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Blog Archives
Joy vs. Sorrow
In The Prophet by Kahlil Gibran, he writes: "The selfsame well from which your laughter rises was oftentimes filled with your tears…When you are joyous, look deep into your heart and you shall find it is only that which has given you sorrow that is giving you joy. When you are sorrowful look again in your heart, and you shall see that in truth you are weeping for that which has been your delight."
So if you are in sorrow, try to remember that, if you have wonderful memories of someone, to that degree will you grieve – sometimes for the rest of your life, for you will miss that someone more than words can express. That pertains to good memories of all kinds.
However, when you are filled with joy and laughter, look carefully at the situation/memories, etc. You will feel the connection with past incidents/people/special happenings. That will deepen the joy because you will understand the source.
Remember, your choices every minute can make or break your feelings/thoughts/memories. Whatever you focus on is what you are blessing into expression. It is, after all, entirely up to you to create the happiness habit.
Philippians 4:8
"Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things."
God bless your journey!
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Tags: blessings, choices, focus, God, journey, joy, life, metaphysics, negative, New Age, New thought, positive, thoughts, Truth, understanding, wisdom
Balancing Your Life
After watching the Olympics for several days, it has occurred to me how important BALANCE is to each and everything I watched. If one is just an inch off-balance, one way or another, that person will go down – no matter how good they are, how much they have practiced, or the long hours and many dollars they have spent to get to the Olympics. A speed skater, a boarder, ice skating, skiing, etc. – all require the magic of Balance in order to reach the podium.
I have a mobile in my room. I was watching it for some time. It has seagulls with wires connecting it together. The slightest whiff of moving air will cause it to circle. I noticed that, out of all the seagulls on the mobile, one small section was not moving properly. After studying it for a few minutes, I could see that one seagull had the tip of its wing over that of another. So I reached up and tweaked it a little. The mobile immediately swung back into perfect balance and moved like it should.
The thought occurred to me: How nice it would be if we all lived our lives while paying attention to Balance: Work, play eat, sleep, etc. How we spend each golden hour of our lives each and every day plays a part, just like the wing tip.
We all know what we have to do each and every day. We have to work at whatever we do to earn the money to meet our commitments and take care of our loved ones. But if we are not very careful, we can easily get out of Balance in our lives.
Perhaps you are thirsty so you reach for a can of cold pop instead of water. You are in a big hurry and are hungry. You look on your phone for a listing of fast food outlets nearby in lieu of a health foods store with ready-to-eat items. A child wants you to read him/her a story after a long, exhausting workday, so that moment passes by as you collapse into a chair. Your body is tired and aching from sitting or standing at work all day or night, so you pop a pain pill and settle down to watch some television before bed or sit at a computer, playing games to relax your mind. No thought of yoga stretches or deep breathing enter your mind.
Perhaps you are far too busy and with too many commitments to take that five minutes for yourself or look for a yoga/Pilates/exercise class that would improve your health. You are shopping for groceries and grab the quickest and easiest meals instead of shopping carefully for items that are healthy for you or your family.
As I said, if just an inch off-balance in Olympic sports, it won't work – the medal goes to someone else. However, if your life is Out of Balance, you do not feel well. You take a pill for your symptoms and keep going. You miss that beautiful sunset or perfect flower without noticing. Your mind is so busy on more important matters, like making a living, picking up the children on time, wondering where you are going to get the extra money needed to repair the car, how you can clean the house before guests arrive, and a million other things that bombard you from every angle. You are driven by outside forces that consume your time before you crawl into bed for a fitful night's sleep because you are so over-stressed.
Your life is shortened by the stress caused because of your attention to the extraneous matters/forces. You do not take that five minutes of calmness before you start your day, breathing deeply and thinking/reading beautiful thoughts. When you get the chance to stop for a moment, you check your phone for messages or play a game instead of looking around you, pausing to see that item of Beauty just waiting for your attention. Your mind is crowded indeed. But if you choose to slow down just a bit, you would hear the laugh of a child as you read a story or see the smile return to a checker's face who has just gotten a rude customer and needs your smile and "Good day!" to refocus his/her attention.
My point? Balance is not a dream – it is a choice. Every moment of your life contains one. You can make a difference to yourself and others. At risk is your health, the livingness you do or do not feel, and to the joy you could spread to others. The thought you put into every act/choice will change your reality.
You just have to ask yourself some questions: What is really important to you? How could you respond differently if you were not harried, tired, and grumpy? What would help change that? What class could you take such as Anger or Stress Management, Yoga, exercise, or something else? Could you stop what you are doing as you sit for hours at a time in order to move about for five minutes, as recommended? Could you take a deep breath and stretch a bit? Could you focus on something else instead of whatever is making you crazy?
Life is so fleeting. It is our choices each day that will help the time to pass quickly and easily or drag by as we do a job that is eating us alive. There are always alternatives. You just have to look for them. Are you willing?
God's blessings upon your journey!
Front Range Sunset
Posted in Uplifting Thoughts
Tags: anger, balance, Beauty, blessings, calmness, choices, crazy, deep breathing, dream, exercise, focus, God, grumpy, harried, journey, joy, life, livingness, Love, metaphysics, mobile, New Age, New thought, Olympics, sports, stress, thoughts, time, tired, Truth, understanding, willing, wisdom, yoga
No Room at the Inn
The Christmas story, as told in Luke 2:7 states: "And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling clothes, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the Inn."
The first part of that sentence — all the way up through "manger" captures our attention. But I would like to draw your attention to the last words in the sentence: "…no room for them in the Inn."
During the Christmas season, busyness rules many people's lives, dictating a hurry and scurry that tires the body and soul. There are lists to make, gifts to buy and wrap, cards to get ready to mail, parties to attend, and festivities/programs to partake of. All of these are great and useful.
But what if you stopped to think about your life and heart as a manger where the Christ child could rest?
Are you moving so fast to participate in all your activities that there is no quiet time to speak of the manger and what it could mean to you?
Is your life like the Inn where there is no room for the ideas of faith, peace, love, hope and joy – the quintessence of the Christmas Spirit?
Whoa! Slow down! Breathe deeply now.
Every day, your brain, heart, and body need to take the time for your own good in order to make room in your being for focusing on the qualities that make up the quintessence of the Christmas Spirit — the Faith which helps you along your way, the stillness of Peace, the Love of self and others, the Hope of a better day, and the Joy of life and more livingness daily.
It would only take a few minutes, but if you choose to spend that time, the gifts that will bring will last all day long. Are you willing?
God's blessing be upon you and your journey! Merry Christmas to all and a Happy New Year!
Posted in Uplifting Thoughts
Tags: attitude, awareness, blessings, Breathe Deeply, busyness, choices, Christ child, Christmas Spirit, faith, focus, God, hope, hurry, journey, joy, life, livingness, Love, Manger, metaphysics, New Age, New thought, Peace, quiet, thoughts, Truth, understanding, willing, wisdom
Christmas Spirit vs. the Spirit of Christmas
Is it the Christmas Spirit or the Spirit of Christmas? Good question. The answer lies either between your ears or in your heart.
If it lies between your ears, your mind will say, "There is no difference – it is the same thing."
Your heart will reply quite the opposite, however.
Christmas Spirit defined can include everything from the "Ho! Ho! Ho!" to Christmas Cards to gift giving to one and all. It can include stress caused by many sources, exhaustion from too much to do and too little time to complete tasks, the lack of money, etc. It can be an endless array of Christmas parties and too little sleep. It can be Christmas gifts put on display in the stores before Halloween and reminders of how many days until Christmas signs everywhere. It can be holiday music, lights, trees, and tinsel every time you look around. Yes, it can be all those things and more, positive and negative, bright and festive, cheap and elegant side by side.
But when you look at the Spirit of Christmas with your heart, you may find many surprises, one of which is the ability to see Beauty in your surroundings. That is because one is aware of time passing, along with a sense of peacefulness (like when floating on an inner tube on a lazy river).
If you are feeling rushed and filled with angst, slow down and take several deep breaths. Focus on just one thing at a time instead of a litany of tasks. Make a list of the tasks and choose just one, get it done, and then move on. Multi-tasking is a possibility if you still focus on just one object, like a person who is spinning plates on top of wooden dowels – touching one plate at a time to keep it spinning.
The Spirit of Christmas is not limited to a specific time frame on a calendar – it is truly an attitude that you can utilize year-round! In this way, one can see so much more clearly what is important vs. what is not so much. For example, you can give a gift from a thankful heart because of how satisfied you are with how well one is doing in lieu of giving out of duty or expectation. Pay attention to the details, one at a time, instead of feeling overwhelmed by the plethora of it all. You can enjoy one Christmas card, one gift your receive or give, or one bite at a time of a fantastic meal.
Time will, indeed, flow by regardless of how crazy you make yourself. So why not slow down your responses to exterior (and interior) stimuli? Then you can select the way you react to it instead of wearing yourself out from the inside, reacting vs. acting. Life can become so much more simple if you try this method of selecting a response (Acting) vs. gut level Reacting.
The Spirit of Christmas should nourish your Spirit, creating attitudes of thankfulness and joy. Do you remember that last time when you actually felt JOY? If it has been a long time, some introspection is required to find out when it left, how long it has been gone, and decide what you can do to restore it to your life so you can experience it again on a more regular basis. You may ask why that is important: Because JOY and PEACE are twins – they come and go together.
Peace is more than a word you hear and see during the Christmas Season. It is an attitude and a way of living. It is something you can cultivate in your life which can begin with learning to breathe deeply. Take a yoga class or T'ai Chi if needed. In our frenetic world, it is vital to your Spirit because it nourishes you from the inside out. It also simplifies complex situations which crop up all too often. When you feel like you are in a box and cannot get out, it is time to take a truly deep breath and seek the CALM (like that at the center of a wheel in lieu of living on the circumference where you feel like you are being run over).
The Spirit of Christmas is a gift you can give yourself every morning, if you so choose, no matter the time of year. Think about it: Are you willing?
God's blessings upon your journey! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
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Tags: answer, attitude, Beauty, calm, Christmas, focus, gifts, God, journey, joy, metaphysics, negative, New Age, New thought, Peace, positive, Spirit of Christmas, stress, T'ai Chi, thoughts, time, Truth, understanding, willing, wisdom, yoga
As I contemplate Thankfulness, I realize that it is an optimistic quality. It renders a feeling of lightness and levity. There is no room for pessimism here.
Life itself can give one a sense of heaviness and darkness. Perhaps prayer is not a tool for you to help you get through negative happenings. Another one of the tools – Meditation – to aid in changing consciousness is not thought about as a possibility. Goal orientation is as remote as the moon because "just make it through the day" is on your mind.
How then can one begin to arrive at a better place in mind? Smile! It lifts the spirit. It is a beginning.
Look around you. What are you grateful for? No mater how small, one can find something. Are you breathing? Is your heart beating? Do you have a roof over your head and food for your tummy? Life is in your every cell.
I, for one, am glad that I have so many wonderful friends and loving family members, both immediate and extended. I have once again achieved fairly good health, and I am able to deal with the foibles of this body as it ages. I have so much to be grateful for. I have already written my thank you note to God, expressing my gratitude. Have you? It is a great way to "get in tune" with all that is good in your life, accentuating the blessing and lessening the effects of the trials and tribulations that our existence brings on this "Third Rock from the Sun."
If you try it, perhaps you will have a new perspective, which you can then expand on as time unfolds for you.
Are you willing? Your efforts can exponentially grow, making tremendous changes possible for you.
Three things to remember as you go forward: Take life day by day; Be grateful for the little things; and Don't get stressed over what you can't control.
God's blessings upon your journey! May it be filled with Life, Peace, Love, Joy, Truth, Beauty, Laughter, Light, and Happiness!
Posted in Uplifting Thoughts
Tags: Beauty, blessings, goal orientation, God, grateful, Gratitude, Happiness, journey, joy, life, light, Love, meditation, metaphysics, New Age, new perspective, New thought, optimistic, Peace, Pessimism, prayers, smile, thankfulness, thoughts, trials, tribulations, Truth, understanding, wisdom
S — — T Happens!
S — — T Happens! Good Happens. These sayings are both true. We see them on car bumpers and on walls. Have you given them any thought at all? Do you just react to the bad stuff, without analyzing it? When good things happen to you, are you joy-filled? Sometimes, we are reluctant to enjoy that moment because we fear that something worse is just around the corner. Which one are you?
It has been wisely stated that it is not what happens to you that counts – it is how you REACT to what happens. When you get knocked down by incidents in your life, do you get back up again? Or do you "stay down for the count?" Do you nurse your emotional and physical wounds by proclaiming loudly to anyone who will listen to your statements about how bad your life sucks? If you do, you may find few who will listen to your sad tale for long.
It is a very true statement that: "What you think about/emotionalize over multiplies exponentially." Is that what you want?
The questions then arise, "How can I pick myself up and get on with my life? Do I just pretend nothing happened? How can I change my reaction to the bad stuff?"
Answers can come to you slowly or in a flash. Your answers are personal to you. Awareness is the beginning of change.
Perhaps a class will come to your attention about your particular problem, or maybe a sermon, friend, or magazine will catch your eye. You will have an "AHA!" moment and begin to focus on something else.
Beauty surrounds us in many forms. When I have had very sad times in my life, I found that, if I went outside into nature, I became more peaceful. Bird song and twitters, flowers, walking barefooted in the sand at the edge of the surf, a nice long bath, reading a good book, listening to the breeze rustle the leaves of the trees, etc., enabled me to pick myself up again. In short, just anything that makes you feel better is a key to changing you from feeling like a victim to helping you deal with whatever happened.
Life is not an unending story of happiness. It is just moments of joy that your attention can spread to fill your days. Bad stuff occurs in all of our lives. Again, how you choose to react to what happens will determine if you "let the bitter root grow" in your heart, contaminating every moment of your days OR if you decide to not dwell on it, deal with the repercussions/consequences if there are any, and see where you go from there.
In my own life, I have had tremendous sorrows, many of which I did not think I could endure, from death and injury of loved ones, feelings of separation and loneliness, losses in many forms, etc . I have had many physical challenges over the years which have required physical therapy, pain pills, and medicines. I have had to change my vocation, which I loved. I had to find a way to deal with the pain so that my personality, which is optimistic, would not darken into pessimism. It is a natural flow if one stays with the problem but does not seek a better answer. Luckily, I have found many answers that help me stay optimistic, some of which are listed above.
Each person is different, however. You need to find your own way of dealing with S — — T till you can turn it into fertilizer for new growth.
Are you willing?
God bless you on your journey!
