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When you cheat on your bank by withdrawing cash from a competitor's ATM, a warning message on the screen makes it clear customers will likely face various fees. But analysts say banks are still far less forthcoming when it comes to fees tied to checking accounts.
The average checking account has around 30 fees and some banks have up to 50 individual charges, according to a 2013 survey by financial website WalletHub.com — and 20% of U.S. banks don't even provide a list of these charges before a customer submits an online application. In fact, Capital One
Banks require average daily balances to qualify for free checking, impose charges for printing checks and — in some rare cases — even closing accounts, says Ben Woolsey, president of consumer advice site CreditCardForum.com. But consumers need to do more to keep abreast of their checking account fees. Only one in three consumers perform an annual financial assessment of their checking accounts and 15% have never looked over the fees, according to a recent survey of 1,000 adults carried out by Kasasa, which offers checking and saving accounts at community banks and credit unions. "The Internet has democratized information, which makes it less valid to plead ignorance," says Greg McBride, a senior financial analyst at Bankrate.com, a personal-finance research and publishing company. Read: You won't believe your bank's newest fee.
To be fair, fee disclosures have become more transparent in recent years. However, at the same time the number of fees has increased. The percentage of checking accounts that were free declined from 76% in 2009 to 39% in 2013, according to a survey by Bankrate.com. The median length of disclosure for checking account agreements and fee schedules is 44 pages, which doesn't include all addenda to these agreements or other extraneous documents, according to Pew. (On the upside, the disclosures had a median length of 111 pages in 2011.)
But while they've clearly made efforts to increase transparency in recent years, experts say that financial institutions still don't always make the task of tracking charges easy. Here are five things customers should be aware of to avoid extra charges:
Small bills, big charges
Banks are still allowed to reorder the processing of checks and electronic transfers, putting through the highest bill first. Why? "It maximizes overdraft fees," says Susan Weinstock, director of safe checking research at The Pew Charitable Trusts.
In other words, a $1 cup of coffee purchased with sufficient funds followed by a $50 purchase that pushes the account into the red could result in two separate overdraft charges, she says. The situation is slowly improving, however. Some 49% of banks reorder bills in this way versus 51% last year, according to a survey last month by Pew. Around 22 of the nation's largest banks have stopped this practice entirely, including Citibank
Low-frequency transfers
Electronic transfers from a customer's bank account to a utility service take several days, says Bartlett Naylor, financial policy advocate at Public Citizen, a non-profit group. "Banks don't mind holding your money a little longer especially when there's interest to be made off it," Naylor says.
It may cost one customer a few cents, but it can mean more to banks dealing with millions of customers. "Banks have been circumspect in hastening that process. I can buy a stock online and become the owner of it within minutes through a small brokerage firm, and yet it can take days to pay a utility bill for far less money," Naylor says.There are currently no federal regulations about how quickly a bank must actually send or initiate a transfer on behalf of its customer to a domestic or international recipient.
It's cheaper for the banks' money-moving system, the somewhat antiquated Automated Clearing House, to process bank transfers as a batch, which is done at the end of each business day and not on weekends, says Nessa Feddis, senior vice-president with the American Bankers Association.
Confusing labeling of fees
More banks have adopted a standard disclosure box outlining terms and conditions for checking accounts and now issue a one-page explanation and receive written confirmation once they opt into overdraft protection, ABA's Feddis says. But Weinstock says there's vast room for improvement in shopping for checking accounts. "Checking account disclosures are long, opaque and difficult to read," she says. "It's hard to make an apples-to-apples comparison between banks." Unlike food labeling, there's no federal requirement for banks to adopt a consistent format, she says. On the plus side, 56% of major banks have adopted Pew's "Model Disclosure Box," making it easier for consumers to compare checking account fees. While the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has not announced plans to regulate such disclosures for checking accounts, the bureau is considering mandating some form of disclosures for prepaid cards in connection with its prepaid card rulemaking.
Overdraft protection rises
Overdrafts remain one the banking industry's biggest money makers, despite 2010 rules requiring that customers must opt in, a recent report by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau found. Consumers have three choices when they have insufficient funds to cover a debit card transaction or ATM withdrawal: Incur an overdraft penalty fee for a short-term advance, pay an overdraft transfer fee when the bank transfers funds from a linked account, or have the transaction denied and pay no extra charge. Despite this, overdraft charges make up 60% of checking account fees, according to the CFPB, and involuntary closure rates of customers' accounts were 2.5 times higher for account holders with overdraft coverage. One theory: 54% of debit card holders were not sure whether they had overdraft protections, according to one Pew survey. Consumers can opt out anytime and receive written confirmation of their choice, ABA's Feddis says.
