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I've been thinking about using Slideshare, the social media network for presentations and infographics, a lot lately. It's an amazing site with tremendous content. I wanted to start sharing some of my presentations there.
So today, here is my first SlideShare offering, "Calculating the Cost of Fundraising." These slides are excerpted from my Calculating the Cost of Fundraising on-demand webinar.
The concept is simple. If you want your nonprofit to achieve financial sustainability you need to analyze the return on investment of your money raising activities. With that analysis you can make smarter decisions about where you should focus your limited resources for greater financial success.
These slides and the more detailed webinar give you some quick and easy tools to use to determine the return on investment of all of your fundraising activities. The webinar then helps you compare the results of your calculations and gives you tips for deciding what to do with that information. And most importantly how to convince others on your board and staff when you have to move away from some money-losing activities (always a tricky political maneuver).
You can view the presentation below (or click here). And if you are intrigued by what you see and want to learn more, download the Calculating the Cost of Fundraising On Demand webinar here.


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A warm welcome to the Los Angeles Consular Corps website! We are the Consuls General and Consuls, Heads of Consular Posts of 104 countries. All of us are appointed by our home governments and accepted to represent them by the US federal government.
The Vienna Convention on Consular Relations and customary internal law create the legal framework for the operation of Consulates General and Consulates.
For a complete list of the Executive Committee of the LACC: www.laconsularcorps.com/executive-committee.
The LACC presently consists of 104 Consulates: 66 career Consulates General and 38 Honorary Consulates. Career Consuls General are full time diplomats sent from the home country, while honorary Consuls are permanent residents or citizens residing in the County of Los Angeles.
It is estimated that the Los Angeles Consular Corps is the second largest Consular Corps in the world.


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It's coming, everybody. Nvidia's GeForce Facebook page updated this morning to ensure fans of the video card line knew that. And now you know. Don't thank me.
Wait, what's coming?
Nvidia was understandably tight-lipped about what exactly they are teasing; one wouldn't want a high-quality image like this going to waste.
Speculation is leaning towards the dual-GPU GTX 690, but as my TechSpot friends pointed out to me, Nvidia still hasn't released its mid-range cards, and is still working on GTX 680 availability.
So let's speculate wildly. I'm guessing it's a space station.
The Official Nvidia GeForce Fan Page [Facebook]
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1945 : Pierre Laval attempts suicide1945 : Pierre Laval attempts suicide
On this day in 1945, former French premier and Vichy collaborator Pierre Laval tries to kill himself on the day he is to be executed for treason. He fails.
Laval served as premier of France twice, the second time from June 1935 to January 1936, but fell from power primarily because of his appeasement of Italy after the invasion and occupation of Ethiopio by Mussolini and his fascist regime in 1935. Upon the German invasion of France in 1940, Laval, ever the opportunist, saw a chance to re-establish himself in office by supporting a puppet government headed by Henri Philippe Petain, who, when he acceded to the position of premier in June 1940, rewarded Laval by making him deputy head of state and foreign minister.
Laval was always more slavish in his devotion to his German masters than was Petain; for example, Laval began secret negotiations for a formal collaboration with Germany, convinced that the future lay in the hands of the Axis power. Petain finally fired him in December 1940. But the Germans questioned Petain's double loyalty and pressured him to reinstate Laval. Petain fell further from German favor, and when Hitler's forces occupied France in 1942, Laval, wanting to reassure Germany of his loyalty, began sending French workers to Germany and stripping French Jews of their rights. He also helped the Nazis capture and deport non-French Jews. He openly announced that he wished for a German victory. "An American victory would mean victory for the Jews and the communists."
As the end for Hitler grew near, Laval fled first to Germany, then to Spain, then to Austria, where he was arrested and sent back to France and was tried, along with Petain, on the charge of treason. Laval defended his actions, believing he had done nothing wrong. He was sentenced to be shot by firing squad on October 6, 1945, but swallowed cyanide before they could come for him. A physician saved his life--just in time for Laval to be executed a little less than two weeks later.
From: www.History.com


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Everyone's used to the ubiquitous swiping hotel key card—but what you might not know is that your key holds a history of every time that door closes. And when you're accused of raping the maid, this record's important.
Dominique Strauss-Kahn, French (former) head of the IMF, is charged with forcing himself on his maid when she was called to his room for a routine linen job. While the matter of what happened inside—rape or no rape—is disputed, his room's door has an account that can't be argued, the New York Times reports: "[The hotel]would have a record of her using the key to gain access," explains a rep from a hotel key manufacturing firm. "They should have a record of the door remaining open for X period of time, and the door lock being actuated again. The system can differentiate between the guest's card key and the housekeeper's master key."
So the key could help piece together the scene. Was the door shut behind the maid at the time she alleges? If so, that's imprisonment. Was it left open or ajar in accordance with hotel policy? If so, for how long? These mundane door details from a little plastic card might either set Strauss-Kahn free or send him to prison.
Photo: sixninepixels/Shutterstock


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Swarzak Has Cracked Ribs — From Wrestling
MINNEAPOLIS -- Minnesota Twins pitcher Anthony Swarzak has two cracked ribs, the freak result of some ill-fated horseplay during a gathering with teammates last month.
Swarzak will miss at least the first two weeks of spring training, a setback to his bid for a roster spot as a long reliever.
General manager Terry Ryan said Wednesday that Swarzak was hurt the night of Jan. 25 when he was wrestling with other unnamed Twins. They were together that weekend for the team's annual fan festival.
Swarzak felt soreness on his left side that didn't go away, and he was recently diagnosed with the fractures. Ryan says the 27-year-old right-hander was not in a fight.
Ryan says he's disappointed with the injury but he's appreciative Swarzak didn't try to hide it.
Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.


