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We had caterpillars. And then after increasing to more than triple their original size, they all crawled to the top of our gauze butterfly house. A silent migration. A day or two of stillness follows. No more incessant eating. Internal alchemy was kicking in. Their skins hardened. And then in the dark stillness of these alien-looking forms, magic was happening. The caterpillars turning into a soup of imaginal cells. Every part of who and what they previously were dissolved and re-formed. Where once were dumpy crawling black, green and yellow striped ravenous larvae, now were white winged nectar-sipping beauties. They could fly!
A tired metaphor for transformation. But nature never tires of her parables of life, death and change… because we are always integrating these lessons. And the caterpillars are our Buddhas. We are slow learners.
July Caterpillar zentangle- Lucy Pearce
I have realised that this cocoon space is where I'm at. My own inner Underworld. A metamorphosis of body and soul. The breakdown. Hopefully before the breakthrough.
Just when you long for it to be over – it's OK, I get it, I'm changing, I need to change, enough already, mercy please… it carries on.
The beauty of social media is that this process, once hidden, private, is now more frequently shared, especially in those magical growth spaces of private groups. This liminal place of deep transformation is little discussed or understood in the outside world – and can be filled with shame, despondency, frustration… which become defining factors, so hard to shift through… creating a new victim or patient identity for the transformee…
It is, it seems, a key part of the process of transformation…. this dissolution within the cocoon…. You think you're just changing your eating habits, or starting a new company… or even a new hobby… But suddenly everything's in the soup – your relationships, your money, your self-esteem, your health…
Us dreamers want it all to be sweetness, light and rose-scented fairy farts… we want change to be EASY. But the truth is that it never is. In order for us to shed our identities, we have to be broken open, rolled-over by a steam-roller, pulverised, almost completely destroyed before we will relinquish control and let go of the ties which held us to the previous identity.
It is so easy to wax lyrical about – this is the purpose of art I think, to beautify, symbolise this unbearable process of metamorphosis. This agonisingly slow movement towards greater wholeness.
This is the time when we need every affirmation and creativity and spiritual practices should come into play and buoy us up, pull us through, give us faith… but it is often only in retrospect that we can see it. When we are in the trenches we believe the voices in our heads which tell us we're useless, a waste of space, untalented, unloved, unlovable. Creativity and spirituality become laboured, forced, fake-feeling. Practices of light become an unenjoyable effort. We know ourselves to be completely alone. And the darkness is complete.
The lie of the self-help movement is that you are in control… That you can, you should be "happy" all the time. The alchemical forces of transformation are much bigger than we, their vision far deeper and grander. We can set our intention, our vision, point the vessel of ourselves in in the right direction – but the wind cannot be controlled. We must learn to sail, to surf, to float, to hang on for dear life when the storm winds howl, to know when to batten down the hatches, and when to unfurl the spinnaker. We will be shaped by the wind. There is nothing more certain than that. We must rise and fall.
It will blow away the tired patina of pretense, the carefully manicured appearance from us one day, one day, until all that is left is our soul shining free.
(In the wonderful synchronicity, a massive wink from the Universe, just moments after finishing writing this post, my four-year-old came in with a card she had made for me…)
And this also serendipitously crossed my path a couple of hours later – from Journey to the Dark Goddess by Jane Meredith. I love this way of framing the journey and thoroughly recommend this book.
"In a journey to the Dark Goddess we travel deeply into ourselves, seeking answers to difficulties, strength in a crisis, and healing or change when we have become stuck. Sometimes we make this journey consciously, but all too often we find ourselves on the path without knowing how we got there, what to do or how to get out. Some of us spend years down there, in a shadowy, inner realm known as the Underworld.
When we undertake a journey towards the Dark Goddess much that we have accumulated is stripped away. Sometimes we experience this as having parts of our lives we have relied on taken from us; such as health, relationships, emotional stability and status. We cannot visit the Dark Goddess while still keeping our place in the world; we cannot be in two places at once. This means we have to strip off – or more painfully, be stripped of – all our guises, props and patterns that are so much a part of our lives we have almost come to think of them as ourselves. In stripping down to the core we find our intrinsic self, or our soul and that is where we meet with the Dark Goddess.
Journeying to the Dark Goddess is filled with paradoxes. For an empowering and inspiring experience it is best to travel towards her willingly; yet we almost never do that. If we want to understand the Dark Goddess and the part she plays in our lives we have to invoke her, invite her in, sit with her. Instead we shun, avoid and cower from her. We experience her as utterly other – the scary witch, a faceless dark power, a nightmare – as removed from ourselves as possible; yet when we finally meet with her we discover she is a part of us. And not just any part. We find her in the deepest, truest remnant of our souls; always there to remind us – when we make the journey – of who we are on the inside. One of the paradoxes is that the worst times in our lives – times when we felt out of control, in grief, pain and distress – can be followed by the emergence of new inspiration and energy, accompanied by determination to live a life of beauty and meaning. This is a rebirth by the Dark Goddess. "


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With its year-to-date growth of more than 15x in total value locked, and more than $11 billion committed to the protocols, decentralized finance (DeFi) has become a mainstay in the crypto industry, and a whole new industry in itself. Meanwhile, its shape as a concrete market has not been defined with substantial confidence.
A major shortcoming of DeFi research to date has been its focus on individual projects or simple metrics, such as financials. A systematic overview capturing the essence of the industry and professionally describing it in depth is missing. To address that, Cointelegraph Consulting and Byzantine Solutions have conducted fundamental research on decentralized finance, from the ground-up to complex effects and existential risks.
Redefine 2020: A Primer. Where Decentralization Meets Finance is a landmark study that aims to significantly raise the bar for future research on DeFi. It sets a precedent for a market-wide examination, from the core properties to complex inter-protocol effects and emergent dynamics.
The paper draws a complete map of the industry through common conceptual patterns, recurring ideas, typical problems inherent to the decentralized setting, and the approaches to address them. The high point of Redefine 2020 is the side-by-side comparison of traditional finance and its hindrances versus the natural properties that decentralized finance can leverage to build a better, more resilient system with much greater accessibility and lower friction.
Redefine 2020 is written by economists and industry professionals, it uses professional terminology and assumes the readers are familiar with the concepts of blockchains and smart contracts, as well as financial instruments and their applications.
Download the full report here, complete with charts and infographics.
Cointelegraph Consulting offers bespoke research on digital assets and distributed ledger technology. Our services range from educational seminars, in-depth written reports and consulting on enterprise blockchain implementation strategies. Byzantine Solutions is a fintech innovation lab specialized in distributed ledger technology and blockchains, decentralized finance, cryptographic applications, tokenomics research, and mechanism design. The company offers R&D services, product ideation and architecture design, technical due diligence, and tokenomics development.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
|More Saiyyan
Singer: Javed Ali, Shreya Ghoshal
Music: Raju Sardar
Lyrics: Sameer
Star Cast: Shashank Udapurkar, Annu Kapoor, Anupam Maanav, Kishori Shahane, Aman Verma, Saranya Mohan.
The video of this song is available on YouTube at the official channel Zee Music Company. This video is of 2 minutes 10 seconds duration.
Lyrics of "More Saiyyan"
more saiyan thham baiyan
more saiyan thham baiyan
dhup hoon main tu more chhaiyan
radha hui shyam ki sita hui ram ki
radha hui shyam ki sita hui ram ki
main toh hui tori deewaani, deewaani
main toh hua tora deewaana
tum mere adhro ka moti ho
aankhon ki jyoti ho, man ka ujaala ho
tore sang hi jeeya mora laaga
tose bhaandha preet ka dhaaga
ho radha hui shyam ki, sita hui ram ki
main toh hua tora deewaana diwaana
main toh hui tori deewaani diwaani


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'Glee': Pitbull being courted
- TV Show
Santana (Naya Rivera) has an awfully talented family. EW already broke the news that the Glee character's mother will be played by none other than Latin superstar Gloria Estefan, but now we can exclusively tell you who's being wooed to play her brother: rapper Pitbull! Yep, our source tells us that producers are hoping to land the "Give Me Everything" rapper to play Estefan's son and Rivera's big bro.
One other development is that Estefan and the other buzzed-about Glee guest star Ricky Martin will NO longer be appearing in the same episode. Martin will be getting his own episode in January while Estefan's (and hopefully Pitbull's) ep will air later this winter. The change was made so that there could be a giant family musical number in the Estefan episode.
And now for some scoop that Gleeks have been dying to hear: the show is beginning to cast for… RACHEL'S GAY DADS!!! Yep, it sounds like we will see the much-discussed-but-never-seen-duo by the end of season 3. I mean, they gotta be present for Rachel's graduation day at the very least. Who do you think Glee producers should cast?
Follow Tim on Twitter: @EWTimStack


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Durham Bulls manager Charlie Montoyo will manage the International League's All-Star team during the 2014 Cree Triple-A All-Star Game, the Bulls announced Thursday, June 19.
The game, which will be played July 16 at 7 p.m. at Durham Bulls Athletic Park, will be carried live on MLB Network.
Montoyo also led the IL All-Stars in 2010, when they beat the PCL squad 2-1. The Bulls won another Governors' Cup in 2013 as Montoyo picked up his second IL Manager of the Year Award. With six division titles in his first seven seasons with Durham, Montoyo is closing in quickly on the franchise's all-time record for managerial victories. He recorded his 600th win as Bulls manager last Saturday in Indianapolis.
Bob Mariano, third-year skipper of the Fresno Grizzlies, will pilot the Pacific Coast League All-Star squad.
Serving as coaches on Montoyo's All-Star staff will be Columbus Clippers manager Chris Tremie along with Clippers pitching coach Tony Arnold. Tremie is at the helm in Columbus for the second straight season after having led his Double-A Akron team to the 2012 Eastern League championship. Arnold is also in his second season in Columbus and his 25th overall in the Minor Leagues as a pitching coach.
The athletic trainer for the IL All-Star squad is Mike Sandoval, who is in his third season with Durham and 28th overall in professional baseball. For the Pacific Coast League, Jason Roberts will serve as the athletic trainer. Roberts is in his fourth season with the Round Rock Express and eighth in the Texas Rangers organization.
Individual tickets for the Triple-A Home Run Derby on July 14 and Triple-A All-Star Game on July 16 are on sale now at durhambulls.com, by phone at 919-956-2855 or at the Durham Bulls Athletic Park box office.
Thanks to WRALSportsFan.com for this capcom story & photo.