ATM and point-of-payment charges
Over three-quarters of banks allow consumers to go into overdraft at ATMs and at the point-of-sale with their debit cards, according to Pew. For each such transaction that pushes the checking account into the negative, the bank charges a fee, Weinstock says; the fee and the amount covered are usually paid by pulling funds out of the customer's next deposit. Charles Schwab Bank
More must-reads from MarketWatch:
Hate your bank? Here's why you won't switch
Huntington's no-gouging policy pays off for everybody
The future of banking may not be on Wall Street
The best bank stock to buy? That of this credit card company


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I have a number of stories to share with you tonight. Kate privately volunteers with the Scouts in Anglesey, although it's not one of her patronages it appears to be a role she enjoys and takes very seriously. Last night the Duchess had a treat in store for the scouts.....
|@iamleecrimes Twitter
|Kate hosted a barbecue on a beach in Anglesey yesterday evening where she cooked burgers for the children aged about eight years old. A source told the Daily Express
'The Duchess arranged and hosted an evening of activities that took place on a beach in Anglesey. They did some crabbing and gutting fish. She was teaching them how to do things like that. And she did a barbecue'.
Lee Crimes stepbrother attended the barbecue and he was a little disappointed not to have been there himself :)
|@iamleecrimes Twitter
Kate works incredibly well with children, so much so the press have started calling her 'The Children's Princess' . It sounds like last nights barbecue was a delightful evening. No photos thus far but I'll update should any surface.
|Princess Diana Frances Tumbler/Australia's New Idea
The Duchess perfected casual chic in a cream sweater, black pants and her Mulberry Polly Push Lock bag. She wore her hair half up half down and carried an umbrella (I'm afraid the British summer has been rather disappointing this year)
|Turnell and Gigon
|Turnell and Gigon
|British Monarchy Flickr
Charles and Camilla were on their annual trip to Wales and the impromptu visit to RAF Valley gave Camilla a chance to catch up with Kate for tea.
|Mark Stewart Twitter
''A statuesque lace gown trimmed with scalloped eyelash edges. A curved seam lends elegant movement to the skirt, and a feminine bow accents the removable crepe belt. The back closes with a hidden zip and a buttoned keyhole. Sheer 3/4 sleeves. Contrast slip-dress lining. 35% cotton, 17% polyamide, 48% viscose; Lining 100% Silk'.
A closer look at the lace detail.
|Daily Mail/M&S
Kate generally opts for Kohl eyeliner and a nude lip. I do not think the colourful lip and eye make up shown below is a look Kate will be trying publicly any time soon :) What do you think? If you would like to try the virtual makeover counter yourself please click here.
|Daily Mail/M&S
|Clarence House Twitter
Thank you for reading.

subset: commoncrawl


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'Battlefield 4' surpasses 'Call of Duty' (review)
For the better part of five years, Electronic Arts has been chasing after the shooter crown held by "Call of Duty." The video game giant challenged Activison's flagship franchise with "Medal of Honor" and "Battlefield: Bad Company." Both were good, but not great games.
It wasn't until DICE introduced the Frostbite 2 engine and "Battlefield 3? that EA gained a foothold. And now with the inevitable sequel, "Battlefield 4? finally surpasses "Call of Duty" - on the multi-player side anyway. When it comes to the single-player campaign, the team still needs to work on its storytelling and pacing.
"Battlefield 4? begins promisingly as it follows a special Marine unit called the Tombstone squad, which uncovers a plot for a Russian-backed Chinese coup. It's up to Sgt. Daniel Recker, the newly appointed leader, to stem the power grab. He and his squad are sent to Shanghai to rescue Chinese VIPs. What follows is a series of uneven chapters that highlight the game's spectacular eye candy but also exposes DICE's clunky narrative.
In terms of gameplay, the foundation is there. The developer introduces a way to spot enemies and tell the Tombstone squad to mow down foes. The campaign plays more like the multi-player mode, with wider spaces and the option to get into vehicles and wreak havoc on enemies. It even has the requisite jaw-dropping moments that lay the groundwork for what players can expect online.