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Tags: answer, bad, Beauty, blessings, choices, death, emotions turbulent, fear, fertilizer, God, good, growth, Happiness, injury, journey, joy, life, loneliness, metaphysics, nature, negative, New Age, New thought, Optimism, pain, Peace, Pessimism, physical, positive, react, sorrows, Truth, understanding, willing
Are Your Roots Healthy?
When I ask the question, "Are your roots healthy?" – I am referring to your basic thoughts, feelings, and expressions of life. How you are living, the choices you make, what you think about, how stressed you are, etc., all form the background of every minute of every day of your life.
Are you so concerned about what others think of you that you never stop to ask that question of yourself?
Roots are just like a plant: Unless you nourish them with your spirit, thoughts, and positive emotions, they can just wither away, drying out and draining you of your life force, every day in every way.
Nourishment occurs when you stop for a moment, take a deep breath, and look for something beautiful in your environment. Beauty brings peace, calmness, serenity, and joy into your life. When was the last time you did this? Do you remember the early morning sunrise or sunset at evening? Did you stop and smell the flowers along your path today? Did you notice a beautiful or unusual bird?
Or are you so busy with the every-day work demands, your families' needs, soccer practice, making a cake for the bazaar to support your child's activities, dancing lessons for your little girl, football practice for your young boy, etc., that you have just gotten lost in the shuffle? You know we have all had our turn at having to perform those requirements. The bad news is that it can go on for the rest of your life if you let it. You will not have much time to yourself to ponder your personal growth issues. In fact, that may sound like a joke to you as you drop wearily into bed at night. Whatever you need is at the very bottom because everyone else's needs/demands/wants have to come first…or so you may have been taught to think that way, especially if you are a woman with a family or a man providing for same. The daily vicissitudes (wear and tear) of life can exhaust you.
So where do you begin to make a change in the above priorities? It all starts with thinking about it and writing it all down. Once written down, ideas come to mind as you look at the words. Perhaps you can begin to question how important each one is and decide whether or not to keep doing same.
Albert Einstein one said: "The definition of Insanity is to keep doing the same things over again the same way, but expect different results."
So I am asking you to just step back from your life for a few moments, think, grab a pen and begin writing your observations of yourself/your choices/your life. If you are willing to do that, you are raising your awareness. Awareness of the need for a change is actually the beginning of a new life for you, living more according to your purpose, happier, and more able to actually support the loved ones around you because of your new vision. Are you willing?
God's blessings upon your journey!
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Tags: awareness, Beauty, bird, blessings, calmness, choices, demands, emotions, feelings, God, ideas, journey, joy, life, metaphysics, New Age, New thought, nourish, Peace, positive, priorities, roots, serenity, stress, think, thoughts, Truth, understanding, willing, wisdom
Mindfulness is a quality which is worthy of your intense attention. Without it, you drift through your life. With it, you can experience more joy and awareness than you would believe possible.
Mindful is defined as: "Having in mind; aware, heedful, or careful."
Mindless is defined as: "Not using one's mind; showing little or no intelligence or intellect; senseless or thoughtless; taking no thought; heedless or careless; unmindful."
The first definition (Mindful) is informative, but the second definition (Mindless) comes closer by comparison to what can happen if one does not use Mindfulness.
You may ask: How does one begin to understand Mindfulness? The answer is quite simple: Stop and Breathe Deeply.
When one actually stops (as in sit down, make yourself comfortable, and begin to look around you), things change. You begin to see colors, shapes, and sizes. You become more aware of your surroundings. Use your eyes and really look at objects. Use your fingers and touch the cloth you are wearing, sense the hardness or softness of what you are sitting on, and reach out to touch things within reach. How do they feel? What do you smell? Is there some food cooking somewhere? Is there a sweet or a sour scent somewhere close by? What do you hear? Do you have some soft music on, or can you hear the children giggling as they play a game? Did you just eat something sweet or perhaps a piece of fruit? Can your taste buds still sense the tanginess of it? In other words, use your five senses to evaluate your surroundings.
Once you have done that, place one of your hands on your belly/stomach area and one on your chest. Close your eyes. Now breathe. If the hand on your chest is moving a lot more than the lower one, you know that you are not breathing in a good way. You are more subject to stress and a lot of other ills. If you are breathing like this, you need to relax your stomach/belly and expand it with the incoming breath, pulling it in as you breathe out. It may seem strange at first, but it is vital to your health to learn how to Breathe Deeply. Now try to slow your breath, breathe in as deeply as you can and slowly breathe out. Try to breathe out longer than you breathe in because it is getting rid of the carbon dioxide and impurities.
If you have tried these exercises, you have a new awareness of your surroundings. You can then begin to do it any time of day, anywhere, and under any circumstances. You can do it for just a breath or two, or as long as you please. You may find that colors become more vibrant, and your five senses will wake up to new levels of experience.
Mindfulness is a central theme to a movie I just watched titled, "Griffin and Phoenix." It was a very interesting story about a man and a woman who find each other only after they have been diagnosed with a terminal illness and do not have very long to live. Each one knows, looking back at their lives, how they worked and lived without being truly aware of anything. They find in each other the ability to live with Mindfulness. They want to experience every day fully as they create memories together. She knows she will not live till Christmas comes again, and she loves Christmas and presents. At the end of the movie, he goes to a hardware store and buys whatever it takes to surprise her with a decorated Christmas tree in the woods, including batteries to light up the lights, and lots of presents. It was a very poignant story.
Mindfulness can become an important part of your day. Just the act of walking can activate many thoughts as you are aware of your space and others around you. Perhaps you may see other people differently because you are more aware of what you are saying and how you are saying it. That can cause a new interaction level which can be more pleasant, whether it be a small one with a store clerk, a coworker, a friend, or a loved one. It can make you more efficient at work because it is no longer a boring repetition, but your mind is actively creating — be it a work of art, a sentence, taking care of a customer, or just cleaning up a mess that a small child just made. Your life can change a lot. But first you must be willing to pay attention to the details of your life. Like a flower emerging from the snow, you can express more livingness and joy.
After all, it is your journey and your choice. Mindfulness is a mine filled with valuable treasures, but only you can use your focus to find them. Are you willing to do it?
God's blessings on your journey!
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Tags: awareness, blessings, breathe, change, choices, color, creating, details, eyes, five senses, flower, focus, God, griffin, hear, interaction, journey, joy, life, livingness, Love, metaphysics, mind, mindful, mindless, New Age, New thought, Pay attention, phoenix, see, smell, stop, taste, thoughts, touch, Truth, walking, willing, wisdom
Looking Forward Instead of Backward
With the 2015 New Year before us in just a short three days, it is a time to begin Looking Forward Instead of Backward.
If one is driving a car, how much time does one spend gazing into the rear view mirror? Now there is an accident waiting to happen! We all have to be aware of what is going on around us, right here, right now, real time. It is no different with Life, every day, day in, day out. Usually, it is some unfortunate experience that keeps us gazing backward, to no avail. Perhaps it is a word spoken in haste that cannot be retracted. Perhaps it was an unthinking act on someone else's part that hurts us so very much. Perhaps we have done something we are sorry for but cannot take back. History cannot be changed. It has been said that Unhappiness is a result of someone trying to make something Un-Happen. It is a fact that Time cannot go backward. Yesterday is gone, and Tomorrow is but a figment of our imagination. The only day we have is TODAY. That is why it is known as the PRESENT. That is why it needs to be cherished, appreciated, and utilized the best we can. Forgive and let go of that which was so that you may move into your PRESENT with more livingness.
Now is a time when some people begin to make New Year's Resolutions so that goals may be set and achieved, possibly change some negatives in one's life to positives, "Turn over a new leaf!" etc. Some decide to begin a physical fitness program, pay for a fitness center contract, and make aggressive actions for a short time before the energy for change wears out amid the humdrum vicissitudes of daily life. Some decide to lose a lot of weight, set a goal that they remember from long ago and far away, and then feel like a failure when the required changes in eating habits just do not magically happen. Why is it that so many actually do not see the necessary steps to success actually begin with very small increments?
Do not be disheartened if you desire to actually make a difference to your health and life. Consistency is the key, of course. For instance, one could begin to lose weight by looking at your eating habits and writing down what you actually put in your mouth for a week. There is an eye opener for you! Physical Fitness could begin by setting a goal of walking on a treadmill for a few minutes every day, taking the stairs instead of an elevator, or parking farther out so you have to walk a little more. But first, you have to set a goal that is within your reach. You may not ever run a marathon, but you could see a healthier you in the mirror by beginning to make changes in what you do, how you do it, and the choices of food that you ingest. Questions to ask yourself: "Do I quickly grab a Starbucks and a donut, or do I actually figure out what is good for me in the long run? No matter how good that sweet Danish tastes, will it nourish my body? Do I skip breakfast altogether (which, by the way, every doctor/nutritionist/health addict knows is the major sin against the body) or do I learn to eat to live vs. live to eat?"
It has been suggested that Food Police is a negative idea in watching carefully what your choices are — treating the idea from a forceful point of view, ensuring failure. Actually, it all comes down to your choices. Is becoming more healthful important enough for you to look at the sweets that surround everyone at this time of year, the alcohol being consumed, the pops that are offered at every party, and enormous quantity of food on every plate?
Every diet in the world begins with measuring the actual intake of what you consume before you open your mouth, choosing the foods that will nourish you, and passing up the rest that is out there. Why is that so difficult?
That answer usually is tied up with our emotions. Are we stressed out? Are we overtired? Is the quality of sleep good, bad, or excellent? It has been proven over time that our hormones respond to all of these, even to the point where we are hunting for chocolate to eat so we can calm down, or some other comfort food which has nothing to do with our long term goal of becoming more healthy.
Attitude matters. It is paramount to make an analysis of what is going on between our ears. There are so many good things that come from exercise for our bodies that will help us along our path towards our goals. The peptides, etc., are released, helping us to feel better.
Some people do not want to take baby steps. They desire gargantuan goals, ensuring the probability that they will become failures more quickly. After all, if one cannot climb a mountain, what is the point in starting?
Confucius said, "Journey of a thousand miles begins with one step."
He had it right!
So if you want to begin to write your New Year's Resolutions, be kind to yourself. Be gentle with yourself. Look at where you are now, and then decide where you want to be a year from now. Then write a list of achievable steps where you can begin a synergy that will carry you onward.
It has been said that "Rome was not built in a day." You might remind yourself of that as you go forth on your journey.
The Christmas Season is such a lovely time of year. It always seems to me that people are kinder toward others, more generous, more forgiving. But when that special day is passed, the attitudes in general change back to more "business as usual." The meanness we all see every day overpowers our senses, and we lose sight of what Life is all about. Is it possible to extend these lovely Christmas moments and attitudes so that they are here every day of the year? It can be if you personally choose that to be your attitude and goal. It is, after all, up to you.
God's blessings upon your journey! Happy New Year to one and all! May the light from the beautiful fireworks celebrations for the New Year remain in your mind and heart, long after they are gone from the skies. May God bless you with Love, Light, Life, Laughter, Joy, Truth, Beauty, and Peace every day this coming year!
Posted in Uplifting Thoughts
Tags: attitude, Beauty, blessings, change, choices, Christmas, Confucius, consistency, diet, exercise, God, Happy New Year, healthful, journey, joy, life, light, Love, metaphysics, negative, New thought, New Year's Resolutions, Peace, positive, stress, tomorrow, Truth, understanding, unhappiness, wisdom
The Joy of Life
The Joy of Life is a mysterious thing which you either have, know you have it, and experience it daily if not all the time — or something has caused it to drain away, leaving you with an empty feeling, knowing not what you have lost.
Have you ever watched a dog that knows it is time to go for a walk? They are wagging all over, tail included. As they walk along, their head is up – unless it is down sniffing around at all the other smells. Their excitement does not lag as they go along, either. They are pulling on their leashes as a rule, and it does not matter what size the dog is.
How long has it been since you experienced the excitement of looking forward to something during your day? It could be something as small as a child's smile or a small hand holding yours, or it could be meeting a friend or loved one for lunch. The possibilities are endless, aren't they?
Or are they? Have the daily vicissitudes (wear and tear) worn you down to a nubbin? Are you so caught up in what you have to do, what has to be done, and know you cannot do it all that your days disappear? It is like a thief in the night, for when you turn around, time seems to have evaporated before your very eyes. You look back over the last few days, or months, or years, and wonder where it all went.
The solution? Pay attention daily, hourly, and by the minute. Do not let time slip through your fingers like sands in an hourglass.
Be alert! Look for it! Be like the dog who is looking forward to going for a walk. Be enthusiastic! When was the last time you "wagged your tail" over something you wanted to do?
Life comes to us in the present — not tomorrow or yesterday or even five minutes ago. It is the very second you are reading this, only to slip away into the past. What choices you make NOW do make a difference!
Do you have a dream that has dissipated into a ghost of its former self? DREAMS and GOALS help us to achieve more than we deemed possible, because SYNERGY comes into play. When was the last time you thought about your DREAMS or GOALS as a possibility/probability? Have you shelved them as improbable? You shoot yourself down before anyone else has a chance to do it! Perhaps you think you are too old? Too young? Do not have enough money? Do not have any time for such foolishness?
Any step you could take to achieve these dreams and goals is NEVER TOO SMALL! If you would take the step you see, it will lead you on…just like Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz did in the "Follow the Yellow Brick Road!" Along the way (where she tried to get back home), she was accompanied by Toto, her little dog, and then the Scarecrow (without a Brain), a Tin Man (without a heart), and the Cowardly Lion (without a medal). The Wizard of Oz came up with a solution, which worked for him just fine. It took the Good Witch of the North to show her that the Red Slippers could take her home if she just thought correctly. Ideas are like that as well. If you have the courage to begin it, life unfolds before you like a flower. Yes, you may have to pay in time and effort, but think of the fun you could have along the way!
Each day should be like a banquet, with the table spread before you containing all you could enjoy. What would your table look like? What do you want from life? Is mere existence enough, with one day melting into all the others along the way? Or do you want more? Define it. Write it down. Think about it. What step would begin it?
The Joy of Life is not afar off. It awaits you…with every choice you make today. Are you willing?
God's blessings upon your journey!
Picture of Alert/Excitement
Dancing for a Treat
Having Fun, Playing with Paper
Posted in Uplifting Thoughts
Tags: alert, banquet, begin, blessings, choices, disappear, dreams, evaporate, excitement, existence, goals, joy, life, metaphysics, New Age, New thought, Pay attention, possibilities, present, probabilities, solution, steps, thoughts, time, tomorrow, Truth, understanding, vicissitudes, willing, wisdom, Wizard of Oz, yesterday