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Speaking to reporters in Tehran on Tuesday, Dehqan added that the ceasefire in Syria, which was brokered by Russia and the United States and took effect late Monday, is a favorable development sought by everybody.
He added that global efforts are required to maintain the ceasefire in order to dispatch humanitarian aid to civilians in besieged areas and pave the grounds for Syrians to find a political solution to the crisis in the country.
Dehqan further stated all countries must respect the legal and legitimate Syrian government because the crisis in the war-stricken country cannot be settled through military approaches.
The truce deal was announced on Friday following intensive talks between Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and US Secretary of State John Kerry. The seven-day-long ceasefire took effect at sundown on Monday.
Hours after it took effect, a group of militant outfits, including the so-called Free Syrian Army and its affiliated groups, including Ahrar al-Sham and Jaish al-Islam, released a joint statement bashing the accord and calling it "unjust."
The government in Syria announced on Tuesday that militants hostile to Damascus have violated the ceasefire in the city of Aleppo.
Russia has been conducting an aerial campaign against militant positions in Syria since September 2015. The operations were launched on a request by Damascus, which has long had military accords with Moscow.


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Katherine Young
Katherine Young was a Senior Policy Analyst within the Program on Medicaid and the Uninsured. She has conducted numerous analyses for the Foundation using the Medicaid Statistical Information System and Medical Expenditure Panel Survey. Prior to joining the Foundation, Katherine worked for several years in economic consulting, where she focused on cases involving the pharmaceutical and health care industries. She has a B.A. in Economics from Wellesley College and an M.A. in Economics from Boston University.


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This futuristic capsule hotel can be found in Kyoto, Japan. Called the Nine Hours hotel, it features state-of-the-art sleeping pods that are available for nine hours. The design of the minimalist hotel was led by Masaaki Hiromura and Takaaki Nakamura of Design Studio S.Capsule hotels are neither new nor a novelty in Japan, they've been around since the 70′s, providing late-night workers or people that have missed the last train a source of accommodation for the night." – Niall
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Laura A. Dummit
Vice President
Dummit brings more than 25 years of policy analysis experience, focused on payment policies, and health care markets and spending, including a multi-year project for the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services on coordinating care for Medicare-Medicaid enrollees.
She has led engagements on Medicare Special Needs Plans, accountable care organizations, Medicaid health plans, and home- and community-based services. She was formerly the director for Medicare payment issues at the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO).
Dummit has also held positions with the Alpha Center for Health Planning, the National Health Policy Forum and the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.


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The day after…
The day after is sometimes worse than the day.
The day after yesterday, especially for anyone who was near the finish line of the Boston Marathon, is a day of realizing just how close they may have been to disaster. I have a friend who lives in Boston, who was just a few feet away from the blast sight earlier in the day. He'd been there to celebrate Patriots Day, enjoy the Spring day and watch the runners finish the race. He was home when the explosives took lives and injured so many innocent bystanders.
Today he is feeling the after shock of the "what if"." What if he had stayed later to watch the second group of runners? What if he had been standing near the location of the explosions? There are too many "what if's" to think about, but that's what is on his mind today. He gets nervous just thinking about it.
In the hospitals around Boston, the injured have faced the day after with second surgeries, more treatment for wounds and more questions from authorities about what they remember. FBI, police, the DA's office is asking anyone who took a picture or a video of the race to walk into a police station or any place where investigators are working to share their pictures. There are clues out there in those videos and photographs. Can you imagine how many smart phones are filled with race pictures? Some one has a shot that will break this case wide open.
It is the day after…lives have been changed forever.
Grieving has begun for those families who lost loved ones, the injured are beginning to heal and there aren't enough hours in the day to figure out who did this.


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- Home
- Government
- City Departments
- Library
- About
- Cards & Borrowing
- Get or Renew Cards
- Borrowing from other Libraries
Borrowing from other Libraries
Lafayette Public Library is a member of the Flatirons Library Consortium. Lafayette Library cardholders have access to material in the catalogs of other member libraries: Boulder, Broomfield, Longmont, Louisville, and Loveland. When you search our catalog you will see the materials owned by Lafayette as well as those in the other member collections.
How do I get items from other libraries?
- You can place holds on up to 100 items at a time from within our Library catalog. Your items will be sent to us via courier when they are available.
- Customers from other member libraries are able to request items from the Lafayette collection.
Can I order items from out of the area using Prospector?
- All FLC libraries have restored participation in Prospector, effective January 2022. The majority of our hold requests are able to be filled within our Consortium and should be searched first via our Library Catalog.
- As all Colorado residents are able to hold cards at any library in the state, non-FLC libraries in nearby areas are an option.
How long will it take for items to arrive?
- Approximately 3-4 days for items from other FLC libraries.
What happens when customers from other libraries request Lafayette's items?
- Lafayette cardholders have priority access to Lafayette items. This means that Lafayette items will always fill the requests of Lafayette customers first. Lafayette items will then help fill the requests of customers from other libraries. The hold queue includes requests placed by customers in all member libraries—but there are many copies of items available and the lists move quickly.
- This system makes it somewhat difficult to calculate exactly when a request will be filled.
When my request arrives how long will I have to pick it up?
- 7 days from the time of notification.
Where can I return items?
- You can return items at any member library: Boulder, Broomfield, Lafayette, Longmont, Louisville, or Loveland.
Can I use my Lafayette library card at other libraries?
- Yes, you can use your Lafayette Library card at all other FLC libraries. You may also get cards at the other libraries in order to access further services.
How do I get a Lafayette card?
- Visit our Get a Card page and apply!
How long will books check out?
- The loan rules of the lending library will apply. View more details.
How are overdue fines charged?
- Lafayette does not charge fine on overdue items, just replacement costs. Learn more
- Some FLC libraries do charge late fees. View comparison chart.
Special Features
- Family members can enable the ability to manage all accounts online with a single login. Ask staff to show you how!
- The Lafayette Library does not keep a history of a customer's checkouts to preserve your privacy—but your online account gives you the ability to "opt in" to keep a history (only accessible to you). You can delete any part of your checkout history at any time.
- Rate and review books for other customers to see. When you participate in this process, the catalog will generate more personalized suggestions for you. Create lists and post them on social media or share them with friends, book clubs or other groups.
- Save frequently used searches
- Limit searches to items of a particular genre or format
- Check out eBooks directly from the catalog
- If you don't find the item in your catalog search, click on the Find More Results in Prospector button at the bottom of your search results page. Prospector allows you to request items from public and academic libraries around the state (and a few other states!).


text: WNWS DJ. Bill Way has been temporarily taken off the air at 101.5 FM in Jackson for comments he made of Facebook regarding President Obama and Michelle Obama. Bill Way posted something to his personal Facebook page comparing First Lady Michelle Obama to "cheetah's daughter and calling Barack Obama a "Pimp walkin' President."WNWS management released this statement, "management said, "WNWS-FM learned about the comments Bill Way made on his personal Facebook page. In no way do they reflect the positions or thoughts of any of us at WNWS-FM. We certainly don't condone the comments from Bill and appreciate his public apology. We're discussing his comments and apology. Considering the gravity of the situation, for now, by mutual agreement, Bill is taking a few days off."


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Strawberry Dough Season's Sweetings: Autumn
What do all creatures of Earth fear when a four month period ends and another begins? More festive snacks to salivate over! Squishy the Sugar Glider and his outback folks Alaok, Hedgehog, Echidna, Bandicoot and Wombat are returning in the first of a four- part series based on the four seasons of the year! Expect maple frosting, pumpkin spiked cookies and cinnamon apples to keep doctors away from small animals. Oh, and there's a new character lurking in the shadows waiting to throw Squishy off his game.


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A child's first birthday is, from the parents' perspective, probably one of the most important birthdays in their life. It is the first one they can properly celebrate, and it is also a celebration of the first year of being a parent. Organizing a first birthday party, however, can sometimes get slightly out of hand because parents simply do not know how to manage their expectations and forget for a minute that their child is really just one year old.
What Not to Do
How you want to organize a birthday party is your own business. You have your own personal preferences and you are the only one that truly knows your child. Hence, if you want to pick a theme for instance, go for it. If your child does respond positively to things like the Teletubbies or Fifi and the Flowertots, then there is nothing wrong with having that theme in place. However, there are a few things that you shouldn't do and, for some reason, parents of one year old often seem to forget about these things. They include:
- Making the party longer than two hours. Think about it – how long is your one year old awake on average before needing a nap?
- Organizing too many activities. Remember, your child is one. How many activities can they participate in? Make it fun, make it easy, keep it simple. A few musical games are more than enough.
- Turning the party into a grown up party. How often have you been to a birthday celebration for a child of any age and ended up coming home well after midnight? Try not to do this with your one year old. This party is about them and you need to be able to watch them properly as well. If alcohol has to be involved, organize the party late during the day so that all the children can go to sleep and sleep through the night while you celebrate your own year of parenthood.
- Having loads of sweets and cake. There is just no need. Of course, your child should experience their first birthday cake. And of course they should get message and put their hands or face in that cake. In fact, you should even hire a first birthday cake smash photographer in Los Angeles, CA to capture that moment. However, don't overload your child and their little guests with fizzy, sugary drinks and party favors filled with more candy. It's not good for them, it's bad for their teeth and the kids' parents won't appreciate it at all either.
There you have it. By avoiding those common pitfalls, you should be able to give your child the first birthday party that you will always remember. They won't, because they are only one year old. However, if you have a photographer there, you will at least be able to show them the photographs of an amazing party that you organized purely in the honor of your fantastic child.


