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There is a need to provide freedom to our officers to exercise their role and responsibilities effectively
Pankil Goswami | April 21, 2017
Civil services day observed on April 21 every year is according to the government "an occasion for the civil servants to rededicate themselves to the cause of citizens and renew their commitment to public service and excellence in work".
On this particular day in 1947, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, expressing his thoughts to the first batch of civil servants, pressed on the privilege that these new civil servants will not be working and taking instructions of "foreign masters" and that they will now have the satisfaction of taking orders from and working for "fellow Indians".
After almost seven decades, the narrative has changed. Indians have enjoyed excessive freedom to the extent that in many cases dissent seems to be an act of mere imitation undertaken to achieve vested interests of a particular group, community or political party. There are no more foreign masters but there are politicians who have the ability to act as foreign masters to accomplish their agendas. In the middle of all the chaos, governance is lost in the lieu of projection and electoral results and civil servants seem to be the last species left on which the most important responsibility of running the nation lies.
Contesting for an elite status
Young Indians stress too much on becoming something rather than doing something. Is becoming a civil servant also part of this romantic notion of the middle class families?? According to a rough estimate, on an average from all the applications received, only 0.1% to 0.3% of the population make it to this prestigious position. This speaks volumes about the ability of the selected individuals. But the intention to become a civil servant should only be influenced by the passion to make a change and take up the responsibility which is often ignored by armchair intellectuals. In fact, this serves as only one of the reasons for pursuing a career in the public services. We have gone through one of the detrimental transitions of being an inward looking society to an outward looking one. Civil services promises a lucrative position in the government, power, prestige and respect which comes from the clearing the sought after exam and acquiring a prestigious position. Most importantly, it provides a sense of security to an individual, an integral aspect of this collective dream nurtured by a cautious society. But in the desire of achieving this, individuals, forget that "with great power comes great responsibility".
Traditional remedy for an emerging crisis
The notion of governance has changed drastically since independence where previously, the focus was on the building institutions that foster high values of integrity and accountability. The literacy rate in India has increased from 18.33% in 1951 to 74.04% in 2011. Thus, there is an opportunity to serve citizens who are not only literate but also more vigilant and aware of their entitlements. The challenge is no longer seen only in terms of alleviating poverty and providing world class public services but to also to seek solutions to specific new age problems like rapid urbanisation and climate change. Are we training our civil servants to cope up with present day crisis? Or we do follow the age old adage of "Jack of all Trades" for all our civil servants. Little wonder then that many of our bureaucrats feel smug owing to this tag of being "panacea provider that ails society"! It is time that the administration as a whole entity realizes that bureaucrats at high levels of governance need to have the required specialisation based on their educational background and past experience. This can be one of the more concrete ways not only to acknowledge the need of going into detail to provide answers to critical problems but also to execute timely solutions. Until this happens, the dependability of the administration on external agents for problem solving will only grow by leaps and bounds in near future.
Question of morality
An important question that has always lingered around administration class is morality of the civil servants. When we as a system place so much of faith on one individual, there are ample opportunities to use the same power to fill up pockets. The case of Arvind and Tinoo Joshi of the 1979 batch of Madhya Pradesh cadre proves efficiently how certain bureaucrats have the uncanny ability to acquire disproportionate wealth. Most corruption cases or scams done under the purview of bureaucrats are a consequence of how their bosses (politicians) have often spread the plague of self interest in the system. The problem here is that the idea of self-interest is perceived totally differently from the welfare of the society. The system functions in such a way that any wise officer is bound to face severe pressure to lower her/his standards of integrity and adjust and/accommodate for the sake of surviving within the system. Often, these civil servants are let down by their own colleagues who have made a name for themselves in the corridors of power for being numb to all the wrong doings. On the other hand, there have been brave officers like Narendra Kumar, an IPS officer of the 2009 batch who was serving as sub divisional officer at Banmore, set an example of his dedication by giving up his life fighting against sand mafias in Madhya Pradesh. The need of the hour is to embed the services with assertive individuals who remain steadfastly committed to the cause of public welfare. Even now, there are such committed and corruption-free bureaucrats who are precise and clear on their agenda of development and have no room for vanity.
Anticipated struggle to hold ground
To accomplish a task right from the ideation to implementation, a civil servant needs to spend considerable time on that project or within that department. However, this is not possible in most cases because of political interference which tends to remind any good administrator that the power of democratically elected offices surpasses every achievement of their own! We need a regulatory mechanism that could help our bureaucrats function effectively and perform their duty judiciously. The Maharashtra Government Servants Regulation of Transfers and Prevention of Delay in discharge of official Duty Act, 2005 is a step in a positive direction. The act states that all India service officers and all Groups A, B and C state government servants or employees, their normal tenure in a post shall be three years. Further, it says that no government servant shall ordinarily be transferred unless s/he has completed their posting tenure of three years.
Finally, the importance and contribution of the civil servants in developing the nation is unparalleled. This contribution can only be well acknowledged when we allow them to exercise their role and responsibilities effectively. We need to step back and introspect on how efficiently we have been able to make systematic changes based on the 2004 P C Hota's Committee report on civil services reform. We have managed to create a judicial system whose integrity is unquestionable and its contribution is given in the form of justice for the society. Can we allow the civil servants to function freely where they face fewer obstacles and deliver what is expected out them? This can be only done when individuals in the system are committed to development which works on ground and not on self-serving corrupt notions.
Pankil Goswami is a programme officer with Public Affairs Centre-a not for profit think committed to good governance.
In Mumbai, the ninth most populous and congested city on the planet, high rentals compel citizens to spend five hours on an average travelling to work every day. Mumbai's Metro Rail System extending towards Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR) will not only provide East-West connectivity
Tourism is a huge part of global culture nowadays and is also one of the biggest sources of revenue across the world. According to the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC), in 2019, the tourism industry contributed $8.9 trillion or 10.3% to the global GDP. The industry witnessed a massive lull in 2020 d
The Life and Times of George Fernandes By Rahul Ramagundam Penguin/New India Foundation, 624 pages, Rs 799 Amer
After years of intense preparation, India is about to take the next step in information and communication technology. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will launch 5G services in India on October 1 and also inaugurate the 6th Edition of India Mobile Congress 2022 to be held till October 4, at Pragati Maidan, Ne
There is this popular saying that epics are never told, but always retold. Ramayana is one such epic and needs no introduction. Its plot is grounded in sacrifice and the end brings out hope that the good always wins. But how is a centuries-old tale of the prince of Ayodhya still relevant for today's
In pursuance of the pro-people announcement made by the prime minister in 2021 and successful implementation of additional food security under PM Garib Kalyan Ann Yojana, the union cabinet has approved its extension for a further period of three months, from October to December 2022. At a ti


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If you are not currently on LinkedIn, you probably have some reasons why. But if you are currently jobseeking or even just trying to educate yourself about careers, these reasons really need to be reexamined. As I explore some of the more common ones that I have heard, you will have to let me know whether these resonate for you:
I get all these spammy messages from LinkedIn!
The settings on LinkedIn are such that when new users join the site for the first time (and exactly when they have absolutely no idea what they are doing), they are immediately prompted to invite their entire address book to join. This prompt (at least when I joined) comes before you have even really gotten in to create your profile, and it feels like a barrier to entry, so some people just click "yes," assuming that they have to do so in order to get "in," Unfortunately, what then happens, the person often does not realize what they have done and then a friend will ask "did you invite me to join LinkedIn?" and then both parties feel violated by the site. If this has been your experience, I would ask you to – just for now – ignore all of those requests to join, just get in yourself to start experiencing the power for yourself before you dismiss it too quickly. ….and when you get to that initial prompt to invite your address book, do like Nancy Regan told you to do and "just say no."
Isn't LinkedIn just Facebook for grownups?
This is of course patently false, but if you have this conception, I can see how it would be a significant barrier to entry. When you get to the point when you are ready to move on from Facebook, why on earth would you want to move into the "grown-up" read: dull version! LinkedIn is only superficially like Facebook in that it has a newsfeed feature and some buttons that mirror "like" and "comment" and "status updates." But the entire ethos of the site is different. Speaking of which….
I don't know what LinkedIn is supposed to be FOR!
LinkedIn is not some job board site where you upload your resume and wait. Getting your information into LinkedIn is only the very beginning. You get that in there so that you can begin DOING THINGS like researching, and reaching out, and recommending, and referring, and also lots of other things that don't even begin with "R"! 🙂 LinkedIn is about finding your community, the people who are doing what you are doing, or what you would like to be doing, or what you would love to be doing. It is a place to educate and empower yourself, to think about yourself and the people in your life differently. Someone who has spent time on this site will engage with people that they meet differently. People become resources, allies, and they present opportunities to pay it forward.
Don't you have to pay for the site?
But LinkedIn is too "business-ey"!
…and I think part of this perception might come from the frequent requests to try "jobseeker premium," the paid subscription features. It is true that the way the site prompts you to build your profile feels quite constraining, and especially for someone who is entrepreneurial or creative, it may feel challenging to think about how to best capture who you are and what you are looking for. To this, I would say three things:
- It is not all about you. LinkedIn is as much about finding people, groups, and opportunities as it is about presenting every nuance of who you are. At least to begin with.
- Find ways to be creative. There are people in the platform who have found very creative ways to talk about who they are and what they do. Upload a video! Use your initial engagement with the site to see how others have captured more of who they are!
- LinkedIn needs to change. And it does constantly change and there is every reason to believe that it will continue to change. Past performance tells us that the site will adapt to the needs of its users, and this is one way in which the world of work is rapidly changing, jobs are coming to be structured differently. More and more of us are doing a variety of activities: consulting, writing, participating in community organizations, etc. That all come together into a professional life.
I have a friend who is a brilliant stand-up comedian, but his LinkedIn site only shows his temp day jobs. 90% of his professional personality is muted because he seems to feel constrained by the site and what he can share. But LinkedIn founder Reid Hoffman is a model for how to capture a professional life that is multi-faceted. He currently has 10 things listed under "Experience" as his "current" job! Express yourself! I think you will find that people respond to you differently. I started hearing from entirely different pieces of my network when I included information about my storytelling on my LinkedIn profile!
LinkedIn gives a jobseeker something to do, if for nothing else, just to take stock of your current network. I had a soon-to-graduate student meet with me this week who expressed that she had no idea how to begin educating herself about careers. When I plugged in her very first keyword into my LinkedIn, come to find out that several people she already knows well were gainfully employed and very actively engaged in the work that she wanted to know more about. Being focused on school can sometimes make us put blinders on about careers. I am asking for even just an hour a week on this site to start to shift that.
LinkedIn is the single best way that I know to help enact the subtle changes in thinking that move someone from passively to actively jobseeking. Some come on IN!

