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Good Bread: Challah To Seek Out for Rosh Hashanah in NYC
Stories about the loaves we love.
More Challah!
You gotta have challah. For observant Jews, this bread is the descendant of the loaves given to the priests in ancient times. The modern Sabbath dinner table represents the altar of the Temple, with the fine, white flour loaves standing in for the baked and roasted offerings. Eastern European Jews developed a particularly rich challah made from white flour, eggs, water, oil, honey, salt and yeast. For New York City bakeries, even those with no particular connection to Jewish tradition, challah is a guaranteed seller every week. Consequently, the city is stuffed with mediocre loaves. Here we separate the wheat from the chaff and try to identify the city's quality challah.
Challah should generally be soft, rich, and slightly sweet, with bit of a butter-y (even though no butter is included) and egg-y aroma. Most of the year, challahs are braided, but at the (upcoming) Rosh Hashanah holiday meal they're turban-shaped. For much of the city, Fairway makes the go-to challah, baked in their Harlem ovens. The current Fairway round challahs ($3.69) are soft and rich, but they're also overly sweet, with a slightly acrid aftertaste. A better bet for big commercial challahs is the Zomick's brand, available at many area gourmet stores. Its appropriately rich egg challah has a cleaner taste and lasts for days, perhaps due to high oil content.
In some Eastern European communities, egg challahs are considered too rich and sweet. They prefer the "water challah," made with no eggs, less oil, and only a touch of sugar. On Brooklyn's Coney Island Avenue, the owner of the Porges Canadian Style Bakery makes his loaves the way his father did in Montreal. He says, "Think of water challah like a loaf of Italian bread." His small water challah loaf ($2.75) is slightly charred on top, with a crisp crust and very pleasant, chewy interior. They also like water challah on Lee Avenue, the main stem of Williamsburg Satmar shopping strip. At Sander's Bakery, the loaf ($3) is shaped like a lumpy flat iron, with sesame seeds sprinkled on top to symbolize manna. It's finer and sweeter than the Porges loaf—more like challah than Italian bread.
For a quality egg challah, three are three I enjoyed. The loaf ($5.50) from Oneg's Heimishe Bakery on Lee Avenue was the least egg-y of the bunch with a very pleasant texture and aroma. The richest of all the loaves was the Hot Bread Kitchen challah: dense, buttery, with a hint of sweetness. It's delicious, but you don't want to eat too much when matzo balls, gefilte fish, brisket, etc., are vying for space in your stomach. For a slightly lighter egg challah that still rings all the bells, I chose the Chiffon's loaf ($3.50), with a great balance of flavor and texture.
Of course, the Ashkenazim are not the only Jewish group making challah in the city. Traditionally, Sephardic Jews favor eggless challahs similar to thick pita breads. But in the United States, they've been seduced by the richness of Eastern European challahs, which now dominate their holiday tables. Luckily, Hot Bread Kitchen has developed a Sephardic challah ($6) bridging both the European and Middle Eastern traditions. It's turban-shaped and made without eggs but with whole wheat flour, olive oil, and New York State honey. Into the dough the bakers mix caraway seeds and ground cumin. This challah is spicy, rich, and utterly delicious. In fact, the only drawback to the loaf is that it's not available year round.
What's your favorite challah in New York?
2127 Broadway, New York N.Y. 10023 (map)
Porges Canadian Style Bakery
1441 Coney Island Avenue, Brooklyn N.Y. 11230 (map) 718-252-3025
Sander's Bakery
159 Lee Avenue, Brooklyn N.Y. 11211 (map) 718-387-7411
Oneg's Heimishe Bakery
188 Lee Avenue, Brooklyn N.Y. 11211 (map) 718-797-0971
Chiffon Kosher Cake Center
430 Avenue P, Brooklyn NY 11223 (map) 718-998-7530
Hot Bread Kitchen
At area Greenmarkets and at Hot Bread Almacen
1590 Park Avenue, New York NY 10029 (map)
All products linked here have been independently selected by our editors. We may earn a commission on purchases, as described in our affiliate policy.


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The St. Louis Children's Hospital Critical Care Transport Team are able to transfer patients by air and ground. Ideally, the decision as to which mode we use is based on the patient's acuity as well as time and distance concerns. Occasionally, we are unable to use our air service due to poor weather conditions. In these cases, or when a patient's condition does not warrant a flight, the transport team have a fleet of Mobile Intensive Care Units (MICUs) which allow us to safely transport patients by ground while maintaining the critical care environment needed for transfer.
KidsFlight 2

subset: commoncrawl


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During a transvaginal ultrasound, your doctor or a medical technician inserts a wandlike device (transducer) into your vagina while you lie on your back on an exam table. The transducer emits sound waves that generate images of your pelvic organs, including your ovaries. On an ultrasound image (inset), a polycystic ovary shows many follicles. Each dark circle on the ultrasound image represents a fluid-filled follicle in the ovary. Your doctor may suspect PCOS if you have 20 or more follicles in each ovary.
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Directed by Kim Jeong-gyoo (김정규)
Screenplay by Lee Jin-mae (이진매)KBS | Airing dates : 2007/08/06~2007/10/02
16 episodes
KBS title : "I am Your Teacher", it's a play on word "I am Sam" can also mean "I am Your Teacher".
A school is a smaller version of the world, a simulated space and a jungle in which everyone is pursuing different goals. Though sometimes fun and at other times hell, it is undoubtedly a place where we grow up. Like in a society of adults, there are invisible hierarchies, laws and wars in schools, too, but the moment we get rid of them all, we become friends. We come to like people without a particular reason and help others without any preconditions. We also provoke, take risks, and put everything at stake without hesitation. But even after a long time, we vividly remember all those things even though we forget what we had learned from textbooks. People of that time are our everlasting wounds and peers. This drama teaches a whole lot of valuable lessons and reveals a hidden track of our life.
Yang Dong-geun
Chang Yi-san: Timid and unable to say no to others, Yi-san learned early on how to stay in the shadows in order to survive seeing how miserable his family became after his father got fired for participating in a social movement. He didnt plan on getting a job due to his lazy personality, but he decides to take a state exam to grant his fathers longtime wish when his fathers health deteriorates suddenly. His troubles begin when he passes the exam at first try, unable to conceal his smartness, and becomes a teacher. To make things worse, he is appointed to a notorious high school located in a cluster of top-tier schools. He is terrified enough to even look at his students when he receives an order to take charge of a class because he is still single.
Park Min-yeong
Yoo Eun-byeol: Eun-byeol didnt have a chance to receive love from her family because she was raised by her father after her mother died when she was very young. Everybody around her always treated her with compassion, but she was never close with her always-busy father. After she learned that people despised her father, she stopped talking to him. Not because he was a boss of an organized criminal group, but because she hated herself for her pride and stubbornness, which she took after him. One day, she gets into a huge fight at the birthday party of one of her friends. Upset, she buys a pack of cigarettes, which she has never smoked before, and as she is about to begin smoking, a stranger approaches her in an insulting way.
Son Tae-yeong
Shin So-yi: Her cherished memories of nostalgic school years vanished into thin air just two weeks after she began working as a teacher. A school was no longer a place of dreaming, and children were no longer pure-hearted. She is frustrated to see kids having no respect whatsoever for grown-ups, for life and for one another. She even regrets having become a teacher, and shes not confident around guys because her first boyfriend left her for her friend who was full of charm. Her bitter experience made her believe that luck is always on the side of those whose voice is louder and that consideration for others only puts one at a disadvantage.
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One of Southwest Florida's top politicians is in line to assume one of the most powerful posts in state government by 2018, giving the area a leading voice in major public policy decisions.
State Senate sources confirmed that it is a near-certainty that Sen. Bill Galvano, a Bradenton Republican, will be the chamber's president from 2019-2020. Galvano has locked down pledges of support from the majority of senators who would be eligible to vote for him, as long as he wins re-election next year and in 2018.
Though the state has never elected a governor from the Sarasota-Manatee County area, it would mark the second time in 25 years a lawmaker from the region has held the Florida Senate's top post. Bradenton Republican John McKay was Senate president in 2001 and 2002.
State Sen. Nancy Detert, R-Venice, said others in the Senate are still talking about challenging Galvano, but called the battle essentially over. Galvano has secured signed pledges of support from 90 percent of the senators with a say in selecting the Senate president in 2018, she said. Sens. Tom Lee, R-Brandon, and Wilton Simpson, R-Dade City, are also reported to be interested in seeking the top post in 2018.
But Simpson told the Tampa Tribune earlier this month that he supports Galvano for the role in 2018 and expects him to win.
Asked if it was a done deal that Galvano would be Senate president, Detert said, "I would say so."
Galvano confirmed late Wednesday that he had lined up enough pledges to secure the post.
"I am very humbled to have been given the support by my colleagues," Galvano said of the group of 10 Senate Republicans elected in 2012.
The early selection process shows how the jockeying for leadership in the Florida Legislature has accelerated in the era of term limits. Indeed, Florida House speaker battles often occur even before legislators begin their first terms.
The traditionally more deliberative Senate has typically been slower to designate leaders, but Galvano's bid -- coming five years before he would assume the role -- shows that early maneuvering has moved to that chamber as well.
"I don't typically believe in signing up with someone so many years out, but I did sign up with Galvano," Detert said.
Detert said the culture in the 40-member Senate has changed, and she thinks sorting out the battle this early will prevent Senate leadership battles from affecting legislation as it has in the past.
She said committee chairmen running for the Senate presidency recently have obstructed bills in a push to win votes for a future leadership bid.
"This clears up a lot of that," Detert said.
University of Central Florida political science professor Aubrey Jewett called the maneuvering "one of the unintended consequences of term limits."
Because legislators know they have a finite time in the Legislature -- typically eight years -- they begin horse trading for leadership posts quickly.
Jewett said the pitfalls are well documented. In 2004, House leaders picked Ray Sansom to be their speaker in 2009, only to see him resign from that post after being caught up in a scandal.
And last year, state Rep. Chris Dorworth, R-Lake Mary, was defeated for re-election, even though he had lined up enough pledges to assume the House speakership in 2014.
Jewett said the early selection works as along as the designee keeps getting re-elected and doesn't alienate those who made commitments -- and the party in power doesn't lose the majority.
The early political fights also underscore the significance of the top positions. Along with the governor's office, the Senate presidency and House speakership are the most powerful posts in Florida government, Jewett said. Those leaders set the legislative agenda by naming committee chairs, deciding which bills will be priorities in a session, and identifying those that will not be heard.
Because of lawmakers' power to write the budget and appropriate money, they also have leverage with the governor. And the presiding officers have major influence in getting projects for their home districts.
Concrete examples of that power in Southwest Florida: The Ringling museum and the Manatee Convention Center in Palmetto.
It was under McKay's tenure in the Senate that Florida State University took over management of Sarasota's Ringling museum. McKay also landed $43 million in renovations to the museum.
Earlier, former House Speaker Ralph Haben used his power to secure funding for Manatee to build the convention center in Palmetto. It sits on a road that has since been named after him.
Galvano, 47, served 10 years in the House before moving to the Senate.
He has experience on major issues and a reputation for being a strong conservative with a willingness and deposition to balance competing interests, Detert said.
An attorney, Galvano has not been afraid to show his ambition. In 2004, early in his House career, he campaigned aggressively for the speakership for 2009 and 2010, losing out to Sansom.
He announced plans to run for Congress in 2005 when Rep. Katherine Harris announced she would not seek re-election, before throwing his support behind eventual winner Vern Buchanan, a Longboat Key Republican.
Galvano won his Senate seat last fall, representing most of Manatee and parts of six other counties stretching east to Lake Okeechobee.
During his year term in the Senate, Galvano has been the chairman of the Senate Education Appropriations Committee, helping craft the state's education budget and Gov. Rick Scott's plan to give teachers a $2,500 pay raise.
He's likely to lead Senate – in 5 years
One of Southwest Florida's top politicians is in line to assume one of the most powerful posts in state government by 2018, giving the area a leading voice in major public policy decisions.