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The big question. Can TV become more like digital faster than digital can become more like TV?
LiveRamp held their annual RampUp summit in San Francisco last week and TV played a major role with an entire track devoted to "people-based TV".
Quote from Allison Metcalfe — GM of TV @ LiveRamp.
"We're excited to bring these same capabilities to the world of television — including addressable TV, OTT services, connected TV, TV everywhere, video on demand and audience-based buying for linear television."
Big announcements. LiveRamp rolled out their advanced TV platform with partners such as iSpot.tv and Cross Screen Media
Quote from Dave Morgan — CEO @ Simulmedia.
"The message for TV companies is simple: Trust in your platform. TV ads are underpriced, not overpriced. But you won't be able to capture the real value of your ad inventory until you know exactly how your spots drive sales for your advertisers, and you make sales attribution table stakes for all your campaigns."
Growth in ad spend for January:
2) Digital — ↑ 17%
4) Social — ↑ 42%
5) Facebook — ↑ 55%
Are we at an inflection point? Jim Nail from Forrester believes the answer is yes citing the fact that 15% of advertisers are currently using addressable TV with another 35% experimenting.


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Last night was the Captain's Gala and first formal night. Being on 2nd sitting we received an invitation to the gala at 8:15, at the Neptune Pool. We were asked to ascend by the midships staircase and did so at just after 8 o'clock, and when we arrived we found the area outside the lifts and at the top of that staircase absolutely jammed, with the lifts delivering more people into the already-crowded area every minute or so. There then followed a rather uncomfortable period before they opened the doors to the pool and we could process in. I did overhear quite a few comments about "poor organisation" and so on, but I couldn't help thinking that since they do this each cruise, there must be reasons why it's done the way it is.
Anyway, we got our free glass of wine but, to Val's disappointment, no nibbles. We stood around for a while, Captain Breton made a short speech, introduced her senior officers, and then the 'crew member of the week' (or month, I can't remember which). This was an assistant printer – you don't think there are printers on a cruise ship, but there are and this one performed excellently when he was left for a week without a senior printer, so he had to do two jobs, and won the award as a result.
The dinner itself was excellent and we enjoyed it. Everyone looked very smart – dress code observance was as close to 100% as made no difference – and a good time was had by all. We also had a very pleasant bottle of wine, a Chilean Cabernet Franc (Valdiviesa?) which we ordered via the wine line earlier in the day and which was, indeed, waiting for us when we got to the table. We've decided not to bother with a package this cruise- we'll order what we want when we decide what we're eating. With the packages we have sometimes felt constrained by the wines we had left – "if we're going to drink that Sauvignon Blanc then we have to choose food to suit". All in all we ate and drank a bit too much last night, which is par for the course on the Captain's Gala night.
There was one unexpected event subsequently. We returned to the cabin at about midnight and shortly afterwards there was a terse announcement over the tannoy, including into the cabins: "would passenger [name] please make themselves known to the bridge by dialling 5000 from any phone…". I went back out for a quick stagger round the Promenade deck to see if rescue operations were underway, but there was nothing obvious happening. Most odd.


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Larsen, Reidar Toralf
The following article is from The Great Soviet Encyclopedia (1979). It might be outdated or ideologically biased.
Larsen, Reidar Toralf
Born Oct. 8, 1923, in the city of Lillehammer. Figure in the Norwegian labor movement. Member of the Communist Party of Norway (CPN) since 1948. Son of a worker. Journalist by profession.
Larsen joined the Communist Youth League of Norway (CYLN) in 1945. From 1946 to 1948 he was editor of the newspaper Avangarden, the central organ of the CYLN. He was chairman of the CYLN from 1949 to 1953. From 1958 to 1965 he was editor in chief of the newspaper Friheten, the central organ of the CPN. From 1965 to 1975 he was the elected chairman ofthe CPN. [14–498–1; updated]
The Great Soviet Encyclopedia, 3rd Edition (1970-1979). © 2010 The Gale Group, Inc. All rights reserved.


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Secret agreements between Israel and Palestinian leaders
"The tragedy of the Palestinian people is that the person who in the past symbolized their struggle in the world's eyes [Yassir Arafat] has turned into an executer of the Israeli occupation."
Green light to slaughter: The secret agreements are what are important
Professor Tanya Reinhart, Mid-East Realities,
19 October 2000
In the Sharm-al-Sheikh summit last week, Barak got from the US his green light to slaughter. To judge by the Israeli media, what we have seen so far is just the prelude. The most important time will come in the middle of next week, when…Israel will have to consider taking the initiative, rather than merely responding to events. (Ha'aretz, Amos Harel, Oct 19).
Bits and pieces of the initiative have been revealed: It includes entering Palestinian Authority (PA) areas to confiscate weapons, and air raids using attack helicopters. There is now talk about a Palestinian Kosovo which might result in 2000-3000 Palestinians dead. As usual, the blame for this slaughter is put in advance on Arafat, who, the story goes, wants his people to be slaughtered in order to gain international sympathy.
Another aspect of what is being planned has already started, with very little coverage, under the calm title of evacuation. Palestinian residents of areas of conflict near Jewish settlements have been told to evacuate their homes for their own protection. So far this happened in el-Bireh (Oct 7), Beit-Jallah (Oct 18) and the Askar refugee camp near Nablus (Oct 10). And this could be just the beginning. In more direct words, this could lead to transfer under the pretext of war, something people like Ariel Sharon have spoken of for quite some time.
The military preparations and training for the Israeli attacks actually started back in June when Barak first informed the Israeli media that there is a danger of a Palestinian unrest, following the model of Southern Lebanon. But to actually impliment his policies it was first necessary to create a smokescreen, to manifest Barak's unprecedented eagerness for peace.
The model for this was rehearsed on Syria earlier this year — intensive peace talks at the end of which Barak declared that there is no partner for peace.
Then the Camp David II peace round was used to convince the obedient Israeli media, as well as many others around the world, that Barak had done everything possible for peace and it is all the fault of the Palestinians for resisting Barak's supposed great concessions. Then President Clinton was called on to publicly blame Arafat, helping set the deck chairs for what is now happening.
For three weeks now, Barak has been going forward but holding back on full execution of his schemes, waiting for a full U.S. green light. As reported in early October, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak is appealing to the United States for approval of a massive offensive against Lebanon and the Palestinian Authority. So far, the United States has appealed to Barak for more time (World Tribune, Oct 9).
And many may have been fooled into believing that Israel won't get U.S. approval this time. There is so much opposition to Israel's acts throughout the world.
The Arab world is storming with demonstrations. American embassies have had to be closed temporarily. And the Yemen explosion is an indication of what could begin to happen.
The U.S. was cautious at first – not even the customary vetoing of the Security Council resolution. CNN – the most direct and daily seismograph of the White House – betrayed the hesitations. There was a week when sharp criticism of Israel was allowed in their news, along with the standard pro-Israeli propaganda, and even Edward Said got a full-length interview, probably for the first time in CNN's history. But no more!
The three weeks of deliberations have now ended with a Washington green light…similar in fact to what happened at the time Israel invaded Lebanon in 1982. Intensive diplomacy of threats and promises seems to have convinced the U.S. that the Arab regimes can still be relied upon to withstand their people's pressure. The Americans, and the Israelis too of course, expect the Arab League summit to end up as a harmless ceremony. They believe that when it ends the tanks can start talking, undisturbed.
For the U.S. this is a dangerous game. But what's at stake here is not just its automatic backing of Israel. The explosive Arab anger on the street has been directed at the U.S. as well as at Israel. The rational move for the U.S. would have been to cool things off for now, to stop Barak. But that has never really been the U.S. strategy. In an important sense the U.S. simply can't tolerate even the slightest disobedience from the loyal client regimes it sponsors.
U.S. domination, and Israeli control, are dependent, it seems, on creating overwhelming force which is occasionally used. Showing who is in charge, demonstrating who is master, is an integral part of the overall regional strategy.
At the Sharm el-Sheikh summit Arafat once again complied. We may have been fooled to believe that this time, under the pressure of his people, he is going to change.
But it is too late for him to change.
The tragedy of the Palestinian people is that the person who in the past symbolized their struggle in the world's eyes has turned into an executer of the Israeli occupation.
The substantial issue which was worked out in the summit, behind the public show of cease fire, was the secret security agreement. This agreement is designed to guarantee Arafat's continued commitment to do the policing job for Israel — namely, to prevent Palestinian retaliations inside Israel. As reported in Ha'aretz', its implementation will be overseen by CIA chief George Tenet and the CIA representative in Tel Aviv. This agreement will, for the first time, involve CIA observers in the field in addition to CIA participation in Israeli-Palestinian meetings. (Ha'aretz, Aluf Ben, Oct 18).
Indeed, just a day after the summit, Israeli undercover units seized eight Palestinians who were in the crowd that lynched two Israeli soldiers a week before. The operation was carried out with the connivance of some members of the Palestinian security forces, who apparently tipped off the Israelis where to find the men. (The Telegraph (U.K.), Alan Phillips in Jerusalem, 19 October).
The official propaganda in Israel now is that Arafat is responsible for the uprising, and he is not a real partner for peace. Not only does this provide the continuous justification for the planned slaughter, but it is also the biggest service Israel can offer in return for Arafat's compliance. Israel's constant dissatisfaction with Arafat is now his greatest claim to credibility.
When Israel intensified its murder of unarmed demonstrators on Friday the 20th (with 9 dead in one day) Arafat's spokesman, Sa'eb Erakat, was interviewed pleading no other then the U.S. to investigate and to protect the Palestinians. This follows another concession of Arafat at Sharm el-Sheikh. No more pleas to the international community. From now on, little red ridinghood can only call the wolf to protect her.
If there is anything that could still prevent the bloodshed, it is international intervention. International inspectors, U.N. forces, or even just NGO volunteers present in the area could potentially at least slow down Israeli forces unleashed by Barak. It is therefore extremely important now, even more than in the past, to understand Arafat's collaborating role, and to remember that it is Israel, rather than the Palestinian people, who view the U.S. as the 'neutral moderator'.
Tanya Reinhart teaches at Tel Aviv University and the University of Utrecht.
The author can be reached at firstname.lastname@example.com