subset: commoncrawl


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Bengal ropes in SRK as brand ambassador
Bengal hopes to give its image a zing by making Shah Rukh Khan the state's brand ambassador. Call it Bengal's answer to Gujarat that has roped in Amitabh Bachchan.
There was a buzz around the brand Badshah ever since CM Mamata Banerjee invited him to inaugurate the Kolkata Film Festival last November. On Monday, the CM officially announced that Shah Rukh was going to be the face of Bengal. An official at the CM's office said the preliminary discussions had been held during King Khan's visit to film festival.
"Didi was keen to have Shah Rukh Khan as Bengal's brand ambassador and he had said 'yes' right then. He sent his written acceptance today, so it's official now," he said.
There is a lot of expectation from Shah Rukh - hope that Bengal can cash in on the star's worldwide popularity. As the owner of the Kolkata Knightriders IPL team, he has a huge fan base in the state.
And it also helps that he has reputation of a thorough professional and a workaholic. In his letter to the CM, Shah Rukh has said that he considers Bengal his second home and is delighted to be the face of the state. He will be seen in advertisements and events related to tourism, sports and other activities, just as Bachchan is doing for Gujarat, say sources.
Comparisons between Bengal and Gujarat are unavoidable with the Left Front's abhorrence of Narendra Modi, the Tata Nano moving to Sanand from Singur, and Gujarat surging miles ahead from Bengal on industrialization. Bengal's brand image now is nothing to write home about. The Left Front government had made an attempt to resuscitate its brand by engaging a private company. The mission never took off because Mamata ousted the Left government.
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In rebuke to Trump, Senate votes to halt US support for Saudi-led war in Yemen, names crown prince as responsible for Khashoggi death
WASHINGTON – In a historic bipartisan rebuke of the president and a marked shift in the long-standing U.S. alliance with Saudi Arabia, the Senate voted Thursday to try to force the Trump administration to end its military support for the Saudi-led war in Yemen.
Although the measure will stall in the House for now, the Senate's 56-41 vote carried extraordinary significance – marking the first time the Senate has invoked Congress' war powers to challenge U.S. military involvement abroad. The step was both a condemnation of Saudi Arabia's execution of the Yemen war – which has killed thousands of civilians and created a humanitarian catastrophe – and of the kingdom's role in the murder of Jamal Khashoggi.
"Today, we tell the despotic regime in Saudi Arabia that we will not be a part of their military adventurism," said Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., who championed U.S. withdrawal from the Yemen conflict along with Sens. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., and Mike Lee, R-Utah. "The United States Congress ... is sick and tired of abdicating its constitutional responsibility on matters of war," Sanders said.
Senators unanimously approved a separate, nonbinding resolution naming Saudi Arabia's crown prince, Mohammed Bin Salman, as responsible for Khashoggi's death. The Washington Post columnist was killed inside the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul on Oct. 2 by a team of Saudi operatives, many of whom have been tied to the crown prince.
The resolution, introduced Thursday by Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Bob Corker, R-Tenn., calls on the Saudi government "to ensure appropriate accountability for all those responsible for Jamal Khashoggi's murder" and urges the kingdom to "moderate its increasingly erratic foreign policy," among other steps.
"The United States Senate has said the Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman is responsible for the murder of Jamal Khashoggi," Corker said. "That is a strong statement. ... I think it speaks to the values that we hold dear."
The two Senate votes were a direct challenge to President Donald Trump, who downplayed evidence that Saudi Arabia's crown prince was involved in Khashoggi's murder and said the incident should not damage U.S.-Saudi relations. His administration, through his son and adviser Jared Kushner, has cultivated close ties to the kingdom.
"Today is a watershed moment for Congress," Murphy said. "We are reasserting our responsibility to be a co-equal branch with the executive (branch) in foreign policymaking."
It was also a watershed moment for Sanders, Murphy and Lee – an odd-bedfellows trio who have tried for three years to curb American support for the Saudi-led war in Yemen. Their first effort, on a measure that would have blocked arms sales to the Saudis in 2016, garnered only 27 "yes" votes.
Thursday, seven Republican senators joined all the chamber's Democrats and its two independents in passing the Yemen resolution, which would require the United States to stop providing intelligence, targeting assistance in bombing and other military support to the Saudi government and its allies in the Yemen conflict.
Before the Senate vote, House GOP leaders blocked a similar measure from coming up for a vote in that chamber. Proponents vowed to revive the issue when Democrats take power in January.
"We won't ignore these issues in the next Congress," said Rep. Eliot Engel, D-N.Y., who will become the new chair of the House Foreign Affairs Committee in January. "It's a betrayal of the men and women who have served this country in uniform."
Proponents of the Yemen resolution said America's involvement in the war was unauthorized, unconstitutional and immoral. They argued that Congress has abdicated its responsibility for decades, fearing the responsibility that comes with sending American troops into harm's way.
"There is no decision that is more fraught with moral peril," Lee said at a news conference after the vote. "When we're putting American treasure and, even more importantly, American blood on the line, it is wrong to entrust that to one person."
Sanders and others said they hoped the Senate's action would bolster negotiations, led by a United Nations special envoy, to end the horrific conflict. Since hostilities began in 2015, the Yemen war has left thousands of civilians dead and created the world's worst humanitarian disaster – putting millions on the verge of starvation.
Opponents of the resolution said U.S. support for the Saudi-led coalition did not amount to warfare, and they argued that U.S. involvement was vital to helping Saudi Arabia contain Iran's influence in the Middle East.
The war is a proxy battle between Saudi Arabia and Iran, two regimes vying for expanded influence in the region. The United States stopped refueling Saudi jets, but it still provides munitions and intelligence to the Saudi government.
"There is a threat in the Middle East posed by Iran and their ambitions which must be confronted," Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., said during Thursday's Senate debate. Rubio suggested that the U.S.-Saudi alliance would be "shattered" if the United States ended its military role in Yemen, and the war would spiral further out of control.
Though lawmakers focused mostly on Yemen, they were spurred to act by Khashoggi's murder. Proponents of the war resolution said his brutal killing, and the crown prince's alleged involvement, strengthened their case for withdrawing.
"The murder of Mr. Khashoggi caused us to think long and hard, with good reason, about the fact that we've got somewhat blindly into this war," Lee said in a floor speech Wednesday. "When we pulled back the curtains and we look into exactly who we're fighting for and why we're fighting, people understandably got a little freaked out."
Several lawmakers said Khashoggi's murder was part of a broader pattern of disturbing actions by the Saudi regime, led by the crown prince, who is Saudi Arabia's de facto ruler. They cited the kidnapping of the Lebanese prime minister and the detention of many in the prince's own family, among other incidents.
Several top lawmakers said Thursday's Senate vote marked the beginning, not the end, of the debate over Khashoggi's murder – and by extension, the debate over America's long-standing alliance with Saudi Arabia.
"I'm never going to let this go until things change in Saudi Arabia," Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., said Wednesday. He is part of a bipartisan group of senators pressing for sanctions on any Saudis, including the crown prince, found responsible for Khashoggi's murder, and a suspension in U.S. arms sales to the kingdom.
"Do you really want to transfer your most advanced technology to somebody who thinks it's OK to lure a journalist to a consulate in Turkey … and chop him up?" Graham said, referring to reports that Khashoggi was tortured and dismembered. "The crown prince is so toxic, so tainted, so flawed that I can't ever see myself doing business with Saudi Arabia" unless there's a change in leadership.
Trump condemned Khashoggi's death but said the incident should not harm U.S.-Saudi relations. The administration relies heavily on Saudi Arabia in its effort to isolate Iran, and Trump championed U.S. arms sales to the regime as an economic boon.
Murphy and others said Trump's response to the Khashoggi killing has so infuriated lawmakers in both parties that it has spurred a fresh desire to debate and legislate on foreign policy. He said that sentiment will last well into the next Congress.
More:Saudi crown prince 'complicit' in Jamal Khashoggi's murder, GOP senator says after CIA briefing
More:Hope emerges for end to war in Yemen in wake of Jamal Khashoggi's killing
More:Who is Saudi Arabia's crown prince? A reformer and ruthless ruler
More:'Maybe he did, and maybe he didn't!' Trump says US will stand by Saudis despite Khashoggi murder


