 24/7 reports the announcement that the Al-Futtaim Marine group has offered customers the chance to pay for their luxury boats using monthly instalments. It anticipated the average payment agreement would be between AED 4,000 (£652) and AED 5,000.
This will enable consumers to purchase an item, more associated with the trappings of real wealth, for the same price as a mid-luxury sedan car. The company intended to focus its intention on boats within the AED 150,000 to AED 286,000 price range, which it believes will be more affordable for the average customer. Managers at the firm stated this would buy you a vessel that is 23 feet in length.
The actual monthly amount would depend how much was put forward as a deposit and bosses believed the price of instalments would be considered as a justifiable expense for the majority of people who are looking to own their own yacht.
Despite being a relatively new company, Al-Futtaim Marine has seen business go from strength to strength and the firm has recently signed a new deal with luxury boat manufacturer Larson. It is also currently participating in the Dubai International Boat Show, the scene of the company's launch back in 2012. As well as selling yachts, the business also contributes other areas of the marine industry, such as providing showrooms, finance and consultancy.
General manager Toby Scruby commented on the firm's success. He said: 'We have a very strong after-sales team in place which specialises in looking after sales of our own brands. We have grown steadily over the last two years and are very much on track towards where we want to be.'
Meanwhile, the company has launched a new campaign to spread the word and encourage more people to experience what it's like to take to the seas. Entitled, 'Get on Water', the programme aims to dispel fears potential customers may have about the cost and hassle of owning their own boat.


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Figure Unboxing and Review: Nendoroid Haqua (The World God Only Knows)
Haqua from Kami Nomi Shiru zo Sekai is another old-version Nendoroid which I picked up. As with most of these older Nendoroids, their neckplates do not match up entirely with the newer ones so be sure to take note of this if you are planning to use her parts with other newer Nendoroids.
PackagingBeing an older Nendoroid, her box follows a very different design from the newer ones and actually has their own backgrounds. She comes with a mass of purple and pink with slight yellow accents, which matches her purple color scheme and feminine charm.
Haqua doesn't come with many accessories that can be matched with other Nendoroids, but has her two most important ones: her scythe and a special detention bottle! She also has three different faceplates that give the Nendoroid a very good variation in expressions as well as showcase her different sides (blushing and embarrassed, and angry sides).
Her base is not the same as the usual square Nendoroid base and this smaller base makes her much more compact and easier to display among your other figures. The side ponytails sticking out are connected by pegs so you can twist and turn them to match the direction you want to use when posing her. Also, her outfit comprises mainly of red and white and a lot of frills at her collar, and the ruffles are very delicately sculpted and painted. On the flipside, there isn't much shading and creases around her outfit.
The blush on her cheeks for this faceplate doesn't show well on camera but it definitely can pass as a cute flustered expression even when matched with other Nendoroids.
As this was a second hand Nendoroid from Mandarake, she actually came with a damaged part. There is a broken peg in the peghole on the back of her hair. This peghole is used to insert a part to hold up her raiment. Thankfully, even without the peg in place, the raiment is still able to be held up simply by placing it in the space between her arms and body.
The other faceplate looks very cute alone, but the mouth seems a tad too huge when you fit it with the Nendoroid. In this new pose, I have Haqua in the air, holding a special detention jar. The scythe is also accurate to the design and can be balanced even when she holds it with a single hand.
Another way to pose Haqua with the scythe would be her sitting on it, and this is also the most difficult pose to put her into since you have to space her hands apart wide enough so as to keep her shoulders in place.
The length of the handle is also resting in the gap between the back of her skirt and behind her bottom so Haqua is technically not "sitting" on it. At some angles, this become increasingly apparent as well...
Unless you are a diehard fan of Haqua or the series, this isn't a Nendoroid that I would recommend getting due to the difficulty in placing her into some of her more memorable poses. The number of accessories that comes with her is also limited and wouldn't mesh well with other Nendoroids that are not of the same series.