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A sformato is essentially a soufflé that doesn't rise because there isn't any air or egg white whipped into it—foolproof! I serve it in place of mashed potatoes, since it has a great flavor without an excess of butter and cream. If I have people over, I'll bake it in individual gratin dishes with a few fresh thyme leaves on top for presentation's sake.
Delicata squash has a flavor similar to that of butternut, but the skin is much thinner—edible, in most cases—and the squash is more delicate overall (hence the name). The flesh of a butternut or acorn squash would be a fine substitute. Cooking with squash in the fall and early winter months will yield the best results with this recipe. I find that out of season the squash become a bit waterlogged. You can do everything but bake the sformato in advance. Bring the dish to room temperature before baking.
- Yield
- Serves 4
- 1 large delicata squash (about 3 pounds)
- 1/2 cup crème fraîche, at room temperature
- 1/2 cup shredded Jack cheese
- 2 teaspoons fresh thyme leaves
- 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
- 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
- 2 tablespoons maple syrup
- 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
- 1 egg, beaten
- 1/2 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
- Preheat the oven to 400°F.
- Cut the squash in half lengthwise, remove the seeds, and pierce a few holes in the skin. Place the squash cut side down in a glass baking dish and roast in the oven until soft, 40 to 45 minutes. The timing may vary, so keep an eye on it. You want a few brown blisters and to be able to pierce it easily with a fork. Set aside and let cool.
- Put the crème fraîche, Jack cheese, thyme, salt, and pepper in a bowl and stir to combine.
- Once the squash is cool enough to handle, scoop the flesh away from the skin and put it in a bowl. Add the maple syrup and balsamic vinegar and mash the squash until smooth. Add the cheese mixture and stir to combine. Add the egg and nutmeg, giving the mixture a final stir.
- Grease an 8 by 8-inch baking dish on all sides and pour in the squash mixture. Turn the oven down to 375°F and bake until brown spots start to show on top, 30 to 40 minutes. Allow it to rest for 10 minutes before serving.
Reprinted with permission from The Sprouted Kitchen: A Tastier Take on Whole Foods by Sara Forte. Copyright © 2012 by Sara Forte. Published by Ten Speed Press, an imprint of Clarkson Potter, a division of Random House, Inc. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
Sara Forte discovered a love for whole foods when she volunteered at an organic farm while working toward her English degree at Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo. The interest led to an internship in Italy at a bed-and-breakfast and cooking school, jobs at a few different markets, and eventually a food blog, Sprouted Kitchen (sproutedkitchen.com), that she produces with her husband, Hugh. She writes recipes and stories about life while he documents their whole food approach to eating well. Her work has been featured in InStyle, Better Homes & Gardens, Sunset, Fine Cooking, The Kitchen, Etsy, Food 52, and EcoSalon. The Sprouted Kitchen was a recent finalist in Saveur's Best Food Blog Awards for Best Food Photography. Sara continues to freelance in recipe development and take on small catering jobs on the side. They currently live in Dana Point, California, working, eating, and inspiring people to cook fresh, real food.


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Roses are red,Violets are blue,So many shoes in the world,And luckily I found you!
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Stop-and-Frisk Overhaul Council Appointed
MANHATTAN (CN) – The judge who found stop-and-frisk unconstitutional in New York City has named a council of academics to voluntarily oversee the program's overhaul.
U.S. District Judge Shira Scheindlin had already appointed a monitor, veteran lawyer Peter Zimroth, and a facilitator, Vera Institute of Justice President Nicholas Turner.
On Wednesday she said the pair needs a backup and appointed a 12-member Academic Advisory Council.
Chairing the council will be Brooklyn Law School professor Bennett Capers. Another professor from the school, William Hellerstein, will sit on the panel.
Yale Law School also has two professors on the council: Ian Ayres and Tracey Meares.
Columbia Law School professors are in the majority: Miriam Gohara, Conrad Johnson, Olatunde Johnson and Janice Tudy-Jackson.
Rounding out the panel are Alafair Burke, of Hofstra University; Taja-Nia Henderson, of Rutgers School of Law-Newark; Tanya Hernandez, of Fordham University School of Law; and K. Babe Howell, of CUNY School of Law.
"These professors have generously agreed to provide their expertise in a pro bono capacity, Scheindlin said.
Scheindlin ruled Tuesday that New York City can't delay her court-ordered overhaul of the department's controversial stop-and-frisk policy, which she ruled unconstitutional Aug. 12.
In that original order, Scheindlin appointed an independent monitor, and also ordered the development of a pilot project requiring the use of body-worn cameras by officers on patrol in five select precincts.
The New York City Police Department and outgoing Mayor Michael Bloomberg have been vocal about their opposition to Scheindlin's ruling.