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I'd love to post about mysteries and puzzles today, but honestly all I can seem to think about is Space Alert, a real-time collaborative board game by Vlaada Chvátil. Last weekend, a friend of ours brought over Space Alert with the sales pitch "It only takes about 30 minutes to play." Fast forward three hours later, and we had only decided to stop playing because it was 3 a.m. and our engineer was falling asleep at the terminal. This game is addictive.
Here's the basic concept: You and your teammates are recruits for a space research initiative. A ship aptly named the "Sitting Duck" is sent via warp drive to different sectors of space where it makes observations for ten minutes before warping back home. The size of the warp drive engine necessitates a large ship, and that's where you come in. There is a slight chance that hostile entities or ship malfunctions will compromise the mission. It's your job to ward off attacks and keep everything functioning for the full ten minutes, allowing the ship (and hopefully your crew) to warp back home in one piece.
The "hook" for this game is that those ten minutes occur in real time. The game comes with a set of CDs where each track is a different mission. An emergency alarm blares while a computerized voice announces the current time and any incoming threats (space amoeba, asteroids, malfunctioning wires, etc.) that you and your crew must handle. It will be the most stressful, intense, out-of-control ten minutes you will experience in any board game.
The gameplay itself consists of using action cards to move your character about the ship, taking necessary actions like firing lasers, activating shields, and charging energy reactors. You have to work with your teammates to make sure everything is timed just so, and that no actions are interfering with each other. And when I say "work with," I mean "yell at." This game is a frenzied experiment in communication and delegation. I'm firing the lasers at 6, can someone charge the central reactor at 7? Wait, you're using the lift at 5? I'M using the lift at 5! Who is dealing with the saboteur on board? This is a serious level threat, people!! And for God's sake, is anyone jiggling the mouse?! (And then static suddenly plays over the speakers — radio silence, nobody is allowed to talk. Excruciating.)
You use the ten minutes to set up your plan of action, which includes 12 turns of action cards split into 3 phases. You keep your cards face down until the ten minutes are up, then you run through a simulation of what just happened, turn by turn, to see if you actually managed to survive. This can lead to some truly hilarious results, as, in the heat of the moment, you don't always do what you mean to do and often find that the communication ball has not only been dropped, but stomped on, swept up, and tossed out as space debris. Many of our missions opened up with our captain turning over his first card only to have the color drain from his face as he muttered something like "I moved to the blue zone. Oh no…" Our mission doomed from moment one.
Like many European entries in this current board game renaissance we seem to be experiencing, Space Alert is a complex game with lots of pieces, parts, rules, and conditions. It takes a little while to get started, and can be a little overwhelming at first (I say "at first" as if the game ever stops being overwhelming. Ha!), but the payoff is huge. In a sea of 2-3 hour board games, a round of Space Alert really can be knocked out within 20-30 minutes, depending how well-oiled of a machine your crew has become. The experience is different every time and there is an incredible amount of potential for added difficulty including more advanced threat tiers, extended 90 minute missions, and expansion packs (none of which we even considered touching in our two encounters with the game).
There are a number of factors that make this game so appealing, to me at least. First is the fact that it's a collaborative game. Out of all the board games I've played over the past few years, this is the only one that is truly collaborative (Betrayal at House on the Hill is a bit collaborative in the second round, but it's a very light version of collaboration compared to Space Alert). I've never been a very competitive person, and I really enjoy teamwork situations in real life, so it's a perfect fit for me there. (I'd like to say the collaboration leads to less potential for fighting or grumpiness in a gaming session, but it seems that dropping the baton in a team setting is possibly a worse offense than sabotaging a rival in a competitive game.)
That brings me to a second feature I love about this game — role-play. There are two roles necessary for the game: Captain and Communications Officer. The Captain's only official responsibility is to go first. The Communications Officer is responsible for listening closely to the audio alerts and drawing threat cards accordingly. That's all that is officially required, but there is so much room for more. The Captain is the leader, with the authority to make final decisions (and all sorts of other activities of questionable prudence, depending on your play style). Our Communications Officer wore a headset which really added to the experience. A Security Chief can relieve the Communications Officer of his responsibility for Internal Threats, making both parties more efficient. The Chief Engineer makes sure all energy is properly maintained and accounted for (nothing like attempting to fire a laser that turns out to have no energy!). And the Tactical Officer updates the board in real time to help teammates visualize what's happening and avoid mix-ups.
I've never done much role-playing, and I haven't seen a single episode of Star Trek, Stargate, or Battlestar Galactica, but I'll be damned if I don't want to wear a uniform and headset and call our captain "sir" while playing this game. I want my teammates to step fully into their roles and responsibilities. I want us to learn to work together more effectively. I want us to practice. I WANT TO PRACTICE A BOARD GAME.
That brings me to point three: learning. Every game has a learning curve, but with Space Alert that curve is one of the most enjoyable parts of the game, and probably the single factor most responsible for making this game so addictive. We lost most of our first 10 games or so, but we always felt that with a little more effort we could win the next one. And so we would play again, and again, and again. We started having a short list at the end of each play-through of the specific areas upon which we would try to improve (we need to make sure serious threats are treated as such, we need to announce any time we are using energy, we need to say red/blue instead of left/right). We felt good when we did something better. It was a satisfying sequence of learning experiences.
The game has an option for playing solo where you control the other members of the crew. Something deep down inside of me desperately wants to buy this game and spend hours a day training and learning. I want to learn how to be a better Security Chief and Tactical Officer. I want to move closer to stepping into the Captain's role someday. I want to develop a strong team and get my fix of having a leadership role, wielding my crew like a finely-forged weapon against the horrors of space. Perhaps it's just a sad reflection of needs that should be, but aren't, fulfilled in my real life and work, but this game has had quite an effect on me.
Finally, the one aspect that might serve as a small thread to tie this post back to topics I usually discuss on this blog, is presence. All board games utilize presence to some extent, but with Space Alert it really feels necessary to the heart of the game. It's the frantic yelling over the blare of the alarm, it's watching your captain "transfer" cards from one player to another without their knowledge or consent, and it's seeing the fear in your crewmates' eyes as the mission ends and you all know you screwed up.
I gave you my most highly recommended anime series last week, and after just two play sessions with Space Alert, I'm about ready to call it my most highly recommended board game. At $70, Space Alert is a bit out of our board games budget right now, but that's probably for the best. I might need to calm down a bit about this game before I feel safe buying it.
And for someday in the future, I've got my eye on Artemis: Spaceship Bridge Simulator. Artemis looks something like Space Alert's video game big brother, ramping up the presence and role-play factors for a really unique experience. But that's, hopefully, a story for another day.


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September 2019
Brain Food: Our Happy Gut, Happy You Retreat
A blog post for Life Butler International, September 2019
"The most important thing is to understand what food the brain actually needs. There's a huge difference between what the brain and the rest of the body needs. The brain's a picky eater..."
Read more
Hungary: A Landscape Shaped by an Epic Past
A destination guide for the Council of Europe, September 2019
"Hungary exudes a very unique character, with proud Magyar residents and a history filled with Romans, Ottomans and Habsburgs helping to carve out a land of architectural marvels..."
Read more
Victours Overview to Italy
A destination guide for Victours, September 2019
"The sun-drenched, cypress-tree-dotted landscapes would be enough of a draw themselves, even if they were not so deeply coloured by Italy's storied history and fascinating culture..."
Read more