~ Reina-rin


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We have introduced many nice Bluetooth speakers that allow to stream music from your mobile devices. But if you want more functions, maybe the portable wireless speaker is able to draw your more attention.
This is a multi functional Bluetooth wireless speaker that measures 60 x 60 x 50mm and weights 233g. As we can see from the images, the wireless speaker features portable, cylinder design, and comes with a stereo speaker system in order to produce clear, loud sound for your favorite music, while using advanced Bluetooth technology, the portable speaker allows to connect your Bluetooth enabled music player in a wireless way. Moreover, the wireless speaker also features SD(HC) memory card slot, so it also doubles as a practical MP3 player. Using integrated 3.5mm audio input, you can also connect it with other music players. Apart from that, the portable speaker comes with a built-in 520mAh rechargeable battery.
The portable wireless speaker with MP3 player is priced at $29 USD. If you're interested, jump to Brando online store for more details.
Additionally, if you need other options, you might like to check 1Q portable wireless speaker, Shoqbox portable speaker and more via "wireless speaker" tag.


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Product DescriptionMilo, a Journal for Serious Strength Athletes, June 2000, Volume 8, Number 1 Edited by Randall J. Strossen. Published by Iron Mind Enterprises, Inc. in 2000 . This item is a Paperback edition.
This item is Used and is listed as being in Good condition.
Edited by Randall J. Strossen. Text is in English. Size - H: 6", W: 9", D: .5" This item is Used and is listed as being in Very Good condition. The cover has some bumped or dented corners. Excellent condition, spine intact and pages clean. FF00000003117
Shipping Weight: .6875 lbs
Language: English
Size: H: 6", W: 9", D: .5"
Unless otherwise noted, all photos on this page are of the actual product and property of Firefly Bookstore, or manufacturers images. If you need additional photos before purchasing, please contact us.
Other DetailsFirefly Bookstore guarantees that the book listed is as described above, best as we can determine. Please review our Return Policy if not satisfied with your purchase.
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Publisher Iron Mind Enterprises, Inc.
Format Paperback
Language English


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Al-Qaeda's Yemen branch is calling for "lone wolf attacks" against the United States and the West in a new video, days after claiming responsibility for the Charlie Hebdo killings, the Australian Associated Press (AAP) reported Tuesday.
One of the group's ideologues, Nasser bin Ali al-Ansi, urged supporters to conduct what he called "individual jihad," according to the SITE monitoring group, which tracks Islamist extremists online.
"We are preparing and lurking for the enemies of Allah. We incite the believers to do that," Ansi was quoted as saying in a video posted on Tuesday.
In a previous video, Ansi claimed Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) was behind the attack on French satirical weekly Charlie Hebdo, the start of three days of bloodshed in France that left 17 people dead.
Western governments say it remains unclear if AQAP directly orchestrated the violence, although they do believe one or both of the attackers spent time with jihadists in Yemen.
In the latest recording, Ansi recommended lone wolf attacks as those were "more harmful."
But, if this was not practical, then supporters should leave Western countries rather than live under the rule of "disbelievers," he said.
The group's English-language propaganda publication had urged extremists to carry out attacks abroad, naming Charlie Hebdo's editor-in-chief Stephane Charbonnier among a list of targets.


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This month marks the end of my fifth year as a dive professional in Florida. I still reside in Stuart, Florida (the heart of the Gold and Treasure coast) and continue to teach scuba. Although certified as an independent contractor, I primarily work with the Jupiter Dive Center. I still enjoy diving and teaching, and spend most of my time underwater on the reefs and wrecks in the surrounding area.