The campaign stumbles with its relationship between Irish and Hannah, two squadmates who have trouble getting along. The side story between them feels forced, and that awkwardness culminates in a rushed and bizarre ending that shortchanges what was an epic confrontation.
Although the campaign falters, the meat of "Battlefield 4? is in the multi-player. While "Call of Duty" has stagnated on that end, DICE has steadily improved the military shooter experience by focusing on gameplay tweaks, improved online play and map design. New moves such as counter-knifing gives players a chance to fight back during disheartening melee attacks. The ability to fix immobilized vehicles makes them less disposable in combat.
When it comes to online play, DICE cleaned up Battlelog so that it's easier to use and navigate. They also make playing in a squad easier than ever with perks called Field Upgrades that last as long as a player's team is alive.
But the biggest improvement is the map design. There are so many variations that accommodate several playstyles from the fast-paced "Call of Duty" close-quarters combat to epic 64-player wars that span over enormous areas.
Now, DICE adds levels that change according to what players do. They call it "Levolution," and it brings a new strategy element to battles. Players can knock down a Shanghai skyscraper to form a new island from the debris that's a key spot in combat. Another map allows players to flood a city, forcing competitors to swim between buildings and making boats more important.
All of this keeps the combat fresh, and that's something that all franchises should aim for as players move to a next generation of systems.
'Battlefield 4'
* * *
Platforms: PC, Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, (PlayStation 4 and Xbox One later this year)
Rating: Mature


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'Son of God' takes different path than 'Passion'
LOS ANGELES — Ten years after "The Passion of the Christ," Jesus is returning to movie theatres with a gentler, more inclusive approach.
"Son of God," spun out of the hugely successful "The Bible" miniseries, plays up the political maneuvering that led to the crucifixion. It won an endorsement from the Anti-Defamation League's Abraham Foxman, one of the Jewish leaders who denounced Mel Gibson's 2004 blockbuster "Passion."
"Clearly we were aware of the controversy that had been created around that film," actress and executive producer Roma Downey said in a recent interview. "If everything begins with intention, our heart on 'Son of God' was to find the places that we could bring people together."
Gibson famously self-financed and distributed his ultraviolent "Passion" in 2004. It became a box-office hit but was criticized by some reviewers and religious leaders for its depiction of Jews.
Downey's husband, "The Voice" and "Survivor" producer Mark Burnett, said the Christian filmmaking team reached out specifically to other faiths to tell the story of the life of Jesus — played with an air of bemused dignity by Portuguese actor Diogo Morgado — without causing offense.
"It just took a lot of work and a lot of time and a lot of listening over a number of years to see everybody's point of view and how to not take the teeth out of the story — the dynamic drama from the story — but be sensitive across groups," Burnett said. "Because there's very different interpretations across the Catholic faith and the Protestant faith and the Jewish faith."
Using footage shot during production of History Channel's 10-part miniseries "The Bible," the film, which was released Friday, spends much of its final half examining maneuvering by Jerusalem's military governor, Pontius Pilate, and Judean high priest Caiaphas.
"It's like 'House of Cards' in many ways," Burnett said. "They're all humans living their lives. ... Pilate is scared of Caesar and what Rome might do. Caiaphas is scared of Pilate and losing the whole temple and their faith. It's a real political thriller with tension which explodes at Passover in Jerusalem."
Burnett credits his miniseries, which garnered strong ratings and broke DVD and Blu-ray sales records last year, with this year's flurry of biblical films from major Hollywood studios.
"You've got to believe that the enormity of 'The Bible' series had other biblical productions speed up," he said.
Darren Aronofsky's take on "Noah," starring Russell Crowe, is coming next month, and Ridley Scott's "Exodus," with Christian Bale, is due out in December.


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Witchcraft is homeopathy
This will be short. In a previous post I quoted Dr Tom Dolphin's dignified apology to witches for ever calling homeopathy 'witchcraft'. Since his retraction, I have been mildly irritated by the continued references to his original description. I still keep seeing the claim that "the BMA calls homeopathy 'witchcraft'". Not any more! It's now just "nonsense on stilts", OK? (And, of course, the BMA did not call homeopathy anything. The BMA simply voted in favour of a perfectly polite and reasonably-worded motion to stop funding this batshit insanity on the NHS.)