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Transparent ploy to legitimize US military invasion of Africa
Paul Joseph Watson
Wednesday, March 14, 2012
The viral Kony 2012 propaganda film has stoked anger amongst those it was ostensibly designed to help – Ugandan citizens – who see through the movie as a transparent ploy to legitimize a US military invasion of Africa.
During a screening of the documentary in northern Uganda, the area that was worst affected by Joseph Kony's LRA, crowds reacted with confusion, anger and eventually violence, throwing rocks at the screen in protest against the underhanded motive behind the film.
"There are some kinds of people, some kind of NGO who are trying to mobilize funds using the atrocities committed in northern Uganda," said one Ugandan.
Another expressed the opinion that Kony 2012 was a bunch of white Americans exploiting the suffering of black people on a different continent for their own ends.
As the rocks begin to be pelted at the screen, the Al Jazeera reporter notes that the film "clearly doesn't resonate with many of the people it claims it's meant to help."
Ugandans also expressed disgust at the notion that the face of Kony was being used to adorn t-shirts, a display that they feel belittles their suffering. Of course, the fact that the Invisible Children organization behind the Kony 2012 film is a business empire posing as a charity that spends the majority of its expenses on lining the pockets of its owners explains why the merchandise is just as important as the message.
Americans of Ugandan origin have took to You Tube to express their suspicion and confusion about why a shadowy western organization is whipping up support around using US military forces to hunt down a man who has not even been in Uganda for six years, no longer holds any influence in the region, and is even presumed dead by some observers.
There has also been a massive backlash against the fact that the Invisible Children organization openly supports the 30-year dictator of Uganda Yoweri Museveni, a man who resorted to election fraud last year to hold on to power and has been implicated in murders and acts of genocide against his own people.
- A d v e r t i s e m e n t
- {openx:74}
"If Invisible Children was in fact a serious organization that has not been co-opted by the Museveni regime and the U.S. foreign policy agenda, the organization would inform the world that General Museveni, who has now stolen three elections in a row in Uganda is the first person who deserves to be arrested," writes Black Star News.
Ugandan journalist Rosebell Kagumire, who worked directly with victims of the civil war in Uganda, has also questioned the motives behind the film, pointing out that Uganda is now a relatively stable country and that Kony has not even been present there for six years. Kagumire rejects the idea that outside forces should use Kony's past atrocities as an excuse to interfere in Uganda.
Ugandan-American journalist Phillip Martin also labeled the idea of "making Kony famous," a key facet of the rhetoric behind the Kony 2012 campaign, as "one of the most disrespectful things" the film makers could have done.
Another backlash video going viral uses the medium of rap to stress the point that Joseph Kony is merely the latest dark-skinned bogeyman being waved in front of a global audience to legitimize western hegemonic interests as part of the contest with China to swallow up Africa's natural resources.
Commentators have compared the whole episode to the 1997 political comedy movie Wag the Dog, starring Dustin Hoffman and Robert De Niro, the plot of which revolves around the need to start a fake war to distract from genuine events.
An Al-Jazeera tool that tracks reaction to the film from people in Uganda shows that the majority are against the Kony 2012 campaign.
The role of Kony 2012 in greasing the skids for a US military invasion of Africa to further the agenda of Africom is already bearing fruit, with a resolution introduced in Congress yesterday that seeks to expand the "number of regional forces in Africa to protect civilians."
Paul Joseph Watson is the editor and writer for Prison Planet.com. He is the author of Order Out Of Chaos. Watson is also a regular fill-in host for The Alex Jones Show and Infowars Nightly News.
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Humane Handling Quarterly Report for the 12-Month Period Ending March 31, 2011
United States Department of Agriculture
Data was extracted from the FSIS Data Warehouse on April 27, 2011 for the inspection activities, slaughter totals, and HATS time. The suspension data was received from OPEER and to be used for the OPEER CY10Q4 Quarterly Enforcement Report.
Humane Handling Procedures Performed
Time Spent on HATS Activities
Plant Size Comparison of Livestock Facilities, Head Slaughtered, Procedures Performed and HATS Activities
District Comparison of Livestock Facilities, Head Slaughtered, Procedures Performed and HATS Activities
Overall, for the 12-month period ending March 31, 2011, livestock head slaughtered and total 04C02 procedures performed dropped when compared to the 12-month period ending March 31, 2010. However, the overall HATS time increased from 291,288 hours to 313,223 hours, the number of 04C02 procedures performed noncompliant increased from 504 to 572, and the percent of 04C02 noncompliant increased form 0.39% to 0.46% when compared to the same timeframe.
Table 1: Total 04C02 Procedures Performed from 4/1/2010 to 3/31/2011.
Table 2: Total 04C02 Procedures Performed in FSIS Facilities Suspended for Inhumane Handling from 4/1/2010 to 3/31/2011.
Table 3. PHV and Non-PHV Time Spent on HATS activities by FSIS personnel from 4/1/2010 to 3/31/2011.
*1 staff year equivalent = 2,080 hours
Table 4: Number of Federally Inspected Livestock Slaughter Facilities by Plant Size** from 4/1/2010 to 3/31/2011, including: Head Slaughtered, Inhumane Handling Suspensions, 04C02 Procedures, and HATS Time.
**Large—establishments with 500 or more employees; Small—establishments with 10 or more but fewer than 500 employees; very small— establishments with fewer than 10 employees.
Table 5: Total Count of Federally Inspected Livestock Slaughter Facilities and 04C02 Procedure Results and HATS Time from 4/1/2010 to 3/31/2011 by FSIS District, including Livestock Head Slaughtered, and Noncompliant by Livestock Heads Slaughtered.


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Take control of the next great galactic military hero - Captain Commander. Blast your way across an alien planet and rescue captured soldiers from an abundance of uncomfortable probing. The Captain is proficient with guns, hand to hand combat, and alien vehicles so there will be plenty of havoc to wreak as you destroy the native population.
Explained in-game


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Exclusively commissioned by Tripadvisor
About Madison S
Lives in London, United Kingdom
Since Sep 2014
Hello! I'm Maddie- a native NYer whose Wanderlust has taken her abroad again and again. Having lived in six countries, and visiting others for school, work, leisure, and sport, I've adopted many localities, and am an admirer of a great many more. An avid scholar of language and culture, I hope to keep expanding my travel repertoire, and sharing great stories with the rest of the travel community. To give you some background on my travels, I spent months each year since childhood in Old Montreal, where part of my family lives. Summers were spent visiting folks in Ft. Lauderdale and L.A. My first big trip outside of the US on my own was to Australia & New Zealand at 12- I caught the bug early! I then moved to Japan where I studied for part of high school & uni. I am very familiar with Japanese cities, Sapporo and Osaka especially. Some of my favourite travel destinations include Goreme, Dubai, Marrakech, and Queenstown. (Plans for 2015 include China & Uganda!) Nice to meet you!
Osaka is a city that blends the traditional with the hyper-modern, presenting both with a distinctly local flavor. Osaka embraces both nature and consumerism, and seeks to take this combination to new heights by creating eco-friendly, futuristic spaces that sit alongside its shrines, temples, and castles from long-ago. This guide will help you enjoy the balance that Osaka is so good at providing: from the busy shopping complexes of Umeda, to the gentle serenity of the Castle Park (and every famous and delicious food stall in between) - make the most of your time in this vibrant, merry city that is responsible for so much of Japan's best food, culture, and architecture.
15 Places
3 City Tips
15 Places
Castles, Historic Sites
Sacred & Religious Sites, Points of Interest & Landmarks
Sacred & Religious Sites, Points of Interest & Landmarks
Shopping Malls
Department Stores, Shopping Malls
Shopping Malls
Architectural Buildings, Points of Interest & Landmarks, Observation Decks & Towers
Points of Interest & Landmarks
Points of Interest & Landmarks, Neighborhoods
Gift & Specialty Shops, Points of Interest & Landmarks
Sacred & Religious Sites
Spas, Theme Parks, Onsen Resorts
If there is one must-see for any visitor to the city, Osaka Castle is it. In addition to being a historically significant architectural and artistic marvel, it is easy to plan a full day of activities around a trip here. Its 15 lush acres of grounds provide visitors with much to do and see, nestled away into parkland that's gorgeous in any season. Osaka Castle itself is eight towering storeys strategically built on a rock-face overlooking a picturesque moat. With a long, chequered history since the 1500s, as an army stronghold and an arms storage facility, today it houses a museum dedicated to retelling its past, and outlining its importance throughout various periods. The structure itself, repaired to its Edo-era glory, boasts a fantastic view of the city from its top floor, and of the gilded golden koi fish that sit on the wings of the roof, guarding over it. Visit for the history, the beauty, the art, and the artifacts; and afterwards, enjoy a stroll around the grounds, exploring the many fortifications and gates that stand strong to this day.
Osaka Castle Park, located alongside the castle, is one of the largest public parks in the city. Its grounds contain elegant maple and ginko trees, spacious fields and sports pitches, a duck pond, and the Castle Keep Tower - from whose spire there is a lovely view of the cityscape and parklands. Old fortifications dot the greenery, and beautiful old gates still stand solemnly along the walkways. Home to street stalls during lively festival days, the Castle Park is a great place to stroll and get some fresh air after visiting Osaka Castle.
The Buddhist temple of Shitennō-ji was the first of its kind in Japan, having been commissioned in the year 593. With a far longer lineage of use and refurbishment than Osaka Castle, the Temple was built by Prince Shōtoku to pay homage to four godly Kings and to bring order to his lands. As such, the structures which still stand today include the ancient hospital and welfare institute, nestled close to the treasured Golden Pavilion, a five-storey pagoda of splendid vermillion which houses a detailed image of the god Kannon. Great gates contain and protect the complex, which is generally serene even during the high tourist season. After the bustle of some of Osaka's busier attractions, Shitennō-ji is a wonderful way to take a peaceful step back into the past and experience it for yourself. It is truly a treasured piece of Japan's spiritual history.
Hōzen Temple, a paragon of the Shingon sect of Buddhism, provides a lively and interesting contrast to Shitennō-ji Temple. Marvel at the detail in the obsidian devil head tiles, pray for good luck at the shinto shrine, or enjoy the fresh incense-perfumed next to the scenic pond. The main attraction however, is the statue of Mizukake Fudo (officially Fudo Myoo), designed to be a fearful reminder of the power of justice, with its glowering expression and towering size. As it happens, the face of the statue was too handsome to be feared! Legend has it that a woman went there to make a wish and poured shrine water over it. Then, when she placed her hands together to pray, moss suddenly appeared covering the statue. Today, that moss not only hides the face of the statue, but it is lovingly preserved by locals and visitors alike. An interactive shrine experience, Hōzen is not to be missed.
Namba Parks is part-park, part-shopping complex, and you will be amazed at how seamlessly these concepts fit together here, where ascending parkland rises eight storeys high, comprising of fields and forest, waterfalls and streams. The shopping center is built on top and astride the greenery, with terraces, cafes, and a rooftop garden lining the route into the super-modern retail canyon - a shopper's paradise containing no less than 120 stores and restaurants. With much to choose from in terms of cuisine (from pizza to bibimbap, snacks to fine dining), plus a cinema to visit afterwards, Namba Parks is a great place to end your day on a relaxing note of food, fashion, and film.
Osaka Station isn't merely a train station. Located in the Umeda district (and attached to the Umeda Station complex), it is more accurately described as an underground city, where shopping is the most popular pastime. Housing many unique Japanese fashion brands, and a number of restaurants and bakeries, Osaka Station is a great place to kick off a day exploring the Umeda district. Browse its complex maze of shops, sit down to a breakfast of fresh-baked breads and Japanese tea, or visit the Daimaru department store for a few bargains or last-minute essentials for your trip.
Not far from Osaka Station, Grand Front Osaka is as contemporary a shopping experience as Japan has to offer. Showcasing the best in progressive eco-friendly architecture, it features a relaxation plaza surrounded by water in its entranceway, a rooftop garden on the ninth floor, terraces on various levels, and its southern and northern walks are lined with ginko and zelkova trees. The greenery allows you to take a deep breath, even when surrounded by the many other shoppers here to browse Grand Front's 250 plus shops. Restaurants, cafes, exhibition spaces, and dessert spots can be found in between the best of Japanese local designers and international brands. Grab a hoji-cha parfait on one floor, and wash it down with a sakura latte from Starbucks on the next. A wonderful place to shop, explore, eat, and take in what's current and trendy in the city.
The 40 storeys of the Umeda Sky Building make it one of the tallest buildings in Japan, and one of Osaka's most memorable landmarks. Its unique design features escalators encased in glass tubing, suspended between its two towers, which lead all the way up to its greatest height: an upper atrium that contains the luminous 'floating sky garden.' This rooftop observatory offers a delightful view of the city (especially at sunset or nightfall), with a glowing floor that mimics the lights and colors of the galaxy on an inky black backdrop. The Umeda Sky Building also features a lower observation deck with interactive exhibits, a gift shop with great souvenirs, a restaurant near the top, and a basement filled with more unique dining options.
If you're going to shop, you may as well go all out and shop 'til you drop. HEP Five is perfect for a night filled with entertainment and retail therapy. HEP stands for 'Hankyu Entertainment Park,' and with good reason: along with 100-plus shops and eateries catering to the hippest of the hip, there is also a ferris wheel with a great city view, and a gigantic piece of installation art (in the form of two red whales suspended from the ceiling) to enjoy here. The Tempozan Ferris Wheel is embedded into the building, and has maps of the city inside its carts, so you can see where you've been and where you're headed.
To combine some of Osaka's traditional charm with its modern flare is essential, and starting your day in the Shinsaibashi district is a great way to do it. This famous shopping street is covered by a glass dome, making it a good spot to visit whatever the weather. Close to the interesting streets of Dōtonbori and Amerika-mura, it is a well-located launch point for a day's exploration, but worth checking out in its own right too. Its many shops and stores boast some of the best names in brands, plus everything from curiosity shops to specialty shops to luxury fashion. It is an amazing place for finding the latest trends at a discounted price, and perfect for working up an appetite before visiting Dōtonbori (nearby foodie haven).
As a lunch stop, Dōtonbori won't disappoint. With its free-spirited decorations and flashy neon signs, let Dōtonbori's cuisine culture pull you in to its warm (if a little odd) embrace. Situated alongside a lively canal, there is no such thing as subtlety in this area of Osaka, where giant mechanical crabs and huge octopi statues adorn shop fronts, tempting passers-by with promises of what specialty food lies in wait just beyond their doors. The area is considered the best place in the city to try some of Osaka's signature dishes - from 'okonomiyaki' (Japanese pancake), to 'takoyaki' (fried octopus in dough) - at a low-cost. And as this is THE place for 'kuidaore' ('eat until you drop' philosophy), go all-in, and experience udon, yakiniku grilled meat, ramen, and red-bean cakes fried street-side. With delicious food at every turn, and a happening nightlife to tempt you back later, the bravado of what was once Osaka's theater district will sweep you up and leave you feeling full and satisfied.
If you are looking for a taste of Osaka's heritage while you are in the area, take the time to stop by the National Bunraku Theater. Bunraku is the city's traditional form of story-telling through puppetry, developed in the early 1800's. It involves puppeteers (Ningyōzukai), narrating chanters (Tayū), with shamisen music and taiko drumming providing the soundtrack to the tale. Along with Osakan Bunraku performed here, there are frequent manzai, shamisen, and rakugo shows (all traditional forms of entertainment) in the smaller of the two halls.
Casinos and restaurants make up the difference in an area dotted by shops favored by the local Japanese here in Tenjimbashisuji. With reasonably-priced clothing, quick snack food markets, and lots of special deals - all being energetically advertised to you - this area is a fun way to get an authentic feel of daily life in Osaka. Definitely worth a detour to wander a few of the streets along its lengthy, enclosed boulevard.
The Namba Yasaka Shrine is a quick stop, but it leaves a powerful impression. The entryway is marked by the huge, gaping jaw of an embellished stone animal - unlike any other temple construction you'll find in the area. Inside, the purifying waters of the Shinto shrine rest alongside gorgeously detailed protective stone statues of lions, and war memorials that help keep the memories of the temple's past struggles alive.
Whether you'd like to end your time in Osaka here, or spend an entire day here - and forget about sightseeing altogether - you can't go wrong with a visit to Spa World. This eight-floor complex spares no expense in offering its guests a relaxing, world-class onsen experience. The onsen (natural hot spring) itself is found on the fourth and sixth floors, while other floors bring to life specific sauna and spa cultures from around the world - from the European Zone (with ancient Roman bath, a Greek medicinal bath, a Spanish open-air spring, a Blue Grotto with healing mud and Finnish saunas), to the Asian Zone (featuring Japanese outdoor baths in smooth, scented wood, a golden Persian spa, an exotic Bali bath, and an Islamic stone bath). Not enough to tempt you? The entry fee also gives you full access to the communal pool with water slides, the massive food court (with every kind of ice cream imaginable), relaxation and game rooms, plus multiple themed saunas.