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My Top 3: Shawn James Songs
My Taste in Music
My musical tastes are often a little off the beaten path. Since a couple of years ago, when my household started watching Ditty TV on our Roku, I've really enjoyed listening to Americana music. Shawn James (with or without his band, The Shapeshifters) has been one of my favorites. Shawn James, along with fiddle player Sage Cornelius, recently played their first Minnesota gig at the Turf Club in St Paul, and I got to see him play live. Here are three of my favorite songs featuring Shawn James for your listening pleasure.
"Hellhound" by Shawn James
This is the first song by Shawn James I ever heard. In this video, it's amazing to me that this larger than life song is generated by one guy playing at least 3 instruments and singing in room full of weird stuff.
Cover of John Legend's "Who Did That to You?" by Shawn James with Sage Cornelius
I've heard the John Legend song (featured in the movie D'jango Unchained). Here, Shawn James does the song the way he thought it should have been done in that scene--a little angrier. Fiddle player Sage Cornelius is also ridiculously good.
"The Bear" by Shawn James and The Shapeshifters
I love this video. It has great music, fire and moonshine, so what's not to like? Near the end, as the lot of them are dancing around the fire, the guy on the left is jamming harder than perhaps anyone else has jammed in the history of playing an instrument while dancing. This song and video feature not only Shawn James, but The Shapeshifters as well.
Bonus: "John the Revelator" by Shawn James
Here is my fan filmed, poor lighting video of Shawn James singing an a cappella version of "John the Revelator" with the audience stomping and clapping along. Mad props to Sage Cornelius who is microphoneless, but jamming his heart out onstage. Video taken at The Turf Club in St Paul on 3/19/2018.
The Obligatory Nerd Girl Fan Photo
My husband, and extrovert, struck up a conversation with Shawn James before the concert, and took my picture with him. Now my daughter, who is particularly fond of "The Bear" video, will definitely think I'm super cool.
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Weatherman by Willis
I first heard Willis during a performance at Circus Juventas at St. Paul. This song, Weatherman, is from the album Uncle Treacle. Willis is a combination of Lady Gaga's amazing voice with a vaudeville flair. she is well known for her costumers and theatrical makeup.
Weatherman by Daphne Willis
Yes, there is a song entitled "Weatherman" by two artists who have Willis as part of their name. Here is a live version of Weatherman by Daphne Willis. Her vocal range demonstrated in this song is impressive, and she performs music in multiple styles including country, blues and electronica.
Weatherman by Dead Sara
...and now for somethign completely different (and much harder). Dead Sara's is fronted by Emily Armstrong and Siouxsie Medley. The band describes themselves as "an electrifying four-piece rock band whose supercharged music is propelled by Medley's exhilarating, monster guitar riffs and Armstrong's powerful, wailing vocals."
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I remember in college, watching Nirvana perform Smells Like Teen Spirit on MTV. It was like nothing I'd ever seen before. I also remember them publishing a version of the video clarifying what the sometimes mumbled words were, and then seeing the video again interspersed with a grieving Courtney Love lamenting Kurt Cobain's untimely death.
Fast forward many, many years. My daughter's junior high school band covered this song at a recent concert, which inspired me to find new, different covers of this now retro song.
Smells Like Teen Spirit: It Don't Mean a Thing if it Ain't Got That Swing
This version features a starlet Robyn Adele Anderson covering the song with a 1940's swing style.
Smells Like Teen Spirit: Full Orchestra and Choir
More instruments! More vocals! Even more smelling like Teen Spirit!
Smells Like Teen Spirit: A Capella
...and now for something completely different. This time, no instruments at all are needed. Instead, it's four guys, Maybebop, with microphones in a hallway doing amazing things with only their voices.
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I live in South Minneapolis, just blocks from the house used as Prince's home in the movie Purple Rain. I also work in the Warehouse District of downtown Minneapolis down the street from First Avenue, where much of Purple Rain was filmed. Minnesota loves Prince. Upon his untimely death, many artists started adding Prince covers to their sets. While amazing covers of "Purple Rain" and "Nothing Compares 2 U" abound, here are three amazing covers of 'When Doves Cry."
Choir! of 1999 Voices Sings Prince "When Doves Cry"
See this amazing chorus of 1999 people pay tribute to Prince by singing "When Doves Cry." This event took place on May 2, 2016 and was recorded live in Toronto at Massey Hall. These people were given a couple hours of rehearsal just prior to this moving performance.
Greensky Bluegrass: When Doves Cry (Prince Cover)
When I think of "When Doves Cry", I think of electric guitars and moaning. Or, in this case, guitars, banjos and string basses.
Jack Black (of Tenacious D) Sings "When Doves Cry"
It's Tenacious D, and its' time for Jack Black's solo. Hear "When Doves Cry" as only he can sing it. If you never knew Jack Black could sing, prepare to be delighted. Note it's not a "Tribute," but the actual song.
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I'm not a huge AC/DC fan, but being from a small town with a bowling alley, I have heard a fair amount of AC/DC in my time. Regardless, I do love a good cover, though--the more unexpected, the better. Check out these three fun covers of the song "Thunderstruck" as I'm guessing AC/DC never imagined it could be.
Turns out there are actual words to "Thunderstruck." In this version, you can even tell what they are--although there is no guarantee that all of these words align completely up with the original lyrics. It's even better when played by a Finnish band and features a banjo, an accordion, an anvil and a set of spoons.
Church Cover
This guy does covers of popular songs on a piano in a church. It's surreal hearing Thunderstruck sound beautiful.
My high school orchestra (who I swear could not play any song quite SLOW enough) would have been way more fun with these two. It's not everyday you see an intriguing Creation cello duo. I wonder how many bows these guys go through in a show. The Louis XVI era dress makes this rendition even better.
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Finding New Music
A while ago, my husband and I stumbled upon a channel on our Roku called DittyTV. This station features videos by Americana musicians. Here are videos by three of my favorite groups that I've found recently.
Shawn James & the Shapeshifters
This video features Shawn James without the Shapeshifters. He's just a guy, in a room full of weird stuff singing an amazing song and playing all of the instruments by himself.
Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats
Any guy whose band is called The Night Sweats has to be okay. The song is fun and the video has a Blues Brothers movie feel.
The Dead South
I love these 4 Canadians dressed like Amish guys in this quirky video where they are playing in multiple atypical concert locations.
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Brenda is an adaptable learning & development leader, innovative instructional designer, and job search coach.
September 2022


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One aspect of PR that I really enjoy is event planning. Event planning is not limited to professional events only. With that being said, there are many perks to event planning. Not only do you get to plan a party or event, but you get to be around great people. In order to get great people to your next holiday party consider all of the following holiday ideas to impress your guests.
Create Potpourri
Any holiday party will get a wholesome boost once you make this holiday themed Potpourri. The party room won't only look festive, but will smell just as nice. Your guests are sure to be in the holiday mood after they smell this amazing aroma. If you would like to try this cozy recipe click here.
White Elephant Exchange with a Twist
An activity your guests are sure to love would be to make white elephant ornaments to exchange with one another. This activity is fun and allows your guests creativity to shine through. Plus, your guests get to take home an ornament they can keep for years.
Santa Hat Brownies
Who doesn't love the combination of creamy chocolate and strawberries?! Pair that with vanilla-mascarpone buttercream and your guests may stay longer than you planned. If you have a crafty bunch of friends, you all could assemble the Santa Hat Brownies and take pictures. To try this recipe click here.
Don't let your next holiday party loose its sparkle. Be sure to try all of these ideas to have a holiday party that will truly knock your guests cozy socks off. Happy Holidays everyone!


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Email List Growth: It's Not as Hard as It Seems
Email remains attractive to marketers for its affordability, immediacy and effectiveness. Best of all, you know your subscribers have given you permission to contact them which means there is implied interest in what you're offering.
"Growing your list is tough but so worthwhile," says Brian Neufeld, CMO and co-founder of ActiveDEMAND, a Canadian-based marketing automation software company. "You need to treat contact lists as a valuable asset. It costs time and money to acquire contacts. For example, collecting business cards and badge scans from a trade show where you paid to be, only to have those contacts end up at the bottom of a desk draw is a complete waste. If your average cost to obtain a contact is $10 and your list is 1,000 strong, you have a $10,000 asset you can leverage to earn a return."
According to our recent study, SMBs rank content downloads (43%) and access to value-added website pages (43%) as the two most effective tactics for building contacts; they also score among the easiest to execute. About one-third say they value events for list-building.
Most email list growth tactics require a registration form to capture new subscriber information. In exchange, you'll offer an essential piece of information downloads and "premium" website content like case studies, informational guides, tip sheets or videos. The number of fields in the form may vary, but the optimization principles remain the same: fewer fields generate more, less qualified subscribers. More fields generate fewer, more qualified subscribers.
What to capture? MarketingSherpa says nine of 10 marketers agree the most important data to collect is an email address followed by a name, phone number and lead source. Additional information to capture in a long form would be a company name, address and postal code.
Want to learn more about growing your email list? We're your nearby experts; we can help.
Fast. Local. Personal. For over 35 years KKP has been supplying a comprehensive range of high quality print, design and sign services as well as marketing assistance to Canadian businesses. For expert assistance, attentive service and affordable prices, contact us today.