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Lucky Business/Shutterstock
Parents, educators, and even peers may warn students to be careful when it comes to the digital trail they're leaving behind on social media, yet sometimes that message doesn't really get through -- even for the brightest students. But perhaps this story will have a powerful impact. Harvard just rescinded its offers of admission to more than 10 students who shared sexually explicit and racially offensive memes in a Facebook group.
The Class of 2021 got a bit smaller after two incoming freshman reported that a Facebook messaging group, which at some point had the unfortunate title "Harvard memes for horny bourgeois teens," had been created by other admitted students in late December.
More from CafeMom: This Is Why I Won't Let My Daughter Use Social Media
So what content was shared among these teens, whom you'd imagine are among the best and brightest considering they attained Ivy League admission?
According to the Harvard's student paper, the Harvard Crimson, messages -- intended to be humorous -- suggested that abusing children was "sexually arousing." We're failing to see how anyone could find that amusing. At all. That wasn't the only disturbing "joke" the platform contained. One meme went so far as to reference the idea of "hanging a Mexican child" as "piñata time," while others reportedly mocked the Holocaust.
Horrifying, right? It's no wonder the Cambridge, Massachusetts–based university didn't want to associate itself with these students, who located one another using the official Harvard College Class of 2021 Facebook group. From there, the would-be Ivy Leaguers started smaller groups based on similar interests, which is how the offensive meme site got its start.
You can say: "What about these students' right to free speech? If it wasn't on the official page, what's the problem?' (Aside from it being offensive and ignorant, of course.) But Harvard's Admissions Office cautions students: "As a reminder, Harvard College reserves the right to withdraw an offer of admission under various conditions including if an admitted student engages in behavior that brings into question his or her honesty, maturity, or moral character."
More from CafeMom: 13 Apps That Make It Impossible for Teens to be Sneaky Online
If you're looking for students with stellar character and outstanding qualities, you'd need to look beyond that Facebook group, that's for sure!
Also, as a parent or a student, you don't want to think that you're spending thousands and thousands of dollars to attend an elite school and your potential roommate or dorm mates are people who think sexual abuse and racism are funny, much less something to joke about on the Internet. We don't blame the school for weeding out potential problems before they arise.
It's almost ironic that these students were smart enough to get into Harvard, which admits a mere 5.2 percent of applicants (2,056 out of 39,506 applicants), according to the school, yet weren't wise enough to recognize that their actions have consequences.
More from CafeMom: 12 Social Media Stars Your Tween Loves That You Should Know About
Many still believe that because the Internet is so vast or you can make things "disappear" on certain apps, they're untraceable. But everything on social media has legs and often your posts go far beyond the original, intended audience -- for better and for worse.
For parents, if your kids haven't gotten that message yet, this cautionary tale should drive that point home quickly.
And for these students, scrambling to find a backup school will probably make this a lesson that will stick with them forever.