Anyway, having seen the 'homeopathy as witchcraft' claim yet again today, I impulsively went off in search of witches. My purpose was to find out about witchcraft and establish the differences between it and homeopathy. I envisioned being able to present some killer argument about newts' eyes and frogs' toes being placed straight in a cauldron and simmered — not 'succussed' and diluted out of existence. Voilà la différence!
I happened on a UK-based website all about witchcraft called Children of Artemis and appropriately located at witchcraft.org, which helpfully features a 'spell of the day'. Great! It meant I didn't have to engage directly with any witches — my beef is not with them, after all. However, I was dismayed to read today's spell, which I'm copying here in full, in case they make it disappear by tomorrow:
Water Spell
Materials required
Small piece of parchment paper/Blue ink pen.
To achieve the best results perform the spell on the waxing moon.
Write on a peace (sic) of parchment paper a goal you desire in your life, hold it in your left hand and really visualise that the paper is your goal. Believe that the spell has already worked. After five minutes or more throw the paper into a running stream, river or sea, and speak the rhyme below.
Water of stream and open sea,
Tide of change
And prophesy,
Flow of life
Wild and free,
Disperse my spell
So mote it be.
As the charm floats away, the ink and paper dissolve into the water and the spell begins to work.
My emphasis.
Tom Dolphin should never have taken back his original description. It seems that to be funded on the NHS, witchcraft just needs to be called homeopathy. To the Children of Artemis, I say, go for it.
33 Responses to Witchcraft is homeopathy
Your scientific and investigative rigour in this matter is amazing…
…for the complete lack of it, of course.
Perhaps, since you admit you would not wish to actually engage with the people involved based on your existing prejudices (apparently against the people themselves), you'd take the time to read my article on the subject:
Don't worry, it won't infect you or anything.
So, essentially, you just wanted to preach a bit of religious hatred? Don't mask this as skepticism, it puts the skeptical community to shame. I'm ashamed to be associated with you. Pathetic.
Right, now I'm slightly below livid:
Your argument makes as much scientific sense as someone looking at Western medicine and using the description of the 'cold treatment', bringing people back to life, as a justification for calling all Western medicine a sham.
There's no evidence, no investigation, no knowledge. It's pure ignorance. That's all this post comes across as. This is the worst piece of 'skeptical' writing I've ever read – and I really do hesitate to call it that.
@ Rushyo
Excellent spoof.
Keep it up.
Now I'm really confused. Where is the religious hatred in Skeptikat's blog? All I see is a light-hearted piece pointing out the similarity between a homeopathic remedy and a witches spell found on a witches website. She's not claiming to make scientific sense.
Rushyo, your comment sounds like nothing more than a tantrum because someone's had a dig at witches or homeopaths or both. If you're not a spoof, you need to get over yourself.
Hahahaha! This is mint entertainment. Great post, SC. Religious hatred my arse.
If you don't have a beef with witches now, this might change your mind:
"What I'm concerned about, however, is Rushyo's suggestion that he is in some way "associated" with me. Just to be absolutely clear: he isn't."
I was speaking broadly as a skeptic.
"Thanks for the interesting link, Pilch. Seems not all witches are the harmless souls I'd assumed."
I'm beginning to feel the same way about skeptics all of a sudden.
For anyone who isn't familiar with me (which Iimagine would be the majority of people reading this), I'm a scientist genuinely studying the effects and trying to bring aspects of Witchcraft into the scientific fold.
My work is being made rather difficult by elements on both sides of the fence that insist on refusing to recognise the other as 'worthy of any investigation of merit', acting like children and throwing their core values out of the window to besmirch each other.
A skeptic that throws skepticism out of the window as soon as Witchcraft is mentioned is no better than Wiccan that turns around and throws the rede out of the window when it comes to issues of scientific interest (such as medicine).
Witches are just as 'surprised' when skeptics get all flustered about the inappropriate use of witchcraft in healthcare as you lot seem to be by me supporting not slagging off witchcraft because it amuses you to do so.
I'm seeing the absolutely worst of both communities recently.
"All I see is a light-hearted piece pointing out the similarity between a homeopathic remedy and a witches spell found on a witches website."
Really, does that justify her response where she basically denegrates the behaviour of others without any evidence? (see comments)
"She's not claiming to make scientific sense."