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McCrystal ball: Long shot eyes election surprise
Tom McCrystal has discovered he likes knocking on strangers' doors. Sure, it was a little hard the first few times the moderate Republican approached a Democrat's house.
"I remember walking up a driveway with 'I hate Bush' and 'I hate Bush more than that' signs," recalls McCrystal. "The couple who lived there wanted to talk about transportation."
And that's why he thinks he has a chance in the heavily Democratic 57th District to take Delegate Mitch Van Yahres' seat from the designated Dem, former mayor David Toscano.
"When I'm in Democratic areas, once I get past the R-word, people care about what touches their lives," McCrystal says.
He predicts some surprises in the district that includes all of liberal-leaning Charlottesville and part of not-quite-so-liberal Albemarle County. "The district is not what people think it is," he says. "In terms of voters, 45 percent are in the county. And the district is less partisan than people think."
McCrystal was in the first graduating class at Western Albemarle High in 1978. Now chief technology officer for a tech-oriented design firm called Creative Perspectives, he admits he wasn't the best student. He went to Piedmont Virginia Community College and says its president, Frank Friedman, "has referred to me as one of their most successful dropouts."
In high school, he picked up the lacrosse bug that took him to Perth, Australia, for the 2002 World Lacrosse Games. Three years later, he's still wearing a "Perth 2002" polo shirt, and against the wishes of his campaign, he played lacrosse this summer– and his team won the championship.
Lacrosse analogies inevitably pop into his conversation, especially when he talks about the worst part of running for office: making fundraising calls. "As a goalie, you develop a thick skin," he says.
He seems undismayed that at the end of September, he'd raised just over $9,000 while his opponent had pulled in over $100,000. McCrystal says most of his fundraisers are scheduled for October.
With a Republican-controlled General Assembly, McCrystal believes he'll be able to get more done than a Democrat. "I know how it works," says this veteran of the General Assembly's technology committee. "I've been surprised at the number of Democrats telling me they're going to vote for me."
He says his internal polls show an "amazingly high" number of undecided voters– 40 to 50 percent. And he foresees a loosening of the conservative Republican stranglehold on the legislature.
Bachelor McCrystal has gained a better understanding of why politicians always thank their spouses first: because someone has to do the laundry and shopping. "I've had to take a couple life maintenance days," he says. "Last Saturday, it got to the point I had no more clean clothes."
After being on the campaign trail since June, "I don't know if I'm cut out to be a politician," McCrystal admits. "I am cut out to be a legislator."
He has honed political skills when it comes to predicting the race's outcome: "I think people are going to be surprised on election day."
Age: 45. How the heck did that happen?
Why here? My family moved here when I was 13. I've had a couple of opportunities to move, but Charlottesville is a great place to come home to.
Worst about living here? I think local government is full of insular thinkers. They don't listen very well.
Favorite hangout? The Downtown Mall
Most overrated virtue? Consensus, when it's used as a substitute for leadership
People would be surprised to know: At one point, I seriously considered becoming a priest.
What would you change about yourself? I'd probably learn to be less direct. I tell people what I think, and sometimes that's not a good thing.
Proudest accomplishment? Taking the Virginia Piedmont Technology Council from an idea to a reality, then stepping away to let it grow. I'm also pretty proud of the 93 saves I made at the World Lacrosse Games in Perth.
People find most annoying about you: I'm constantly a half-hour behind, and that makes other people late, too.
Whom do you admire? Bono. He's taken the lead on a difficult issue (aid to Africa), and made real progress by refusing to be political. He deserved the Nobel Prize, and I'm sorry he didn't get it.
Favorite book? Fiction: Dune Nonfiction: Eyes on the Prize Technical: Volume 2 of The Art of Computer Programming, Searching and Sorting
Subject that causes you to rant? The lack of transparency in Virginia's budgeting process. Two years ago, we went from a half billion in the hole to a couple of billion dollars surplus. In a few weeks! If you can check your bank account online, you should be able to check the state's finances online, too.
Biggest 21st-century thrill? Communication technologies. You can be almost anywhere in the world and still stay in touch.
Biggest 21st-century creep out? People's loss of personal privacy
What do you drive? I'm a 13.5-minute walk to my office.
In your car CD player right now: My entire CD collection is on my iPod. Lately, I've been listening to Terri Allard, the Stones, and a lot of different chamber music.
Next journey? To Richmond, for a JCOTS meeting focusing on some state IT procurement contracts. Hopefully back to Sydney next year.
Most trouble you've ever gotten in? Standing in the lacrosse goal, my defensemen out of position, with Al Stadtler at the top of the crease taking a feed from Andreas Gaynor on the wing. It's an incredibly difficult shot to defend. Al usually scores just as I hit him.
Regret: You can't change the past, so why bother?
Favorite comfort food: Roast chicken on Sunday evening
Always in your refrigerator: Garlic
Must-see TV: Used to be West Wing until the writing became uninspired. I don't watch a lot of TV nowadays.
Favorite cartoon: Bugs Bunny
Describe a perfect day. Wake up late and spend the morning bumming around Sydney. Meet up with my mates to play some box lacrosse for the afternoon. Beers with them afterward across the street from where we play, then change and head to the Sydney Opera House for the evening. Oh, and no cell phone or email.
Walter Mitty fantasy: To be the next guy to walk on the moon
Who'd play you in the movie? As much as I'd like to say Harrison Ford, they'd probably cast Jim Belushi.
Most embarrassing moment? I walked up behind a friend who was sitting at the bar at Random Row and gave her a big hug hello. She turn around and said, "Do I know you?" I replied, "No, you don't"– it wasn't my friend. I was mortified. It must have shown, because she was pretty cool about the whole thing.
Best advice you ever got? Leave the game on the field.
Favorite bumper sticker? "McCrystal for Delegate"
Tom McCrystal


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Friend: Trayvon Martin encounter racially charged
SANFORD, Fla. (AP) -- George Zimmerman's defense attorney insisted during several testy exchanges with an important prosecution witness Thursday that Trayvon Martin injected race into a confrontation with the neighborhood watch volunteer and insinuated the young woman was not believable because of inconsistencies in her story.
However, 19-year-old Rachel Jeantel stood firm in her testimony about the night Zimmerman shot the unarmed black 17-year-old after a fight that Jeantel said she overheard while on the phone with Martin. Jeantel has said Martin told her he was being followed by a "creepy-ass cracker" -- implying Martin was being followed by a white man because of his race.
Zimmerman identifies as Hispanic. Race has permeated nationwide discussions of the case since the February 2012 shooting, which prompted nationwide protests and claims from critics that police took too long to arrest Zimmerman.
The neighborhood watch volunteer has pleaded not guilty to second-degree murder and says he acted in self-defense.
Defense attorney Don West also zeroed in on slight differences among three different accounts of what happened before Martin's killing, in an apparent effort to discredit her. Jeantel has described what she heard over the phone in a deposition; a letter to Martin's mother; and an interview with the Martin family attorney. Among the differences highlighted by West:
-- In some accounts, she said race was an issue but not in others.
-- Jeantel testified Wednesday that her friend's last words were "Get off! Get off!" before Martin's phone went silent. But on Thursday, under cross-examination, she conceded that she hadn't mentioned that in her account of what happened to Martin's mother, Sybrina Fulton.
-- After Martin asks why he is being followed, Zimmerman responds, "What are you doing around here?" in one account by Jeantel. In another account, according to West, she says Zimmerman said, "What are you talking about?"
Zimmerman, 29, could get life in prison if convicted of second-degree murder. Zimmerman followed Martin in his truck and called a police dispatch number before he and the teen got into a fight. Zimmerman has said he opened fire only after the teenager jumped him and began slamming his head against the concrete sidewalk. Zimmerman has denied the confrontation had anything to do with race, as Martin's family and their supporters have claimed.
Jeantel testified Thursday that she thought race was an issue because Martin told her he was being followed by a white man.
But West responded, "It was racial because Trayvon put race in this?"
She answered no.
After the court session was over for the day, when explaining how Martin's parents didn't want race injected into the trial, Martin family attorney Daryl Parks said, "Some young people loosely use language they probably shouldn't use."
"It's just slang they use," he said.
The exchanges between Jeantel and West got testier as the day progressed.
At one point, West suggested that though Martin told her he was by his father's fiancee's house while Zimmerman was following him, that she doesn't know that for sure.
"Why he need to lie about that, sir?" Jeantel asked West.
"Maybe if he decided to assault George Zimmerman, he didn't want you to know about it," West replied.
"That's real retarded, sir," she said. "That's real retarded to do that, sir."
When asked by West if she had previously told investigators that she heard what sounded like somebody being hit at the end of her call with Martin, Jeantel said, "Trayvon got hit."
"You don't know that? Do you? You don't know that Trayvon got hit," West answered. "You don't know that Trayvon didn't at that moment take his fists and drive them into George Zimmerman's face."
Later in the morning, West accused Jeantel of not calling police after Martin's phone went dead because she thought it was a fight he had provoked.
"That's why you weren't worried. That's why you didn't do anything because Trayvon Martin started the fight, and you knew that," West said.
"No sir!" Jeantel said. "I don't know what you're talking about."
At one point, West handed her a letter she had written with the help of a friend to Martin's mother explaining what happened. She looked at it but then said she couldn't read cursive handwriting. Jeantel later explained she is of Haitian descent and grew up speaking Creole and Spanish.
Thursday's testimony began with a more subdued tone that it did a day earlier, when Jeantel frequently bristled at West's questions and she at one point told him to move on to the next question: "You can go. You can go."
West took note of her calmer demeanor in the morning. She answered many of West's early questions by repeating "yes, sir," almost in a whisper.
"You feeling OK today? You seem different than yesterday," West said.
"I got some sleep," she answered.
After Jeantel left the witness stand, a mobile phone manager testified about Martin's cell phone records and a former neighbor of Zimmerman testified she heard yelps for help outside her townhome on the night Martin was shot. Jenna Lauer said she couldn't tell who was screaming.
"They were being hurt," Lauer said, describing the person screaming.
Before court recessed for the day, defense attorney Mark O'Mara asked another former neighbor to recreate for jurors how she reacted when she heard what turned out to be a gunshot and ran out of her town-house to see what was going on. The request had Selma Mora in the unusual position of standing up from the witness stand and pretending to be in her kitchen in front of the judge's bench.