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The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has issued a long-awaited rule designed to prevent a repeat of the irresponsible mortgage-lending standards that contributed to the crash of the housing market and the financial crisis.
The watchdog set the standards that lenders will have to follow to ensure borrowers have the ability to repay their mortgages. The rule may sound like common sense, but it will help determine which borrowers will get approved for a mortgage and what type of loans they will be able to get.
The ability-to-repay rule, mandated by the Dodd-Frank financial reform law, goes into effect a year from now. Lenders will begin to adapt to the new requirements in the next few months, says David Stevens, chief executive officer of the Mortgage Bankers Association.
How will borrowers be affected?
The CFPB's definition of a qualified mortgage shouldn't make mortgage loans harder to get for most borrowers, according to consumer advocates and the Mortgage Bankers Association.
But it may hurt borrowers in high-cost areas who need larger mortgages, known as jumbo loans, says Anthony Hutchinson, senior policy representative of financial services at the National Association of Realtors.
"There's some anxiety around that, especially if the loan limits come down," he says.
That's because under the new rules, borrowers who need a loan outside the conforming loan limits set by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac will not have access to a so-called qualified mortgage if the borrower's total monthly debt payments, including the mortgage, are higher than 43 percent of the borrower's pretax income. The conforming limits are $417,000 in most parts of the country and $625,500 in high-cost areas such as San Francisco and New York.
"It's going to cut out about 25 percent of all jumbo loans," Stevens says.
The 43 percent debt-to-income cap actually applies to both conforming and nonconforming loans, but the CFPB created a temporary alternative that allows lenders to issue safe mortgages to borrowers with higher DTIs, as long as the loans meet existing standards set by Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, or standards for loans such as United States Department of Agriculture and Veterans Affairs mortgages.
This alternative will stay in place for up to seven years, according to a summary of the rule released by the CFPB on Thursday.
Exceptions for certain refinancers
The industry also had some concerns about how the debt-to-income limitation would affect borrowers seeking to refinance their loans through many of the government-sponsored refinance programs that were designed to help struggling borrowers avoid foreclosure. The rule has exceptions to allow lenders to refinance loans for borrowers who have risky mortgages (such as adjustable-rate and interest-only loans) without meeting the ability-to-repay requirements.
The CFPB is in the process of considering proposals to amend the final rule to prevent issues for these special refinance programs.
Basics of a qualified mortgage
Based on what the CFPB has released so far, these are the main aspects of the qualified-mortgage rule:
- It limits the upfront points and fees that lenders can charge borrowers to 3 percent of the total of the loan.
- No more interest-only loans, negative-amortization loans (in which the borrower makes the minimum payment at the beginning of the month and owes more at the end of the month) or loans with terms longer than 30 years.
- Caps the borrower's DTI to 43 percent.
Lenders are allowed to issue loans that don't meet the qualified mortgage standards, but when they do so, they give away some broad legal protections they gained with the ability-to-pay rule.
Safe harbor and consumer's right to sue their lenders
If lenders follow the requirements to issue a qualified mortgage, the lender will have "legally satisfied the ability-to-repay requirements," according to the CFPB. This "safe harbor" provision will make it extremely difficult for borrowers to sue or challenge the lender in court in case of foreclosure, some consumer advocates say.
Lenders were not given the same level of protection for subprime loans. After defaulting on a subprime mortgage, the borrower can sue the lender and challenge whether or not the lender took the necessary steps to ensure the borrower could afford the loan.
"I am disappointed that they bifurcated the legal standards," says Julian Gordon, director of housing finance and policy for the Center for American Progress.
Gordon says the safe harbor that was extended to the mortgage banking industry won't prevent borrowers from suing their lenders, but it will make it cost-prohibitive and challenging.
Mike Calhoun, president of the Center for Responsible Lending, says: "Ideally, the new rules would have allowed all holders of a qualified mortgage to challenge loans when lenders don't follow the law. However, they do allow borrowers to hold lenders accountable on the riskiest types of mortgages — those in the subprime market where the problems that led to the housing crisis were concentrated."
Follow me on Twitter @Polyanad.


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What in the world IS this??? I found this among my mother stuff after she passed away. It feels like it's solid bronze (magnets don't stick to it). It's very heavy, about 5 1/2" long. Very cool segments with raised animal & figures all along one side. The other side is just segments. I'd like to do research on it--but that would be like looking for a needle in a haystack.
It almost looks 'other-worldly'. Can anyone tell me what the heck this is?