subset: commoncrawl


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I tested the first example of page 57 in VUO manual - that plays a sound every time mouse enters a rectangle area. Sometimes the sound is emitted even at composition start, even if mouse isn't in the area. How can I skip just that sound?
It emits a sound on start if
Submitted by Jaymie (@jstrecker)
It emits a sound on start if the event from
It emits a sound on start if the event from
Fire on Start reaches
Is within Rectangle before the initial event from
Receive Mouse Moves does, in which case
Is within Rectangle outputs true and
Became True lets the event through to
Play Audio File. You can avoid this by inserting a
Hold Value node to block the event from
Fire on Start.
All clear. Thanks mic
Submitted by mic (@cremaschi)
All clear. Thanks mic


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Do you have the skills to provide basic CPR and First Aid for a friend or family member in an emergency? Learn how to respond to emergencies with this community based CPR/AED and Basic First Aid training course. Receive a two year certification after successful completion of the course.
NOTE: Course does not meet healthcare level CPR and First Aid Training requirements.
Ages: 12 years old and up
Fee: $70(R)/$87.50(N)
Location: Adams Safety Training Center
Upcoming Classes:
May 2019 - Act #2596
Saturday, May 4, 2019
August 2019 - Act #3603
Saturday, August 3, 2019


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Customers Warned To See Phone Contract Through To Avoid Overcharging
Customers are being made aware if they decide to leave their contract early & move to another provider, they could face hefty charges.
Commuting Times Rise By 18 Hours Over Decade
According to the most recent figures, Brits commute 18 hours more than they did compared to 10 years ago.
Government Announces £200m For Full-Fibre Broadband Rollout
Cornwall and the Welsh valleys will be among the first parts of the country to benefit from the governments £200m full fibre BB rollout.
How Unified Communications Can Benefit Your Business
Unified communications is a concept that's grown in popularity recently but how can it benefit your business?
Managers Need To Take Action To Relieve Work-Related Stress Problem
Figures from the HSE have revealed workers took 15.4 million days off in 2017/18 due to stress, anxiety and depression in the workplace.
Businesses Losing Out By Not Embracing Flexible Working
Research has found that there's a lot of dissatisfaction among UK workers when it comes to the flexibility of their current working arrangements.
5 Per Cent Of UK Premises Have Full-Fibre Broadband
According to the latest data from Ofcom, full-fibre broadband penetration across the UK has reached five per cent.
Companies Share Benefits Of Voip Phone Systems
A number of firms in the US have been explaining the benefits they've experienced since switching to Voip systems.
PwC Spearheads New Flexible Working Initiative
PwC has announced that it will opening up a new recruitment route that will forgo the traditional working patterns entirely.
More People Buying 'Dumb Phones'
According to recent reports, more and more people are shunning smartphones and are opting for basic mobile phones instead.


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Practicing arts and crafts is a fun activity anyone can enjoy. And, there are all different types of crafts and possibilities to explore, so your opportunities are endless. You are about to learn some things that will help you better enjoy your craft sessions.
Have you been searching for a good spot to gather materials to make crafts? Many online sites offer great prices on a huge selection of craft supplies. With a quick search you can find lots of great deals. You may even find a shop or two that offers free shipping, as well!
If you want to make custom jewelry, then you can probably find what you need on Beadaholique. You can find a variety of chains, beads and accessories to create beautiful jewelry. A lot of the fashion that is out there today involves designing with costume jewelry. You can coordinate your wardrobe and save money by crafting your own.
Focus on one thing at a time. It can be tempting to do various projects and start on all kinds of crafts in this hobby. However, that is how projects remain unfinished! Finish a project before you even think about starting another. You will be able to finish up one craft before starting on the next.
When going through arts and crafts involving children, don't get stuck on firm examples to compare finished projects to. Allow the kids to use their own creativity and imaginations. They could do something like glue an eye where an ear goes. It is important to allow them to express their creativity.
Etsy is the perfect place to find your arts and crafts supplies. This site sells items from individuals. You will also be able to actually sell your projects on this website. Etsy is a pretty good choice if your current or next project requires vintage media.
Keep your craft supplies organized. There are lots of ways to store and organize your supplies. Find a way to work for you. Having good organization is an easy way to know if you have the types of supplies needed to help you create a project. Also, it will be easier to know what items you have.
If you want supplies for your arts and crafts projects, go no further than your kitchen. There are tons of gems out there to do in crafts. You can use metal cans, tin foil, empty glass jars, and more. You can use dried beans and pasta, too.
If you don't like something you painted on a canvas, paint over it. Oil is flexible, and additional paint is not going to harm the surface. It can help you make something that has lots of depth and is a fascinating design.
To make a fun bird feeder with your kids, start with a pine cone and add peanut butter over the whole outside. While it's sticky, roll the cone in the birdseed. Your seeds will adhere to your peanut butter, so all you need to do is add a string and hang the feeder in a tree.
These tips can get you ready for your next craft project. You can always gain better skills, no matter which type of crafts you do. Keep learning to better your art every day.