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Pet Nutrition Services at Irondequoit Animal Hospital
A healthy diet and the right nutrition are at the very core of your dog or cat's health. Nutrition can be the key to a long and healthy life. At Irondequoit Animal Hospital, we offer a complete course of nutritional counseling for your dog or cat. We carry a range of specialty and prescription foods to ensure that your four-legged friend stays bright-eyed for years to come.
Nutritional Standards
The Association of Feed Control Officers (AAFCO) is the agency that sets nutritional standards for all manufacturers of pet foods today. They make sure that pet foods contain the right nutritional elements. Just like a human, your pet needs the right balance of vitamins, minerals, proteins, fat, and carbohydrates.
These needs will change as your pet grows older. This means it is important to choose the right food for your pet's stage of life. Puppies and kittens need different nutrition than senior pets.
Disease Management through Nutrition
If your pet has an illness or disease, their nutritional needs may be specialized. Your pet may require a prescription to treat such conditions as allergies, cardiovascular, liver and kidney, urinary tract, and other conditions. Irondequoit carries specialized prescription foods to meet these special needs.
Education and Awareness
Regardless of whether your pet's needs are normal or specialized, your veterinarian will patiently work with you to educate you on the best nutrition course for your pet. At Irondequoit, we pride ourselves on not just treating and caring for pets but on teaching pet owners how to ensure their pets remain healthy as well.


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Glenn Frey, Eagles guitarist and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee, passed away Monday. He was 67. "It is with the heaviest of hearts that we announce the passing of our comrade, Eagles founder, Glenn Frey, in New York City on Monday, January 18th, 2016. Glenn fought a courageous battle for the past several weeks but, sadly, succumbed to complications from rheumatoid arthritis, acute ulcerative colitis and pneumonia," the Eagles wrote in a statement Monday.
"The Frey family would like to thank everyone who joined Glenn to fight this fight and hoped and prayed for his recovery," the statement continued. "Words can neither describe our sorrow, nor our love and respect for all that he has given to us, his family, the music community & millions of fans worldwide."
In a separate statement, Don Henley said of Frey, "He was like a brother to me; we were family, and like most families, there was some dysfunction. But, the bond we forged 45 years ago was never broken, even during the 14 years that the Eagles were dissolved. We were two young men who made the pilgrimage to Los Angeles with the same dream: to make our mark in the music industry — and with perseverance, a deep love of music, our alliance with other great musicians and our manager, Irving Azoff, we built something that has lasted longer than anyone could have dreamed. But, Glenn was the one who started it all. He was the spark plug, the man with the plan."
Henley continued, "He had an encyclopedic knowledge of popular music and a work ethic that wouldn't quit. He was funny, bullheaded, mercurial, generous, deeply talented and driven. He loved is wife and kids more than anything. We are all in a state of shock, disbelief and profound sorrow. We brought our two-year History of the Eagles Tour to a triumphant close at the end of July and now he is gone. I'm not sure I believe in fate, but I know that crossing paths with Glenn Lewis Frey in 1970 changed my life forever, and it eventually had an impact on the lives of millions of other people all over the planet. It will be very strange going forward in a world without him in it. But, I will be grateful, every day, that he was in my life. Rest in peace, my brother. You did what you set out to do, and then some."
Frey recently suffered from "a recurrence of previous intestinal issues, which will require major surgery and a lengthy recovery period," the Eagles announced in November when they postponed their Kennedy Center Honors ceremony from December to the following year.
The Detroit-born Frey performed with groups in the Motor City area before relocating to Los Angeles in the late Sixties. Frey would eventually meet and live with J.D. Souther — his partner in the short-lived duo Longbranch Pennywhistle — and singer-songwriter Jackson Browne. It was Souther who encouraged Linda Ronstadt, his girlfriend at the time, to hire Frey and three other artists – drummer Don Henley, bassist Randy Meisner and guitarist Bernie Leadon – to serve as her backing band during a 1971 tour. When the trek concluded, the Eagles were born.
A year later, the Eagles' inaugural lineup released their 1972 self-titled LP, featuring the Frey- and Browne-penned "Take It Easy" and the Frey-sung "Peaceful Easy Feeling." Eagles, one of Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Albums of All Time, set the band on a trajectory toward being one of the biggest selling acts ever, a reputation cemented the following year with the arrival of Desperado. The latter album featured multiple hit singles co-written by Frey, including "Tequila Sunrise" and the title track.
"Sometimes I wonder if the other guys in the band know how much I like them. How much of a foundation they are. We never even talk about it. We each have our own spaces. We play sometimes and we fight sometimes," Frey told Rolling Stone in 1975. "I get so caught up in all this – the pressures of being Glenn Frey of the Eagles, the guy who talks a lot – that if Randy or Bernie needed some confidence building, I might be too self-involved to realize it. I worry about that. But even though there's a keg of dynamite that's always sitting there, this band is fairly together. I just figure we can't lose. The longer the Eagles stay together, the better it's gonna be. No matter what. We never expected to get this far, anyway. I thought we'd break up after our first album."
Frey also had a hand in writing the Eagles' "One of These Nights," "Take It to The Limit" and "Lyin' Eyes," with the guitarist contributing lead vocals to the latter. The Eagles would reach their peak in 1976 with their landmark Hotel California, with the title track – penned by Frey, Henley and guitarist Don Felder – winning the Grammy for Record of the Year; "Hotel California" and "Life in the Fast Lane" (the latter written by Frey, Henley and Joe Walsh) would become classic rock staples, and the LP itself would place Number 37 on Rolling Stone's all-time list.
In 1979, the Eagles released The Long Run, which featured the last songs they would record together until the 1994 reunion live LP Hell Freezes Over. On Long Run, Frey provided vocals on the album's most lasting single, "Heartache Tonight," while also co-writing the title track and the Timothy B. Schmit-sung "I Can't Tell You Why." The following year, a fallout between Frey and Felder ultimately resulted in the group disbanding.
As a solo artist, Frey enjoyed a string of hits that included the Beverly Hills Cop track "The Heat Is On" and "You Belong to the City," a song penned for Miami Vice. "City" would go on to take on a second life as a New York anthem thanks to its association with the 1986 World Series-winning New York Mets and Jay Z's Frey-sampling "The City Is Mine." Frey released five solo albums during this period, and also dabbled in acting, appearing in Miami Vice and later Jerry Maguire. That film's director, Cameron Crowe, famously interviewed the Eagles for a 1975 Rolling Stone cover story, which would later inspire the filmmaker's 2000 movie Almost Famous.
In 1993, thanks in part to Travis Tritt's attempts to reconcile the Eagles for the video for his "Take It Easy" cover, the Eagles lineup of Frey, Henley, Felder, Schmit and Walsh reunited for good for 1994's Hell Freezes Over, the title a nod to what it would take to get the Eagles back together. The reunited Eagles toured for nearly six years, with sporadic postponements as Frey dealt with medical issues that would occasionally plague him over the next two decades. In 1998, the Eagles were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, with the seven core members performing "Hotel California" and "Take It Easy" together.
In 2007, an Eagles lineup of Frey, Henley, Walsh and Schmit released Long Road Out of Eden, the band's first full-length LP since The Long Run. That was followed by a critically acclaimed documentary History of the Eagles as well as another long stretch of tour dates. In 2012, Frey released After Hours, his first solo LP in 20 years.
"I don't get up every morning and say, 'God dang! Eagles Greatest Hits is now past 30 million! It's unbelievable!' But, you know, it boggles the mind somewhat," Frey told Rolling Stone in 2012. "You have to adjust when things like this happen. You just have to keep perspective. As long as I keep taking out the garbage and cleaning up after the dogs and taking the kids to school, I'll have perspective. I don't get to bask in the afterglow much. I told the guys in my band, 'The reason I like coming out there is because people do what I say, and this is the only place where that happens.' It's very gratifying to think that we've found this place and that we are where we are."
In addition to the Eagles' statement – signed by Frey's fellow band members, their management and Frey's family – the group also shared the lyrics to Eagles' "It's Your World Now," a Frey co-written track from their Long Road Out of Eden. "But first a kiss, one glass of wine / Just one more dance while there's still time / My one last wish: someday, you'll see /How hard I tried and how much you meant to me." (Courtesy rollingstone.com)


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Global Surrogacy is an agency that can help you get started with your surrogacy journey. We help you connect with donors, surrogates, and families to create a new life. Our program meets the highest standards, and we are there for you every step of the way.
There are a lot of reasons someone would choose to use a surrogate, but ultimately, the choice is totally up to the couple, and their doctor and a woman should never be shamed for choosing surrogacy.
Here are some reasons why women use surrogates:
Have Uterine Issues
Using a surrogate is the best decision for women to make when they have uterine issues. Women with uterine problems are unable to carry a baby full-term. Uterine issues can be caused by cancer, fibroids or uterine scarring.
A Pre-existing Health Condition
One of the reasons why surrogacy is important is because of pre-existing health conditions. Surrogacy is a safe option for people that have health conditions that prevent them from having a healthy baby. Certain health issues such as kidney, or heart issues, make it dangerous for a woman to carry a child.
Had a Hysterectomy as a Result of Cancer
One of the reasons for surrogacy is a hysterectomy. When a woman has cervical or any other type of cancer, a hysterectomy is sometimes involved for treatment. When you remove the female organs, you can no longer have a child. Surrogate mother Global Surrogacy Inc will provide you with a surrogate that will carry a healthy baby for you and your family.
Had Problems with a Previous Pregnancy
When a woman has had a complicated pregnancy, they may choose to use a surrogate mother. Using a surrogate mother is a safer option rather than carrying a baby and risking complications. Some pregnancy complications can be managed, but a doctor may recommend a surrogate.
LGBTQ Couples
Gay couples use the services of a surrogate mother or men will donate their eggs to create a family. Global Surrogacy Inc. works with all people of different backgrounds including LGBTQ couples to help them find the right surrogate mother.
Some people may ask why surrogacy? Using a surrogate mother to fulfill your dream to become a parent is one of the best things you can do for your family.
Global Surrogacy Inc. will help you get on the path to growing your family. Our selection of surrogates is healthy, compassionate, and eager to help create a new life. We have plenty of information for intended parents that are interested in using a surrogate. Let us help you find the right surrogate mother today.