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A young Lebanese immigrant awaiting sentencing for placing a backpack he thought held a bomb near Chicago's Wrigley Field wrote a letter to the judge saying he drank "all day, every day" for months before the would-be attack.
A young Lebanese immigrant awaiting sentencing for placing a backpack he thought held a bomb near Chicago's Wrigley Field wrote a letter to the judge saying he drank "all day, every day" for months before the would-be attack.
In a seven page letter to U.S. District Judge Robert Gettleman, Sami Samir Hassoun apologizes and insists he has worked hard at becoming a better person, including by taking yoga instruction in jail.
The letter was included in a defense filing this week. Hassoun, in custody since his 2010 arrest, is scheduled to be sentenced April 5.
Prosecutors want a 30-year prison sentence for the 25-year-old, who pleaded guilty to weapons charges last year. The defense filing argues Hassoun deserves no more than 20 years, in part because they contend he was egged on by an FBI informant to concoct the bombing scheme.
In his plea agreement, Hassoun admitted he dropped what he believed was a bomb into a trash bin on a crowded street by the Chicago Cubs' stadium in 2010. The fake device was given to him by undercover FBI agents who had been tipped off by the informant.
In the letter — dated Oct. 12, 2012, but released publicly this week — Hassoun tells Gettleman, "I am so ashamed of my actions and of this horrific crime that I've committed."
He describes feeling despondent and confused with his new life as a bakery worker, frustrated by broken dreams of becoming rich after he and his parents moved to the U.S. from Lebanon in 2008.
"By two to three months before my crime, I was drinking all day, every day," he wrote. "I would open a bottle of Johnnie Walker Black in the morning and finish it by evening, while also drinking vodka and beer."
He smoked marijuana regularly and sometimes used cocaine and ecstasy, he wrote.
Hassoun said he has confronted his self-destructiveness, has taken anger-management courses and is working toward a degree through a University of Ohio program designed for inmates.
Hassoun, who was born in Beruit, blamed what he described as longstanding emotional issues, in part, on trauma that lingered with him since childhood living in Ivory Coast when bloody civil strife broke out in that African nation.
"I witnessed all these horrific and barbaric scenes and images from the balcony of our apartment," he wrote. "I lived in constant fear, hearing rumors that they were invading homes, and raping women and kids."
Follow Michael Tarm at www.twitter.com/mtarm


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Yahoo Tells Lawmakers Microsoft Seeks Fire SaleBy Reuters - Print
Yahoo speaks its mind to a Senate Judiciary Committee that it doesn't wish to be bought up by Microsoft.
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A Yahoo Inc executive accused Microsoft Corp of teaming up with activist investor Carl Icahn to force a "fire sale" price for Yahoo's search business.
Yahoo General Counsel Michael Callahan, in testimony Tuesday to a U.S. congressional committee, defended his company's advertising partnership with Google Inc and said Yahoo would not be sold off piecemeal on terms that disadvantage Yahoo stockholders.
"Microsoft... has turned to activist shareholder Carl Icahn, in the apparent hope that this will force a fire sale of Yahoo's core strategic search business," Callahan said at a hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee's antitrust subcommittee.
Icahn is leading a proxy campaign to dump Yahoo's current management and board at the August shareholder meeting.
Google, with more than 60 percent of the Web search market, and Yahoo, with 16.6 percent, announced a deal on June 12 that would allow Yahoo to place Google advertisements on its site and collect the revenue.
The Yahoo-Google partnership was widely seen as an effort by Yahoo to fend off Microsoft's on-again, off-again efforts to buy all or part of Yahoo. Microsoft has criticized the partnership as an anticompetitive threat to advertisers and consumer privacy.
Microsoft's most recent offer to acquire Yahoo's search business was rejected Saturday evening by Yahoo.
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Take your character and go through the The Vault T16 - all your loot - 5 runs - 2-3 characters of your class to increase loot
After boosting service don`t forget to change password for safety. Operators will never ask you password after order complete.
We can cancel order and refund order tnen:
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Bon Appetit, my friends!
Crazy-Good Crab Cakes
Adapted from: Culinary Reserve Premium Hand-Picked Crab Meat packaging
Extra virgin olive oil or butter (for sauteing)
Looks awesome!!
These look amazing - all those pieces of crab are making my mouth water! Great recipe and great post!!
Yum! The crispy outside and savory ingredients look and sound delish. I'd love to take these on a beach picnic :)!
I love crab cakes - these look easy but delicious !! Can't wait to try them.
If they are anything like the Red Bar... then they are my favorite.
I have renamed them~ Celeste's Crab Cakes!
My mom wants to make this recipe, but we have a question-- what is the difference between a tsb. and a tsp.? Do they both refer to a teaspoon? If so, why the different abbreviations? Just curious, as we have never seen the abbreviation tsb., and we can't find it in any of our cookbooks. thanks!
Hi Jane! I apologize for the typo! Yes...you are correct. "Tsb." should be teaspoon (tsp)...I've corrected the post. Thanks for catching that! I'd love to hear how you like this recipe! -Celeste
hi Celeste! I am making crab cakes for Christmas dinner appetizers and this is the recipe I am going to try bc my whole family LOVES the red bar! 2 questions: did you toast the white bread and then crumble it? and what brand seafood seasoning did you use? I've seen other recipes call for Old Bay, but since you said yours turned out great, I want to copy you exactly!! lol!
What type of fat and what type of pan did you use to saute the crabcakes in.
Hi Celeste
How much Cilantro did you use in this recipe.
We love Red Bar and wish that we could be there right this very second so what more perfect meal to make for Valentine's Day but their crab cakes....I just have one question and I am so hoping to get an answer in time but if I remember right they also drizzle a dressing or something over them or maybe we dipped....not sure but I remember loving it. Do you know what it was?
Thanks so much!
Hi Carletta! I'm excited to hear that you'll be making these for Valentine's Day...I think you'll love this recipe! I honestly can't remember what type of sauce these were served with at The Red Bar. A nice Remoulade would be great...Let me know how they turn out!
I'm a California girl. What is seafood seasoning? Old Bay?
Hi Marilee! Thanks for your question. Yes...Old Bay should be perfect. In fact, I'm going to update the ingredients list to specify. Thanks again!
From a maryland girl who loves her crabcakes, I have to say that is a great recipe. I have also tried substituting bread crumbs with panko crumbs. I find it makes the cake less bready.
Would these cakes be just as good using lobster meat or canned tuna or canned salmon (well drained of course)? Thank you for your comments.
Tried these tonight and couldn't get them to stick together. Not a lot of flavor either. Was disappointed.
How many crab cakes does this recipe make ?
Did you use butter to saute them in or just a dry pan? They look so delicious, can't wait to make them!
Thanks to everyone for your comments!
In response to your questions:
1. You can use either extra virgin olive oil or butter to saute the crab cakes. I've updated the recipe to reflect this. :)
2. This recipe should feed about 4 people.
3. The crab cake mixture should be refrigerated for several hours before forming into cakes. This should help them stick together.
4. I've never tried this recipe with lobster meat, canned tuna or salmon. I don't see why it wouldn't be delicious using different kinds of meat, though. I'd love to hear how they turn out, if you experiment!
I bought frozen crab meat and the taste was not so pleasant. I'm sure it was NOT the recipe but what kind of crab do you use? Canned or what brand specifically? I'm going to try again... ;-)
JLH ... Make sure you squeeze out any liquid from frozen crab. It needs to be dry. The egg and mayo will bind everything to form the cake.
Here in the south ,they are called crab patties ,and are made totaly diffrent we only use seaaoning crab an egg..its all meat no bread n mash potatoes as some make it.
And has a totally different taste.
Thanks foe sharing ur recipe :))
I have been making these for years. Found the recipe on the side of the Old Bay seasoning can. My daughters and husband think they are better than any restaurant recipe.
I used canned lump meat. I drained it and it was great.
Hi, do you toast the white bread? If not, will store-bought bread crubms work? These look amazing. Can't wait to try.
To Carletta:
The sauce is a tomoato beurre blanc sauce. Not as think as a remoulade sauce.
I have tried a similar recipe using canned salmon ( without bone). It is delish!!! I used 1/4 c mayo, one sleeve crackers, 2 eggs, squirt of lemon juice, 1 T parsley, some garlic salt, and a tad of worcestershire.
They sound good too I have to try
Your crabcakes recipe is very close to my Mom's crabcakes. She made the best crabcakes in the world. I never order crabcakes in restaurants because they are never as good as the ones Mom made. I have learned to make her crabcakes and since her passing, I am now the family crabcakes maker. I have 2 tips for you and your readers. First you can omit the Old Bay Seasoning and just use salt and pepper. This allows you to taste the sweet crabmeat better. Second, I put my crabcakes in the refrid after I have formed them. I go from refrid to hot pan and thr crabcakes really hold together.
I have the actual recipe from the owner of Red Bar if you would like it. It is a little different than yours, but if yours yields a similar crab cake, go for it. I'd be happy to share it with you.
Just made these...Awesome!!! Although I did add parmesan cheese to them!!!
What exactly does the bread do? Is it toasted before it's crumbled? Thanks for the great recipe!
Also, where can I find Lump brand crab meat?
These look & sound awesome. I'll have to stick to parsley as I have that defective cilantro tastes like soap gene dang it! BTW thanks for that short but very pleasant vacation your description evoked.
Few of the comments have asked about toasting the bread or not. Please answer.
So glad you enjoyed your visit to the Gulf Coast and 30A's Red Bar! Love those crab cakes too! Check out 30A EATS, my blog next time you are in the area!
I am from Maryland and I just tell you...it is MUCH better when they are broiled mm and add some old bay seasoning��


text:
A spike in electricity prices this year sparked a loud public outcry, ultimately resulting in some rate relief for consumers and a new blueprint for how utility companies should buy power in the future. The changes won't be fully implemented until 2009, however, so officials have started making plans to cover the interim period.
A spike in electricity prices this year sparked a loud public outcry, ultimately resulting in some rate relief for consumers and a new blueprint for how utility companies should buy power in the future.
The changes won't be fully implemented until 2009, however, so officials have started making plans to cover the interim period.
No one knows yet exactly how the changes will affect the size of household electricity bills. But in approving the $1 billion rate-relief law, legislators and the governor said their intent was to help consumers who had been socked by larger-than-expected bills.
A key part of the overhaul involved eliminating the "reverse auction" process, which was used a year ago to set the present electric rates, and creating a new entity called the Illinois Power Agency. Once launched, the agency's duties will include overseeing the purchase of electricity by state-regulated utilities such as AmerenIP, AmerenCIPS and AmerenCILCO that serve much of downstate Illinois.
The IPA will not be up and running by the end of May 2008, which is the expiration date for about one-third of the power-supply contracts that took effect as a result of the reverse auction.
But the rate-relief law, which Attorney General Lisa Madigan's office helped negotiate, recognized it would take time to set up the IPA. The law included a provision requiring the Ameren Illinois utilities and Chicago-based Commonwealth Edison to enter into long-term contracts with power suppliers to buy electricity at fixed prices. The idea behind the long-term contracts was to try to keep electricity costs as low as possible for consumers.
Those long-term contracts will, in effect, partially fill the gap that will be created when some of the existing power-supply contracts expire in May.
To fill the rest of the gap, the Illinois Commerce Commission this month approved a modified version of Ameren Illinois' plan to buy electricity needed to supply residential and small commercial customers, starting in June. The ICC, which regulates the state's utility industry, also OK'd a modified version of Commonwealth Edison's plan to do the same thing for its Chicago-area customers.
Susan Hedman, senior assistant attorney general in Madigan's office, said one of the tweaks the ICC made to the Ameren and ComEd proposals was to require the utilities to buy extra power in advance for the months of July and August. That's when demand — and price — most likely will spike because air conditioners run more often in the summer heat.
"It's kind of an insurance policy for those days when the risk is greatest," Hedman said.
Ameren spokesman Leigh Morris said the company has hired Boston-based Levitan & Associates as the independent manager for the "interim procurement process" — in other words, the purchase of electricity during the period before the IPA starts operations.
Levitan will seek bids from electricity suppliers, Morris said. Bids will be due in March, and contracts also should be awarded that month.
Hedman said that while it is difficult to predict what prices will result from the new process, it will be more consumer-friendly than the reverse auction was. The new method, she said, "has many more safeguards to protect consumers against higher prices."
Still, consumers should not count on lower power bills over the long haul.
Pending before the ICC is Ameren Illinois' request for a $247 million delivery-rate increase, which would mean higher bills for all of the company's residential electricity customers and some of its natural gas customers. The commerce commission is expected to decide on the request sometime next year.
Adriana Colindres can be reached at (217) 782-6292 or email@example.com.


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JAZZELLE Ankle Boots 105
Nicholas Kirkwood JAZZELLE is designed to stand out. The angular, cut-away heel and sharp pointed toe of the black leather ankle boot juxtapose its smooth pearl embellishment to complete a bold silhouette.
The upper leather of this product has been produced in an audited and certified Leather Working Group tannery - scoring Bronze, Silver or Gold.
Italian sizing. Fits true to size. See Size and Fit notes.
Heel height: 105mm/4.1in
Italian sizing.
Fits true to size, take your normal size.
100% calf leather
Keep the shoes clean and dry using a dry soft cloth; store them in the dust bag provided, we recommend you store each shoe in a separate bag. Always store your shoes away from light and heat, rain and moisture. Avoid contact with abrasive surfaces. Use a high-quality leather, suede and fabric protector spray, do not spray metallic, patent or Ultra Specchio leathers.