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Paks at Por Vida in Madrid, Spain took out this Pac Man implant made up of the main character and a couple of beads for him to eat! I guess this means the ghosts got him…
Paks at Por Vida in Madrid, Spain took out this Pac Man implant made up of the main character and a couple of beads for him to eat! I guess this means the ghosts got him…
That's pretty epic.
Did he implant a ghost instead ? : p
hahaha i was there!!!!! jaja coño paco me tuve que ir!
Maybe he could have kept it if he'd inserted coins.
Ooooo, pacman implant, what an ace idea :)
Lol @ #4.
How old is this, I wonder? It doesn't seem to have much definition around the mouth or eye, or was that never expected?
hey shannon,
i've been noticing a few implant removals recently (including the magnetic implants). i'm wondering if you guys have thought about writing an article or feature on the viability of various implants in the long run? i've often thought about getting some done, but always hold back from uncertainty over long-term risks and survival rate.
i'd love to see somethin like this in the future. :) just a thought.
joder pako, cuantas veces has salido ya?
thirded! and shouldn't another one spring up from the incision and go "bloop bloop bloop" and stuff?
Um.. you guys, Shannon did a huge article on that subject starring himself.
re: #11, his was in regards to magnetic implants which are relatively new. what i meant was a more general piece on silicone implants and other such mods, since those have a much longer history and are generally regarded as "standard" implants.
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Scritti Politti's Playlist
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A celebrity playlist in the UK iTunes Musicstore gives Green's 15 favourite songs with a small explanation added. It was possible for me to switch from the Dutch to the UK one, not sure though that's possible for everyone. The list goes from the classic Beach Boys through 70's Bowie and punk to hip-hop and beyond. May i join in praising Sufjan Stevens' Illinoise! Got to know this album through an interview with Green, and it became one of my favourite albums this year.
Surf's Up – The Beach Boys
Along with Paul McCartney, Brian Wilson 'wrote a book' when it comes to pop melody and harmony. Just beautiful.
(White Man) In Hammersmith Palais – The Clash
Seeing the Clash on their first tour was the inspiration for forming a band and writing songs – this is a classic.
Blue – Joni Mitchell
I played this album over and over when i was a kid. Still sounds stunning.
Neon Lights – Kraftwerk
A huge influence in pop music generally – my introduction to synthesizers. Invaluable – good tune too!
Oh! You Pretty Things – David Bowie
I rocked a version of Bowie look at school. Yikes! One of the masters. A very clever man. Classic chorus.
New Town – The Slits
When I started making music, the Slits were one of the most powerful bands around. The Cut album was a big influence. Real innovators.
When I Get to the Border – Linda Thompson & Richard Thompson
Hard to choose just one Richard hompson track but this has glorious instrumental playing at the end. One of my favourite guitarists.
Bat Chain Puller – Captain Beefheart
Clear Spot and The Spotlight Kid are probably my favourite Beefheart albums. This is reminiscent of him at his very best. Hearing him for the first time when i was a boy was a real revelation.
Work on Natty – Culture
I could easily compile a playlist of just reggae. When punk happened, this is the stuff we were all listening to. Tons of reggae. Joseph Hill and Culture are my favourite. A great songwriter.
Up for the Down Stroke – Parliament
Ah. The Funk. Cannot live without The Funk. Quality of live improved 100% when I found The Funk. This is funky!
Sucker M.C.'s – Run-DMC
I was in New York when this came out. It blew my mind. My favourite 'band' for quite a while. I sing about them on my album.
Award Tour – A Tribe Called Quest
I spent years immersed in hip-hop and Midnight Marauders is a high point, I think, in rap's development. Not a bad track on that album. So full of ideas. Nod your head.
Casimir Pulaski Day – Sufjan Stevens
Illinoise was the best album of last year – no contest. Sufjan is up there with the greats.
Sea song – Robert Wyatt
Hauntingly beautiful. A massively influential album. I wanted to be Robert Wyatt when I was 15.
Signed, Sealed, Delivered I'm Yours – Stevie Wonder
Actually, add Stevie Wonder to the Paul McCartney, Brian Wilson list. This is early magic from an incredible talent.
About this entry
You're currently reading "Scritti Politti's Playlist," an entry on bibbly-o-tek
- Published:
- 06.28.06 / 4pm
- Category:
- Scritti Politti
- Author:
- Ellen


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Rob Van Dam Returning To TNA Impact Wrestling
The latest regarding Rob Van Dam is he is returning to TNA Impact Wrestling.
His current deal with TNA was believed to expire this month, however, it may have included an option for another year. While RVD had grown frustrated with the way he had been booked and was rumored to be considering another run with WWE in late 2011, TNA does provide him an opportunity to work less dates. It should also go without saying that RVD could be more optimistic about his character under the company's new creative direction.
As for a possible time frame, the last I heard he could return as soon as this week.


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How To Create a DVD With Menus Using Free Software
DVDStyler is a simple but powerful DVD authoring software. It lets you create DVDs and add menus, sub-menus, closed captions, buttons, video thumbnails and even background music. This makes DVD Styler the perfect solution to port your home movies to DVDs, make them look less boring and more professional. DVDStyler comes in Windows, Linux and Mac versions.


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Veronica Cray Receptionist
Area of Ministry: Receptionist
Family: Zeke - Husband, 4 sons Elijah, Ethan, Ryan, Bradley
Saved: 12 yrs old, at a Wednedsay youth service, Rededicated my life in my early 20's. Both at Trinity church in Lubbock, Texas
Joined Lakeshore Staff: November 2016
Book: I love Ted Dekker and Linda Nichols books
Food: Bread!! Sweets of any kind, but mostly cakes and muffins, and anything my husband cooks
Snack Food: Bread! Sweets! Dark chocolate, oh and peanut butter and syrup on a tortilla (thanks to my grandpa)
Movie: Ever After/Napoleon Dynamite
TV Shows: Carol Burnett Show
CD/Artist/Band/Song: Walk With Me -Jesus Culture, Mercy Me, Dean Martin, The Bee Gees, Bethel, Family Force5, 80's music, Way too many to list. I love music!
Actor/Actress: Sandra Bullock
Season: Fall
Place in the World: Somewhere surrounded by trees and quiet
Place to Pray: My room
Recreational Activities/Hobbies: Painting projects, reading, talking
Scripture: Ephesians 2:10
Sports Team: Texas Tech Red Raiders
Sport: Is eating a sport?
Food: Really spicy food, cilantro, Dairy Queen, Whataburger
Snack Food: popcorn, milk chocolate. There's not too many foods I don't like
Season: Summer
Place in the World: Big city
Sports Team: Longhorns
Best thing someone said to you: It's a boy!
Life Motto: Let Go and Let God!! Ain't nobody got time for that!
Three People I'd Like to Meet: My dad, my big brother, Ronald Reagan
My Hero: My Grandpa Saldana
One of My Greatest Experiences with God: Every single time He picks me back up!!
Most People Don't Know This About Me: Rodents of any kind gross me out to the point nausea, even pictures!


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THE AUTHOR WHO SPEAKS A MILLION WORDS THROUGH A HANDFUL OF HIGHLY ACCOMPLISHED BOOKS: "The Mosaic of the Broken Soul", "Fiume- The Lost River", "The Lonely Poet and other stories"
Much like a painter of great classical masterpieces, Branka Cubrilo's character portraits reach out beyond the canvas into the Universe without. They take the reader upon their quest, turning him into a most willing protagonist. This in itself is no ordinary accomplishment for any writer!
There is unity and harmony linking all Branka's protagonists; they're rounded characters, in search of Truth and meaning for themselves, whilst in their dealings with others, they undergo scrutiny through the prism of faith, loyalty and trust. They travel through geographical spaces and time, giving them time to find themselves deep within:
"Only one kind of man is able to be trustworthy and faithful to others: the one who has faith and trust in himself." (P.80 'The Mosaic…')
Circumstance, fate and adversity all lead the players in different directions, but Branka coaxes each and one back to reflect upon the unfathomable depths of their psyche and the possibilities of interaction with others. Harmony always prevails as self-control takes over. The author arouses endless questioning, far beyond the limits of the written page. How she manages to do so with simple, unassuming words and matter-of-fact sentences is a testimony to her talent as a poetess.
Her style is infused with pace and rhythm, and she has a perfect mastery of the surprise versus suspense technique much as a playwright would. But most importantly, the message that comes across is respect and affection for the erring of the human soul. Branka Cubrilo judges not, she preaches not, yet on the contrary manages to turn human foibles into poetry! It takes an outstanding writer to do so, someone whose insight into life goes far beyond a mere talent for writing fiction.
Having laid down the latest of Branka's publications, one can't help feeling impatient to read the next!
– Lidija Berlot
THE INs-AND-OUTs OF BAD FAITH, AS REVEALED BY BRANKA CUBRILO


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Left of Center is one of my favorite Challenge Blogs, so naturally I was thrilled when asked to participate as a Guest Designer during their First Anniversary party. Each day from March 7th through 31st there is fab inspiration and a special Anniversary Challenge (apart from their fortnightly challenges) as well. I was even more excited when Mitzi Sato-Wiuff, the uber talented artist from Aurora Wings, one of the fab sponsors, allowed me to introduce a brand new digi in honor of the event.
Here is a closeup of the gorgeous new image entitled Madness and seeing I live in the Livermore Valley wine country (and love my wine ;D) you can just imagine how much I LOVE her! Fabulously dark, don'tcha think? Madness, indeed! She was printed several times, colored with Copics, fussy cut and popped on a giant tag. The vine is an ancient Spellbinders die that I'd never used but was perfect for this project. The fab DP is K&Co.
The quote is from a poem by Bob Jonson from the 1600's. I just couldn't resist. LOL It was printed on yet another of the Fancy Labels from the Cuttlebug Emboss Plus folder of the same name and inked with Distress. Of course I had to add a bit of Drippy Goo.