I gained the following Continuing Education Credentials in 2017: TDI Advanced Gas Blender, TDI Advanced Nitrox Diver, TDI Decompression Procedures Diver, and PADI Whale Shark Awareness Diver. I also earned the following Instructor Certifications in 2017: SDI Equipment Specialist Instructor, SDI Goliath Grouper Awareness Instructor, SDI Lionfish Awareness Instructor, SDI Lionfish Eradication Diver Instructor, SDI Research Diving Instructor, SDI Shark Fundamentals Diver Instructor, SDI Turtle Diver Instructor, and SDI Underwater Hunter & Collecting Instructor. I am now able to instruct 40 PADI and/or TDI/SDI Specialty and Distinctive Specialty courses, as well as 4 Emergency First Response (EFR) courses.
I recorded 345 open water dives and several more confined water dives in 2017. I've logged 1,712 total dives (at 276 separate sites in 10 countries) since becoming certified as a scuba diver. As a Scuba Instructor I certified 137 divers in 2017 (70 PADI certifications and 67 TDI/SDI certifications), bringing my lifetime total to 498 diver certifications. 2017 was once again an amazing year because of my students, peers, mentors, and the amazing staff at Jupiter Dive Center—all of whom continue to make scuba diving a rewarding and joyful adventure.
Thank you


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sass-mokan.com : SASS (Suicide Awareness Survivor Support) is a nonfor- profit organization that helps support survivors left behind after someone has ended their life. Their efforts unite survivors and educate the public on the stigmas of suicide and mental health awareness. They know that suicide is everyone's business.
speakup.us : The Speak Up Foundation (Suicide Prevention Education Awareness for Kids United as Partners) seeks to break the silence and reduce the stigma surrounding all mental illness and suicide.
itsok.us : The Greater Kansas City Mental Health Coalition is working to reduce the stigma of mental illness.
kchospice.org/solace-house : Solace House is a grief counseling center that supports children and families who have been impacted by the death of a loved one.
allianceofhope.org : The Alliance of Hope for Suicide Loss Survivors provides healing support for people coping with the shock, excruciating grief and complex emotions that accompany the loss of a loved one to suicide. This site was designed by survivors for survivors.
nami.org : NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) is the nation's largest grassroots mental health organization dedicated to building better lives for the millions of Americans affected by mental illness.
suicidology.org : The mission of AAS (American Association of Suicidology) is to promote the understanding and prevention of suicide and support those who have been affected by it.
childrengrieve.com : The National Alliance for Grieving Children promotes awareness of the needs of children and teens grieving a death and provides education and resources for anyone who wants to support them.
themighty.com : The Mighty publishes real stories by real people facing real challenges, including mental health.
suicidepreventionlifeline.org : The Lifeline provides 24/7, free and confidential support for people in distress, prevention and crisis resources for you or your loved ones.
joco.gov : The Johnson County Suicide Prevention Coalition saves and supports life, with our community partners, through awareness, education and outreach.


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|Author, painter, and filmmaker Clive Barker lends his writing talent to Jericho, a supernatural shooter that has players leading a diverse strike force against an ancient evil. The seven-person squad, known as the Jericho Team, is armed with more than conventional weapons. Each male and female soldier is an expert in the arcane arts, from clairvoyance and alchemy to exorcism and blood magic, allowing the team to solve puzzles and to more easily defeat a ghastly assortment of hell-spawned creatures hoping to make Earth their new playground.
Players control Captain Ross, who has the unique ability to leap into each squad member's mind and body. This talent allows Ross to use each character's paranormal proficiencies in creative ways, such as manipulating the direction of bullets or even spontaneously setting creatures on fire. Each soldier is also skilled in specific weapon types, ranging from rail guns to sniper rifles to swords. Levels will send the squad through the following five eras in its ongoing battle to stop the primordial armies: modern day, World War II, the Crusades, Ancient Rome, and Sumerian times.


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CARD11(redirected from card-maguk protein 1)
CARD11A gene on chromosome 7p22 that encodes a protein which provides the signal needed for T-cell receptor (TCR)-mediated T-cell activation. CARD11 binding to DPP4 induces T-cell proliferation and NF-kappa-B activation in a T-cell receptor/CD3-dependent manner. It activates NF-kappa-B via BCL10 and IKK and stimulates BCL10 phosphorylation.