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Technology, like art, music and culture, is a discussion. A two-way street. Call and response. If something new pops up this year from Apple, expect Google to have a similar product to show you in six month's time.
It's no wonder then, that after Siri, Cortana, Kinect and "OK, Google," we'd get Alexa, a personal assistant from Amazon that can do … well, everything the others do but in a Bluetooth speaker. Alexa, I should point out, is a codename. Amazon hasn't told us what the personal assistant will be called, but only that he/she/it will come inside a cylindrical Bluetooth speaker.
The speaker itself is called the Echo - named for its ability to pick up commands from anywhere in the room with, or without, music playing. It's smart, interesting technology that I'm personally looking forward to owning. But as cool, smart and interesting as it is, the one thing it's not is original.
Or is it?
OK. Before I get my torch and pitchfork, I'm going to play devil's advocate. What if Amazon isn't just cashing in on the personal assistant fad? What if this is the next online bookstore or Kindle? The company is no stranger to innovative ideas. (If you keep reading you can't miss them.)
Imagine a house where you could say anything, anywhere and you would get a response back. To shout from your shower "play LCD Soundsystem" or tell your television to show you the score of the football game. And, bare with me here, imagine that just working without Siri/Google/Cortana telling you that they don't understand that command.
Maybe that's what Amazon has planned for us.
Maybe behind the curtain its curious minds are hard at work to create a one-to-one duplicate of the eponymous house from Disney's "Smart House." And just maybe the Echo is the first step.
There's an eternal optimist in me that's rooting for that. After reading up on Amazon's history, however, that hope for innovation has dwindled.
Steal like an artist
You see, the Echo isn't Amazon's first 'me too' idea. If you can remember back to the late '90s, Amazon wasn't always a retail giant that purveyed everything from baby diapers to wolf urine. (Yes, they still sell wolf urine on Amazon (opens in new tab).)
They started off as a quaint online bookseller. And, as far as I can tell, this was a unique idea. Becoming an online, independent book seller was something no other company had successfully accomplished before, and yet here was Amazon and its founder, Jeff Bezos, standing in the proverbial limelight.
Bezos even named the company Amazon because it was a place that was "exotic and different." And, for a few years, some original ideas kept flowing from the all-consuming ecommerce giant.
But in 1999, the idea of becoming something more than a book broker set in.
In the year before the 21st century, Amazon had an idea, one it borrowed from the market pioneer, eBay. (Does it sound weird to anyone else calling eBay a "pioneer?") It opened a marketplace where users could buy different forms of media like CDs and DVDs directly from them. zShops, as it was called back then, went on to become the Amazon store.
What starts with Kindle and ends with Fire? Amazon … and actual fire
Fast-forward to 2007 when Amazon unveiled its first ereader, the Amazon Kindle. The device, on paper, was understated and simple. It read a new breed of PDFs that it called e-books.
This was a renaissance for Amazon. The ereader started a revolution that caught fire, further cementing Amazon as the only major generalist retailer of the 21st century. But, innovation - especially in the tech industry - is often short-lived.
Four years later the company would go on to launch a tablet, the year after that a second tablet, and two years after that a phone and set-top box. While each of these products brought at least one new feature to the table, all of them were clear indicators that Amazon was just following the trail of money. Which brings us to the announcement of the Amazon Echo...
What camp does the Echo belong in? The "me too" cash-in camp or the actual innovation hangar? All we can do is root for the latter while expecting the very real, semi-historical former.


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Dominion Marine Media kicked off the Miami International Boat Show by naming David Rockefeller, Jr., as the 2013 YachtWorld Hero.
(Read more about the announcement here.)
The other four finalists for the award were Joel Aberbach, U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary; Betsy Alison, Paralympic coach for the U.S. Sailing Team Sperry Top-Sider; Dieter Paulmann, Okeanos Foundation for the Sea; and Jeanne Socrates, who completed a single-handed, nonstop circumnavigation of the globe at age 70. You can view a video about the program at the end of this article.
After the announcement, Boating Industry caught up with Sailors for the Sea president Mark Davis and Rockefeller to learn more about the nonprofit organization he started in 2004.
Boating Industry: How did Sailors for the Sea get started?
Rockefeller: Let me give you a quick history. In the early part of this century, there were two national commissions studying the health of the oceans. There was a Senate commission and there was a private commission financed by the Pew Charitable Trust. I was asked to serve as a commissioner on the Pew commission. I spent three years traveling around the country … and found that the condition that of our coastal waters was far worse than people realized.
Most dramatic was the declining fish population. This had been going on for 50 years, but we were just waking up to the fact that our capacity to catch fish – I'm not talking about recreational fishing, I'm talking about commercial – had way exceeded the ability of the fishing stock to rebound.
I'm not a professional in this field, but I'm a lifelong sailor and I thought, "What could I do?" So I decided I'd use my sailing background as a way to form a new organization to encourage my sailing buddies to get active on these issues.
Boating Industry: What are the goals of the organization?
Rockefeller: The premise is that there are people who love a part of nature, who love the recreation and want to protect their access to it.
We found that recreational boaters and sailors were really not very knowledgeable [about current conditions]. So our business has been to educate the boating community and activate them on behalf of the oceans. We're reaching at least 100,000 principally sailors, but boaters of any kind we consider our constituency.
We have focused principally on the U.S waters, but we now have an affiliate, Sailors for the Sea Japan and another in Portugal. Our aspirations are to reach boaters worldwide.
Boating Industry: How are you helping boaters take action?
Davis: Our signature program is called Clean Regattas, a certification program that helps regattas green their events. There are 19 best practices, and regattas can do one to 19 of them, depending what level they want to be. We have certified over 550 regattas.
Rockefeller: We're helping boaters be more mindful of their actions and their impact on the oceans. Ultimately, the oceans have a big problem. We're really not the problem, but we can be a part of the solution. That's really the message.
Boating Industry: What are the goals for Sailor for the Sea in 2014 and beyond?
Rockefeller: My goal would be to mobilize thousands of very active boaters in the U.S. to become an army of ocean stewards. That's a modest percentage of all the boaters.
Boating Industry: How can people get involved?
Rockefeller: Connect to our website at Sailorsforthesea.org. We are a nonprofit, so donations, however small, are a great thing to do. I think getting active is important. When you get active and you see the impact of a beach cleanup, or do snorkeling and learn about the conditions of the corals. When we get people into the water with knowledgeable people, scientists and others, we will achieve our goals.


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The mission of the Wonderwall is to support professional soccer, serve and build communities, and create a welcoming, inclusive culture around the sport in Minnesota.
Wonderwall is a parent organization dedicated to enabling, empowering, and accelerating Minnesota United FC's (MNUFC's) Supporters Groups. These Supporters Groups (SGs) can be found in the South end of Allianz Field standing, singing, and bringing an intense match day atmosphere for 90+ minutes at every home match.
Outside the stadium, we're dedicated to enriching our community through community service and raising money through our SGs' service organizations.
To stay up to date on what is happening, you can find us here, Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram.
Wonderwall facilitates conversations between the SGs and MNUFC for Code of Conduct issues, general supporter concerns, and community involvement. It also facilitates and provides funding for the matchday initiatives and volunteer activities through Keepers of the North and Dark Clouds Silver Lining.
Wonderwall handles the business side of the supporters groups, including paying taxes, accounting for revenue through merchandise, and disbursements to fund SG initiatives and infrastructure, as well as serving as a higher-level point of contact when dealing with the MNUFC front office.
Our organization is governed by a board of directors that is comprised of individuals elected through our annual voting process.
The easiest way to join an SG is to purchase season tickets in the Wonderwall, the supporters section for Minnesota United FC. If you wish to purchase an individual membership, aside from season tickets in the supporters section, you can visit the Wonderwall Web Store and choose the Supporters Group of your choice
To purchase a season ticket you can visit the MNUFC ticket site, email the Supporters Section reps, Ellen Kokes or Ezekiel Okeleye or call the team at 763.4SOCCER.
In order to become an officially recognized SG, organizations MUST have:
-A minimum of 25 members (either season ticket or individual membership holders).
-A charter containing a mission statement.
-A social media presence and stable method of communication with the Wonderwall.
To apply to become a Supporters Group please email us
Applicants will hear back on their status within four weeks from the time the Wonderwall Board of Directors receives the application. Applications will move either to an evaluation period or will be denied; submitting an application DOES NOT mean automatic approval.
NOTE: SGs in the evaluation period show as an option in the ticketing system's drop down affiliation selector following the end of the season in which they applied and may not appear for mid-season renewal purposes.
If you have questions about the application process please email us