I noticed, but since this is a skeptical blog perhaps this isn't the place for it. Perhaps slagging other people's activities off should be left until there's some evidence, or in a more appropriate forum. Not whilst purporting to be a skeptic.
Of the research I'm doing, Wiccans have told me it is a fool's errand. Not based any lack of scientific evidence – but because they fully expect common prejudice against witchcraft to override any scientific proof that is gleaned.
I'm currently trying to convince the witchcraft community as a whole that such a view is incorrect and skeptics would be at the forefront of presenting earnst-while, meaningful scientific debate and wouldn't stoop to prejudiced remarks before they had seen a scrap of evidence.
I can't help but feel that with comments like this perhaps I'm talking crap and their concerns are entirely justified. Perhaps the skeptical community can't actually be relied upon to behave in a skeptical manner unless it suits the context.
Thank you for your response, Rushyo, but you have not answered my question. Your responses here have been very emotive – you sure don't sound like a scientists – and you accuse SC of preaching religious hatred. You now further accuse her of denigrating the behavior of others without any evidence and of slagging people's activities off.
I have re-read both the blog post and the comments and I still don't see this. Your purpose would be better served if you could be more specific about what you object to and why.
It seems to me that SC's piece was mainly ridiculing homeopathy. Yes, she had a dig at witches too but that was obviously a joke and, so far as I can see, a harmless one. So what exactly is your problem?
Ok, specific objections:
a) The implication homeopathy is witchcraft. I've already discussed in the aforementioned article why I think this is an offensive comparison. The BMA discussion was actually in good humour – and I accept it entirely as such, it made me laugh aloud. I have no personal issue with it. This, on the other hand, honestly has nothing to suggest it is good natured, when it incurs responses such as this:
"You might want to down a frog's toe special to calm you."
To a Witch, this is clearly going to be offensive. It would be like insulting an Islamist with a joke about where they should stick their ḥijāb. Why would that be considered any more appropriate?
As far as Wiccans go, I perceive myself to be quite laid back about my religion – but I will not accept insults like this simply because other people find it humorous. There was no justification relating to humour here unless you find insulting people about their religious beliefs to be amusing – and that makes it no more justified.
I feel this is world's apart from how the BMA behaved. If people find that humourous then I feel like it's for the same reason people choose to would laugh as they kick the '[insert religion or disability here] weirdo'. That's why I find it unreasonable as a witch.
b) "I didn't need to engage with any of them to find out what a spell consists of, which is all I set out to do"
Which is no more sensible that judging modern medical practice by one procedure or drug you pluck from any old source, which was my initial argument.
Homeopathy is the subject of ridicule because it has a weight of scientific evidence against it. Witchcraft does not (surprisingly!).
To refer to my earlier analogy:
The idea that Western medicine can cheat certain death would seem laughable until you actually see it happening. Scientific evidence has proven that it is possible. To a witch, this post is no more reasonable than suggesting Western medicine is a sham because it has that 'silly' idea. It's not a valid argument and it servers primarily to perpetuate prejudices that already exist for no good reason.
The whole point of skepticism is to rewrite 'common sense' and 'public knowledge' and replace it with reliable evidence – so as not to perpetuate bad ideas. This post is the exact opposite. That's why I find it unreasonable as a skeptic.
For completeness sake I shall state this: My original argument was with the completely un-skeptical nature of the post and the implication that this kind of non-investigation perpetuates existing problems. Then there was the separate religious insult.
Going by the example of the spell provided, the comparison with homeopathy would seem to be a fair one. Are you defending the spell? Do you really think it can work? OK, I take your point that it's only one spell and not a scientific comparison but the whole article is clearly intended as a bit of fun. I realise you are in a place where you can't see it like that but what is not clear from your own posts is exactly what harm you think a piece like this does. You have not justified your allegation that SC is "preaching religious hatred". Clearly you were offended you by her response to your first comment but then your first comment was pretty vitriolic. If you can't take it don't dish it out. You would have done a whole lot better just to calmly state your objections in the first place instead of being first snide then hysterical. If you are going to stand up for any religion that incorporates the use of magic, rituals and the supernatural you need to learn to suck it up and grow a thicker skin because such religions are a natural and legitimate target for skeptics.
"I realise you are in a place where you can't see it like that but what is not clear from your own posts is exactly what harm you think a piece like this does."