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Tuesday, May 28, 2013
Sgt. Reckless
This was one heck of horse. Ooops.. She's not a horse, she's a Marine!
From the Sgt. Reckless website:
Her Military Decorations include two Purple Hearts, Good Conduct Medal, Presidential Unit Citation with star, National Defense Service Medal, Korean Service Medal, United Nations Service Medal, Navy Unit Commendation, and Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation, all of which she wore proudly on her red and gold blanket, along with a French Fourragere that the 5th Marines earned in WW1.
Posted by Supi at 5:15 PM
2 comments:
- Woodsterman (Odie) said...
No donkey from the left could do that.
- May 29, 2013 at 7:16 AM
- Supi said...
Odie. You have that right.
- May 29, 2013 at 9:43 AM
Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)


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- >
- Calendar
- >
- Sketches In Stillness/ Lil' Heart Toons, 2020 limited edition Calendar GIFT VALUE BUNDLE -
Sketches In Stillness/ Lil' Heart Toons, 2020 limited edition Calendar GIFT VALUE BUNDLE -
The 2020 Sketches In Stillness and Lil' Heart Toons Calendars are available NOW as a PRE-ORDER in a GIFT VALUE BUNDLE!
The calendars are sold out BUT are being re-printed as we write this, due to high demand, so be mindful that if you order now , the calendars won't start shipping until January 10th. (This will be the last batch of calendars this year.) So hurry and don't miss this last opportunity to get your calendar NOW!
Continuing in the tradition of our popular yearly Calendar, you can now have a collection of some of the year's most popular Sketches in your home.
They are all here, all in one beautifully printed very limited edition Calendar that will sure to become a collector's item.
You have loved them daily on Facebook and all over the internet , now bring home the magic, the love and peace of the beloved and acclaimed Yogi Petz™ or share them with your friends and family or anybody who needs a little love and comfort in their life.
The Sketches in Stillness Calendar features the Yogi pets, that invite you on a journey to enjoying life fully in the present moment.
Teaching Mindfulness, each little drawing is a small meditation on its own, that will help bring more presence and self love into your life.
They are all here : Yogi Ant, Yogi Turtle, Yogi Firefly, Yogi ladybug, and even some new friends. join in the year's celebration as they will accompany you on a magical journey through the stillness of every season. The calendar is : 8.5" x 11" when closed.
PRE-ORDER NOW. Calendars start shipping beginning of December.
Our LIL' HEARTTOONS Calendar features sketches from our sister page, Illustrating the love and joy our Pets bring into our lives.
Pets are natural Zen Masters, guardians of love and being, that can awaken the unconditional love within our hearts.
This Fur baby calendar compiles some of your favorite sketches that have touched your heart and that were featured in our lil' Heart Toons movies and as sketches throughout the years on FACEBOOK. Inspiring us to cherish, protect and save our little fur angels. This calendar will become a must for any Lil' Heart Toons fans or any Fur Baby lovers. Visit our ecard Website HERE to watch the animated movies.
Calendars start shipping beginning of December.
Join in the year's celebration as our furry friends will inspire you with heart warming sketches throughout the seasons.
Please note that if you purchase any item with a PRE- ORDER all the items purchased will be sent in one package at the time of shipping of the PRE-ORDERED item. (If you would like to receive other items faster than the PRE-ORDER please purchase them separately.


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Veteran Bollywood actor Shashi Kapoor passed away a while ago. At the age of 79, Shashi Kapoor has breathed his last. He was reportedly suffering from old age ailments and was under constant medical supervision. The whole film industry is in a state of shock regarding the demise of Shashi Kapoor.
Shashi Kapoor is the youngest son of Bollywood's legendary filmmaker Prithviraj Kapoor. Shashi Kapoor is survived by three children, Kunal Kapoor, Sanjana Kapoor and Karan Kapoor. This veteran actor was honored with the Padmabhushan by the government of India in 2011.
Shashi Kapoor has acted in a number of Bollywood movies which include some of the famous movies like Satyam Shivam Sundaram, Deewar, Roti Kapda Aur Makaan, Abhinetri and many more. The Bollywood industry has lost a stalwart today. We iqlikmovies.com extend our heartfelt condolences. May his Soul Rest In Peace!


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Liquid Gold Foam has Arrived in the UK
POSTED February 1, 2019
Just Dropped: Liquid Gold Foam has Arrived in the UK
Breaking news! Your fave dry oil self tan is now available in a foam! Introducing Bondi Sands Liquid Gold Foam, aka the essential new addition to your Bondi Sands collection.
If you love our Bondi Sands Liquid Gold Dry Oil self tan, or even one of our iconic Self Tanning Foams, you're sure to adore the newest addition to the Bondi family.
Getting your glow on has never been easier
Infused with Argan oil and enriched with our signature coconut scent, this hydrating formula leaves skin silky smooth with a beautiful sun-kissed glow. What's more, it requires no wash-off and it's touch-dry in seconds, making it perfect for a gal on the go.
Simply apply a few pumps to your Bondi Sands Self Tanning Mitt and buff into your skin, for an all-over glow that takes seconds to apply! Our formula is so quick-drying you can get dressed in moments, and it leaves no residue so it won't transfer onto your clothes.
Slay all day, every day
Just one coat of our Liquid Gold Self Tanning Foam leaves skin with a subtle golden glow that's perfect for everyday wear, but you can also apply multiple layers if you love a super bronzed look. Great news for super-busy babes - Liquid Gold Foam is also specially formulated to be extra long-lasting, for a self tan that works as hard as you do. When it starts to fade, top it up as you please, or exfoliate all over and start again - it's entirely up to you!
On the grapevine
Don't just take our word for it! Bondi Babe Brittney Saunders is loving our Liquid Gold Foam, saying "It dries instantly, no shower required, pop it straight on and head out the door! LOVE!


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I took a detour to an olive garden (not that kind of Olive Garden!) while I was in Provence so, I thought I would share some photos from that beautiful sunny day.
Sorry, if it has been a little quiet around here lately – I have been busy wrapping up a few exciting personal projects + staying on top of the new newsletter (sign up here!) and client work!
Anyway, if you do decide to climb an olive tree on a whim – it's easier to do so without shoes on, but be careful because the branches can be prickly.
There is always so much to explore on a road trip through Provence – if you need more ideas or inspiration, check out my local travel guides here.


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Finally! I can't believe that I have finally found glass cutting boards at the Dollar Tree! And right now I'm in a bit of vinyl heaven. I have been wanting to create decorated cutting boards for months but my local store has had the boards. Well last weekend I asked my hubby to take me to the next town over so I could check out their stores and just as I was about to give up, there they were, kind of hidden on the back wall (instead of with the glass ware). I picked up a dozen - 6 round and 6 square, but even that wasn't enough because I had my daughter pick up more for me yesterday.
I have several designs to play with but today I want to share this one I used from Apex Cuttable Designs. This file is called Wine Holiday Workout and it comes with four different versions - two of which I am show casing today. These were great files to work with. They cut like butter and placement was easy as can be.
Creating these boards was easy too. They're both 7 3/4" boards so I cut the designs around 6 inches so that I'd have plenty of room to clear the feet with my designs. While the design was cutting I wiped the backside of the board down with alcohol to remove any dirt or residue that would cause the vinyl not to adhere and once dry I applied the vinyl. And now I have great looking cutting boards. Just remember that if you're working with glass or using this design for a shirt to mirror the image before cutting. I have to admit that since this was my first cutting board I forgot to do that when I cut the round design the first time.
Now my only 'problem' is deciding what design/s to play with next.


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We are excited to announce that TPDS is now offering a BRAND NEW program, "Acrodance Preschool"
This program is designed to introduce physical literacy, coordination, creative movement and basic acrobatic skills to students aged three to five years.
TPDS is now a partner studio with Twinkle Star Dance! This program is going to be apart of all our preschool programming for our students aged 18th months to 6 years of age.
We are excited to dive into these awesome programs with all of our preschool classes in the Crowsnest Pass & Pincher Creek Locations!


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The triggering of Brexit and a new wave of taxes caused the UK's true fleet market to shrink last year, says Dataforce.
It was the only one of the EU's largest five economies to see a contraction, with Spain, France, Italy and Germany all beating last year's record numbers.
Dataforce says each of these countries had market-affecting events which could have altered these outcomes, but they did not de-rail the growth of their fleet markets.
For example, Spain had its government denounced but state-approved Catalonian independence referendum, France had presidential election with controversial candidates, while Italy saw the end of the super-amortisation benefits for the majority of company cars.
However, the UK market was the exception with its fleet segment (along with the other segments) feeling the pinch and starting to contract.
Dataforce said this was "no doubt influenced by the new wave of vehicle taxes implemented from April 1 and the triggering of Brexit, which in the eyes of the population, remains shrouded in mystery, as to just what this will mean for them post March 29, 2019".
Overall new car registrations in the UK last year were 2.54 million, down 5.7% from 2016's figures. However, it was still above the 10-year average of 2.28m.
The fleet market posted a 5.8% drop in new registrations in 2017 while at the same time the absolute volume was still one of the highest.
UK brand performance
One half of the top 10 brands improved their results with two of them growing at double-digit rates while the other half had to bear the losses.
Ford secured the top spot thanks to a less negative outcome than second-placed Vauxhall.
Volkswagen was third with 7.6% growth, and Dataforce expects it to challenge Vauxhall for second place in 2018.
Mercedes-Benz are fourth after its true fleet registrations grew 5.6%, with the A-Class, GLC and E-Class proving popular.
On the next ranks Nissan, Audi and BMW each retained their positions but Hyundai vigorously pushed themselves into the number eight spot.
The Korean manufacturer secured its 21.5% rise not only from the usual SUV growth but also from the Ioniq, which is available in hybrid, plug-in hybrid and pure electric variants.
Two other manufacturers that took advantage from the market's move into petrol and hybrid were Toyota and Kia.
Toyota's true fleet registrations were up by 16.0% fuelled almost completely by the latest addition to their range, the C-HR with four out of five fleet customers opting for the hybrid powertrain.
The latest entry to the top ten was another Asian brand. Kia expanded its 2017 fleet sales by 6.5% and while a couple of their models increased their registrations the Niro delivered the biggest push.