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Amman has invited Cypriot businesspeople to consider the possibility of getting active in Jordan since they expect the colossal project of rebuilding Iraq, Lebanon and especially Syria will bring about big prospects in many sectors of economic activity.
Despite the region's turbulent environment, Jordan maintains a steady pace of economic growth compared to other emerging economies in the Middle East.
This is due to the promotion of economic reforms aiming to attract foreign investment and stimulate economic activity. Amman has created the so-called Free Zones, whose purpose is the promotion of exports and logistics.
Thus, commodities and products of various origins are dropped off in the free zone areas for storage and construction work, without having to incur taxes and excise duties that are valid inside Jordan which borders with Syria, Iraq, Saudi Arabia and Israel.
Head of the Cyprus Federation of Employers & Industrialists George Petrou, who recently represented Cyprus at a London conference organised by Jordan to attract entrepreneurs said: "Infrastructure in Iraq and particularly in Syria has been destroyed, most public buildings and homes are now ruined, so most of their needs are in the construction and raw materials sector (bricks, cement, aluminum, paints, etc)."
Petrou has been active in Jordan for a number of years and he is therefore aware of the situation in the neighboring country which has lower labour and industrial costs compared to Cyprus. "Interest, so far, by Cypriot entrepreneurs is low. In order to reverse this, some improvement steps must be taken by the Jordanian side," Petrou, who has sent a letter with proposals to the government in Amman, told INSIDER.
Read more:


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The book tour for The Professor stopped in Cullman, Alabama this past weekend for two fantastic events. On Friday night, my father in law, Dr. Jim Davis, hosted a private party at his home for friends and family in the Cullman area, which was capped off by a special appearance from the Lieutenant Governor of the State of Alabama, Kay Ivey. Twenty-five copies of The Professor were purchased. My wife, Dixie, and sisters in law, Christi League and Denise Burroughs, all of whom are from Cullman, were in attendance. The night concluded with a reading from The Professor and a signing.
On Saturday, we had a fantastic signing at Books-A-Million in Cullman. We sold 28 copies of The Professor, just four short of another sell-out. In fact, had the store not ordered another shipment of books just prior to the signing (they sold 14 books in the week prior to the signing), we would have sold out in fifteen minutes. Special guests included my friend from high school, Rachel Rice Malone, who came from Arab for the signing. Other guests included my work colleague, Stephanie DeMonia, and two friends of hers. Also in attendance was Dr. Davis' longtime friend, Asa Hartwig, and his wife along with two of Dr. Davis' original office staff members, Naomi and Dottie. Additionally, Kitty and Perry Warren came to both events, and Kitty had already read half the book by the time she arrived at Books-A-Million on Saturday. Finally, it was special having my two sons, Jimmy and Bobby, in attendance.
At the close of the signing at Books-A-Million, the store clerk informed me that our signing was "the best I have ever seen in the eight years I have worked at the store."


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Your belief about what Jesus is capable of, will determine how content and full of peace you are in this world–not what He actually does, but what He could do. Faith in Jesus is not concerned with the demonstration of power. Faith in Jesus is demonstrated by the peace drawn from the conviction that His power will be used in your best interest.
What is happening in life that hurts? What situation causes you to become anxious and worry? Which person do you know who makes your life difficult? Guess what…God knows and He is guiding you through that dark path. If you believe He is there, even though you can't see Him, and if you love Him, then you will be convinced that the darkness you are experiencing is what He wants you to experience, or else He would save you from it. It boils down to what you believe He has the power to do and embracing your current situation because if He desired you to not endure it, you wouldn't.
Here's an example of this relationship. If I bring Michael Jordan to a 2 on 2 game of basketball against 2 of my friends, I know that Michael and I will win. I know that Michael would win without me, playing against my 2 friends. He does not have to prove that he could dunk the basketball from the free throw line to demonstrate his ability. Based on his reputation and my belief in him, I know we would win and I would have no fear. Now if my friends started scoring some points and got ahead of us I would get confused and wonder what in the world was going on…after all, I've got Michael Jordan on my team. But I would know that he was letting them win. I wouldn't know why, but I would know it was on purpose. Maybe Michael is trying to teach me a lesson about something, if he didn't tell me I wouldn't know at the time necessarily, but I would know it was intentional because I know Michael's power and ability. Jesus loves me and the purpose he has for "letting the others win", whatever that looks like, is for my good and for others to witness His power through me–the power to believe in what is greater than seeing a demonstration of power–belief in who God is and what his intentions are for me. We have to come to grips with the reality that our victories may not be seen on this earth.
Are you about to die on the open sea? Why be afraid if you believe in Jesus? Someone might say that it is normal to be afraid of such a frightening situation! But believing in Jesus is not normal. That belief grants you peace that surpasses human understanding (Phil. 4:7). If you are going to die then it is God's will. If you ask for deliverance and are not delivered then it is His will that you not be delivered and you know that your faithful suffering is like an aroma to God that communicates your trust/faith. If you pray for a person in your life to change and they don't, then you know it is not God's will that they change–at least not in order to alleviate your suffering. You can have peace in the darkest valley of life knowing that the God of the universe has not plucked you from the painful circumstance you are in, but that He could. So you know that if He has that type of power, to do anything you could think of, then if He has allowed you to endure the pain of your life, that power to endure rests on you because He is with you in that valley. Consider Psalm 23:1-4
- The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right path for his name's sake. Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me.
This Psalm is not a song of praise to God for never making life hard when we are following Him. It is a Psalm of submission. One exclaiming that the green pastures, the right paths, are sometimes treacherous and hurtful–leading to our death (either physical or emotional). But our joy and faith rest in the fact that no matter where we go, Jesus has taken us by the hand and is leading us there–which means He is with us and we are at peace.
Matthew 10:29;30; says "Aren't two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them falls to the ground without your Father's consent…So don't be afraid therefore; you are worth more than many sparrows."
The idea is NOT this: Because you are more valuable than 2 small birds worth a single penny, God will not let anything bad happen to you.
The idea is this: Because God cares enough to "sign off" on the death of every small bird, you can guarantee that what happens with you is fully under His control, SO…don't be afraid! The trial in your life is your ministry at this time. Rejoice! God may not remove the trial from you. Will that prove that He is not that big after all and will you constantly question God's love for you? Will that make you question His power and existence? Or will you humble yourself and understand that your suffering is justified in His eyes. That your pain glorifies Him. That any issue you have had in life is meant for your good and to show His great power.
It is not about what He does, but what He can do. If we live our whole lives believing that He can do ALL things but never receive a physical sign of that power, we will be truly blessed–that is faith. What else can you believe? He is real. He is the Creator. The fact is that physical deliverance does nothing for the soul.
In Matthew 8, Jesus encounters two types of faith:
- Little Faith
- His own Jewish disciples
- Matthew 8:24-26 Suddenly, a violent storm arose on the sea, so that the boat was being swamped by the waves. But He was sleeping. So the disciples came and woke Him up, saying, "Lord, save us! We're going to die!" But He said to them, "Why are you fearful, you of little faith?" Then He got up and rebuked the winds and the sea. And there was a great calm.
- His own Jewish disciples
- Greatest Faith
- A Roman Centurion
- Matthew 8:8;10 "Lord," the centurion replied, "I am not worthy to have You come under my roof. But only say the word, and my servant will be cured…Hearing this, Jesus was amazed and said to those following Him, "I assure you: I have not found anyone in Israel with so great a faith!
- A Roman Centurion
In these examples, the disciples were in the presence of God but were not comforted by that fact. They were focused on their immediate trouble and forgot who they were following. They forgot who was in the boat with them. Obviously Jesus wasn't concerned…He was sleeping! The disciples should have taken a page out of Jesus's book, pulled up a pillow, and caught up on their sleep. But they couldn't, they were terrified that they might die. However, they could have peacefully rode out the waves like their Master–THIS IS US! If we are on the stormy sea, if we are in the dark valley of the shadow of death, we can sail through it without a care if we look next to us and remember who is in the boat!!
On the other hand, look at the centurion. He was already convinced of Jesus's power before he demonstrated it, the centurion did not need to see it which is why he simply said all that Jesus needed to do was speak the words and it would be done. That was his faith. We so often want to see it, but the centurion was past that. He believed with all of his heart. Had the centurion been in the boat, I bet that he would have been snuggled up with Jesus asking for a pillow.