text:
I hate this disease!
The success rates for long term sobriety are quite low.
Health consequences are numerous and under-reported.
Intoxication is such a powerful temptation; even years down the road.
OK, I vented, and feel better now!
While I am extremely grateful for the program and my continued sobriety,
I get disillusioned when I see or hear of folks relapsing. Lately it's every
meeting there is word of another person going back out.
Part of my acceptance today, involves the cold hard facts of success/failure rates.
It is especially hard when a friend in the Sober House who really uses the suggestions,
attends meetings, and utilizes a sponsor, succumbs to drugs or alcohol.
I just wish more people would stick around long enough to reach that juncture, where
they want to stay sober, more than they want to drink or use.
Tuesday, October 30, 2007
Just stick around
Posted by Fireman John at 11:56 PM 2 comments
Sunday, October 28, 2007
Top 10 Reasons...
...for staying clean and sober;
10) Psych wards are full of crazy people
9) Jails don't have internet access.
8) Death is permanent and irreversible.
7) You can always find your car in the morning.
6) Not having to drive around DUI spot checks.
5) Praying aside your bed, not at the toilet.
4) Waking up with hope, not dope
3) The only crack in the house is on the wall.
2) Family, friends & co-workers talk to you not at you.
The Number 1 reason;
Being able to drive Aussie Micky absolutely crazy in his effort to denigrate AA, 12 Steps
and us posting on the joys of Recovery!
Posted by Fireman John at 5:15 PM 3 comments
Saturday, October 27, 2007
Living Sober
This is what recovery is all about; living sober. Sure most of us had those initial thoughts that,
"what am I going to do now?"
It's more than just not drinking or drugging. The process involves so much more.
Putting down the substance is the easy part. The real work begins with honest self-appraisal and the determination to change the thoughts and behaviors that led to addiction.
Rigorous honesty is not always as simple as it sounds. The degree of ego deflation and humility required can be quite elusive and challenging.
Once we take that crucial look at ourselves, we can begin to get completely honest with others.
Real amends occur as we continue to stay true to our words and deeds.
We have to remember that this does not happen overnight. Our patterns of deceit may have lasted for years; we can only hope that those we harmed will be patient with our progress.
Continued sobriety can open doors we may have previously slammed shut; the possibilities
are boundless. All the fears and insecurities begin to dissipate; our levels of confidence will rise.
No longer will we be hampered by paranoia, despair or defeatism.
These are the things we hear in The Promises; and they can come true, if we work for them...
one day at a time.
Posted by Fireman John at 9:19 PM 2 comments
Wednesday, October 24, 2007
Public perception
Earth people, normies or wherever we label the rest of the world, the myths and misconceptions about alcoholism and drug addiction still persist. Most distressing to me is the perceived notion that there is a time frame cure. How are we supposed to undo a pattern of years in a matter of months?
The public views rehab as a cure as in,"I hope they get it right this time". This magic bullet theory is so prevalent here, whether it be addiction, weight-loss or gambling. Even with Al-Anon and media output the old thinking just never goes away.
It is so surprising to me, in this age of information technology, how little the public actually knows about addiction. Even our family and friends have difficulty understanding the recovery process.
They too, can be as impatient as we are, as it relates to the time and effort it takes to sustain recovery.
In addition to sex education, maybe we should include the 12 steps in our education process!
There is no easy solution to this; all we can do is attempt to educate and continue to communicate the message of recovery to anyone willing to listen.
Posted by Fireman John at 2:13 PM 2 comments
Tuesday, October 23, 2007
Relationships & Early Sobriety
One of the most challenging aspects of recovery is relationships. The common advice is, no relationships for a year. We've all heard it, and all ignored it. It is natural and comforting to involve yourself with someone who makes you feel good. When quitting drugs or alcohol it is like the loss of a loved one. The major dilemma with this course of nature, is the tendency to shift focus off us and our program, while immersing ourselves in the other person. My friend Molly says, "2 sickies don't make a wellie". Yes it's true, I've seen it , done it, got the battle scars to prove it.
The odds are greater that one person will get the other drunk or high, before they get them sober.
I now see the logic behind the 1 year suggestion; it takes time to get to know yourself and concentrate on healing, before taking on the issues and feelings of another.
In our sober house, we find this especially true with women(sorry ladies). While men also seek partnership, they are less likely to devote their entire emotional selves to a relationship.
It isn't always the easier , softer way when avoiding emotional entanglements, but for us it is imperative to resist the temporary "feel good", of relationships early on.
Posted by Fireman John at 10:47 AM 1 comments
Sunday, October 21, 2007
Micky loves me!
A comment from the blunder down under;
Dear Jack
Are you a PHARISEE? Is the BIG BOOK the word of God? Of course not!! You are not an alcoholic, but a sinner just like me. Jesus Christ died on a cross for your sins - not Bill Wilson. AA is the work of Satan - you have been deluded, like millions of other STEPPERS. The only way to SALVATION is through Jesus Christ, the Son of God. I love you<
Wow; if I only knew my problem wasn't drugs and alcohol, but merely my sins!
If only I had prayed correctly, my depression would have been relieved!
Diligent Bible study could have stopped the obsession to drink!
Confession could have replaced all those silly rehabs and meetings!
Thanks so much for the guidance...
and my advice for you Micky;
get some help, get a grip, and get a life!
Posted by Fireman John at 10:32 AM 5 comments
Wednesday, October 17, 2007
How I Work
I am speaking at the noon meeting Thursday; hold on to your seats folks. It will be tell it like it is, no sugar coating, big book quotes or clone-speak. My story is unlike most people in that I had a happy, normal childhood, good parenting and a late start drinking. It took 25 years of boozing for me to even think about quitting. By that time the slow progression was not obvious to me.
I always thought it was under control. I thought wrong! My drinking was controlling me.
The thought of quitting forever was totally foreign to me. Stopping one day at a time seemed rather insecure, and prevented planning for the future. It has taken some time to understand the daily reprieve concept. With each foray into rehab and meetings, I did make some headway.
Alas, it just wasn't enough to keep me stopped. In these past 4 years I have learned to listen and remain open minded. Being honest with myself and others has allowed me to mature spiritually and emotionally.
I still view "The Promises" as possibilities; because of observing some folks who have been in the program many years, still exhibiting immaturity, financial insecurity and hypocrisy.
There will be no spin, exaggeration or boasts in my story. What I say is what I do, like it or not
you can be sure it will be the truth.
Posted by Fireman John at 10:42 PM 1 comments
Monday, October 15, 2007
The Middle Ground
I consider myself a Moderate politically, and feel the far left and ultra right are out of touch with the mainstream . This is also my position concerning recovery. It is difficult to identify with those who are super spiritual and take absolutely no credit for their success. Likewise those who have no belief in a higher Power, are stunting their overall growth. Extremists on either end are so convinced of their beliefs or lack thereof, that it baffles me.
When I hear,"God gets me out of bed" or "HP drives my car", I want to respond, "wow! and all this time I've been using an alarm clock"! I also share that "God is welcome to be my co-pilot...but I don't allow anyone to drive the BMW!"
Spirituality is a component of my sobriety, as is being proactive about meetings, service and responsibilities. I cannot place all my recovery in one or the other; there has to be a blend of the physical, mental and spiritual.
In my life there is God's will, free will and self will. What I seek are the ways to balance the elements of the will, and determine when to be self-reliant, and when to accept the things that are out of my control. No one knows for sure if there is a God or an afterlife; it is all faith based, and I for one, have that belief in a Higher Power.
Posted by Fireman John at 6:42 PM 2 comments
Sunday, October 14, 2007
I Don't Want To Grow Up...
...I'm a Toys R Us kid!
The reason I say this is because growing up is the hardest part of the basic elements of recovery.
I continue to show up at various format meetings; learning from the good, bad and sometimes ugly experiences of others.
Next I must own up; to my past and present wrongs, make amends and learn from my mistakes, in a concerted effort to not repeat my former behaviors.Honesty isn't always the easy way, but today it's the only way after my years of deception.
The real test of progress is the ability to grow up; after looking honestly at myself.
That inner child who always got his way, was intolerant, impatient and irresponsible.
Alcohol and drugs were the fuel that fired that selfish inner brat, stunting my emotional growth.
Letting go of those old behaviors becomes easier, the longer I continue to identify them and realize life is not just about me, me, me.
Today, I am responsible, accountable and remain teachable.
Posted by Fireman John at 10:54 PM 2 comments
Saturday, October 13, 2007
The Slogans
I'm at a loss for a topic today. Originally I planned to discuss the Slogans. When I found over 200 of them, I decided against it. We hear them at meetings, from sponsors and repeat them to ourselves and others. Initially I hated most of them; simplistic, corny and somewhat annoying. Well, it turns out that most of the slogans contain little gems of wisdom. Considering the amount of short-term memory I had coming in; those ditties were about all I could remember.
Hope it is a safe weekend for all of us to "keep it simple"
Posted by Fireman John at 11:00 PM 1 comments
Thursday, October 11, 2007
The Ongoing Journey
"Welcome back my friends to the show that never ends"... the opening line to "Karn Evil Nine" as sung by Emerson, Lake and Palmer. It kind of reminds me of recovery, and the irrefutable fact that there is no graduation from this program. That does not mean that it can't be an institution of higher learning. Every day, I discover something new about myself, addiction and behavior.
I shared at yesterday's meeting that this is a multifaceted illness, and for me requires a multi pronged approach in treatment.
In past posts I stated there is no one-size-fits-all solution. when I hear people share "I only do this or I have to do that, " dismissing any other possibilities, I have to cringe. There are too many components to my addictive personality, for any one method to address them all. Yes, meetings help, sponsors are useful and prayer is comforting. At yesterdays meeting, we discussed step six; I ask my higher power to improve my character defects, because I do not believe they can be removed. The emotions of anger, resentment, pride and selfishness still exists within me; the major difference now is I can exercise some control over them.
When this alcoholic is active, those negative emotions control me!
Maybe someday the public will realize that there is no time frame for recovery; it is an ongoing process.
Posted by Fireman John at 2:46 PM 1 comments
Tuesday, October 9, 2007
Good Month to Stop the Madness
October was a good month to get sober at my home group.
The last Friday of the month we celebrate 25, 22, 19 and me with 4.
Four years ago today, I restarted my attempt at sobriety. It was my son's 21st
birthday. I hope it will become the gift that keeps on giving!
The best advice I can give to anyone in that 1 to 2 year span, is to stay vigilant and respect the power of compulsion. It is important to recognize the difference between the desire and the thought of a drink. The desire will slowly fade but the thought may remain longer.
Just remember to think the thought all the way through, to that place where the action will lead.
Whatever it takes to get through the flat spots, use every resource available to persevere, regardless of what life throws at you. If we remain honest, willing and able to accept that a drink or drug is NOT an option, we have another way of life and hope for the future.
Happy Anniversary to all October Celebrants!
Posted by Fireman John at 2:06 PM 1 comments
Monday, October 8, 2007
The "Real Deal" Meeting
This is what we call our Thursday night meeting at the sober house. It is usually a group of eight to 10 and it starts with a discussion of our day. Next we pick a topic or a reading from a text.
I have become fond of the book, " Don't sweat the small stuff". This handy book contains numerous useful chapters concerning the problems and concerns of everyday life. While this text is not written from a recovery view, we use it to apply the principles of the big book and steps to real-life situations. part of the beauty of using this book is taking a realistic look at how important something really is. The reality is, most of it is small stuff. This all ties in to our Outlook and prevents the little things from chipping away at our serenity.
Tomorrow, October 9 is my four-year anniversary. Compared to some of my friends in the rooms, it is not a lot of time; but for this alcoholic who was a 90 day wonder for many years,it is an accomplishment.
Posted by Fireman John at 1:12 PM 1 comments
Saturday, October 6, 2007
Outlook is Paramount
As a person who had always seen the glass as "half empty", I have begun to realize the importance
of a positive outlook. For many years when life handed me lemons; I added VODKA!
It hasn't been an easy transition from my mildly pessimistic view, to one of optimism.
The longer I keep my ego in check, and maintain a sense of humility, the easier it gets to change my perception of the glass to "half full". Gratitude plays a large part in accepting the hand I'm dealt, without always looking for more.
The pessimistic side of me used to whine that I couldn't drink like other people, and yes I did envy the folks that could drink safely. That feeling slowly faded as I accepted the permanence of my condition. Now, when I attend social events where people are drinking, it is entertaining to watch the behaviors of folks in the various stages of inebriation.
I can be optimistic that I won't be vomiting that night, and suffering the next morning.
Posted by Fireman John at 8:42 PM 2 comments
Friday, October 5, 2007
Out With the Old...
and in with the new. That would be my past selfish, egotistical and arrogant ways.
My needs for instant gratification, release from inhibition and desire for power over others
all fed into the cycle of increased drinking. The innocent beginning of the party life, gradually morphed into a constant need for the buzz. For every addict there comes a point of no return;
what used to turn us on...turns on us.
Today I accept myself as I am, and not for what an intoxicant can transform me into.
It is truly a joy to be able to help others discover another way of life, free from the bond of addiction. As long as I remain teachable, grateful and willing to help, I have a chance at another day and another way to live.
Posted by Fireman John at 7:20 PM 1 comments
Thursday, October 4, 2007
Thunder from Down Under
I have received some comments from Micky in Australia who refers to the "12 steps down to hell". He also labels recovery as "a slow slide into the jaws of Satan". Provocative rants from a former member of 30 years who has now found salvation through the Bible and church.
I'm not a Big Book thumper or view AA as a cult. The steps are merely guides and the slogans suggestions.
Our approach to Recovery combines these 12 Step methods with practical mental and emotional behavior modification. We do not believe in putting total reliance on ANY book written by man; be it Big Book or the Bible. Recovery is not meant to be a substitute for religion. For us it is a way of living honestly, and contented with our station in life; without the use of mind altering substances.
Posted by Fireman John at 10:19 AM 4 comments
Tuesday, October 2, 2007
Joining the PTA
No, not the Parent and Teachers Association; for this alky it stands for Patience, Tolerance and Acceptance. Three traits that don't come easy to someone used to instant gratification, lashing out when confronted and constantly in denial.
A substantial contributor to these negative traits was my pride and ego. How could I possibly have a problem with drinking? It made me tougher, more charming, talkative and brilliant...or so i thought! Actually drinking did initially give me the illusion that all the above were true. Alas, in reality it was just smoke & mirrors; a fraud perpetrated by my version of self-importance.
Patience allows me to slow down, and enjoy what life has to offer, without having to always rush the outcome. Tolerance is the ability to forgive the faults of myself as well as others.
Acceptance is the final product of the right sized ego and a grateful heart.
Posted by Fireman John at 11:11 PM 4 comments