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Bring the pool hall home in this slick recreation of the much-loved sport. Rack up the table with stunningly photorealistic visuals and take your shot at becoming a pool legend.
Hone your skills against computer-controlled opponents or your mates - and when your friends take a break, Pure Pool can copy their play style meaning you can always cue up a fresh challenge.
See it in action


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27 September, 2011 | (01 hr)
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This Conference KeyNotes Webcast will include video clips and live discussion of a panel from The 2011 Leadership Development Conference. Erica Fox from Google and Tony Schwartz from The Energy Project discuss "Developing the Whole Leader: When Demand Outstrips Capacity."
Participants will have the opportunity to pose questions to our expert panelists.
Who Should Attend:
Executives responsible for Leadership Development, Talent Management, Executive Development, Succession Management
Erica Fox
Erica Fox is the Head of Learning Programs for GoogleEDU, Google's cross-functional learning & development team. She works with a great team to provide Googlers a wide array of classes, cohort-based programs and learning resources, including Noogler (new hire) Orientation & On...Full Bio
Tony Schwartz
Tony Schwartz is President and CEO of The Energy Project,
Meg Gottemoeller
Meg Gottemoeller is a Senior Fellow, Human Capital at The Conference Board. In this role, Meg supports the Human Capital Practice which includes The Conference Board Human Capital Exchange™, research, conferences, webcasts and programs in a broad spectrum of h...Full Bio


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« White House Gives Outline of Early-Childhood Ed. Expansion Plan | Main | Arne Duncan On NCLB Waivers, Sequestration, Common Core »
Federal Commission Urges Bold Steps to Boost Education Equity
A federally appointed education-equity commission is proposing a five-pronged agenda for states and the federal government to help the 22 percent of children living in poverty and eliminate what the commission calls a "staggering" achievement gap.
Three years in the making, the new report released today stems from a 2010 congressional directive to the U.S. Department of Education, which created the Equity and Excellence Commission. The report, called "For Each and Every Child: A Strategy for Education Equity and Excellence", makes recommendations in a number of areas:
Equitable school finance: States should publicly report what is needed in the way of teaching staff, programs, services, and funding to provide a meaningful education to all students. States should also ensure that sufficient money is available, develop models for using technology in classrooms, and promote high-quality programs for special-needs students. The federal government should provide incentives to states to reduce the number of schools with high concentrations of poverty and seek to expand their authority to intervene in school-equity issues.
Improved teachers, leaders, and curricula: States should better compensate teachers, and increase selectivity and effectiveness of teacher training. The federal government should create a major new grant program to help states address improvements the teacher pipeline.
Expanding high-quality early education: States should expand early education so that, within 10 years, every low-income student has access to high-quality preschool. And the federal government should provide some funds for this.
Mitigating poverty's effects: States, in partnership with the federal government, should adopt dropout-prevention programs and other alternative-education opportunities for at-risk students.
Tackling accountability and governance: States should develop mechanisms to intervene when districts and schools are in fiscal crisis.
The report did not attach cost estimates to these proposals.
The report is the work of 27 commissioners, led by Mariano-Florentino "Tino" Cuéllar, a professor at Stanford Law School, and Chris Edley, the dean of University of California-Berkeley Law. Other commission all-stars include Cynthia Brown of the Center for American Progress; national teachers' union leaders Dennis Van Roekel, president of the National Education Association, and Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers; Linda Darling-Hammond, professor of education at Stanford; and John B. King, Jr., New York's state education chief. The commission was the brainchild of U.S. Reps. Mike Honda, D-Calif., and Chaka Fattah, D-Pa.
The report concludes the commission's work, which begs the question: What happens now to these recommendations?
"It's not only about this legislative season or this budget cycle. It's really about a march that must continue until we've delivered on the promise," Edley said in a conference call today, promising that many members would stay involved. "We're not going away."
U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan, who did not serve on the commission, called the report "thoughtful, provocative, challenging." He said in that conference call, "This report compels us to act." (He said it would form the basis of future discussions with his staff. In particular, he said there may be more federal opportunities to work on decreasing concentrations of poverty, Promise Neighborhoods-style.)
Other commissioners on the call mentioned that reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act could provide another venue for these ideas.
The report hangs its hat on many ideas, however, that Republicans in the U.S. House of Representatives oppose—such as new programs and protected funding streams for at-risk populations. So it's unclear just how much traction these ideas would have.
Edley said the report walks a fine line between being specific and also allowing "appropriate room for political debate and regulatory politics."
What's more, in some states, adopting more-equitable school finance would probably mean spending more money—at a time when additional cash is still scarce as states climb out of the hole from the recent recession. Equity battles have been raging in state courts for years. Indicative of the challenge of revamping school finance system, the report says, "There is disagreement about exactly how to change the system..."
But, said Duncan, "I would challenge anyone who doesn't think resources are a part of the answer."
It's important to note these aren't—for the most part—new ideas, but instead meant to serve as an agenda for equity. In fact, many states and the federal government are doing or considering a lot of these things. For instance, President Barack Obama in his State of the Union address proposed a major expansion of early-childhood programs—something many states are already embarking on. Duncan has proposed various initiatives to improve the teaching profession, including requiring new teacher evaluations in states as part of Race to the Top competitive grant program and waivers from portions of the No Child Left Behind Act.
UPDATE [2/20, 11:00 A.M.]: And interestingly, the report comes as the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development releases a study showing the United States is making progress in improving equity.


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One thing I hold close to my heart is knowing that thoughts become things, you are a product of your thoughts. You are who you think you are. If you think you are awesome, adorable and funny, then live that way, be that person and be your true self. After my year in Australia away from friends and family I learned who I am as a person and how to embrace that, foster it, and make something of it. I learned how to be myself. I encourage you to inspire and embrace those around you. This year, give thanks for being able to breath clean air, see the sunrise and sunset, to share a laugh with a trusted friend and ball your eyes out with your BFF. Be thankful for each day.
My wish and challenge for you in 2009
Love and light,


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Tracking Killers
Two men caught and one killed by police fleeing the scene of a double-homicide are suspected in more than a dozen murders involving fake drug deals that turned into robberies, police sources said.
Police killed Arturo Ibarra, 37, of 4521 S. Troy, Saturday night after two people were found killed and a third seriously injured in an Edgewater apartment in the 5800 block of N. Winthrop. Ibarra and two suspects fled the scene and, in a shootout, an officer was shot in the leg and Ibarra was killed, police said.
The suspect, Ibarra and the two men had been under surveillance for months, suspected of being part of a crew that had set up fake cocaine deals of $100,000 or more, according to a source. When the buyer or buyers showed up, they would be robbed and killed, sources said.
The three, who worked for a home remodeling business, are suspected in at least 13 murders, including a quadruple slaying Sept. 2 in the 6100 block of South Kildare, said sources. Noel Casares, Alonso Villarreal, Roberto Rivera and Luis Santillian were found bound and shot in the head in a garage there. One source said they are suspected in the deaths of three men found inside a car last spring in the 2300 block of W. 36th Street.
Labels: good news


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What happens when make lots of big plans for Spring Break......well all you know what breaks lose! I had to have an unplanned knee surgery, mimi had surgery, and then papaw Barry spent 6 days in the hospital and had surgery too. It was a NIGHTMARE! I have never been so exhausted and just slap dab worn our all in my life! BUT, when you have kids and you promised the FUN...... well you try you best to fill those promises!
Back around Christmas I bought the girls tickets to the SEC Gymnastics Championship in Little Rock! They have been waiting NOT so patiently to go! So Saturday of spring break came and it was time to head to Little Rock. But, due to my surgery I couldn't drive; so my sweet mom drove us up there and dropped us off!


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Founded in 2012, Maize & Blue News is dedicated to providing you with the best coverage of Michigan athletics and recruiting, while maintaining journalistic integrity in all endeavors. The site's owner and publisher, Matt Pargoff, has more than eight years experience working on the rivals.com network of sites and was a cofounding contributor to the Michigan site on scout.com. In addition to years of following Michigan football and the recruiting process before that, he brings the added expertise of having coached football at the high school level.
The site will be expanding its writing staff in the coming weeks and we look forward to providing you with great insight and coverage of the Wolverines.


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Washington's Budget Standoff Poses Threat to Recovery
As Business and Consumer Confidence Drops, Economists Warn of a Cloudy Outlook
Washington's budget standoff is spooking businesses and consumers, threatening the recovery even if lawmakers avoid a government shutdown or a potentially catastrophic default on the nation's debt.
The fights have pushed up measures of uncertainty and knocked down gauges of confidence. One barometer of risk tied to U.S. government debt has surged. Despite few signs of distress in the stock market, economists warn that months of rolling brinkmanship will cloud the outlook even...
To Read the Full Story