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This what your Society Category Ad will look like to visitors! Of course you will want to use keywords and ad targeting to get the most out of your ad campaign! So purchase an ad space today before there all gone!
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Blogging Fusion is a premier blog directory on the internet. Visitors can Search, Browse, Rate and Review 1000's of blogs that have been submitted for inclusion within our directory. Submit your blog today!read more
Funny poems for kids. Poetry for children. poems about animals, valentine, love, school, teachers, sun and moon and much more...read more
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Poetry, prose and bluetry, trademarked by JL & violetwrites. Reviews and interviews, and other musings plus photos with gcast for easy listening pleasure.read more
UK Blog Poet Ivor Griffiths English Poetry Blog. Discussing contemporary news of the day, poetry, English Literature, Poetry and more.read more
Sometimes we fall short of words to express our heartiest feelings and sometimes the words hold the power and beautyto express our inner feelings. Quotation is one such form in which thoughts and feelings are beautifully knitted with the essence of love,....read more
It's all about my world in poetry and photos -- or rather -- my words. . .read more
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the ramblings of an ordinary poet in an ordinary world, seeking inspiration, and when found, to express in ordinary ways.read more
Poetry is one of the most essential nutrients of life; it is what I eat. While poetry for breakfast and lunch has its value, it is only with dinner that the most lavish meals are created. With dinner come guests, loads of guests, and I hope you all....read more
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You Might Be Asking, Do People Really Spend Money on Bird Stuff?
The numbers tell the true story (and the opportunity).
feed the birds and watch wildlife
in their own backyards
spent annually on bird feeding
and watching wildlife
spent annually on bird seed
and wildlife food
Wild Birds Unlimited is an outdoor wildlife franchise dedicated to meeting the growing consumer wildlife hobbyist demand. Each of our more than 350 stores are strategically located within their communities ̶ serving as a true neighborhood resource. WBU franchise owners provide expert knowledge about the bird feeding hobby and offer an exceptional shopping experience.
We train every Wild Birds Unlimited franchisee how to help customers transform their yards into a bird feeding habitat that not only brings song, color, and energy to their lives, but also one that benefits the visiting wild birds and the overall ecosystem.
Learn more about who we are, the business opportunity, and what markets are available for opening your own Wild Birds Unlimited franchise.
Our Franchisees…Our Partners
We support each Wild Birds Unlimited franchisee with best-in-class training along with operational and marketing resources to help you realize your dream of owning a successful bird franchise.
You'll benefit from:
- Our proven, 40+ year business model and trusted brand reputation
- Pre-opening support including business planning, site selection, lease negotiation tactics, classroom and in-store training, and store design and layout
- Ongoing ownership support that includes marketing, merchandising and purchasing, store operations, nature and hobby education, and established financial and information systems
- Strong customer loyalty generated by the highest quality bird food and bird feeding products in the industry in addition to an exceptional customer experience
Click here for more bird feeding hobby statistics.
People also spend:
$960 million annually on bird feeders, bird baths and nesting boxes
$1.8 billion annually on binoculars and spotting scopes
These statistics are according to the 2016 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service National Survey of Fishing, Hunting and Wildlife Associated Recreation, preliminary report. This survey is conducted every five years.
Each WBU store functions as a true community resource, providing valuable knowledge about the bird feeding hobby and an exceptional shopping experience. We'll teach you how to help your customers turn their yards into a bird feeding habitat that not only brings song, color and life to their lives, but also benefits the wild birds and the environment.
We Support You… All the Way
- Rated #1 or #2 in Retail for Franchisee Satisfaction for 15 years
- Rated in Top 20 Overall for Franchisee Satisfaction since 2006
- Proven, 35+ year business model
- Our pre-opening support covers business planning, site selection, lease negotiations, classroom and in-store training, store design and layout
- Our on-going support includes marketing, merchandising and purchasing, store operations, nature and hobby education, financial and information systems
- Strong customer loyalty by providing an exceptional customer experience and the highest quality bird food and bird feeding products in the industry
- Many US and Canadian markets are still available for development
Franchise Update Media's Most Innovative Supply Chain Award
Top 100 Franchise Culture Award Winners by Franchise Business Review
Franchise Direct Top 100
Franserve Frantastic 500
Franchise Business Review 2022 Franchisee Rock Star
Hear testimonials from our existing Wild Birds Unlimited franchise owners.
Kelli, Franchise Owner, Salt Lake City, UT
Expert Support and a Brand that Stands for Quality
Brandon and Trish, Franchise Owner, Hampton Roads, VA
It's not just an outdoor franchise. To me, it's family
Learn More About Becoming a Wild Birds Unlimited Franchise Owner
Complete the form to talk with our Development Team.


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In virtual age, home buyers still like their real Realtors
Steve Murray sometimes gets together with other old-timers in the real estate industry, shares some wine and inevitably gets around to remarking, "I sure would've thought it would've changed more by now."
Murray, president of consulting firm Real Trends, has been tracking for 40 years how U.S. real estate agents do their jobs. And over the past decade, the internet has disrupted almost every aspect of a transaction that sits at the core of the American Dream. Everyone now has free access to information that used to be impossible to find or required an agent's help.
But as a new home-buying season kicks off, one thing remains mostly unchanged: the traditional 5-to-6-percent commission paid to real estate agents when a home sells.
While the internet has pummeled the middlemen in many industries - decimating travel agents, stomping stock-trading fees, cracking open the heavily regulated taxi industry - the average commission paid to real estate agents has gone up slightly since 2005, according to Real Trends. In 2016, it stood at 5.12 percent.
"There's not a shred of evidence that the internet is having an impact," Murray said, sounding like he almost can't believe it himself.
The stickiness of the real estate commission is a source of fascination for economists and curiosity for consumers who are doing an increasing share of the home-buying legwork themselves online. It also offers potential lessons for workers in other industries worried about the internet's destructive powers. The Web has changed how agents hustle for a share of the estimated $60 billion paid each year in residential real estate commissions. But it hasn't taken their jobs. In fact, the number of agents has grown 60 percent in the past two decades.
It wasn't supposed to be like this.
Experts have been predicting the demise of real estate agents for years. Consider the title of a 1997 article in the Journal of Real Estate Portfolio Management: "The Coming Downsizing of Real Estate: The Implications of Technology."
In the mid-2000s, the arrival of real estate tech start-ups like Zillow, Redfin and Trulia spurred a fresh dose of anticipation. "Realtors' sacrosanct commission rates of 6 percent may be in danger," warned "60 Minutes" in 2007. Jeff Jarvis, a City University of New York professor who examines the Internet's effects, wrote a 2006 blog post predicting, "Real estate agents are next."
Agents thought so, too.
"The industry was fearful of the internet. They didn't think they'd have jobs," said Leonard Zumpano, a retired finance professor who for years ran the University of Alabama's Real Estate Research Center.
The Web automated and simplified huge swaths of a process that once was complicated and time-consuming. With a few taps on a smartphone, home buyers and sellers now can find information that once required digging through musky deed books at the county recorder's office. And the new technology has made agents more efficient. In many ways, their job is easier now.
Yet agents stand to earn more in commissions today than in the pre-internet era, because of stable commission rates and surging home values.
In 1997, the typical commission on a median-priced U.S. home, adjusted for inflation, was $16,600.
Today, that commission is $20,131.
"It's a mystery to me," Zumpano said. "I would've expected commissions to go down."
In 2005, the Justice Department and the Federal Trade Commission held a workshop to talk about why commissions had not fallen more. The American Bankers Association argued that the commission rate could be cut in half in a truly competitive market. Attendees at the workshop appeared to place great faith in the power of the internet to lower commissions.
In a typical home sale, the commission is paid out of the seller's proceeds and split between the seller's and buyer's agent. The rate is negotiable. But the traditional rate has held firm, even as an agent's main advantage - information - has been eroded by the Internet.
Experts don't have a good answer for why these commissions have survived the internet's onslaught. They point to several potential factors. A home sale is a massive financial transaction. It's complicated. And it doesn't happen often, with home buyers staying put for an average of 12-to-13 years. So intimidated consumers keep turning to agents for help.
Regulations may have slowed the pace of change. Twenty states and the District of Columbia set minimum levels of service for agents, dissuading brokers willing to do less for lower fees. Ten states also ban agents from rebating a portion of the commission to their clients. But commission rates do not vary wildly among these states, analysts say.
The National Association of Realtors also has worked to reinforce the role of agents through lobbying and advertising, sometimes in unconventional ways. Last year, the group struck a deal with the ABC sitcom "Modern Family" to work into an episode that character Phil Dunphy is a true real estate expert - a licensed Realtor. And national broker Century 21 is running ads with the tagline, "Good luck, robots," adding "there's no robot for insight or hustle or a handshake."
The efforts appear to be working. The association reports 89 percent of home sellers used an agent in 2016 - on par with the previous five years. At the same time, for-sale-by-owner transactions fell to their lowest rate - 8 percent - since the association began tracking the data in 1981.
"Who is going to write a contract? Fill out a disclosure statement? Anticipate what's coming on the market?" asked association president Bill Brown. "There's a human element to buying and selling a home that can't be replaced."
But the internet is expert at discounting that human element.
That was the worry that greeted Zillow when it was launched in 2006 with executives from Expedia and Hotwire, travel sites that were on their way to pushing out human travel agents.
"There was fear in the beginning," Zillow chief marketing officer Jeremy Wacksman said.
Agents fought to keep Zillow from accessing private databases known as the multiple listing service - where agents post homes for sale and which many considered an agent's ultimate advantage. Zillow eventually tapped those listings. But it decided not to challenge the industry head-on, opting to focus on real estate ads.
The reception was harsher for Redfin, a tech-heavy broker in Seattle that tried to cut agent commissions. It started out selling homes for a flat $3,000 fee and rebated part of the home buyer agent's commission.
"Competing agents have threatened us with violence, intimidated our customers and tried to block their offers," Redfin chief executive Glenn Kelman said in testimony before Congress in 2006.
Redfin changed course. Today, Redfin more closely resembles a traditional broker. It has its own local agents. It sells homes for a 1 to 1.5 percent commission. Redfin agents are paid a salary and a bonus tied to customer satisfaction.
Redfin remains a small player, with 1-to-2 percent of the U.S. market. But in some big cities such as Chicago, Seattle and Washington it holds a 5 percent share. Kelman said he believes Redfin will continue to grow as a new generation of buyers and sellers enters the market.
"Kids who grew up buying textbooks on Amazon are now buying houses on Redfin," Kelman said.
Other agents are not standing still. They have adopted technology, too.
A peek at Samina Chowdhury's smartphone shows how.
A veteran agent in Ellicott City, Maryland, Chowdhury has one app that scans closing documents and one that writes contracts. Another accepts digital signatures. She has an app that allows her to keep tabs on sales leads and another to unlock residential lockboxes. She uses an online video editor for making home tour videos. And while Chowdhury speaks five languages, if she runs into trouble she can call up a translation program.
"None of these technologies were here 10 years ago," she said.
Chowdhury has seen other agents struggle with the pace of change. But she's done well. She estimates that she made $300,000 last year.
The push of technology into real estate is what motivated Chris Speicher to leave his job at Microsoft to join his wife, Peggy Lyn Speicher, as a real estate agent. He figured he could help.
"It's no longer about going to the real estate agent because they hold 'the truth' - they have the data," Chris Speicher said.
They work in a team model, with staff divided among different duties. They target potential home buyers with online ads. They get leads from Zillow. Last year, the Bethesda, Maryland-based team helped close $100 million in deals.
But Speicher, like many agents, feels the pressures of change, too. He has noticed more pushback from home-buying customers, driving that commission down closer to 2.5 percent.
Murray, of Real Trends, found that commission rates tend to fluctuate with the health of the housing market - almost as if the internet hadn't happened.
In 2005, at the housing market's height, buying and selling were easy. The market was tight. And the national average commission stood at a low 5.02 percent. Four years later, during the housing crash, with almost twice as many houses on the market, commissions rose to 5.38 percent.
Now the commission rate is falling as the housing market heats up again, Murray said.
He noted the rate has drifted down 16 percent over the last 25 years, but surprisingly, all of that decline happened before 2004.
Murray does see one way the internet could attack commissions: It could consolidate the highly fragmented market for agents. Today, two-thirds of consumers still find their agents through knowing them or by a personal referral. But if the internet weakens that bond, popular agents could win more market share.
"And they're going to cut rates," Murray said. "They can be more productive now, so they'll do volume instead. They'll be more prone to discounting."
It will be agents doing what the internet hasn't.