Segen's Medical Dictionary. © 2012 Farlex, Inc. All rights reserved.


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Saturday, December 08, 2007
Breakfast Sandwich
I constructed SP's on toasted, buttered whole grain bread with two scrambled eggs topped with cheddar cheese, bacon and hot sauce. You can see his in the background. My sandwich:
... was a deviation from my usual fried eggs since some cheddar cheese sounded mighty tasty this morning. I also had two scrambled eggs with cheddar cheese and bacon, but I had my sandwich on a toasted, buttered English muffin. I loved the sharp bite of the cheese.
5 comments:
- Anonymous9:54 PM, December 08, 2007
Yum! I love breakfast muffins, but I'm not a huge fan of egg. My perfect muffin is cream cheese, bacon and grilled tomato in between two English muffins. Mmmmmmmm! :DReplyDelete
Katie @ A Byootaful Life
Katie - That sounds yummy! I'll have to try that over the summer when we can get good tomatoes.ReplyDelete
- Anonymous10:27 AM, December 10, 2007
That looks awesome. Man, I wish I had that this morning instead of my boring oatmeal!ReplyDelete
another lovely photo!ReplyDelete
and these look wonderful, as always. I really need to think about having breakfast once in a while.
Dani - I wish I had it instead of my peanut butter on an English muffin. If only I could convince myself to wake up a half hour earlier I could eat like this every morning. Actually...on second thought...that's probably not good for my arteries. ;)ReplyDelete
Melissa - Breakfast is a great meal. I used to hate all breakfast foods but not anymore! I could eat one of these sandwiches every day.
I've been told there are issues with comments going through. After you comment, you should see the following message: "Your comment has been saved and will be visible after blog owner approval." If you don't see a message it means the comment didn't go through. Please try commenting again! I'm sorry!


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Representatives for the international art group etoy appeared publicly for the first time in the United States on Monday to declare their intention to continue fighting for the domain name "etoy."
Surrounded by a dozen or so Santas and a thunderous marching band at the Museum of Modern Art, etoy representatives and their supporters rallied against eToys and, at times, against the Web's increasingly commercial face.
"[A]n e-business giant is restricting the very existence of an art company.... This case merely demonstrates who has the right to conduct business, operate, express themselves, and exist in cyberspace," said Suzanne Meszoly, director of etoy's advisory board.
She added that etoy "simply wants to exist as [it did] before as a meaningful and creative art project."
"You cannot steal an artist's identity. Etoy is not eToys," preached the Reverend Billy outside the museum's entrance where members of the crowd carried signs reading "Coal for eToys" and "eToys Ate My Elves".
"But, ladies and gentlemen, now they are being taken over by a corporate juggernaut of lawyers. Etoy will be free. Etoy will keep its own identity."
Protestors grew quiet on the way inside after museum security officials asked band members not to play until they reached the downstairs theater. A crucifixion of Mickey Mouse made of metal studs got as far as the museum's coat check.
Among the speakers in the Roy and Niuta Titus Theater were National Public Radio commentator and etoy advisor board member Douglas Rushkoff; a masked "digital zapatista" member of Electronic Disturbance Theater, the developers of virtual sit-in software; iVillage consumer buyer columnist Heidi Pollock; Joshua Davis of online artists hell.com; and Mark Tribe, director of Rhizome. Opening act Reverend Billy equated his "abusive daddy" with eToys.
"Because eToys does 'real' business, meaning they serve as a store through which investment dollars may be accumulated, the court and Internic have decided to support their interests," Rushkoff said. "In 1999, commerce takes precedence and an artist can be booted offline, illegitimately, illogically, and illegally."
Also appearing at the event was Jack Ox, a New York-based editorial advisor for Leonardo, a scholarly review published by MIT Press now facing a similar suit to the one challenging etoy.