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U.S. Afghan plan outlines new counter-insurgency strategy
Adm. Bill McRaven, the head of U.S. special operations, is mapping out a potential Afghanistan war plan that would replace thousands of U.S. troops with small special operations teams paired with Afghans to help an inexperienced Afghan force withstand a Taliban onslaught as U.S. troops withdraw.
While the overall campaign would still be led by conventional military, the handfuls of special operators would become the leading force to help Afghans secure the large tracts of territory won in more than a decade of U.S. combat. They would give the Afghans practical advice on how to repel attacks, intelligence to help spot the enemy and communications to help call for U.S. air support if overwhelmed by a superior force.
The Associated Press learned new details of the draft plan this week.
The special operations proposal was sketched out at special operations headquarters in Tampa, Florida, in mid-February, with Central Command's Gen. James Mattis and overall Afghanistan war commander Gen. John Allen taking part, according to several high-level special operations officials and other U.S. officials involved in the war planning. They spoke on condition of anonymity because the proposal has not yet been presented to Defence Secretary Leon Panetta or the White House.
If approved by the administration, the pared-down structure could become the enduring force that Afghan Defence Minister Abdul Rahim Wardak indicated Tuesday at the Pentagon that his country needs, possibly long after the U.S. drawdown date of 2014.
McRaven's proposal amounts to a slimmed-down counter-insurgency strategy aimed at protecting the Afghan population as well as hunting the Taliban and al-Qaeda. It's not the plan advanced by Vice-President Joe Biden, which would leave Afghan forces to fend for themselves while keeping U.S. special operators in protected bases from which they could hunt terrorists with minimum risk, according to a senior special operations official reached this week.
Thousands of U.S. troops could remain in harm's way well after the end of combat operations in 2014, tasked with helping Afghans protect territory won by U.S. forces.
One of several proposals
The Pentagon asked the top officials to draft this and other proposals to present to the White House after NATO allies decide how large a force to keep in Afghanistan, according to a U.S. official familiar with the administration's deliberations.
Leaders of NATO nations are to meet May 20-21 in Chicago to discuss the war, among other issues.
The Pentagon by September will draw down the 23,000 troops that remain from the surge of 33,000 troops sent to Afghanistan in 2010 to buy time for the Afghan military and government to build both the numbers and expertise necessary to defend and govern themselves. Plans for the remaining 68,000 troops in Afghanistan are not yet complete, but most U.S. troops are scheduled to leave Afghanistan by the end of 2014.
Allen, the commander of forces in Afghanistan, has indicated he would like to keep as many troops on the ground for as long as possible. But with a solid majority of Americans now against the continued U.S. presence in Afghanistan and the sped-up departure of some of America's NATO allies from the war zone, the Obama administration is feeling some pressure toward a faster drawdown.
The McRaven plan could provide a way to shrink troop numbers quickly without leaving a security vacuum as U.S. troops depart, as has happened in Afghanistan before when NATO forces left an area.
"This is the least bad option," said retired Marine Col. T.X. Hammes, senior fellow at the National Defence University and longtime critic of the U.S. counterinsurgency strategy in Afghanistan. "It's probably the smartest thing we could do to keep the Afghan government functioning long enough to safely withdraw."
'Special ops' forces
In the back-of-the-envelope version of the strategy, a couple thousand special operators, like Navy SEALs and the Army's Delta Force, would keep working with Afghan special forces to raid extremist targets, the senior special operations official explained.
U.S. commanders would seek to keep the same number of defence intelligence troops in country to feed data to the smaller force and would also rely heavily on the CIA for intelligence, while an as-yet-undetermined number of conventional forces would provide everything from air to logistical support to keep all the special operations teams running, officials said.
Some two-thirds of the roughly 6,000-strong special operations force would head to Afghanistan's rural towns and villages to advise inexperienced Afghan forces. This would include expanding the Village Stability Operations program in Afghan villages, in which special operators help what is essentially an Afghan government-backed armed neighbourhood watch to keep the peace.
Reliance on the program already had forced it to grow so quickly, however, that U.S. commanders had put regular military forces into some of the sites. That is how Army Staff Sgt. Robert Bales, a regular soldier with no prior Afghanistan experience, ended up at one of the sites. He stands accused of killing 17 Afghan villagers in a shooting spree last month.
U.S. officials say they will take more care with selecting who gets deployed into such sensitive and remote posts in the future.
The commanders building the new team also would draw heavily from the group known as "Afghan Pakistan hands," the 700-plus force of troops and civilians given months of extra language training in Pashtu, Dari or Urdu, the three main languages of Afghanistan and Pakistan, officials say. About 50 of the "hands" are deployed to the Village Stability Operations to serve as translators, both of language and culture, between special operations troops, Afghan government officials and local villagers.
The insider knowledge of both the "hands" group and the special operators with multiple Afghan tours is intended to minimize the chance of further antagonizing Afghans and driving them to support the Taliban.
U.S.-Afghan relations have been strained in the past year, exacerbated by the killings of at least 16 U.S. and NATO troops by their Afghan allies in recent months, the inadvertent burnings of Qurans by U.S. troops in January and the shootings of the 17 Afghan villagers. Afghan President Hamid Karzai initially asked that the U.S. retreat from rural areas.


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The Best Rolloff Dumpster Rental Prices for Construction or Residential Dumpsters.
We carry 15, 20, 30 & 40 yard dumpsters and cover the entire Glendale area. We can discuss your project and recommend an appropriate sized dumpster.
Choosing a dumpster size is not an exact science, but that's where experience comes in. Here are some specifications and broad guidelines for each dumpster size we provide.
12′ long x 8′ wide x 4′ high
Appropriate for small remodeling projects and medium sized clean up projects.
22′ long x 8′ wide x 4.5′ high
Considerably longer than a 10 yarder, generally best for medium sized renovation projects and large home clean up projects.
22′ long x 8′ wide x 6′ high
Considerable higher walls than a 20 yarder, generally larger than what is necessary, except for the largest home cleanout projects. They are generally used for larger remodeling and renovation type projects.
22′ long x 8′ wide x 8′ high
Has even higher side walls than a 30 yarder, normally only used for the largest projects.
If you have any questions about which dumpster would be best for your project, give us a call and we'll help you pick out the right size for your job and make your dumpster rental in Glendale as simple a possible.


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Office Room 2.48
Queen's Building,
University Walk, Clifton BS8 1TR
(See a map)
Tel. +44 (0) 117 331 5909
Guided wave structural health monitoring; defect classification and quantification using ultrasound; dynamics and control of fluidised beds.
View complete publications list in the University of Bristol publications system
Edit this profile If you are Professor Anthony Croxford, you can edit this page. Login required.
All details on one page > for printing etc.


text: Welcome to Pixel Point Creative. With over 18 years of experience, we can handle any project. We offer quality websites that are modern, beautiful and work on all devices. We provide complete design, development and hosting services. Since 2009, we have built over 100 Joomla templates and extensions and offer these useful tools to help you get any website project up and running fast! Let us help you stand out from the crowd with bright ideas and inspired design.


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- Description
Bruce Munro's Forest of Light Exhibit at the Atlanta Botanical Garden.
Bruce Munro: Light in the Garden features unique installations created from hundreds of miles of optic fiber by Munro, a British artist internationally acclaimed for his use of light as an artistic medium. The Garden transforms at dusk with imaginative, luminous works of art. Arrive early to enjoy the daylight beauty of the Garden and stroll the newly developed Gardens of Storza Woods.
Light is a site-specific exhibition and the largest by the artist in the Southeast. "This show will be something unlike any other that Atlantans have experienced," says Garden President & CEO Mary Pat Matheson. "At dusk, the Garden will become this enchanting landscape that visitors just have to see to believe."
May 2, 2015 - October 3, 2015
- Additional Information
Additional Information
Partner Gene Phillips Exclude from What's New? N/A Website For more information about this attraction or location, please click here.
- Reviews
- Related Galleries
Please visit Atlanta.net for information on upcoming events and Atlanta convention and tour information.


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Troop 157 in South Florida is the first troop in the Dog Scouts. Starting with 5 members four years ago, the troop has grown to 70 members. These dog scouts plan hikes, activities and all sorts of fun in the South Florida region. But they don't sell cookies, yet. For the full article, see this link.
Tags: activiites, dog scouts, fort lauderdale, hikes, miami


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Black Dog Collar with Brass Bones
£31.50 – £45.00
One of our most popular colour combos – classic black leather with brass bone studs. The black Italian is strong yet soft and will wear in beautifully. A collar that will last for many years.
Creature Clothes dog collars are a thing of beauty and a collar for life. We work the underside of the collar to ensure there are no hard edges against your dogs neck, just a fabulous, strong yet soft collar. All of our leather collars are treated with Neatsfoot Oil before leaving our workshop to protect your collar against water. The stars are individually hand made in solid brass and then nickle plated. They are then riveted onto the collars by hand in our Suffolk workshop. Each stud is individually welded onto the rivet to ensure maximum strength. For cleaning instructions, please refer to our FAQ section.
Size 1 neck size: 23-30cm / 9-10.5″ width 20mm, Size 2 neck size: 25-35cm / 11-13″ width 20mm, Size 3 neck size: 31-42cm / 12-15″ width 23mm, Size 4 neck size: 40-51cm / 15-18″ width 25mm, Size 5 neck size: 46-56cm / 18-21″ width 30mm
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Hunter caused huge wildfire near California's Yosemite, Forest Service says
Photo: AP
YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK, Calif. >> The U.S. Forest Service says a gigantic wildfire near Yosemite National Park began when a hunter allowed an illegal fire to escape.
The Forest Service said Thursday there is no indication the hunter was involved with illegal marijuana cultivation, which a local fire chief had speculated as the possible cause of blaze.
No arrests have been made, and the hunter's name is being withheld pending further investigation.
The Rim Fire began on Aug. 17 and threatened thousands of homes. It is now 80 percent contained.