To explain why I'm so tetchy about the issue, I think any Witch would be. I don't know one who hasn't been physically assaulted in light of the misguided presumptions people spread. I certainly have – and I know people who have been horribly scarred and maimed, as a joke. It was all very funny to the people doing it.
Ergo it's not a subject I would generally take lightly. I would give the topic the gravitas I feel it deserves. Call it a 'Galileo complex' if you like. The value of establishing facts over adopting society's wider views has become a core tenant amongst Witches. Something I was under impression us, as skeptics, were supposed to champion as well.
Whilst it is indeed a 'natural and legitimate target' for skeptics, unfortunately there's nothing skeptical about this. It's about as unskeptical as you can get. To me, I see nothing but an ignorant joke that plays on the very societal prejudices skepticism is supposed to prevent and nullify.
To fly the banner of skepticism over this is insulting to me as a skeptic. It makes me ashamed to be associated with such behaviour – makes me question whether I want to be apart of such a community at all. There's no knowledge to be had here – no skepticism. Just reveling in willful ignorance of a subject, like a bunch of schoolkids. My response was 'vitriolic', as you put it, because I've never seen a rational skeptic behave in such a childish manner about any subject they knew nothing about. In my view it undermines everything skepticism inquiry represents to behave like that.
If I may quote Wikipedia:
"Scientific skeptics attempt to evaluate claims based on verifiability and falsifiability and discourage accepting claims on faith or anecdotal evidence."
"Scientific skeptics do not assert that unusual claims should be automatically rejected out of hand on a priori grounds"
Were I an independent observer I would surmise I was not talking to skeptics – in fact I might reasonably surmise I was talking to the polar opposite given those definitions.
I also found this quote, which I feel is very appropriate given the context:
'The greatest ignorance is to reject something you know nothing about' -US author H. Jackson Brown, Jr.
Anyway, I don't suppose this is actually going anywhere. I'll get back to researching the subject in question and devoting my time to promoting skepticism as a rational practice.
PS. Since this might actually go somewhere: "Are you defending the spell? Do you really think it can work?"
Sure. Why not? Scientists prove dafter things all the time. I mean, imagine what people would have said a few hundred years ago if you suggested that a magic field of energy specially calibrated would let you play in a virtual 3D world with a million people from around the world instantly, where you could talk and use video over the distance of the planet in near-real time. And that eventually that kind of power would rest in a little device in your hand. They'd lock you up and throw away the key.
Much 'magic' has already been dissolved into mainstream science. Hypnosis. Magnets. Much of the field of psychology (after all, they would have said our soul controls our actions…)! All considered 'magic' until they were scientifically evaluated and proven to be perfectly logical.
Pretty much everything in science seems ridiculous until it is evaluated to be true or false. Skeptical activism exists for the purpose of exposing the chaff – but also for finding the gems and until you perform rational investigation, you're essentially blind as to which is which. That's the entire point of the scientific method, is it not?
And when you consider just how gigantic the field of witchcraft actually is, how many forms it takes, it seems reasonable to me that it's at least worth considering some of them might have some grounding.
It surprises me just how much of the vastness of witchcraft isn't actually documented in scientific writing at all. Very little of it is actually proven not to work. There seems to be a pervasive assumption, as is true with all controversial scientific discoveries, that 'common knowledge' is complete and there's no point continuing. But science doesn't work like that.
Danny this is just a response to the first part of your first comment because I don't have time to read your others at the moment.
Again, please be specific. You are accusing SC of spreading misguided presumptions? Which misguided presumption did you have in mind and why do you think this presumption is dangerous for people? I mean, if SC had suggested witches were ritual child abusers, I could understand where you are coming from. If she'd fabricated the scientifically implausible spell and attributed it to witches, I could understand you for being mad. But all she did was lift a real spell from a real witches website and copy it here with the minimum of comment and what comment she did make was obviously opinion. She didn't claim any hard facts and it's not at all clear to me why you think the opinion expressed could possibly be dangerous to anyone.
Bottom line is you came to a blog and abused a blogger for expressing an opinion you don't like, the opinion being that Tom Dolphin should have stuck to calling homeopathy witchcraft.
I hope you are all able to take a step back and realise why your interventions here are not making any sense beyond demonstrating the oversensitivity and consequent irrationality caused by your deeply emotional attachment to your religion.