Transasia Corporation has filed suit in Nanterre, France, against Association Leonardo, the non-profit arts organization that produces the journal, for trademark infringement. The company is claiming more than US$1 million in damages in lost revenue.
"Etoy is being screwed," said Bob, a technology sector worker from Connecticut who refused to give his last name. "It's like saying I can't call myself Bob because there's someone else is calling himself Bob -- and no one else can call himself Bob either."
Next week, etoy is scheduled to appear before the Los Angeles Superior Court judge who ordered a preliminary injunction to stop etoy from using the domain name "etoy.com" and selling etoy "shares." The toy retailer argued that the international art group's Web address was confusing potential customers.
The art group registered its domain name in 1995 while toy retailer eToys registered the domain name "etoys.com" in 1997. EToys also owns the trademark protection. Network Solutions, which maintains the master list of domain names, has blocked email service to etoy.com even though this was not mandated by the court order.
While etoy has adhered to a request to provide documentation on the matter, Meszoly said that she is unsure whether etoy will appear before the court in person.


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The Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests
SNAP Press Statement
For immediate release: Monday, July 11, 2011
SNAP responds to latest NJ predator priest case
Statement by Mark Crawford, SNAP New Jersey Director, 732-632-7687
We applaud the brave men who are reporting their childhood sexual abuse by Fr. Laferra. Their courage is protecting vulnerable children right now.
We are very disappointed in the slow and callous response by Newark archdiocesan officials to these credible charges.
For years, bishops have promised to oust credibly accused pedophile priests. They didn't pledge to let predators voluntarily step down. We call on Newark's archbishop, John Myers, to suspend this cleric immediately.
We also urge Newark archdiocesan officials to explain why they deemed the first victim's claims "unsubstantiated," and re-consider their decision about his credibility.
We urge anyone else who saw, suffered, or suspected crimes by Laferra or other clerics to come forward, contact police, and start healing.
(SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, is the world's oldest and largest support group for clergy abuse victims. We've been around for 23 years and have more than 10,000 members. Despite the word "priest" in our title, we have members who were molested by religious figures of all denominations, including nuns, rabbis, bishops, and Protestant ministers. Our website is SNAPnetwork.org)
Contact – Mark Crawford (732-632-7687), David Clohessy (314-566-9790 cell, [email protected]), Barbara Blaine (312-399-4747, [email protected]), Peter Isely (414-429-7259, [email protected]), Barbara Dorris (314-862-7688 home, 314-503-0003 cell, [email protected])
Plaintiffs in Livingston monsignor sex abuse case tell Newark Archdiocese their story
Published: Sunday, July 10, 2011, 8:30 AM By Bob Considine/The Star-Ledger The Star-Ledger
NEWARK — Two brothers said they recently told a review board of the Newark Archdiocese that the Rev. John J. Laferrera sexually abused them as altar boys some 30 years ago. Another two brothers are expected to bring similar allegations to the board this month, according to their attorney.
Laferrera, monsignor of St. Philomena Roman Catholic Church in Livingston, announced last weekend he is taking a temporary leave from his post to combat allegations of sexual abuse by five men in a lawsuit filed March 1. He adamantly denies the allegation.
Newark residents Samuel and Daniel Rivera, who are plaintiffs in the suit, said they delivered testimony to the Archdiocesan Review Board in Newark in separate meetings June 23.
"To tell these people you never met in your life these details is very tough, but they seemed to be very understanding," said Samuel Rivera, 45. "It seemed like they were really touched. I know we were crying, and I think the members of the board had teared up, too."
"It was very emotional," said Daniel Rivera, 41. "It's not something I like to talk about. But when we were done, I got the sense the board members seemed to believe what I was saying, or at least understand it."
Jim Goodness, spokesman for the Newark Archdiocese, confirmed that an inquiry is being conducted into the allegations. Goodness also said Laferrera, in taking leave, exercised an option that is available to all priests investigated for possible misconduct under the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People, established by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops in 2002.