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Alex Anthopoulos continues to mystify and impress the Toronto Blue Jays fan base and I think his latest acquisition of prized outfielder Colby Rasmus helps remind us all that we have one of the best minds in baseball at the helm. I am almost starting to worry that other GMs will simply stop dealing with Alex and the Jays with the worry they may be getting fleeced.
Kind of strange that Zach Stewart has never set foot in AAA to play for Las Vegas in the ultimate offensive environment isn't it? Stewart at 25 is a dinosaur (in prospect years) and probably one of the oldest players in that league and putting up very pedestrian numbers to boot. Anthopoulos and the Jays knew if he played the whole season in Vegas his stats would likely look terrible and either kill his waning confidence even more or worse, destroy any remaining trade value he might have had.
Keith Law is an excellent talent evaluator and a great baseball writer but I have never understood his fascination with Stewart, whom he still claims is a great prospect in the Jays organization. I disagreed vehemently via twitter with the rationale he was an aged, overrated and underwhelming talent likely destined for the bullpen at some point and let's just say he didn't agree, at all.
Not to beat a dead horse but seriously 25 years old, still in AA and not even dominating much younger competition? He flashed a 90 MPH fastball in his brief MLB cameo and through 94 IPs in AA has a 7.06 K/9, .283 BAA, 1.41 WHIP and a 3.35 FIP. Not horrific but nothing that jumps out at you screaming 'stud' and certainly nobody considered untouchable if a Colby Rasmus could be acquired.
Colby Rasmus is a 24-year old CF with a boatload of potential and has a pretty impressive MLB resume already as well. He was ranked the 41st most valuable trade asset in baseball by Fangraphs (yeah, a pretty reliable source) and was ahead of such names as Robinson Cano, Jacoby Ellsbury and Matt Wieters.
So to recap we traded a bullpen arm in Jason Frasor, a 25-year old pitching "prospect" in Zach Stewart and a good young lefty (but a reliever currently) in Mark Rzepczynski and we received a top 50 MLB asset in CF Colby Rasmus? Right, next you are going to tell me somebody took Vernon Wells' and Alex Rios entire contracts, gave us Yunel Escobar for Alex Gonzalez and we were able to sign the best hitter in baseball to a below-market contract that saved us around $100 million total dollars.
That's not say Rasmus is not without warts given his long time 'feud' with the guru Tony LaRussa and relative step back stats wise in 2011 he still has a lot to prove. He is currently slashing 246/332/420 with 11 HRs – good for a .332 wOBA. He has maintained his great patience (11.7 BB%) and cut down his strikeouts dramatically (19.9 K%) and still has a decent .175 ISO (isolated slugging).
Defensively he won't be confused with Austin Jackson in CF and UZR has never been a huge fan of his as witnessed by his -7.1 UZR rating in over 2800 IPs in centre. His best tool is the bat and if he can continue to show good patience and an improving eye while maintaining (or adding) to his fairly impressive power stroke he could be a real boost to an already impressive Blue Jays line-up and a great left handed bat to go with the big righty Jose Bautista.
He will likely man centre until prospect Anthony Gose proves he can hack it in the big league offensively, Gose is supposed to be a plus defender with great speed. Colby Rasmus is young and was ranked as the 3rd best prospect in baseball in 2009 by Baseball America and will remain relatively cheap until 2014 though he is heading for arbitration at the end of this season and will see a decent raise.
As per Fangraphs here is how the massive three team trade worked out:
Blue Jays: Colby Rasmus, Mark Teahen, Brian Tallet, Trever Miller, P.J. Walters
Cardinals: Octavio Dotel, Mark Rzepczynski, Edwin Jackson, Cory Patterson
White Sox: Jason Frasor, Zach Stewart
The biggest minus to the trade is losing Mark Rzepczynski who has shown to be a more than capable relief pitcher while still having the potential to one day join the Blue Jays rotation. My condolences go out to 'Scrabbles' biggest stalker fan Drew Fairservice at Ghostrunner on First.
Sorry dude, but you have to give to get!


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Elvis' rare BMW 507 roadster is a king among barn finds.
The rock 'n' roll icon drove the roadster, which had been previously owned by famed German driver Hans Stuck, during his days in the U.S. Army while stationed in Germany in 1958
In the years since it has been neglected but BMW has planned a complete restoration of the car after showing it in as-is condition in their museum in Munich.
As the story goes, Elvis had his eyes on a Porsche Spyder but couldn't get his hands on one, so he leased the 507 — which was subsequently leased to actress Ursula Andress.
Below: Fans watch as German TV celebrity Uschi Siebert presents American rock 'n' roll star Elvis Presley with the keys to the BMW 507 roadster on December 22, 1958. Presley was a private in the U.S. Army, serving with an armored unit in Friedberg, Germany.


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"The Big Bang Theory" Retains 97% of Its Viewers and 95% of Its Adults 18-49 Rating Compared to Last First-Run Episode
"The Big Bang Theory" Up +3% in Viewers Versus its First Run Season Average
"CSI: Crime Scene Investigation" Places First in Viewers and Adults 25-54 with Its Largest Audience Since Oct. 21
"The Mentalist" Wins at 10:00 PM in Viewers and Key Demographics
THE BIG BANG THEORY still banged loudly opposite "American Idol," retaining 97% of its viewers and 95% of its adults 18-49 rating compared to its last first-run episode, according to Nielsen preliminary live plus same day ratings for Thursday, Jan. 20.
THE BIG BANG THEORY was second in households (8.1/13), viewers (13.58m), adults 25-54 (5.5/14) and adults 18-49 (4.2/12). Compared to the last first-run episode (on Jan. 6, 2011), THE BIG BANG THEORY retained 96% of its adults 25-54 rating (from 5.7/15), 95% of its adults 18-49 rating (from 4.4/13) and 97% of viewers (from 13.98m).
Compared to the program's first-run live plus same day season delivery, THE BIG BANG THEORY was virtually even in adults 18-49 (from 4.3/13), even in adults 25-54 and added +420,000 viewers (from 13.16m, +3%).
$#*! MY DAD SAYS was second in households (6.2/10), viewers (10.29m), adults 25-54 (3.9/09) and averaged a 2.7/09 in adults 18-49. Compared to last week, $#*! MY DAD SAYS added +150,000 viewers (from 10.14m, +1%).
CSI: CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATION was first in households (8.5/13), viewers (14.29m), adults 25-54 (4.5/11) and averaged a 3.1/08 in adults 18-49. Compared to the last first-run episode (on Jan. 6, 2011), CSI was even in adults 25-54 and added +70,000 viewers (from 14.22m). This was CSI's largest audience since Oct. 21, 2010.
THE MENTALIST was first in households (9.1/15), viewers (14.66m), adults 25-54 (4.1/11) and adults 18-49 (2.8/08).
For the night, CBS was second in households (8.3/13), viewers (13.63m), adults 25-54 (4.4/11) and adults 18-49 (3.1/08).
Updated Thursday ratings will be available this afternoon.


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CORD ON BOARD™ 2.0: Case Only - Carbon Fiber
Patented Cord Wrap Design. Patented design provides OEM cable/cord functionality.
*Cord not included with case.
- Patented Back Plate Detachability. Back plate detaches for quick access to your charging cord or if you want to change the look of your case.
- Dual Layer Design. Two layers of protection. Outer poly-carbonate layer shell and inner TPE layer to protect from dings and drops.
- Raised Edges for Screen Protection. Raised edges to protect the screen from scratching/cracking if dropped.
- Slim Design. Cord-On-Board stores your charging cord and protects your device without adding unnecessary bulk.
- Button Protection. Rubberized covers protecting volume and power buttons without compromising their accessibility.


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Thursday, May 28, 2020
10-week class: Thursdays, April 2 - June 11
This class provides an opportunity for you to develop work you've begun previously, or want to begin in class. Bring your own project, and artist/instructor, Karen Halpern will assist you in developing your own ideas in the medium in which you chose to work. Karen will guide critical thinking, expose each student to work by artists working with similar style, as applicable, and offer direction for improvement. Working independently alongside peers fosters an enriching and enjoyable exchange of ideas. Bring the supplies to which you are accustomed.
Birmingham Next


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Data Protection
At Dungeness Bird Observatory we take security of your data very seriously. The data we hold is kept securely on a password protected device and we never pass on any information to a third party. For more information please read our Data Policy available here.
Local weather
Corona Virus Update
Due to Coronavirus we will have to remain closed to overnight visitors for the foreseeable future. Day visitors are welcome to call into the garden, as long as Covid-19 protocols are observed. We are still operating our monitoring programme. Please think carefully about Social Distancing before approaching our Wardens. Please forward any Dungeness records to the Warden.
You can still support the Obs by using Give as you Live or Amazon Smile when shopping online.
Thank You for your understanding in these difficult times.
The Trustees.
18th June
Not much to report other than an adult Mediterranean Gull feeding at the Patch and a few Swifts passing overhead.
at 23:11


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One Year Service Warranty
All of our jewelry is manufactured using the highest quality materials and is inspected prior to shipment. We stand behind everything that we sell and warrant that all items will be free from any manufacturing defects at the time of delivery. Our lifetime warranty offers free prong tightening, check ups and cleaning services. We also include complimentary side diamond replacements for the first 12 months.
In the event that there is ever a problem with your jewelry or you are in need of other services that are not covered under our lifetime warranty, your jewelry can be brought back or mailed to our showroom for evaluation. Once inspected, should charges apply, you will be notified prior to any work being done to service your jewelry.
Please Contact Us if you have any questions or would like to return your item(s) to take advantage of our free warranty or request additional repair work needed to service your Princess Bride Diamonds jewelry.