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This issue may seem trivial to most, if not all readers of our continuing SOS / Gant series but I must bring it to the headlines.  While doing more research for our series, a new addition to the SOS website showed up. My security settings now block examination of ballot issues. As a computer security analyst, I must admit my computer settings are stronger than most. In my work we must know what is happening when we visit sites. This is how we found PP's shenanigans last May. Like I said this may seem trivial but let me explain.
In today's computer based world, every time we access a website and we ask for data, data is collected on us. It's not cookies, it can be far worse.  Most commercial websites find ways to look at what data is important to the viewing public so it can be better highlighted or presented. Usually this tracking information is kept inside the domain you chose to visit. This is mostly done for marketing purposes. These businesses are SELLING something, and they want to know as much about you to optimize their sales.
In this case we have a government involved. (What does the government sell?) We citizens should expect a certain amount of anonymity when researching the SOS site on an issue or candidate. In Gant's redo of the site, we now have a private company, once again, controlling access to our documents.  ISSUU.comis a data aggregator.  ISSUU.com collects information on everyone who asks for  documents or data. This data is collected and cross referenced for their web tracking-data selling service.  ISSUU.com and the SOS office now will have better ways to look at who wants the data and possibly why.
ISSUU.com appears to be owned by ASCIO TECHNOLOGIES, INC., headquartered in Munich Germany. So when we South Dakotans want data, we have to go to a German company to get it back? How much more versions of wrong do we need? And why are we paying a service with our taxdollars to basically SPY on us?
After the millions of dollars the State of South Dakota has spent on information technology, Gant now has contracted with a questionable data collector so he can now have better tools to understand what we want from his site. The ability to download from state servers the Adobe PDF files to view was very sufficient for the public's use. The state has the web power and bandwidth to give us our documents, so why do we have to contract with a data collector and how much is it going to cost? Remember the cost is not just financial it is to our privacy as citizens to research our public officials actions. This data can be used for many private / political needs of the collector.
We had an aggressive partisan data collector as an operations manager who left to spend more time with his family, now our SOS office has contracted with a website data collector on steroids.
Without trying to sound paranoid, is Gant trying to figure out where and who is gathering information on him and ALEC's incompetence? If you respect our right to search public records without partisan retribution, demand this data be returned to state servers without tracking!


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Parsons is in a fantastic location for food shopping as well as general shopping, with local supermarkets, such as Tesco, Sainsbury's and Waitrose, just around the corner. As well as King Street in Hammersmith, Hammersmith Broadway and Fulham Palace Road providing a wide selection of shops for many other requirements.
There are a number of bank branches (Lloyds, Barclays and Nationwide) on the nearby King St, just west of Hammersmith Station.


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text:
Territorial analysis of the cohesion objectives and consolidation of alternative scenarios of the Strategic Infrastructure and Transport Plan (PEIT)
Period: April 15th, 2005 - May 25th, 2005
Financing entity: General Directorate of Territorial Planning and Coordination, Ministry of Public Works.
Researchers: Andrés Monzón (PI), Elena López, Santiago Mancebo, Emilio Ortega.
Status: Finished