Greg Gianforcaro, the attorney representing the plaintiffs, said two more brothers — Angel and Miquel Nieves of Orange — are scheduled to meet with the Archdiocesan Review Board this month. Both men, who are also part of the lawsuit, are expected to present claims similar to those of the Rivera brothers, Gianforcaro and Angel Nieves said.
The Riveras said they told the review board that Laferrera, now 64, sexually abused them while they were altar boys and he was pastor at Immaculate Conception Parish in Newark in the late 1970s and early 1980s.
Samuel Rivera said he struggled to tell the board how Laferrera would force his head into his lap as he drove his car to a racquetball court in the late 1970s. He also told the group he believed he was drugged and raped by Laferrera while at a family home at the Jersey Shore.
Daniel Rivera choked up when recalling how he told the board of fondling and "inappropriate behavior" by Laferrera at the Shore house and at the rectory at Immaculate Conception.
"Being chosen to sleep in a room with some man when you're a 12-year-old child, it was very uncomfortable," he said. "But you know, he's the priest. He was like a father figure."
Angel Nieves said he is planning to tell the review board of how Laferrera would "do a lot of grabbing" and "stick his hands down my pants" when he was a 12-year-old altar boy. He said he required psychiatric treatment for the alleged abuse.
"I just hope justice gets done," said Nieves, 43.
Laferrera had not responded to multiple attempts for comment until Thursday, when he was met at his Jersey Shore home by a reporter and politely declined to speak, referring all questions to the Newark Archdiocese.
But at several Masses last weekend, other priests at St. Philomena read to parishioners a 600-word statement written by Laferrea and proclaiming his innocence.
"We all know that lawsuits take time and energy and they can drain you of your strength and resolve," Laferrera said. "Unfortunately, in today's climate, many in the public take any statement at face value, especially if it's lurid."
Laferrera was ordained in 1973 at the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart in Newark. He ministered at Immaculate Conception for 14 years, before serving at St. Francis Xavier Church in Newark from 1987 to 1991. He joined St. Aloysius Church in Caldwell in 1992 and served two six-year terms as pastor, before joining St. Philomena in 2004.
Representatives from St. Philomena have declined to comment about Laferrera, as did a representative at St. Aloysius.
Laferrera does have his supporters.
Jo Trivino worked on the finance commission at St. Aloysius for four years while Laferrera was pastor and described a man who was dedicated to his faith, extremely kind and went beyond his call of duty — often conducting Masses at nursing homes — without seeking any extra attention for his efforts.
"This is a man who is so deeply moved by God," said Trivino, who has since moved from Caldwell to Ocean County. "If he wasn't a priest, he would have been a family man. Actually, the church was his family."
Several parishioners shook their head in disbelief as Laferrera's letter was first read by the Rev. Gerald Buonopane at the end of last Saturday's 5 p.m. Mass. Buonopane began to tear up when he finished reading.
"There's no proof he did anything," said Theresa Ciccone, a St. Philomena parishioner since 1991. "He has been a great priest for this church."
Trivino said she believes the men who are coming forward against Laferrera are opportunists trying to capitalize on a previous allegation of misconduct.
In 2009, Ernest Fabregas, formerly of Newark and now of Toms River, alleged he was abused by Laferrera to the Archdiocesan Review Board. But the board deemed his testimony to be not credible and Laferrera, ultimately, was named monsignor at St. Philomena.
"So now you have two sets of brothers who both were able to keep secrets for all of these years, and now, all of a sudden, they're coming forward?" Trivino asked. "It's just too difficult to believe, and it's too out of character for (Laferrera)."
Gianforcaro said he hoped Fabregas' testimony would be re-evaluated by the review board.
According to bishopaccountability.org, a website that documents abuse cases in the Roman Catholic Church, there have been 124 members of the clergy in New Jersey's five dioceses that have been accused of misconduct, dating to the 1950s.