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LPI Linux Certification/Customize And Use The Shell Environment
< LPI Linux Certification(Redirected from LPI Linux Certification/Customise & Use The Shell Environment)Jump to navigation Jump to search
Weight: 4
Candidates should be able to customize shell environments to meet users' needs. Candidates should be able to modify global and user profiles.
- Key knowledge area(s):
- Set environment variables (e.g. PATH) at login or when spawning a new shell.
- Write BASH functions for frequently used sequences of commands.
- Maintain skeleton directories for new user accounts.
- Set command search path with the proper directory.
- The following is a partial list of the used files, terms and utilities:
- /etc/profile
- env
- export
- set
- unset
- ~/.bash_profile
- ~/.bash_login
- ~/.profile
- ~/.bashrc
- ~/.bash_logout
- function
- alias
- lists


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Author(s): Christopher de Hamel
An extraordinary and beautifully illustrated exploration of the medieval world through twelve manuscripts, from one of the world's leading experts.
Winner of The Wolfson History Prize and The Duff Cooper Prize.
A San Francisco Chronicle Holiday Book Gift Guide Pick
Meetings with Remarkable Manuscripts is a captivating examination of twelve illuminated manuscripts from the medieval period. Noted authority Christopher de Hamel invites the reader into intimate conversations with these texts to explore what they tell us about nearly a thousand years of medieval history - and about the modern world, too.
In so doing, de Hamel introduces us to kings, queens, saints, scribes, artists, librarians, thieves, dealers, and collectors. He traces the elaborate journeys that these exceptionally precious artifacts have made through time and shows us how they have been copied, how they have been embroiled in politics, how they have been regarded as objects of supreme beauty and as symbols of national identity, and who has owned them or lusted after them (and how we can tell).
From the earliest book in medieval England to the incomparable Book of Kells to the oldest manuscript of the Canterbury Tales, these encounters tell a narrative of intellectual culture and art over the course of a millennium. Two of the manuscripts visited are now in libraries of North America, the Morgan Library in New York and the Getty Museum in Los Angeles.
Part travel book, part detective story, part conversation with the reader, Meetings with Remarkable Manuscripts allows us to experience some of the greatest works of art in our culture to give us a different perspective on history and on how we come by knowledge.
Winner of Wolfson History Prize 2017. Short-listed for Waterstones Book of the Year 2016.
An extraordinary book, a work of scholarship and history salted with the author's excitement as he conducts us among the great libraries of Western civilization. It is full of delights -- Tom Stoppard The intellectual expedition of a lifetime ... This is an endlessly fascinating and enjoyable book. -- Neil MacGregor A book of marvels -- John Banville * Financial Times * Entrancing ... De Hamel's learned adventures amid some of the West's greatest manuscript treasures effortlessly outclass Eco's The Name of the Rose in elegance and excitement. They are also much funnier. -- Diarmaid MacCulloch Reading is my life, but only about once a decade do I find a book that seems to tilt the world, so afterwards it appears different. -- Fiammetta Rocco * The Economist '1843' * De Hamel's book, scholarly but unfailingly readable, is the beginning of wisdom in all things scribal and scriptural - Ian Thomson, The Observer * Ian Thomson, The Observer *
In the course of a long career at Sotheby's Christopher de Hamel has probably handled and catalogued more illuminated manuscripts and over a wider range than any person alive. Since 2000, he has been Fellow and Librarian of Corpus Christi College, Cambridge. The Parker Library, in his care, includes many of the earliest manuscripts in English language and history. He is a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries and the Royal Historical Society.


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Modern Monument Postcard From The Edge bayonets
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SNAP! I have bright blue eyes, and i also virtually live in sunglasses, people have to warn me before turning lights on too lol.marielle wrote:Light bleu.....a bit like a cloudless sky on a summer day...(didn't know how else to describe it.)
I like the color but the problem is that my eyes can't handle light very well, so even when it's cloudy I drive with sunglasses on...
I'm glad i'm not the only one wearing sunglasses on cloudy days x
[ Post made via Mobile Device ]


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Jose Bautista's Golden Ticket
When I spoke to Toronto Blue Jays outfielder Jose Bautista yesterday, I explained to him that the MLB Fan Cave Dwellers watch every single game of the season. His response? "That's really cool."
And now, he can do the same as Major League Baseball has presented him a gold card, which allows him to see any game of the year, any year.
A lifetime pass! Um, Jose? You know if you need someone to go with, I'm really good at watching baseball, right?


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The FSE Group (FSE)
Based in Surrey we are an award-winning fund management organisation delivering a range of debt and equity growth finance solutions to innovative SMEs across all sectors since 2002. We also offer a free mentoring service as we know that there are many challenges to overcome as a small business looking to grow and thrive. We understand how tough it can be and how important it is to receive the correct support and guidance. Our mentoring programme is here to help you and is aimed at high growth companies. We strive to find a mentor with a specialist skill set who will offer their time and support to your business.
Our mentors are all volunteers who have either run their own business or owned a business in the past. We also source experience individuals from the business sector who will bring their knowledge and expertise to help your business develop and grow.
If you have an open mind and feel your business needs guidance to move onto the next level, The FSE Group can help you out. We are always happy to meet for a chat over coffee to get things started.
We would also like to hear from any experienced business professionals who are looking to give something back and are interested in becoming a mentor.
Visit our website for more information: www.thefsegroup.com/training-and-support/mentoring
To speak directly to our Mentoring Programme Manager, Vincenzo Roberti call: 01276 607305
Riverside House, 4 Meadows Business Park
Station Approach
E-bostiwch ni - Ewch i'n gwefan


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It was the best of elections; it was the worst of elections.
A general malaise seemed to hang over most politicos in Arkansas the following day. Both parties had victories they could point to, but neither seemed too pleased with the result.
For Democrats, the re-election of President Obama was a bright spot and was an equally stinging blow for Republicans. Arkansas, of course, voiced its opposition to the president's re-election bid with Mitt Romney carrying the state's six electoral votes by a 24-point margin. The votes in Arkansas and neighboring states were not enough to impact the outcome. Obama needed 270 electoral votes and won 332, including swing states Ohio, Virginia and Florida.
Republicans believed the president was especially vulnerable this year. A stagnant economy, high unemployment and a foreign policy with problems seemed a recipe for the GOP nominee to defeat the incumbent.
However, Republicans got good news in state and local elections. In all four congressional districts, Republican nominees not only prevailed but won by double-digit margins. The three Republican incumbents were returned to office while newcomer and rising star Tom Cotton got 60 percent of the vote in the 4th District to succeed retiring Democrat Mike Ross.
In addition, Republicans gained the majority of both chambers of the state Legislature. The stronger majority will be in the Senate, flipping six seats to gain a 21-15 margin over Democrats. They narrowly lost four other Senate seats by less than two percentage points.
Republicans took control on the House side, too, but the margin was much narrower. Republicans will hold 51 of the 100 House seats when the regular session convenes in January, up from 46 in the previous session. Most Republicans expected the number to be much higher, but they were pleased to get a majority.
In the House, 59 of 63 incumbents won re-election. Two notable exceptions were Republican Reps. Jon Hubbard of Jonesboro and Loy Mauch of Bismark. Both Republicans embarrassed themselves with their bizarre writings, which made it sound as if they were seeking to justify the institution of slavery or at least make it sound not quite so bad. Voters were tuned in and sent both candidates packing in districts they otherwise likely would have won.
So, the end result of Election Day 2012 was that Democrats in Arkansas enjoyed national success while Republicans made historic gains in state and local races. Such a dichotomy prompted a national reporter to call me this past week to inquire how that happened in Arkansas. I told him that Arkansas is a right-of-center state in a nation that is drifting further to the left.
The situation in Arkansas is really nothing new. Arkansas has always been a conservative state and the Democrats who have had success have often run as conservatives. But as the nation drifts further away from the state's conservative views, the Democratic Party of Arkansas will have a difficult time not drifting as well. That likely means the trends of 2012 will continue. Arkansas Republicans will achieve more success while the party nationally will continue to struggle.
Jason Tolbert is an accountant and conservative political blogger. His blog — The Tolbert Report — is linked at ArkansasNews.com. His e-mail is email@example.com.


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Maybe you've already seen it on Instagram...but we are the proud owners of a 1973 VW bus!
The VW Routan was in the shop the other morning, so we did a bus ride with mom. It was hot (no AC), it was loud (engine noise + windows down), it was fun (mom as the bus driver).


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Cedar Park Physician Associates - Anderson Mill
Our family practice and internal medicine team is committed to providing superior quality health care for children and adults. Our goal is to create a true family environment at our health care facilities and the doctor-patient relationship is highly valued. We strive to achieve this through understanding each person?s needs, by listening carefully and then doing our utmost to meet those needs.


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Picture of the Day: Lindsay in a thong
Here's the lovely Lindsay hanging out in the kitchen in her tiny thong. Shouldn't all wives and girlfriends do that?
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Posted in: Models
Tags: beautiful women, Bullz-Eye babes, Bullz-Eye girls, Bullz-Eye Models, Bullz-Eye original photography, Bullz-Eye pictorials, Bullz-Eye women, cute blonde, daily babe, daily babe photo, daily model, daily photo, fun blonde girl, glamour models, hot babe in the kitchen, hot babes, hot blonde girl, hot chicks, hot models, Lindsay, picture of the day, pretty women, sexy blonde girl, sexy models, thong lingerie, thong lingerie model, WAGs, wives and girlfriends


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Gwyneth Paltrow says 'Iron Man' franchise is done
Gwyneth Paltrow says "Iron Man 3" is likely the end of the franchise.
"I don't think there's going to be (an 'Iron Man 4'). I think we're done with 'Iron Man,'" Paltrow told website Geek Nation in a video interview.
Yeah ... well maybe we don't want you in any more "Iron Man" movies (sniff, sniff). GO AWAY!
Or, it may be that Paltrow and Robert Downey Jr. won't be in any more "Iron Man" films. Variety reports the two stars have completed their Marvel contracts.
According to the Huffington Post, Downey has been vague about his doing more Marvel movies. This includes an interview with GQ, when he generally sidestepped questions about returning for more "Iron Man" movies.
"It got me thinking about how big the message from your cosmic sponsor needs to be before you pick it up," he said. "How many genre movies can I do? How many follow-ups to a successful follow-up are actually fun? Because, as quiet as it's kept, I come from a family of very innovative writers and directors and actors and artists, and the circle of friends they were in were the people I heard having pun-offs playing poker at two in the morning, and it was just the most comforting aspect of my childhood."
He sure talks like some sort of smart guy, doesn't he?
Downey and Paltrow are doing press rounds for "Iron Man 3," which opens May 3. After that, Marvel will begin production on the next "Avengers" movie, targeting a May 1, 2015 release date.