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BP's roots date back to the early 1900's when oil was discovered in the Middle East. Starting as Anglo-Persian Oil Company in 1908, the company was renamed Anglo-Iranian Oil Company in 1935, and British Petroleum in 1954. In 1978, British Petroleum purchased majority stake in Standard Oil of Ohio. In December of 1998, British Petroleum and Amoco merged to form BP Amoco plc. BP Amoco plc then merged with Burmah Castrol and ARCO, and in 2001 the company became BP plc.
Why Partner with Wallis to Open a Gas Station?
Wallis Fuels has partnered with BP for over a decade. In 2006, we acquired 59 dealer sites from BP and sold the majority of these sites back to our wonderful wholesale customers and their families within two years. This is one of the oldest and most well-respected brands in the world, and Wallis is proud to partner with you to help you open up your own gas station. We have the experience and resources to help you open and operate a successful location.
When you partner with Wallis to open a gas station, you will benefit from a host of services we offer.
Environmental Services (Click to learn more)
There are numerous environmental regulations that must be met when planning for and setting up your location. Our team will manage and consult with you throughout the process to ensure that your store is completely environmentally compliant.
Feasibility Studies (Click to learn more)
You've heard the phrase before – "Location, Location, Location" – well, it's true! A major aspect of successful gas stations and convenient stores is the location. Wallis will help you complete feasibility studies on your desired location (or locations) to ensure that it's an area where you can be successful.
Operational Plan Creation (Click to learn more)
An operational or business plan is key to the success of any business. The team members at Wallis have decades of experience in this business and will help you formulate a winning operational plan.
Advising for Design & Construction (Click to learn more)
The design and construction of your store is both an exciting and scary task; it's when your dream and the fruits of your labor begin to take form! We'll be there with you the entire time to make sure that process goes smoothly.
Training (Click to learn more)
Operating a gas station or a convenience store can be a challenge. Wallis will assist you in making sure that your team has the necessary skills to meet this challenge and turn your business into a success.
Human Resources Consulting (Click to learn more)
For your store to be successful, you need to have a great team of people working for and with you. Wallis will provide HR support to assist with issues that may arise and to help keep your team operating smoothly and efficiently.
Fuel Management (Click to learn more)
The fuel you provide at your store is your primary inventory. We will help you manage your fuel to ensure you're able to meet all your customers' needs. With our expertise, we can help you meet the fuel demands of your customers throughout the year.
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from the Committee on Ministry and Counsel
Every year the Ministry & Nurture Committee of Lake Erie Yearly Meeting presents a query for monthly meetings to consider. This year the topic is our experiences of wonder and awe, Light and the Divine. The Committee also provides a set of related quotations. Friends have the opportunity for worship sharing on the query at 7:00pm on Friday, December 4, in the Fellowship Room. Come at 6:00 to share fellowship and supper (pizza provided, salads and desserts potluck). Watch for a sign-up sheet on the lobby table.
2009 Lake Erie Yearly Meeting Query
What experiences have you had of wonder and awe?
What experiences have you had of the Light or the Divine?
What helps you open yourself to these experiences and what gets in the way?
What practices do you have to deepen these experiences?
How do we support each other in this awareness?
How do we support our children in their spiritual journeys?
For quotations related to the theme of this query, visit http://leym.quaker.org/News/leymnews and see 2009 Queries Posted for Consideration.
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What are the average fees per semester in NIT?
Ronit last edited by
What are the average fees per semester in NIT?
Devanshu Sharma last edited by
The National Institutes of Technology (NITs) are autonomous public institutes of higher education, located in India.
These institutes are among the top ranked engineering colleges in India and have one of the lowest acceptance rates for engineering institutes, of around 2 to 3 percent, second only to the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) in India. The language of instruction is English at all these institutes.
As of 2017, the total number of seats for undergraduate programs is 19,000 and for post graduate programs is 8,050 in all 31 NITs.
Many aspirants with stars in their eyes want to get admission into the NITs. While being rated among the best in the country is one obvious reason why students are attracted to the NITs, the low fee structure is also another big reason
Being public institutes, they charge only a fraction of what private institutes like Manipal and VIT charge. But that being said, the B.Tech fee structure of NITs is not exactly uniform across the institutes and there can be subtle differences.
It should be noted at the time of admission, the candidate is only required to pay a part payment of the admission fee, with the remaining balance having to be paid at the time specified by the admission authorities.
The fee structure of the NITs is set by the MHRD in consultation with the NIT Council.
Consequently, the tuition fee is the same across all NITs, which is Rs. 62, 500 per annum.
But for some other components the fee structure may vary.
Hostel fees also may vary from NIT to NIT.
Here is the fees structure of NIT Goa, it will give you a general idea about the fees structure of NITs.
Fee structure for B. Tech for General/OBC students (For odd semesters)
Good Luck!
We at Doubtnut are always there to help you.


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Summer 2021 applications now open through January 4, 2021!
The North Carolina Internship Program provides students with professional work experience that connects their classroom experiences and potential career choices.
Interns work 40 hours a week for a 10-week period, earning $8.25 an hour. They participate in meetings, educational tours and other activities designed to broaden their perspective of public service and state government. There are numerous internship positions available during the summer at various state agencies located throughout North Carolina. Projects and interns are screened and selected by the North Carolina Internship Council. The State of NC Internship Program is highly competitive.
Interns are encouraged to seek academic credit for the internship, but the student is responsible for making such arrangements and should determine the specific procedure at her/his academic institution. The Internship Council reminds all applicants that the intent of the Internship Program is to provide a variety of opportunities for students to learn about public service professions.
Important Dates
- November 2, 2020: Application opens
- January 4, 2021: Application closes
- Late February – Early March, 2021: Phone Interviews
- End of March 2021: Notification of Internship Placements
- May 24th, 2021: Intern Orientation
- May 24-July 30, 2021: Internship Program
Note: Your project will be (remote, in person, hybrid) for Summer 2021. While the projects have notated their preference for hosting an intern. We will still follow the recommendation of the Governor in the final decision.
If you require additional information, please contact Candace Dudley.
Twitter/Snapchat: @The_KarenClark


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|2009-08-16, 20:44
|Link #1
Knowledge is the solution
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: St. Louis, MO
Age: 37
How to make your computer play Japanese games (Linux settings)
Long has Windows been the only OS where people could play their favorite games, but nevermore! Thanks to the steady development of platforms like WINE, there are a lot of different games, Japanese games included which can be run under Linux
For a comprehensive list of titles which have been tested and successfully run under Linux using Wine visit this link
The first thing we have to do in order to run Japanese games is to set up our Wine configuration to be able to use Japanese fonts. My favorite guide in that respect is this one, wineloc is a little script based on wine which automatically sets up the locale for a single program without affecting the whole wine configuration.
After this you are set up to run Japanese games in their native form. However, many people have made use of tools like AGTH, Atlas and Rikaichan to aid their gaming experience. AGTH is a text hooker that intercepts text calls from a game engine and sends them to the clipboard, which can in itself can be sent to a Japanese dictionary like Atlas or Rikaichan. There already is a guide here on how to set AGTH and Atlas to run with WINE.
Atlas is your must viable solution if you possess little to none knowledge of Japanese. However, if you have a decent grammar (JLPT 3 level) you may want to use a tool like Firefox's Rikaichan. Rikaichan is a popup based dictionary where you can hover your mouse pointer over a certain Kanji, and the dictionary will tell you the meaning and reading of that specific Kanji without having to translate the whole thing. There is a guide on setting AGTH and rikaichan under Windows. To do the same under Linux, you have to install AGTH (iwth Wine) and Rikaichan installed. Then, instead of the whole Autoit script thing run this shell script (written by yours truly )
#!/bin/bash OLDCOPY='' LOCATION="$(pwd)/agth.html" while [ 1 = 1 ]; do COPY=$(xsel -b -o) if [ "$COPY" != "$OLDCOPY" ]; then echo -e "$COPY <br>" >> $LOCATION OLDCOPY=$COPY (firefox -remote "openFile($LOCATION)") fi done
chmod a+x script.sh ./script.sh
After that just run your game in another terminal with the following command
wineloc -l ja_JP agth.exe /C yourGame.exe
An example of this running with Tomoyo After:
I will update this post as needed. So if you have any doubts or recommendations to make this thread more helpful don't hesitate to drop a line
Last edited by Proto; 2009-08-17 at 16:21.
|2009-08-16, 20:57
|Link #2
Knowledge is the solution
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: St. Louis, MO
Age: 37
Onscripter: There are some games that can be run natively like those based on the oscripter engine (including but not limited to: Higurashi, Umineko, Tsukihime).
Most distributions will have onscripter on their repository, which you can install (on Ubuntu) using
apt-get install onscripter
First, onscripter depends on a lot of dependencies. A lot of them. The version that comes with the svn also comes with a script that allows you to get those dependencies automatically, but as usual with installations in Linux that require you to install a lot of things by hand, there are a lot of chances that things can go wrong somewhere. For installing things the easy way, type
apt-get build-deb onscripter
After that, we have to download the source code from the svn
svn co svn://svn.denpa.mobi/onscripter/trunk onscripter-en
After that go to the newly download directory, and it's a straight
./configure make make install
An example of this running with Umineko
Last edited by Proto; 2009-09-17 at 15:05.
|Thread Tools


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Mexican-Style Stuffing
Mexican-Style Stuffing
For those of you who want to add a bit of ethnic flare to your Thanksgiving (Cajun-fried turkey anyone?), this recipe uses some of the most common staples from Mexican cooking for variety and spice.
- 3 tablespoon butter
- 1/2 cup finely chopped onions
- 1/2 cup finely chopped celery
- 1 red bell pepper, finely chopped
- salt and pepper, to taste
- 1/2 teaspoon dried sage
- 1/2 teaspoon dried parsley
- 1/2 teaspoon cumin
- 1/2 teaspoon chili powder
- 1/2 teaspoon paprika
- 2 teaspoon onion powder
- In a medium-sized sauce pan, melt the butter and sauté the onions and celery until soft, about 6 minutes. Add the diced bell pepper and cook until soft, about 2 minutes. Season with salt and pepper to taste, and then add the dried seasonings. Add 4 cups of the chicken broth and bring to a boil. Once boiling, remove from the heat and add the dried bread cubes. Give it a good stir so that the chicken broth is evenly combined. If the stuffing is too dry, add the rest of the stock in ½-cup increments until wet. Place the wet stuffing into a 9-by-13-inch greased baking pan and bake for 30 minutes, covered. Remove the cover and bake for 5 minutes more until golden brown.