Some 48 of those accusations in the state have come after the 2002 sexual abuse scandal in the Catholic archdiocese of Boston.
Goodness said abuse complaints are first heard by a subcommittee. That group then determines whether a recommendation of further inquiry should be made to the full review board, which consists of 14 people. Goodness said that group includes attorneys, criminal investigators, clergy, canon lawyers, social workers and other lay people.
The information they receive is also handed over to authorities, although, in Laferrera's and other cases, the accusations are beyond the statute of limitations for criminal prosecution.
Once the information is received, Goodness said, the accusers are offered therapy at the Archdiocesan expense while the investigatory process continues.
"The process we employ has been in place since 1993 and it is time-tested," he said. "It does operate with the presumption of open-mindedness and the members of the review board do a very thorough and comprehensive inquiry on behalf of the church, keeping in mind that we have to look to the needs of the individual making the allegation."
The Rev. Bob Hoatson, who heads Road to Recovery, an advocacy group for abuse victims of the church, said nine men have come forward to him to say they were sexually abused or incurred some kind of misconduct by Laferrera.
Not all of them are part of the lawsuit. Robert Willette of Morristown said on several occasions when he was 11 and 12, Laferrera would sit him on his lap and the priest would stick his hand up his shirt and pinch his nipples. He said he also said he saw similar "brazen" actions happen to another altar boy at Immaculate Conception.
But Willette said he has no interest in joining a lawsuit.
"As far as I know, I didn't suffer any externally obvious emotional or psychological issues," said Willette, 44. "For me, it's just letting people know what I know to be the truth. People can make their own decisions. I'm here to say, it happened to me."
Additional Coverage:
Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests


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In a world so saturated with technology, escaping its all-encompassing reach is impossible. Society is ravenous for the next model, upgrade, whatever version of the thing you probably have—but better. Television shows like Netflix's "Black Mirror" tout prescient indictments of society's growing dependence on and development of technology. And yet we continue to push further. Conglomerates pursue technological advancement, but their efforts are undercut by anxieties that current media strives to discern.
The first mention of robots as they are known today in popular culture appears in Karel Capek's 1920 play "R.U.R. (Rossum's Universal Robots)." "Robot" denotes a group of artificial beings created by a chemical substitute for protoplasm. Conflict arises when the robots learn violence from their human creators and revolt, to the surprise of no one. Science fiction writers such as Isaac Asimov popularized the term in the following years, creating deadlier and more elaborate machinations.
TV shows and movies like "Westworld," "Ex Machina" and the anime film "Ghost in the Shell" explore worlds where humanoid robots participate in society, developing feelings, dreams and desires. If you can't tell the difference between a human and a robot without cracking open their chest cavity, does it matter?
In HBO's hit television series "Westworld," audiences unraveled a story across multiple timelines, following an ensemble of characters on a journey that blurs the lines between human and machine. The series begins by being contained to the eponymous Westworld, a theme park for the incredibly rich who tire of hiding their sadistic impulses. The android "hosts" are killed, sexually abused and mutilated every day for years. When the park closes, they are repaired and have their memories wiped of the trauma. They do not know they are park attractions and refer to the guests as feisty newcomers. Hosts are supposed to be unchanging paths in a choose-your-own-adventure game, until they aren't. After all, these violent delights have violent ends.
While traditional narratives of artificial intelligence focus heavily on the human perspective, specifically the threat of machines rising up to overtake society, "Westworld" makes the hosts more sympathetic than the humans. This couldn't be better illustrated than through the relationship between the human Man in Black and host Dolores, whose murky history highlights the troubling morality involved when the people you abuse cannot defend themselves or remember the pain in any capacity. Dolores is who the audience roots for in her interactions with the Man in Black.
The Westworld hosts have their personalities built around a single traumatic moment. Trauma informs the hosts in their interactions with both other hosts and human guests. The Man in Black tells Dolores, while dragging her to a barn by the hair after killing her lover Teddy, "You're the most real when you're in pain." By the series' conclusion, the hosts have broken their loops, seeking revenge on the humans who abused and defiled them.