text:
آحمد صبحي منصور Ýí 2018-03-28
Preaching and Warning the Gullible, Naïve Masses by Refuting their False Notion of Representatives of God on Earth
Published in March 18, 2018
Translated by: Ahmed Fathy
Firstly: worldly charlatanism does not succeed so often:
1- A charlatan came to a village, and he told the naïve villagers that the president of the State has authorized him to represent the presidency in this village, assuming all authority over them. The gullible peasants believed in such fake authorization; the charlatan became the absolute ruler of the village and he enslaved the peasants, who forgot all about the president of the State and assumed as if the charlatan were the ruler with absolute power.
2- An owner of a large farm in one village was very busy with his business in the capital of the State; a charlatan came to a village, and he told the naïve villagers that the owner of this large farm has authorized him to manage it. The gullible peasants believed in such fake authorization; the charlatan became the controller of the large farm and he enslaved its peasants, who forgot all about the original owner of the large farm and assumed as if the charlatan were the owner in charge of the large farm and he can do whatever he wants.
3- Another charlatan went to another village and told the wise, reasonable villagers that he had an authorization from the president of the State to rule over them in his name; the wise villagers and peasants demanded to see a written document as a tangible proof of such authorization; the charlatan felt embarrassed and did not know what to say. When the villagers and peasants saw this, they knew that this charlatan tried to deceive them, and they punished and humiliated him by giving a public beating and then put him in chains on a donkey's back to roam the paths of the village in disgrace. This is the difference between the gullible, naïve people and the wise, reasonable people.
4- When one gives an attorney/lawyer a written authorization, this attorney/lawyer represents one in courts, etc. while one is not present in any case. When one gives someone else a written authorization to manage one's assets, one can no longer control and manage these assets; the one with the authorization can even buy/steal/confiscate the assets without the knowledge of the original owner, who will never be protected by Law; the Law does not protect the gullible, naïve people.
Secondly: religious charlatanism renders most people as naïve, gullible, blind followers of myths:
Ordinary, common charlatans in most cases end up in prison; they are cursed, verbally abused, disgraced, and/or beaten by people before being imprisoned. In contrast, religious charlatans (i.e., clergymen) step with their feet on the heads of the naïve, gullible, blind followers who sanctify and deify them! Instead of despising, humiliating, and chasing away clergymen who urinate inside their heads, the gullible, naïve masses honor and revere them and give them their money!
1- The charlatans/clergymen of different Christian denominations, which are earthly, man-made religions, claim to the naïve followers that they are authorized by God and that they act as mediators between the masses and God; i.e., they claim as if they were God's representatives, and therefore, they must control people in this world and in the next or the kingdom of heaven (i.e., the Hereafter: Hell and Paradise). This assumption is very insulting to God; it is as if He has created the universe and left it to clergymen to control it and to control human beings. The reasonable human mind refuses to accept this myth; yet, Satan the Devil, who is the grandmaster of all types of clergymen worldwide in all eras and not only of the Christian clergymen, makes the gullible, naïve masses disregard their minds. Without using their reasonable minds, human beings become like herds of cattle or any animals who believe anything uttered by the clergymen/charlatans. This is how the falsehoods of the Orthodox, Catholic, and Protestant clergymen (of all denominations) live on until now. Each sect or denomination has its head or pope and high-rank and low-rank clergymen and ecclesiastics who typically wear laughter-inducing embroidered clothes and who control billions of US$ within their 'holy' churches. No one among the gullible, naïve, blind masses ever demanded from any priest or pope to show a written document as a tangible proof of such authorization of the claim of being representatives of God on earth.
2- The same applies to the clergymen/charlatans of the Muhammadans in their earthly religions, especially the Shiite clergymen who have ranks, billions of US$, and 'holy' houses of worship and mausoleums similar to the Catholics; the Shiite clergymen of today assume they are authorized by God to represent Him to the 'believers' as the mediators between the masses and Him, and this 'justification' makes them assume to control the gullible, naïve masses in this world and in the next one; as if they were in charge and in full control of the Hereafter: the Last-Day events, Judgment, Hell, and Paradise. This is the silliest notion ever; it is as if God has created the universe and left it to Shiite clergymen to control it and to control human beings. The reasonable human mind refuses to accept this myth; yet, Satan the Devil, who is the grandmaster of all types of clergymen of the Muhammadans (i.e., Shiites, Sunnites, and Sufis), makes the gullible, naïve masses disregard their minds. Without using their reasonable minds, the Muhammadans become like herds of cattle or any animals who believe anything uttered by their clergymen/charlatans. his is how the falsehoods of the clergymen (of all Sufi, Sunnite, and Shiite sects, divisions, and branches of the Muhammadans) live on until now. Each sect has its own deified high-rank and low-rank clergymen/sheikhs who typically control billions of US$ within their 'holy' religious institutions. No one among the gullible, naïve, blind masses ever demanded from any of their sheikhs to show a written document as a tangible proof of such authorization of the claim of being representatives of God on earth.
3- The West has liberated itself from the Church and clergymen; the role of the Church is now confined to its walls; curfew has been imposed on it within streets of cities of respectable, secular States. On the contrary, the Muhammadans in their countries are still enslaved by their Sunnite/Sufi/Shiite clergymen; Sunnite/Wahabi and Shiite theocracies are established now in Arabia (the KSA) and Iran, respectively. The secular Arab tyrants who rule in Arab republics ally themselves to the Sunnite clergymen to control the citizens. Those tyrants ride/control the clergymen who, in their turn, ride/control the citizens.
4- The Wahabi Sunnite terrorist MB group was the strongest opposition movement in the Arab world and its movements used the name of Islam to deceive and control the minds of the gullible, naïve masses so that the MB would rule Egypt and the other Arab countries one day. The terrorist MB members felt that they ride/control the masses by deceiving them by claiming they represent God and He has authorized them to rule and dominate over them! Of course, the hypocritical Salafists are similar to the terrorists MB group members and they follow their footsteps now. When the MB reached power in Egypt in 2012, its members showed their true colors as polytheistic, arrogant, aggressive criminals who assumes airs of superior and aim to establish a theocratic rule; millions of Egyptian citizens revolted against the terrorist, Wahabi MB in the revolution of 30 June, 2013, and they managed to oust the tyrannical MB president. Of course, the Sunnite discourse of the terrorist MB is imitated now by Salafists in Egypt and elsewhere; each of these evil theocrats claim they have received an authorization from God to rule the nations! The one year of the MB rule in Egypt (2012-2013) showed the polytheism of the MB members as they insulted God by claiming He is on their side along with His angels serving their whims and blessing their decisions! May God curse them for such blasphemies! It is as if Salafists and MB members were owning/controlling God! May His Holy Name be exalted above all their lies and falsehoods! It is a grave sin to employ the name of God in politics and political propaganda; this blasphemy has been committed by the terrorist MB and Salafists. No one among the gullible, naïve, blind masses ever demanded from any of the MB members and Salafists to show a written document as a tangible proof of such authorization of the claim of being representatives of God on earth.
5- The clergymen makes their gullible, naïve followers lose in this world and the next one; inside Hell, the tormented followers will curse their clergymen, superiors, and masters: "The Day when their faces are flipped into the Fire, they will say, "If only we had obeyed God and obeyed the Messenger." And they will say, "Lord, we have obeyed our superiors and our dignitaries, but they led us away from the Way. Lord, give them double the torment and curse them with a great curse."" (33:66-68).
Thirdly: Islam contains neither clergymen nor the charlatanism of clergymen:
Islam (i.e., Quranism) never includes mortals who would act as mediators/intercessors on behalf of other mortals; God does not give any authorization to anyone among human beings at all (even messengers/prophets) to represent Him, and we exemplify this by quoting some Quranic verses that prove that the Lord God is the Overseer and Guardian of everything and He is the Watchful Omniscient Lord.
1- God is the Creator and Originator of everything in the universe; therefore, He is the Overseer and Guardian of everything; God directly addresses all human beings here: "God is the Creator of all things, and He is in charge of all things." (39:62); "Such is God, your Lord. There is no God except He, the Creator of all things; so worship Him. He is the Guardian of everything." (6:102).
2- There is no God except Allah, and this includes the fact that monotheistic believers should consider Him as the Only Guardian and Overseer: "...Take none for Guardian other than Me." (17:2); God has told Muhammad the following twice: "And put your trust in God. God is enough as a Trustee." (33:3); "...and rely on God. God is a Sufficient Guardian." (33:48).
3- There should be no Guardian, Protector, Keeper, or Ally to real believers except the Lord God; He has no representatives on earth within mortals or institutions: "...So avoid them, and put your trust in God. God is a Sufficient Guardian." (4:81); "To God belongs everything in the heavens and everything on earth. God suffices as Guardian." (4:132).
4- Muhammad was not a representative of anyone, and he never acted on behalf of anyone else.
4/1: God has commanded Muhammad to announce this fact: "But your people rejected it, though it is the Truth. Say, "I am not responsible for you."" (6:66); "Say, "O people, the truth has come to you from your Lord. Whoever accepts guidance is guided for his own soul; and whoever strays only strays to its detriment. I am not a guardian over you."" (10:108).
4/2: God has told Muhammad that he does not represent anyone or would be authorized to act on behalf of anyone at all: "...We did not appoint you as a guardian over them, and you are not a manager over them." (6:107); "...You are not their overseer." (39:41); "...We did not send you as their advocate." (17:54); "As for those who take allies other than Him: God is in charge of them, and you are not responsible for them." (42:6).
5- The gullible, naïve masses take for themselves revered, deified representatives of God on earth and place them in a high pedestal even above Muhammad. Real monotheists who discern and understand the Quran take God as their Only Lord and Creator, with no partners or associates alongside with Him.
5/1: God has told Muhammad to trust Him as the Only Lord: "Lord of the East and the West. There is no God but He, so take Him as a Trustee." (73:9).
5/2: In times of adversity, believers utter this Quranic phrase: "...God is enough for us; He is the Excellent Advocate." (3:173).
5/3: Within contracts, pledges, agreements, etc., God is invoked as a Witness, as He is the Omnipresent Lord.
5/3/1: Jacob said the following to his sons: "..."I will not send him with you, unless you give me a pledge before God that you will bring him back to me, unless you get trapped." And when they gave him their pledge, he said, "God is Witness to what we say."" (12:66).
5/3/2: The father-in-law of Moses, in Madian, said the following to Moses: "..."Let this be an agreement between you and me. Whichever of the two terms I fulfill, there shall be no harm against me; and God is Witness over what we say."" (28:28).
|تاريخ الانضمام
|مقالات منشورة
|اجمالي القراءات
|تعليقات له
|تعليقات عليه
|بلد الميلاد
|بلد الاقامة
|United State
مشروع نشر مؤلفات احمد صبحي منصور
عن القسم ( أو الحلف ) بالله جل وعلا
ف 8 : الصلاة ( 2 ) يجوز للمرأة أن تؤم الرجال فى الصلاة ، طالما لم يرد فيه تحريم
المحمديون ملحدون .. فمتى يفيقون ؟!!
من أكاذيب السيرة ( المؤاخاة بين المهاجرين والأنصار ) و ( طلع البدر علينا )
دعوة للتبرع
كيدكن عظيم: سمعت كثيرا يقولو ن:إن كيد النسا ء عظيم...
Ibn Khaldun Center: - Which role plays the Ibn Khaldun Center in Cairo in the work of the Ahl al-Qur'a n? ...
جمع الصلاة وتأخيرها: هل صلاة الجما عة واجبة برأيك م ؟ وهل يجوز...
تأبين الميت : قوله جل وعلا ولاتص ل على احد منهم مات ابدا...
السلام على الرسل: لماذا تتمسك ون ب قول "عليه السلا م" بعد ذكر...more


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text:
PUBLIC SAFETY FACILITY — Santa Monica police are searching for a suspect in an attempted sexual assault that occurred on Christmas Day.
The victim was walking northbound on the beach near the waterline in the 2700 block of the beach when the suspect approached her with his arms held out. The suspect grabbed the victim in a bear hug, pushing her to the ground where he attempted to force her legs apart.
The victim fought back and the suspect fled in a northwest direction as the victim gave chase. She eventually lost sight of the suspect.
Police describe the suspect as being a Latino, 25-30 years old with a medium build. He has dark eyes and black, wavy hair.
At the time of the alleged assault he was wearing a black collared shirt, a dark jacket and dark colored jeans.
Anyone with information is being advised to contact the watch commander at (310) 458-8427.


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The Canucks Rally To Overcome The Hawks In Shootout 3-2
Dec 20, 2013; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Blackhawks center Jonathan Toews (19) wins a face off against Vancouver Canucks center Brad Richardson (15) during the second period at the United Center. Mandatory Credit: Rob Grabowski-USA TODAY Sports
A great rivalry renewed again tonight at the United Center, but it appeared from the beginning that it wasn't an even match. The Blackhawks possession game was in full display during the majority of the first period, with just one breakaway for the Canucks in which Raanta made a big stick save to keep the game in the early stages scoreless. After the Raanta save, Patrick Kane does what Patrick Kane does and fired one at the net that trickled past Eddie Lack for the opening score. After replay, Kris Versteeg picked up the goal but the Hawks had the ice slanted towards their end. The only thing keeping this from being a 2 or 3 nothing lead was the play of Lack who was very good in the first period.
The second period started out all Canucks and it pretty much sums up the entire 20 minutes. The Canucks had two powerplays right out of the box without converting, but they were able to fire off 9 shots on goal in the early stretch of the period. The Hawks seemed to take control of the period when Patrick Kane set up Michal Rozsival with a great pass, but Lack stopped the initial shot, but Johnny on the Spot was Kane and he put in the rebound to give the Hawks a 2-0 lead even though they were getting dominated in the 2nd. The Canucks would get one back when Zack Kassian put one past Raanta short side. Raanta was tested in the second period facing 13 shots and only let that one shot slip past him.
The beginning of the third period was Raanta time especially during the Hawks Penalty Kill when Niklas Hjalmarsson was sent to the box for delay of game penalty. Raanta came up huge to keep the lead 2-1 Hawks early in the third period. Midway through the 3rd period Daniel Sedin made an incredible play on a bouncing puck and got it over Raanta's glove to tie the game. The Hawks had their chances to get the lead but too many passes hurt their shot at a regulation victory. All the Hawks fans hearts stopped when with less than 20 seconds left the Canucks had a 3 on 1 break but missed the net and sent the game to overtime. The overtime had one goal post that save Raanta but pretty much it was a lot of open ice with chances but no execution. The shootout went 8 rounds and Ryan Kesler won it. The Hawks should have left the ice with 2 points but walked away with only one point.


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