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Create an Account - Increase your productivity, customize your experience, and engage in information you care about.
Heritage House Pavers
For a limited time, you can still purchase a paver! The size is 4"x8". It will be three (3) lines for $150.00.
Forms can be mailed to:
City of Chardon
111 Water Street
Chardon, OH 44024
Forms can be emailed to:
Becky Repasky


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[Image description: Watercolour illustration of children.]
Article by Amelia A. J. Foy
Pop Psychology ('popular psychology') refers to popularised theories about human behaviour and lifestyles with a reported root in psychological research. However, these theories are often misconstrued or over-simplified in the media, presented as "facts" without any critical thought, and when used to justify certain ideologies or behaviours, can be damaging.
In this (new!) series, we talk about what we know and what we don't about topics in pop psychology - and maybe do a bit of debunking.
This month: "Kids need a mother/father!"
This month: "Kids need a mother/father!"
So, this has been a little bit of a hot topic at the moment. With Terry Crews' recent comments on Twitter, a conversation has resurfaced around the idea that children need a mother and a father in their life.
I've reiterated many times that same sex couples and single parents can successfully raise a child. But I believe paternal AND maternal love are like vitamins and minerals to humanity. No matter where you get that paternal and maternal love. MY purpose is to give paternal love.— terry crews (@terrycrews) March 1, 2019
Of course, it's more complicated than this with Crews' comments - with the stereotypes of black fatherhood coming into play - but nonetheless it is a very pervasive and commonly held belief that without a mix of maternal and paternal influences in a child's life, they will suffer in some form. This includes having a negative impact on their mental health, being more masculine/feminine than their peers, or not knowing how to function amongst their peers or society as their prescribed gender.
This isn't something new; this ideology has been around as long as families have diverted from the typical nuclear structure of a mother and father with their biological children. The idea of "needing" a mother and father doesn't just refer to single parents or same-sex couples - it also affects adopted children, children of donor or egg insemination, children of surrogacy and all other non-'traditional' families. Of course, not all who hold this idea feel that you have to have a blood-related mother and father; often, it is just a mother- and father-figure. But this in itself is based in the idea of maternal and paternal instincts; and that men and women innately work together to raise a child.
But is there any truth to this?
The Research
The Centre for Family Research in the UK has been investigating 'new' families since the 80s. This was brought about by public outcry towards lesbian mothers in the late 70s and, around the same time, the first "test tube" baby. This media outrage was around everything previously mentioned, in a very "WHAT ABOUT THE CHILDREN?!" fashion. This centre, in response, has since studied single mothers, single lesbian mothers, lesbian mother families, gay father families, families who've used forms of IVF (donor or egg insemination, surrogacy) and families who've used adoption. It is currently examining transgender parents and their children.
It aims to address the concerns people have about raising a child without a father- and mother-figure in the home, whether that be biological or otherwise. Many of the studies below were conducted by this group. So, let's see what they found:
It aims to address the concerns people have about raising a child without a father- and mother-figure in the home, whether that be biological or otherwise. Many of the studies below were conducted by this group. So, let's see what they found:
Do children need two biological parents?
The questions surrounding families who have used IVF are commonly: can the non-biological parent(s) bond with the children? How does the child feel towards their non-biological parent? Does a child feel as loved by non-biological parent(s)? This is not exactly what we are looking at today, but is definitely a good place to start.
- A review of the literature on children conceived through egg donations (so, examining all available studies in this area and their findings) found that children function well from childhood into adolescence, with small discrepancies in mother-child relationships not outside of the normal range of fluctuation (as in, you would see this in "traditional" families too).
- The same was found in families who used sperm donors and surrogacy.
- However, a longitudinal study (a study conducted over a long time span with follow-ups) found slight negative differences in the mother-child relationships of egg donor children, showing the lack of genetic link might be a barrier for mothers; however, the children still functioned well and showed good levels of psychological wellbeing. This trend wasn't found in sperm donor families with fathers; and mothers who conceived through surrogacy showed more positive relationships with their children.
- The only factor to negatively affect children specifically in this circumstance is if their parents are not honest with them about their origins from an early age.
- When looking at personal accounts, children and teenagers of surrogacy, egg donation or sperm donation, who were told of their contraceptive origins in childhood, did not feel negatively towards their origins. They were mainly indifferent. If they weren't in contact with their donor(s) or surrogates, they expressed interest in them; those in contact felt positively about them.
Thus, it doesn't seem that having a non-traditional family structure, consisting of multiple "parental" figures, negatively affects a child. Furthermore, whilst there may be obstacles for mothers in particular with egg donation, this does not seem to reflect an innate inability to raise a non-biological child healthily (as seen with surrogate mothers). For fathers, the same trend persists. So, we have established that the literature suggests a genetic link does not necessitate a child being raised in a loving environment, with healthy functionality and psychological wellbeing, or their relationships with their families (whether that includes their donors or not).
But they still have both a maternal and paternal figure in the home here, just not blood-related. What about children who don't?
But they still have both a maternal and paternal figure in the home here, just not blood-related. What about children who don't?
What about single parents?
Firstly, these studies will focus on single parents by choice. Results therefore can't be blanket-applied to children of divorce, for example, due to the confounding (i.e. interfering) variables of the stress of divorce on family structure; the same can be said for single-parent families due to death or other circumstances. This makes the studies as valid as possible - that is to say, it is measuring what it set out to measure (single parenting) and not other factors that might confuse the results.
- In single-mother families by choice (i.e. chose to be a single mother, not just out of circumstance), there were no differences in parenting style, relationship with the child, the child's psychological adjustment or their gender development, when compared to two-parent heterosexual families.
- In a follow-up which included lesbian single-mother families, there were no difference in the child's development; their relationship with their mothers were stronger than with two-parent peers, and boys showed more feminine characteristics, but not any less masculine characteristics, to their peers.
Thus, the literature suggests that a father figure is not necessary for a child to be functional, have good psychological wellbeing, and adopt their prescribed gender roles. Slight differences in boys of lesbian mothers do not reflect an emasculisation, just an added display of feminine traits. (Side note: gendering behaviour is so weird, isn't it?)
There is sadly less literature available for single-father families, as this is a newer research area; so, we turn to same-sex family literature to study family environments without women, but also how non-heterosexual family structures may differ from those above.
Lesbian mother families and gay father families: yOu'Re mAkInG tHe KiDs gAy!
This was one of the main things highlighted during the Terry Crews debacle: the erasure and invalidation of same-sex families. This is a group already heavily stigmatised; so, on top of the aforementioned "worries" people have about non-traditional families, there is also: the kids will be bullied! They'll grow up gay!
- Comparing lesbian mother families to both heterosexual two-parent families and single-mother families yielded no differences in the adjustment and psychological wellbeing of children; at aged 7, they were well-adjusted and mentally well.
- Looking at child attachment, gay father families and lesbian mother families showed no difference in scores: their children were all very securely attached, denoting parental warmth and responsiveness.
- Children of same-sex families also have been found to do better in schools.
- The only negative impact of same-sex parenting is in fact no fault of the parents; in a recent talk of the centre's findings at the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, it was outlined that children of same-sex parents are more likely to be bullied about sexuality. However, they weren't more likely to be bullied overall - it was just the content of the bullying that differed.
- It was also stressed that, no, they don't raise gay children - in adulthood, the majority of children of same-sex families were heterosexual, with only 2 people being LGBQ+.
So, research suggests that both lesbian mother and gay father families raise children to be securely attached, functional and psychologically well children, with no differences to other family structures such as mother-father families and single parents.
If you want to read more on this topic from the experts themselves (the kids), have a look at Sh*t People Have Actually Said to People with LGBTQ+ Parents.
If you want to read more on this topic from the experts themselves (the kids), have a look at Sh*t People Have Actually Said to People with LGBTQ+ Parents.
Conclusion: do parents need a mother and father?The answer is: nah, doesn't look like it. But Prof. Susan Golombok (of the Centre for Family Research) sums up this whole topic very well in an interview with The Guardian:
"People always assume with new family structures that it's bad for children; that the more families deviate from the "gold standard" of the nuclear family, the more problematic for children it's going to be. Actually, the more we study these families and have solid data on what happens, we find it's not the case."


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The Savvy Technology Learning Tool Schools Mailing List allows you to reach K-12 school districts and school decision makers who have purchased leading-edge technology tools for classroom, computer lab, and student use.
This mailing list contains the most current phone-compiled data that targets school personnel and administrators who utilize technology tools to enhance student learning.
From grade school through high school, these education professionals have the buying power to purchase technology equipment, cloud computing tools, and internet service to help students achieve success in school. These schools and school districts have purchased tablet computers, e-readers, and document cameras as additional teaching tools. Distance learning services are made possible through the use of digital whiteboards, PCs, and computer software. These schools have budgeted and will continue to spend on the latest in technological advances for their students, teachers, and staff.
Purchasers of the Alesco Savvy Technology Learning Tool Schools Mailing List would include wholesale and retail technology education providers, book publishers, software providers, internet service providers, wireless communication providers, computer network providers, computer manufacturers, and e-reader providers.
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Torq Recovery Plus+ drink review
Hot drink for recovery and performance enhancementGBP £22.00 RRP Skip to view deals
Latest deals
This new hot recovery drink from Torq features all the training benefit claims you'd expect. These include HMB for slowing muscle degradation, amino acids to buffer lactic build-up, cocoa antioxidants, potassium and sodium for fluid regulation, zinc for tissue repair and iron.
Where it differs to other products is that it is designed to be drunk twice daily during hard training and used in addition to Torq's regular recovery drinks to promote both recovery and performance enhancement.
While we can't comment on the veracity of this scientifically, we did feel good while using the drink – once the skin tingling sensation from the Beta-Alanine had faded.
Recovery Plus+ also has a metallic, salty taste overpowering the chocolate that may put some off, and at two drinks a day it'd end up costing around £35 per month plus the cost of the usual recovery drink.
The £22 price quoted is for 500g; 1.5kg costs £50.
This article was originally published in Triathlon Plus magazine, available on Zinio.