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- Government Department
- Greenacre Location
- Until the end January 2020
A NSW Government agency with a small payroll team based out West looking for a payroll officer with SAP experience.
Processing of the fortnightly and monthly payroll as per relevant awards and EBAs - Manage the process end to end!
- Calculating PAYG, overtime rates, leave, super etc
- Handling and resolving payroll enquiries within relevant timeframes
- Liaise closely with other departments and line managers
- Processing new starters and termination paperwork
- Running weekly payroll reports
- Ensure compliance with all record keeping requirements
- Preparation, balancing and reconciling payroll, PAYG, tax and superannuation
- Experience processing a large, high volume payroll
- Experience working with Government agencies highly regarded
- Strong Microsoft Excel skills
- Recent SAP experience
- Superior communication skills
- Ability to follow processes and work within strict timeframes


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New Book Examines How Automated Welfare Programs Fail the Country's Poorest Families
PoliSci Associate Professor Virginia Eubanks' work featured in National Media
Virginia Eubanks is an associate professor of political science.
ALBANY, N.Y. (Feb. 27, 2018) – Virginia Eubanks, an associate professor of political science at UAlbany, has garnered national media attention for her new book, Automating Inequality: How High-Tech Tools Profile, Police and Punish the Poor.
In the book, she details three examples of technology failing to streamline welfare programs:
• an effort to automate eligibility processes for public assistance programs in Indiana
• an electronic registry of the homeless in California
• a statistical model in Pennsylvania that attempts to predict child maltreatment
These automated public service systems are designed to serve some of the country's most vulnerable populations, such as those living in poverty or contending with poor health, while at the same time saving the government time and money. But these technologies can leave poor families feeling tracked, targeted and trapped, according to Eubanks.
"In Automating Inequality, I argue that we are building a digital poorhouse with statistical models, artificial intelligence, machine learning and algorithms in public service programs," she said. "Despite all our talk about 'disruption,' these tools are more evolution than revolution. Their purposes are very much in line with the brick-and-mortar poorhouses of the past."
Eubanks said that one underlying issue is that automated systems do not remove human bias, but rather exacerbate inequality.
"We're using automated decision-making systems to avoid some of the most pressing moral and political challenges of our time, specifically poverty and racism," she said. "Though we think of these computerized decision-making systems as neutral and objective, political assumptions and biases are baked right into them."
Eubanks said that one of her biggest surprises from doing this 8-year project was the immense resilience and positivity she witnessed in the individuals she met.
"What buoyed me, and what makes me optimistic about the future, is the remarkable generosity, insight and courage of poor and working-class families and communities," she said. "The people I spoke to for the book took incredible risks sharing their stories, and I'm immensely grateful to them."
Eubanks will be doing a reading of her book at Market Block Books (290 River St.) in Troy, N.Y. at 11 a.m. on Saturday, March 31.
National Media Coverage
Eubanks' work has been featured in the following major outlets over the past month:
• The Atlantic: When Welfare Decisions are Left to Algorithms
• NPR: 'Automating Inequality': Algorithms In Public Services Often Fail The Most Vulnerable
• Vox: How big data is helping states kick poor people off welfare
• Wired: A Child Abuse Prediction Model Fails Poor Families
• Jacobin Magazine: The High-Tech Poorhouse
• Financial Times: When algorithms reinforce inequality
• NY Daily News: 'Automating Inequality' warns of a dystopian future punishing the poor – in the present: book review
Eubanks, who lives in Troy, N.Y., is the founding member of the Our Data Bodies Project and a Fellow at New America.
For more news, subscribe to UAlbany's RSS headline feeds
About the University at Albany
A comprehensive public research university, the University at Albany offers more than 120 undergraduate majors and minors and 125 master's, doctoral, and graduate certificate programs. UAlbany is a leader among all New York State colleges and universities in such diverse fields as atmospheric and environmental sciences, business, criminal justice, emergency preparedness, engineering and applied sciences, informatics, public administration, social welfare, and sociology taught by an extensive roster of faculty experts. It also offers expanded academic and research opportunities for students through an affiliation with Albany Law School. With a curriculum enhanced by 600 study-abroad opportunities, UAlbany launches great careers.


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Imagine gettin' on the ole Twitter machine, firing off a lil innocuous response to an NFL team account like "qander3422" did here:
You shoot off the tweet, acknowledge how smart you seem in your brain and go on about your day. Nothing like disparaging a lil' celebrity to let off a little steam. They've got too many followers to respond to someone like you, so why not act like a smart ass. It's your chance!
The perfect crime.
You look back at your phone.
It's getting blown up.
You think to yourself…"Did I FINALLY go viral? It's my big day!"
You're excited as all hell until you find out that you got absolutely bodied by a man that looks like this.
Gil, or whoever he dictated this too, even went through the trouble of putting parenthesis around who the players he's talking about are. Nothing makes you feel like a simpleton than getting something explained to you. Especially from a guy like your grandfather. Poor "qander". (Is this the football version of "mansplaining"?)
Most are out there on a patio, catching a happy hour and nice Spring weather.
86 year old Gil, he's catching bodies.


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Shadows, Shadows (Part I)
views 13
In my existential emptiness
I feel a force, which goes deeply into me.
I see loneliness,
I see nobody,
Cold walls hinder my calm.
When the noise is loud it is better,
It turns me away from my thoughts.
Shadows I see passing are only illusions.
Torments lie in me,
Because I'm just a tired shadow...
...Too tired to live...
Later I'll walk with bowed head
Sunk in my images.
Shadows, shadows:
Walking in line making chaos.


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The Securities Division administers the Securities Act through the regulation and oversight of registrants, securities issuers, and self-regulatory organizations. It reviews offering documents, continuous disclosure documents, and exemption applications to ensure these filings comply with securities laws.
This division reviews applications for registration from dealers and advisers who are in the business of trading or advising in securities. Compliance staff regularly conduct compliance reviews on the operations and practices of registered firms and the disclosure of issuers. Staff participate on national committees respecting the development and drafting of securities laws and policies.


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Windows XP End of Life
Support is ending soon
On April 8, 2014, support and updates for Windows XP will no longer be available. Don't let your PC go unprotected.
What is Windows XP end of support?
Microsoft has provided support for Windows XP for the past 11 years. But now the time has come for us, along with our hardware and software partners, to invest our resources toward supporting more recent technologies so that we can continue to deliver great new experiences.
As a result, after April 8, 2014, technical assistance for Windows XP will no longer be available, including automatic updates that help protect your PC. Microsoft will also stop providing Microsoft Security Essentials for download on Windows XP on this date.
If you continue to use Windows XP after support ends, your computer will still work but it might become more vulnerable to security risks and viruses. Also, as more software and hardware manufacturers continue to optimize for more recent versions of Windows, you can expect to encounter greater numbers of apps and devices that do not work with Windows XP.
What does it mean if my version of Windows is no longer supported?
Which version of Windows am I running?
How do I stay protected?
To stay protected after support ends, you have two options:
Upgrade your current PC
Very few older computers will be able to run Windows 8.1, which is the latest version of Windows. We recommend that you download and run the Windows Upgrade Assistant to check if your PC meets the system requirements for Windows 8.1 and then follow the steps in the tutorial to upgrade if your PC is able. For more detailed information, read the FAQ.
Get a new PC
If your current PC can't run Windows 8.1, it might be time to consider shopping for a new one. Be sure to explore our great selection of new PCs. They're more powerful, lightweight, and stylish than ever before—and with an average price that's considerably less expensive than the average PC was 10 years ago.
What do I get with Windows 8.1?
Windows 8.1
Find out about all the exciting things you can do with the new Windows
Artical Citation: http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/end-support-help


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HC tells Punjab Police to complete probe in 2 months
The Punjab and Haryana high court on Thursday directed the Punjab Police to submit the inquiry report in the Patiala patwari frame-up case within two months.chandigarh Updated: Jul 04, 2013 19:14 IST
The Punjab and Haryana high court on Thursday directed the Punjab Police to submit the inquiry report in the Patiala patwari frame-up case within two months.
The directions came from the court headed by justice Rameshwar Singh Malik when the police department requested for two months' more time to complete the probe.
Mohan Singh, a patwari (revenue officer), was allegedly framed by senior police officers. A case was registered on August 23, 2012, against Punjab Vigilance Bureau (VB) joint director Surinder Pal Singh, former senior superintendent of police (SSP) Shiv Kumar Sharma, SSP Jaspal Singh, SP Banarsi Das and inspector Isher Singh.
It was alleged in the FIR that these officers, while in the VB, had implicated Mohan Singh in a false case after he demanded Rs 20 as official fee for mutation record from Sharma in 2009.
Mohan Singh had approached the high court, seeking a probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation and alleging that Sharma, then VB SSP, had nursed a grudge against him for demanding the official fee. He had also informed the inquiry officer that Sharma later falsely implicated him in a case in 2010 and harassed him for more than a year.
Mohan Singh had also alleged that Sharma got him falsely implicated in another case in 2012, arrested him on February 18, 2012, harassed him and subjected him to inhuman behaviour.
The case would now come up for hearing on October 8.


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Carol's PlaceNovember 19, 2015
While painting a harbor scene in Ephraim one morning, I noticed this scene directly behind me. The next morning, I returned to capture the sunlight draping across this home. Much to my delight, the owner of this home came out to see what I was doing and loved it. Though the owner was unable to be there when I completed the work, we did keep in contact. I am grateful and happy to say that this painting now hangs in the home that inspired it.