text:
GSA Awards Lease for Former Pres. Clinton's Harlem Office
April 17, 2001
Contact: Viki Reath 202-501-1231
WASHINGTON -- The U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) today awarded a 10-year lease for former President Bill Clinton at 55 West 125th Street in Harlem. The Office of President Clinton will occupy 8,300 square feet at the top of the 14-story building. GSA will pay $31.50 per square foot as base rent, plus $6.21 for improvements and $2.50 for electricity, for a total of $40.21 per square foot per year. The total rent is the same for the 308 square feet the Secret Service Space will occupy, which also is part of the lease.
Under the lease terms, GSA pays the landlord $346,127.68 per year. The Treasury Department reimburses GSA for the Secret Service Space. The Office of the Former President reimburses GSA for the Clinton space. (The cost of the Clinton space alone is $333,743; the cost of the Secret Service space alone is $12,385).
The Office of the Former President and the Secret Service pay a total of $366,895 to GSA, including management fees. Management fees cover lease negotiations and administration, along with property management.
The lease can be terminated at the end of the third, sixth, and eighth years. Occupancy is expected in July of this year. The landlord is Judy LLC., and the Managing Agent is Cogswell Realty Group LLC.
# # #


text:
I was honored recently to be asked by South Korean President Park Geun-hye to lead a new wing of the government. She confided to me that although I was a U.S. citizen, I had the right experience and the know-how to launch the Ministry of Science, Information, Communication, Technology and Future Planning. We would be charged with bringing about a paradigm shift in Korea's economy.
On Feb. 12, I put aside my life and flew to Seoul to accept this challenge.
On March 4, I withdrew my candidacy when it became abundantly clear that the current political and business environment would impede me — an outsider — from carrying out the mission of this ministry.
Never having had a serious interest in politics, I was a bit naive in making my initial decision. Change-resistant forces in the political and bureaucratic circles and certain business spheres naturally raised objections to my candidacy, mostly on the basis of my nationality and presumed lack of allegiance. A vitriolic response I can only liken to a witch hunt took off on the Internet and even in some mainstream media outlets. I was slandered. Some, for example, theorized that I was a spy. Family was considered fair game: My wife was accused of being associated with a brothel.
My emotions in the wake of this bizarre experience were much as you can imagine. But the lesson I take from it concerns the value of nationalism in a world increasingly driven by the transnational flow of people, capital and ideas — a world in which the immigrant is increasingly not a person without a country but a person with two countries or more.
My life as an immigrant in the United States began at age 14. The product of the proverbial "broken home," I struggled in those early years with economic hardship, language barriers and cultural issues. But like so many other immigrants, I was determined to pursue the American dream.
Thanks to the kindness and guidance of a few individuals, my journey took flight: I got a great college education, started my own business and sold it for more than $1 billion, succeeded at a global corporation, taught at the University of Maryland and even led the iconic Bell Labs. I became one of the owners of the Washington Wizards and Capitals. And I served on the boards of corporations, nonprofits, universities and government agencies — including the external advisory board of the Central Intelligence Agency, a request that I was proud to accept but that turned out to be grist for the rumor mill after my nomination to lead South Korea's new ministry.
Most important of all to a child of divorced parents, I was blessed with a stable and loving family.
My love for the United States is deep and strong, and I will be eternally grateful for its blessings. That is why I committed myself to serving this country when and where I could, including as an officer in the U.S. Navy for seven years. But I've always loved the country of my birth too, and witnessing its economic miracle over recent decades filled me with pride in my Korean heritage. So I was receptive to President Park's call.
For all its achievements as an "Asian tiger," South Korea faces profound challenges. Lacking natural resources, the country forged an export-led economy based on its hard-working people and their indefatigable industry. But outward appearances mask a nagging weakness. For instance, the top 10 Korean conglomerates account for 80 percent of the country's gross domestic product but employ less than 6 percent of the workforce. Why? Because they move production overseas to remain price-competitive or to placate trading partners. Unemployment is worryingly high, especially among college graduates. Furthermore, the durability of the South Korean miracle is threatened by rising economic prowess of much bigger neighbors such as India and China.
In response to this challenge, the president has pledged to nurture a "creative economy" that will boost globally competitive small and medium-size businesses by leveraging science and communication technologies in a way that generates good jobs for young people at home — not to replace the export-focused big corporations but to complement them.
The model could be something like the dynamic and, above all, open economy of Israel, where homegrown and international venture capital and entrepreneurs have combined to create a dizzying array of high-value businesses — a place where one is likely to see American executives leading Israeli firms, American investors funding Israeli innovation and Israeli entrepreneurs engaging with U.S. counterparts.
In the 21st century, the most successful countries and economies will be those that can move beyond the old prejudices concerning nationality. They will craft immigration policies that attract and make room for expertise regardless of its origins. They will encourage a culture with the suppleness to embrace diverse nationalities and loyalties while uniting people around core principles and values. They will innovate laws and procedures that cater to mobile global citizens, multiple citizenships and transnational partnerships.
In time, South Korea will emerge as such a country, and the new ministry will play a key role in paving the way. I hope that people will find in my cautionary tale the seeds of a more constructive way to accommodate their pride of national heritage. We see such accommodation all the time in America: a place where immigrants of all stripes reflect on the journeys our ancestors have made and the great challenge of balancing within our hearts more than one national identity.
Jeong Kim, a Korean-American electrical engineer and administrator.