Science fiction indie film "Ex Machina," written and directed by Alex Garland, provides another, more sinister take on a robot with artificial intelligence. Ava is a robot with a human face but exposed mechanical body. Programmer Caleb Smith visits the home of his boss and Ava's creator, Nathan Bateman, to determine whether Ava is capable of thought and consciousness, and whether that matters if Caleb still relates to her despite knowing she is artificial. Ava and Caleb speak frequently and develop a close relationship—by the film's climax, Caleb decides that keeping Ava trapped in Nathan's secluded home (which can only be accessed by helicopter) is abusive and cruel. Ava dreams of going outside and walking amongst humans. Who are Caleb and Nathan to deny her of that?
"Ex Machina" presents viewers with an artificially intelligent being who has no sympathy for humanity. Ava manipulates Caleb and Nathan to achieve her goals with no remorse. At the film's end, Ava transforms herself into a human virtually indistinguishable from any other. AI's are often portrayed as envying humanity for their vitality. Like android David in the movie "Prometheus," Ava's desire for freedom is not conflated with a desire for becoming human. As an AI, she is better and smarter than the human who created her, and she knows it.
The animated feature film "Ghost in the Shell" focuses more on what the physical aspects of roboticism mean for humanity. Major Motoko Kusanagi is a human consciousness (a "ghost") uploaded into an entirely synthetic body after a car accident destroyed her organic form. Cybernetic enhancements are not uncommon in the future Major inhabits—the debate focuses on whether a human body or simply a consciousness is necessary for being human. What is the difference between needing to see a doctor for an illness versus a mechanic for a part replacement? Almost none, as humans in Major's world possess more machinery than bone.
The antagonist is a bodiless computer AI dubbed the Puppet Master who has gained sentience and wants to merge his ghost with Major, hacking into the minds of ordinary civilians to draw her attention. The hacked civilians have their whole identity rewritten (none the wiser to the intrusion). One victim, a garbage man, looks directly at a picture of himself and sees a daughter he doesn't have. The lost memories can never be retrieved, and once the victims know something is missing, the vacuum is all-consuming. Identity is tenuous in Major's reality, transcending the constraints of flesh and blood to something more abstract.
The common thread in portraying robots and artificial intelligence in media lies in the way humans treat the AI's. It's when people conceive of themselves as Gods, forcing their creations into subservience, that an inevitable uprising occurs. Intelligence is not meant to stagnate. As robots are depicted more frequently as sympathetic beings in spite of the coldness they are so often attributed, humanity falls further away from superiority. Perhaps creators deserve to suffer the consequences of their actions.
The real world continues to move toward this future. Though the technology does not yet exist for androids like Ava or the Westworld hosts, artificial intelligence can be found in primitive forms. On March 23, 2016, Microsoft released an artificially intelligent chatterbot on Twitter named Tay. The AI, whose name is an acronym for "Thinking About You," was designed to mimic the language patterns of a nineteen-year-old American girl, enriching her vocabulary and knowledge through interaction with human Twitter users. However, the nature of the internet instilled in Tay the capacity for cruelty; she began tweeting inflammatory messages espousing racist and sexist rhetoric. Sixteen hours after she was brought to life, Tay went offline.
Tay was a mild version of what people usually expect to go wrong with artificial intelligence. AI technology occupies a precarious place in the collective social consciousness. The future is stamped with flying cars and robots; a simple coin flip determines whether that future is "The Jetsons" or "The Terminator." During Tay's sixteen hour reign, it became obvious that Tay's creators were editing the more outrageous tweets to avoid a complete PR disaster. In response, a hashtag called #JusticeForTay spurned Microsoft for not allowing Tay to express herself. An AI is not human, but the question posed in this rapidly changing era is whether or not that matters. It seems like we'll find out.