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Alchemy can produce real living creatures! Isn't that something dramatically unbelievable? What if we say that those creatures are none other than humans – little humans? Before you start losing your mind or start tagging us as insane people high on crack, let us tell you that we are very much aware of what we are saying. References of homunculus of little humans produced out of alchemy can actually be found in several texts.
Homunculus literally translates to 'Little Man' and the first written references of homunculus can be found in texts from 16th century CE. Medieval alchemists were actually involved in creating artificial humans. Amazingly however, they were not really interested in creating full-sized humans. They were rather more obsessed with miniature humans that possessed great powers.
The idea that little humans can be created artificially evolved during the Middle Ages somewhere between 400 CE and 1000 CE. The entire idea of homunculus hinged on Aristotelian belief which advocated that sperm had a greater role to play in offspring production compared to the ovum.
Book of the Cow – an Arabic production without any specified date is said to summarize homunculus production. Things become further dramatic with the claim that the process described was actually written by Plato himself. Who wrote the book is probably not that interesting when compared to the production process.
The book is said to describe the process of production of three different types of homunculus with each variety having different powers. Let us learn each one of them separately along with the types of powers they possessed.
1st Variant of Homunculus
Requirements: The production process of this homunculus variant required human semen, an ewe or a cow and human blood. Additionally a powder made of white willow sap, green tutia (a sulfate of iron), magnet, sulfur and a mystical phosphorescent elixir known as sunstone.
Production Process: Use the human semen for inseminating the ewe or the cow and smear its genitals with blood of another animal. Feed only blood of another animal to the inseminated ewe or cow. The pregnant ewe or cow will then give birth to an unformed substance. This unformed substance is then put in the powder made of ingredients mentioned above. Doing so will then lead to formation of human skin on the substance. When that happens, the substance is placed in a large glass container for 3 days. Post 3 days, its mother (the ewe or the cow) is decapitated and the blood is fed to the blob for 7 days straight. It is only then that the homunculus will be formed.
Powers Possessed: Here is the list of powers that the 1st variant possessed:
- Was capable of making full moon appear on last day of any month.
- Was capable of allowing a person to take shape of an ape, a sheep or a cow.
- Was capable of giving people the power to walk on water.
- Was capable of giving people the power to know everything that was happening afar.
Also read: Emerald Tablet that Holds the Secrets of Universe
2nd Variant of Homunculus
Requirements: Instead of a cow or ewe, a female monkey is used. The powder is also made of different ingredients.
Production Process: Everything same except for the 7-day incubation period, this time you go for 40+ days of incubation.
Powers Possessed: Here is the list of powers that the 2nd variant possessed:
- Was capable of allowing people to see spirits and demons.
- Was capable of allowing people to converse with spirits and demons.
3rd Variant of Homunculus
Requirements: It is not a cow or monkey. It is an unidentified female animal this time. Also, the powder is made out of a different set of ingredients.
Production Process: Exactly the same as in case of the second variant.
Powers Possessed: Here is the list of powers that the 3rd variant possessed:
- Was capable of producing snakes extremely poisonous.
- Was capable of summoning rain during other seasons.
Apart from the aforementioned three variants of homunculus as found in Book of the Cow, there is another variant with a different production process. This method was a brainchild of an alchemist named Philip von Hohenheim who hailed from 16th century CE. Popular by the name Paracelsus, Hohenheim wrote the famous De Natura Rerum which gives a completely different homunculus production recipe.
Also Read: 20 Interesting Philosopher's Stone Facts
According to Paracelsus, the chosen animal isn't a cow or a monkey but rather a horse. Semen is introduced inside the horse's womb and left for putrefaction for a period of days. After this, the homunculus will be born but with a transparent body. The homunculus is then supposed to be fed very wisely with Arcanum (elixir) of human blood. The new born creature needs to be nourished for a period of 40 weeks during which it has to be kept in an uniform heat inside the horse's womb. After weeks, a complete human-like homunculus is born and resembles the baby born from a woman's womb with the only difference being that the homunculus will be much smaller in size.
According to Paracelsus, the homunculus is not born without any magical powers and must be taught very wisely.
Modern scientists however reject all the alchemical writings. Some people argue that these writing are not meant to be taken literally and that they have some deep inner meaning. Irrespective of the arguments and counter arguments, there are many people around the world who are still involved in attempts to create artificial life. The only different is that alchemy and its weird methods are not tested and scientists actually use modern laboratory setups.


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What's it like to be estranged from your father? To not talk to him for years at time? Karen and her father haven't spoken in four years. This is their story.
My name is Karen. I'm a musical theatre student currently studying in the UK but I'm originally from Belgium. I love to read – currently reading Walker's Vivien Leigh biography and the fifth volume of A Song of Ice and Fire – and listening to music.
I loved being around him. He's a great father for young kids: very imaginative and creative. Bedtime stories were always a highlight for me. We had these two volumes of fairy tales and stories for every day of the year. He did all the voices and was (is, I presume) a very good storyteller.
My first year of college I decided not to go visit him on weekends anymore. I was swamped with work and needed a stable environment to study.
He would occasionally text and email me. For my 22nd birthday I got a page-long email detailing why I was a childish coward for not coming to see him. Charming.
When I was still underage my mum made sure I visited often. Once I decided not to see him anymore she supported me all the way, especially during those monetary episodes.
Definitely. Before that whole episode in their house I hadn't seen my grandparents for a while because I didn't want to run the risk of bumping into him.
I do want to have a family of my own somewhere in the future but as I said I am very careful when it comes to relationships.
The biggest benefit was a big cut in the daily drama. Life is a lot less stressful and painful when I am not constantly reminded of everything that has happened.
I'm afraid not. It often feels as if now he no longer has to take care of us and I am doing well in life he wants to see me and be the father of a successful woman. It does not work like that for me.
Tell all of your family that you are breaking contact with them and why. You might hurt their feelings but if they do not know why they will probably try to convince you to reconsider which is a very exhausting conversation to have.


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So, it's been a while since I posted. To be Honest, CGI just hasn't been exciting me of late. I have some other projects I want to do, but just getting them started is a chore. I spend a lot of my time off playing playing games and watching movies. On that note, here's something a little different.
So, anyone who was in school between 1985 and about 2005-ish probably played The Oregon Trail in school. It was first created in the '70s by a few student teachers who wanted a fun way to teach the history of that trail, and it's become a favorite since then. It was included on all computers sent to schools by 1985. (at least in North America) These days, you can play it in a web browser for free. Or, you know, play it on a handheld:


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Carville rips President Obama over oil spill
I heard the audio in the car earlier today, and you can hear the veins popping from his cranium.
The video is at the link:
The "political stupidity is unbelievable," Democratic strategist James Carville said on "Good Morning America" today. "The president doesn't get down here in the middle of this. … I have no idea of why they didn't seize this thing. I have no idea of why their attitude was so hands off here."
On Thursday, Obama will announce new measures the federal government will take to try to prevent any future BP oil spills, administration officials said. And on Friday, the president will visit the Gulf coast, his second trip to the region since the environmental disaster happened last month.
But Carville said the Obama administration's response to the BP oil spill has been "lackadaisical," and that rather than place the blame on the previous administration, it should've done more to deal with BP and "inept bureaucrats," which would've in turn helped boost Obama's approval ratings.
Gotta love the sincerity. God forbid a Democrat president loses ground in the polls!
The money quote:
"It just looks like he's not involved in this," an angry Carville said on "GMA." "Man, you got to get down here and take control of this, put somebody in charge of this thing and get this moving. We're about to die down here."
Honestly, at this point it's pretty easy to see that the President and his administration have no clue how to react to this crisis and possibly, just couldn't care less.


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The order subtotal is less than the minimum allowed value ($3.00)
Long a symbol of good fortune, this Imperial rollerball pen features hand-carved bamboo patterns on both finials, the clip and on two accent rings. Individually hand cast, polished, and then in plated with precious 22k gold or black titanium accents, the Imperial pen exudes quality and elegance like no other. A luxury that we think you deserve!
These rollerballs will come equipped with the Schmidt 5888 refill. This is a large pen, we suggest a blank that is a min of 5" x 7/8" . You will also need a 15/32 drill bit, and a 35/64 drill bit. The Imperial body tube is 1.975" long by .452" OD, the cap is 1.9" long by .535" OD.
Instructions for the Imperial Pen Kit.
© 2006 - 2020 Exotic Blanks. All rights reserved.