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JACKSONVILLE, Fla., Dec. 5 (UPI) -- Phillip Rivers hurled three TD passes and Ryan Matthews rushed for 112 yards and a score Monday in the San Diego Chargers' 38-14 win over Jacksonville.
After spotting the Jaguars a 14-10 lead late in the second period, Rivers drove the Chargers 68 yards on eight plays, capped by a 22-yard scoring strike to Vincent Brown, to put San Diego (5-7) ahead for good with 1:26 left in the half.
Eric Weddle then picked off Blaine Gabbert at the Jacksonville 39-yard line with 54 seconds remaining, and two plays later Rivers (22-of-28, 294 yards, no interceptions) connected with Vincent Jackson on a 35-yard TD toss for a 24-14 Chargers lead at the break.
Matthews added a 31-yard scoring run and Malcolm Floyd hauled down four passes for 108 yards and a touchdown in the victory.
Gabbert completed 19-of-33 pass attempts for 195 yards, a pair of TDs and an interception for the Jaguars (3-9), who lost their third straight.


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The modern rail transport system from Abuja to Kaduna has been engaged by the College to convey Students whose parents are resident in Abuja, both on resumption and at vacation.
This is to ease transportation problem and make it convenient for our Abuja parents to enroll their children/wards in the College. Visit any of Gray's College campuses For more information.
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A 3 star walkthrough for Angry Birds weekly tournament Week 169 Tournament 6 (Level 6) on facebook
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Read moreAngry Birds Friends Tournament Level 6 Week 169 (tournament 6) no power-ups


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Veterans Day Activities, Grades 6-8
Lesson Plans, Activities, and Resources Focus on Wartime Service and Sacrifice
On November 11, we honor the wartime service and sacrifice of men and women in the armed forces. Originally proclaimed Armistice Day in 1919 to commemorate the end of World War I, it was renamed Veterans Day in 1954 to include American veterans of all wars.
The following lessons, activities, games, and resources will help your students celebrate service men and women past and present.
Lesson Plans & Activities
Lesson Plans
The Veteran in a New Field, 1865
Students in grades K-12 view and interpret Winslow Homer's 1865 painting The Veteran in a New Field. Teachers can download the Homer lesson ( PDF, 79 KB, 2 pgs.) as well as the "Teachers Resource Book" ( PDF, 4.29 MB, 130 pgs.) for Picturing America, 40 art-historic images of paintings, sculpture, drawings, decorative objects and architecture that represent several centuries of U.S. history.
Women Aviators in World War II: "Fly Girls"
Students in grades 6-8 explore the contributions of the Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASPs) during World War II.
- Military Uniforms ( PDF, 42 KB, 1 pg.), reading comprehension activity
- Veterans Day Crossword ( PDF, 7 KB, 1 pg.)
Background Resources
Veterans History Project, Library of Congress
Archive of veteran interviews from WWI to the present and two dozen interviews with pilots and crew members from WW II to the present.
Highlights in the History of Military Women ( PDF, 1.92MB, 9 pgs.)
Timeline from the American Revolution to 2008.
Veteran's Day: For Teachers and Students
- Teacher Resource Guide ( PDF, 3.48 MB, 33 pgs.)
- Remembrance Day or Veteran's Day Coloring Pages
- Veterans Day Crafts, Projects, Worksheets, Books, and Printouts
last updated: October 9, 2019


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The scriptural teaching on the origin of the universe is found in Genesis 1:1, which states that in the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. Steven Hawking attempts to circumvent this truth (or, at the very least, render a Creator logically superfluous to the issue of the beginning of the universe). However, his ideas are not new, but are rather the latest versions of some classic attempts to explain getting something (i.e., the universe) out of nothing.
Hawking's support for his work comes from the existence of the law of gravity. It is known to physicists that the energy associated with the gravitational force is negative, while the energy associated with most ordinary objects (baseballs, cars, etc.) is positive. It is possible for these positive and negative energies to cancel, resulting in zero net energy. Two situations with the same energy (or zero energy difference) are, in a physical sense, equally preferable. An example would be a soccer ball on the kitchen floor; the ball could sit by the refrigerator or the stove or the table without wanting to roll anywhere else. This is because each position on the kitchen floor which the soccer ball could occupy would have the same energy, so none of the positions is energetically preferable to the others.
Hawking envisions the origin of the universe in a similar way. Since it is possible to think of the creation of the universe as a "zero net energy process," Hawking suggests that there is no need to explain how it could have been created. But this inference is based not on the physics, but on Hawking's own philosophical presuppositions. In the example of a soccer ball on the kitchen floor, it is conceivable to imagine the soccer ball sitting anywhere on the floor without needing an explanation; however, it is quite another thing to say that the soccer ball and the kitchen floor came from nothing.
Hawking's attempts to address this problem are not in any way new to philosophers; it is one of the oldest issues in Epicurean philosophy: "ex nihilo nihil fit" (literally, "nothing comes out of nothing"). Hawking's ideas may establish that two physical situations (the universe existing versus not existing) are energetically equivalent, but it does nothing to address the issue of cause and effect. I don't need an explanation as to why the soccer ball is sitting by the stove rather than by the refrigerator, but I do need an explanation if I see the ball move from the stove to the refrigerator. In physics, a change never occurs without an explanation; in philosophical language, an effect never occurs without a cause.
Hawking's ideas do nothing to address this; the issue of the universe's origin is the same as it was before. It is not possible to get something from nothing. Only the idea of a Creator can adequately explain where the universe could have come from. Moreover, Hawking's statement that science will always prevail over religion "because it works" reveals a fundamental misunderstanding of the philosophy of science. Truth is not determined by "what works," but by whether it conforms to the reality around us. When I say that a particular statement is "true," I am saying that the content of that statement actually describes the way things are. This connection between a statement and the reality it describes is independent of me and my mind. A statement may be true or false, irrespective of whether or not it appears to me to describe the correct state of affairs. This is what we mean when we say that truth is objective; a statement's "truth value" is a quality which it possesses independently of my knowledge thereof.
However, once we begin to try to decide whether a particular statement is true or false (as happens in both science and religion), the only way we know how to proceed is to try to test the statement to "see if it works." As an example, suppose I want to decide whether the statement "All cats are brown" is true. I can begin my investigation by gathering cats together and inspecting each of them to see if any do not conform to the statement in question, thereby rendering it false. I only need to find one gray cat to know that my original statement is false: not all cats are brown.
But what if every cat I was able to find was, in fact, brown? Clearly, the world does contain felines of many other varieties and colors. In this case, even though my statement "works" (from my investigation, all cats do appear to be brown), it is clearly false. Thus, the issue of whether science or religion "works" is completely irrelevant to the issue of truth in each of these disciplines. While truth can be discovered by noting what works, simply because a statement appears to work does not in fact imply that it is true.
To summarize, Hawking's reasoning fails on philosophical grounds. Hawking attempts to substitute God with a particular physical law (gravity). However, Hawking fails to address the key issue at hand - that is, the origin of physical law in the first place. Where did the law of gravity come from and how does nothing produce something? A physical law is not nothing. Moreover, Hawking's conception of a plethora of ensemble universes to escape the conclusion of fine-tuning is philosophically unsound, metaphysically motivated, and less parsimonious than the theistic interpretation.
Why does man seek to eliminate God from having had any role in the creation of the Universe? It's very simple. Man hates God and does not want to be subject to God's law, or held accountable for his actions. As Paul writes in Romans 1, "For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles."