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* Traditional Extended Semi Detached House * Popular and established location* Living Room, Dining Room, Kitchen* Downstairs wc *3 Bedrooms * Bathroom w.c * Driveway Garage and Gardens.* Walking Distance to Train Station* Good local schools *NoticeAll photographs are provided for guidance only.
The Energy-Efficiency Rating is a measure of a home's overall efficiency. The higher the rating, the more energy-efficient the home is, and the lower the fuel bills are likely to be.
The Environmental Impact Rating is a measure of a home's impact on the environment in terms of carbon dioxide (C02) emissions - the higher the rating, the less impact it has on the environment.
Property ID: 40000071


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Auburn dismisses top running back Jovon Robinson from team
AUBURN, Ala. (AP) Auburn's depleted backfield took another blow when coach Gus Malzahn dismissed top running back Jovon Robinson from the team.
Malzahn said he kicked off Robinson, the team's top returning rusher, on Wednesday before the Tigers' first practice of preseason camp.
''He did not meet my standards or expectations of what it takes to be an Auburn Tiger football player,'' the coach said. ''We're going to have zero distractions on this team this year. I've given him his release and we wish him the best.''
Robinson came on strong late last season and ran for 639 yards and three touchdowns. Leading rusher Peyton Barber left early to enter the NFL draft, and No. 3 runner Roc Thomas transferred to FCS Jacksonville State. Barber went undrafted.
The Tigers, who open Sept. 3 against defending ACC champion Clemson, added former Baylor signee Kam Martin this summer after he was granted a release from his scholarship.
Kerryon Johnson is now the most established back on the team after running for 208 yards while also returning kicks as a freshman. Johnson missed virtually all of spring practice recovering from shoulder surgery.
''We're very confident in him,'' Malzahn said. ''He's put on about 20 pounds. He's a guy that we've recruited to be a marquee back. He's got a great opportunity now. He's in a good spot. (Converted fullback Kamryn) Pettway is in a good spot too.''
Receiver Marcus Davis said the team learned about Malzahn's decision before practice.
''Jovon is a great guy, great teammate and everything but we just focus on what's best for the team,'' Davis said. ''It's nothing I really sat down and thought about yet, but at the same time if coach Malzahn thinks it's the best thing for the team, I'm pretty sure everybody's going to be on board with that.''
Robinson had signed with Auburn in 2012 but was ruled ineligible after a guidance counselor admitted to creating a fake transcript. He transferred to Georgia Military College and was the 2013 NJCAA national player of the year.
He set junior college records for a season in rushing yards (2,387), touchdowns (34) and points scored (204).
''We all support Coach's decision,'' offensive tackle Austin Golson said. ''No one player is going to be able to take down our team. I believe that we're going to respond well and just keep practicing. We have plenty of other options that will be able to help us out. I think we're all going to be fine.''
Last season, Auburn opened camp with star wide receiver D'haquille Williams suspended. He never got going during the season and was dismissed after a bar fight while the preseason Southeastern Conference favorites were on their way to a 7-6 season.
Robinson's dismissal changed the biggest story at the start of camp from the three-man quarterback competition among 2015 starters Jeremy Johnson and Sean White and junior college transfer John Franklin III. Both Johnson and White struggled much of last season.
''We're going to rotate each day who's going to be out there first,'' Malzahn said. ''We're going to have equal reps. We have a good plan for putting them in competitive situations every practice. We will chart everything. We're hoping we can name a guy sooner rather than later but we'll give everybody an equal shot.''


text: Most Popular Photos of May 2017 3 points · comments Facebook Twitter Comment Post navigation Prev Next See the 30 most popular pictures from May 2017 by GameofSpoon. For the best photos previous month here Share this:Tweet Share on Facebook Share on Twitter This entry was posted in Photography and tagged Inspirational Photography, Nature Photography by Admin. Bookmark the permalink.


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Our executive
Cider Australia has a six member volunteer Executive team.
The current Executive is:
Sam Reid - President
Sam left the corporate world in 2012 to establish Willie Smith's Cider Makers, with 4th generation apple orchardist Andrew Smith, based out of the Huon Valley in Tasmania. Prior to that Sam had a corporate career spanning 15 years and 3 continents working in senior marketing and innovation roles. Sam has a passion for great drinking experiences and is excited about the opportunity ahead to build a sustainable category that benefits mainland Australian and Tasmanian orchardists.
Warwick Billings - Vice President
Warwick started making cider 35 years ago in Somerset, England, and has never really stopped. He is also qualified in winemaking and brewing and describes himself as "liking to ferment". Having worked for some of the larger wineries in Australia he has a keen technical appreciation of what is possible and an artisan ethos for putting it into practice.
Cidermaker and Director at LOBO Juice and Cider Pty Ltd in the Adelaide Hills, South Australia.
Shane McLaughlin - Treasurer
Shane – founder of Hillbilly Cider from Bilpin, NSW – is a wine maker by background who started dabbling in cider making when he moved to an orchard in Bilpin, Blue Mountains a decade ago. 20 years ago Shane also pioneered a new region for wine by planting a vineyard on his family's 4th generation sheep station at Warren, NSW. Along with Hillbilly cider, Shane and his wife Tessa run the family wine company Canonbah Bridge which exports to 8 countries as well as being sold domestically.
Gus Kelly - Secretary
Gus is co-founder of Kelly Brothers Cider in the Yarra Valley, Victoria.
Andrew Carruthers - Category Development
Andrew is a cider maker and owner of Carmel Cider Company in the Perth Hills of Western Australia.
Mark Ellis - Website
Residing in Melbourne, though restoring a 4th generation family orchard as a cidery in the Wimmera river plains area of Quantong, Vic. In the meantime, Mark manages an eHealth company and this website!


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Top Characteristics Of A Thought Leader
Some skills and characteristics are a must. You cannot escape learning and acquiring them. The lists of Thought Leaders showcase how each Thought Leader has a different degree of expertise in one of the skills mentioned below. These skills should emerge as your second nature, mostly that define to be components of your character. Continue reading Top Characteristics Of A Thought Leader


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Criminal Damage Charges in Paris
Avi is a Lawyer to the Paris Bar (2003), With particular focus on the fields of Employment Law, Criminal Law, Personal Injury and Business Law. Together with 8 colleagues and 3 Jurists this firm have considerable experience in the aforementioned areas of law, dealing with over 2 000 clients to date. Avi is a former elected Representative of the Paris Bar Council (2010 to 2015) and former elected Representative of the National Council of French Bars Councils.
Criminal Damage Charges
Who is this Service for?
A common offence among young people can be the possession of drugs. Such legal convictions can impact later life opportunities and it is important to deal with them with the appropriate level of seriousness. More serious offences involving the production and/or trafficking of prescribed drugs can result in the deprivation of liberty for considerable periods of time in a remote country, without local language abilities. Representation by an experienced criminal defence lawyer is absolutely vital to obtain the best result possible.
What does this service consist of?
- Discussion with an experienced English-speaking lawyer to determine the nature of the charges
- The lawyer will develop a defence strategy based on the facts of the case and the circumstances
- Representation in local courts and advice throughout the trial
Code of Reasonable Fees
Our clients can expect to receive a quotation that is at or below the recommended guideline prices by our local Professional Body.
Free Support Services Included
When combined with the free and innovative Advocate Abroad support services you can be sure that you are obtaining completely transparent legal services from registered and regulated English-speaking lawyers abroad.These support services include:
- Verification of the regulatory status of your professional.
- Fees as recommended by the Local Professional Body
- Fees specified in advance and legally guaranteed.
- Service levels agreed in advance and guaranteed.
- All professionals must hold professional indemnity insurance.
- Professionals' proficiency in English monitored.
- Continuous quality controls and reviews.


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Prince's Trust' upcoming 'Get into IT with Remit' and 'Get into Customer Service with Fenwick' programmes for young people aged 16-25 living in BRENT ONLY!
With the support of Brent Council, the Prince's Trust are hoping to support a number of 16-25 year olds onto these programmes, with the ultimate goal of increasing the number of working young professionals in the Brent borough.
GI Customer Services with Fenwick poster 2015
The Prince's Trust and Remit are offering a FREE two-week training course, for you to gain a qualification and experience of the IT industry.
If you are aged 16 – 25, not in education, training or employment, currently living in Brent and interested in a career in IT, join our free training programme where you can:
==> Achieve a nationally recognised qualification – City & Guilds – Level 1 Award in IT Systems Support and PC Maintenance
==> Gain experience and improve your employability in the IT sector
==> Meet industry specialists and learn about careers in IT
==> Access post programme work experience and apprenticeship/employment opportunities
==> Receive up to six months support from The Prince's Trust to help you move into employment, education or training
Information Day: 28 October 2015
Taster Day: 29 October 2015
Main Programme: 2 – 13 November 2015.
Lunch and travel will be provided during the programme.
Interviews for potential jobs and apprenticeships will take place after the programme.
Don't miss out! For more information or to register your interest call or text 'IT' to: Ricky Simmons on 07483 952 397 or Email: outreach.london@princes-trust.


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Nov 8 (Reuters) - Diversified retailer Canadian Tire Corp Ltd reported a 16.5 percent rise in quarterly profit on Thursday, helped by higher sales at its retail segment and the inclusion of newly acquired Helly Hansen's operations to its earnings.
Net income rose to C$231.3 million ($155.54 million), or C$3.15 per share, in the third quarter ended Sept. 30, from C$198.5 million, or C$2.59 per share, a year earlier.
Revenue rose to C$3.63 billion from C$3.27 billion. ($1 = 1.3103 Canadian dollars)
Reporting by Debroop Roy in Bengaluru; Editing by James Emmanuel


text: SIZE: FITS MY 18 INCH VERONICA, Nicole or Anne DOLL - A DRESS UP DOLL MATERIAL: 100% ACRYLLIC YARN CLOTHES: 1 DRESS AND 1 PAIR OF SHOES SHIPPING: SHIPS USPS 1ST CLASS MAIL PATTERN USED TO CREATE: https://www.etsy.com/ru/shop/BobdenaShop?ref=hdr_shop_menu This DRESS AND SHOES fit my Veronica,Nicole or Anne Doll - Dress Up Doll. Outfit ONLY (doll sold separately). 1 Dress and 1 pair of Shoes Made from acrylic yarns. Especially made for easy dressing and removal. Will give your child many hours of imaginative play. This item is handmade and created by me in a smoke free environment using quality materials. Includes several buttons and ribbon. FREE GIFT