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Lectro Electric Townmaster On Road Price in Begusarai
Lectro Electric Townmaster Price in Begusarai
|On Road Price
|Townmaster STD
|Rs. 30,999
On Road Price of Lectro Electric Townmaster in BegusaraiChange
Ex-Showroom PriceRs. 30,999
RTO + OthersNA
On-Road PriceRs. 30,999
STD Ex-Showroom PriceDelhi* Rs. 30,999 RTO + Road Tax + Others NA Insurance NA On-Road Price Delhi* Rs. 30,999
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Rs. 31,880eZy On Road Price Townmaster vs eZy
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Townmaster Offers
Lectro Electric Townmaster - Find Offers in your City
Must Read Questions & Answers Before Buying Townmaster
- Lectro Electric Townmaster comes with an internal battery that has a warranty of 2 years. If your bike's battery is working fine in the third year then you don't need to replace but if somewhere you are facing a drop in performance feel the need then you can visit the nearest service center and get it changed. You can click on the following link to see the details of the nearest service center and selecting your city accordingly - Service Center.
- Lectro Townmaster is powered by 250 W BLDC Motor that is linked to a 36 V, 5.8 Ah battery. The e-bike is merely designed to ride the bike conveniently at a top speed of 6km/h when you do not wish to pedal. It offers a claimed range of 25-35km on a single charge. In the hilly areas, you may simply use the paddle assist if the climb is steep. Moreover, we would suggest you to take a test ride before making the final decision. Follow the link and select your desired city for dealership details.
- Lectro Townmaster features a 36 V, 5.8 Ah battery and takes 3 hours to get fully charged.
- Lectro Electric Townmaster comes with 7-gears.
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Lectro Electric Townmaster User Review
Maintenance Cost5.0/5
+ 2 more
Features & Styling5.0/5
Preferred For : Daily Commute & Tours
100% of users have given a rating of 4.5 and above
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Disclaimer : The data/calculations generated herein is completely and solely based on the information/details provided herein in response to the questions specified by Girnar Software Pvt. Ltd. on its ZigWheels.com Site is only for user's convenience and information purposes in Indian Currency.Read More
Girnar Software Pvt. Ltd. does not guarantee accuracy, completeness or correct sequence of any the details provided therein and therefore no reliance should be placed by the user for any purpose whatsoever on the information contained / data generated herein or on its completeness / accuracy. The use of any information set out is entirely at the User's own risk. User should exercise due care and caution (including if necessary, obtaining of advise of tax/ legal/ accounting/ financial/ other professionals) prior to taking of any decision, acting or omitting to act, on the basis of the information contained / data generated herein. Girnar Software Pvt. Ltd. does not undertake any liability or responsibility to update any data. No claim (whether in contract, tort (including negligence) or otherwise) shall arise out of or in connection with the services against Girnar Software Pvt. Ltd. Neither Girnar Software Pvt. Ltd. nor any of its agents or licensors or group companies shall be liable to user/ any third party, for any direct, indirect, incidental, special or consequential loss or damages (including, without limitation for loss of profit, business opportunity or loss of goodwill) whatsoever, whether in contract, tort, misrepresentation or otherwise arising from the use of these tools/ information contained / data generated herein.Read Less
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'Cinderella' is a real-life fairy tale
Fact: Not all Cinderellas are blond.
But tell that to fans who took to the Twitterverse, discontent, after seeing Laura Osnes at last year's Thanksgiving Day parade perform a song from "Rodgers & Hammerstein's Cinderella." Osnes stars in the title role of that musical, which has enjoyed several TV productions but opens on Broadway for the first time March 3 with prince (Santino Fontana), fairy godmother (Tony Award winner Victoria Clarke), pumpkins, glass slippers... and brown hair.
"A lot of people expect a blonde," says Osnes, sitting in her dressing room on a recent morning at the Broadway Theatre. "I'm like -- you guys, this is not the Disney version."
In fact, all the R&H Cinderellas from TV -- Julie Andrews (star of the original, live, 1957 CBS production), Lesley Anne Warren (of the '65 remake), Brandy (in '97) -- are all brunettes.
Hair-color hiccups aside, the rest of Osnes' story seems like a real-life fairy tale. Raised in suburban Eagan, Minn., Osnes went from community theater to Broadway after winning NBC's "Grease: You're the One that I Want," a reality series casting leads in the musical's 2007 Broadway revival. Osnes played Sandy.
But unlike most reality show hopefuls, who fade away, Osnes has established herself as a legit Broadway star. At 27, she's now married, and has played leads in "South Pacific," "Anything Goes" and "Bonnie & Clyde," earning a Tony nomination for best actress in a musical.
People are starting to use the phrase "real-life fairy tale," but "I never really put it together till now," she admits. "The 'Grease' show provided an amazing opportunity. Reality-show-to-Broadway -- it'd never happened before."
In terms of success stories like hers, it's never happened since.
Gimmicky casting isn't new. "American Idol's" Sanjaya Malakar performed in the Off-Broadway children's musical "Freckleface Strawberry" in 2006. Bailey Hanks won a 2008 MTV reality series casting the lead in "Legally Blonde -- The Musical." And "Queer Eye's" Carson Kressley recently appeared in "Newsical: The Musical."
They're not exactly getting Tony nominations.
"Young people ask for advice, and it's hard to say, 'Do a reality show -- you'll get noticed!' That's not why I did it. Working on Broadway was my dream since I was five -- and that was the prize," she says.
Playing Cinderella now seems fitting, as it's "the tale of the ultimate outsider, the underdog," notes director Mark Brokaw.
Singing hits from the show -- like "In My Own Little Corner" -- once introduced by Julie Andrews -- isn't exactly a slam dunk for anyone. But Brokaw is confident: "There's just nobody better to sing that part."
Osnes, meanwhile, credits her prince for inspiration. And fun while dancing. "Santino's my ally. You really learn to trust someone lifting you over their head."
In her dressing room, Osnes is surrounded by mementos -- a framed picture of mom, a Cinderella lamp, Cinderella Barbie (blond), plus costumes and the famed glass slippers -- size 7, with 10,000 Swarovski crystals custom-made by designer Stuart Weitzman. (She has two pair.)
A thick pile of script changes sits on her dressing table.
"Sister Act" book writer Douglas Carter Beane has rewritten Hammerstein's original book, expanding the script into two acts. "It's like we're working on an original R&H musical," says Brokaw.
The old script reflects "the 1950s, 'Father Knows Best' -- men were the motor for everything," he says.
But this Cinderella doesn't just wait around for her Prince. "They help each other to grow," says Osnes.
Script changes come daily, and "some scenes feel dreamlike because we've never said those words onstage before," says Ann Harada (of "Avenue Q" and "Smash"), who plays stepsister Charlotte.
Elaborate costumes are an added concern -- especially for Osnes, whose dresses have special elements for rags-to-riches transformations. (One dress takes 20 minutes to rig.)
But this is standard. As Osnes well knows, fairy tales aren't easy.
Her parents divorced when she was two, and she and an older brother shuttled back and forth across town from mom's house to dad's. Tragedy struck in 2011 when her mother was diagnosed with liver cancer. Mom was given six months to live. She was gone in three.
"I wasn't there when she passed, but I'd spent a week with her just prior," says Osnes, who'd been starring with Sutton Foster in "Anything Goes."
"She'd seen me perform, and I got a chance to say goodbye, She's still with me -- in a front-row seat every night. But it's hard. I go through my phases of... missing... missing her."
She shakes her head. "I have my little cry, and move on."
Later that year, she moved on to play Bonnie Parker in "Bonnie & Clyde," her first major Broadway role in a new musical. The show closed in less than a month.
If "Cinderella" lasts longer, she'll deserve much of the credit, say colleagues.
She's taken the role further, Brokaw explains, acting more vulnerable than the part required initially, and "stronger in the moments when she stands up for herself."
Whether that sways critics is yet to be seen.
"This business is not easy on anyone, much less a young woman who became famous very quickly," says Harada. "But she's smart about money, adept at using social media, and understands the demands of headlining a show."
As for the brunette-haters? Osnes actually offered to go blond -- but the creative team's reply was a quick, decisive no.
"OK, I tried," she recalls. "Hopefully if you're acting and singing it well... they can get over your hair," she says, laughing. "I mean, you can't please everybody."
Ready to hear something new? Book writer Douglas Carter Beane combed the Rodgers & Hammerstein inventory for songs to fill out this production.
"He was smart enough to not ask for 'Some Enchanted Evening' -- anything that would take you out of the 'Cinderella' experience," says Ted Chapin, president of the Rodgers & Hammerstein organization.
The boys had an "uncanny instinct" for getting a song right, says Chapin. So unlike others -- say, the Gershwins -- they cut few songs from shows like "Oklahoma!" "Carousel," "South Pacific" and "The King and I."
But they did cut some. Here's what you'll hear:
"Loneliness of Evening" -- cut from "South Pacific," though Hammerstein plugged its lyric about a "bright canary yellow" sky into "I'm Just a Cock-Eyed Optimist." Rodgers added "Loneliness" to "Cinderella's" 1965 version.
"There's Music in You" -- written for Mary Martin in 1953's "Main Street to Broadway" (one of those "great bad movies" about Broadway life, says Chapin) and inserted into the '97 "Cinderella."
"Now Is the Time" -- written for "South Pacific," to follow "I'm Gonna Wash That Man Right Out of My Hair," says Chapin, but they realized "people preferred 'Some Enchanted Evening' sung again, thank you very much."
"Me -- Who Am I?"--cut from R and H's 1953 musical, "Me & Juliet," and thus the one song here never heard onstage or on-screen before -- till now.