And when you consider just how gigantic the field of AltMed actually is, how many forms it takes, it seems reasonable to me that it's at least worth considering some of them might have some grounding.
It surprises me just how much of the vastness of AtlMed isn't actually documented in scientific writing at all. Very little of it is actually proven not to work. There seems to be a pervasive assumption, as is true with all controversial scientific discoveries, that 'common knowledge' is complete and there's no point continuing. But science doesn't work like that.
However, that is irrelevant, but Barbara T hits the nail on the head. What, exactly, in what Skepticat said in the OP is it that you have a problem with?
Danny, if Skepticat had made that stuff up I'd see your point, but that's not what she did. There are people out there calling themselves witches, and it seems like they perform and believe in this silly ritual (actually it reminds me of a 19th century German quackery called "Schluckbildchen", though I guess it was popular elsewhere, too). If you're not one of "those witches", good for you. If you are you'll have to accept I think it's silly. (Another thing witchcraft and homeopathy have in common.) If people have been attacked because they're witches that's bad, but nobody here is responsible for that or promotes such behaviour, so it's a straw man, and it doesn't mean I'm not allowed to criticise, even mock witchcraft if I want to.
While you're right about science being a continuous process, sceptics don't have to prove witchcraft doesn't work (you can't prove a negative). Witchcraft has to prove it works (or rather witches have to). If it is, I won't have a problem changing my mind about witchcraft, but until then I prefer to think of it as fairy tale BS.
If there was such a 'skeptic community' Danny would not be a member of it anyway. He's a pseudoskeptic, not a skeptic – "Just reveling in willful ignorance of a subject, like a bunch of schoolkids." – as he put it. All that stuff about scientists proving daft things all the time and witchcraft remaining unproven etc. is utter nonsense. The distinction Danny attempts to draw:
"Homeopathy is the subject of ridicule because it has a weight of scientific evidence against it. Witchcraft does not (surprisingly!)."
would only be regarded as valid by those other notorious pseudoskeptics – the EBM crowd. 😉
Given how many chiropractors, homepaths and wiccans (WTF) it seem there are, there must be a few chiropractor homeopath witches knocking around.
I believe the spell would be more powerful if the paper on which it is written contains sugar and the spell-caster goes downstream a few miles and drinks some water from:).
For the class of problems for which the placebo effect works, the meditative aspects of witchcraft may be enormously effective.
My problem with anything requiring magic is the utter lack of any evidence for it. The Law of Similars in homeopathy is one example. Magical thinking interferes with common sense in determination of cause and effect.
I hope to win the lottery, but that is just wishful thinking, not magical thinking.
Is there any relation between depression and magical thinking? Severe depression is so disabling that a sufferer may resort to magical/wishful thinking looking for relief, but this is purely speculative.
Written up a blog post here, will gladly fill in any gaps that aren't adequately addressed: http://rushyo.com/yasb/?p=107
I do apologise for any confusion that has arisen as a result of my complaints not being clear but I'm not certainly not apologetic for making those complaints vocally heard.
In essence, my original complaint was entirely non-religious in nature. It was a skeptic, annoyed at a piece of (what I perceived to be) horrendously poor skeptical analysis, commenting upon that work negatively. I believed it would have overarching negative effects. As a scientist and political writer, I'm used to peers and the public going out of their way to criticise my work. I generally find this constructive.
Then apropos of nothing other than the fact it related to the original topic, my personal religion was brought into the frame – in the form of an insult – an insult whose 'wittiness' relied entirely on the fact that it was a prejudiced remark about witches. IE. Religious intolerance – or hatred, if you will. You can argue against the semantics of whether I should have used that term. I think it's subjective – and I've justified the criteria for why I used it in the blog post.
I have since received personal attacks outside the context of this blog attacking my religious beliefs as a result of my taking offense to this – from a skeptical community (whether I strain the term to mean 'those who refer to themselves as skeptics' or otherwise, it amounts to the same thing) who apparently do not believe that religious people are welcome to be skeptics – and deserve to be insulted for their beliefs.
@Danny Moules
A Journal of Witchcraft?? Flipping heck – are you taking the p****!!!!
All I can say is you had better ensure that you use spell-check before you publish anything!
Complaining about this short humorous piece on the grounds that it's a 'poor skeptical analysis' would be absurd and pathetic even without the whining and stupidity.
Maintaining that one is a skeptic and a scientist after writing such bizarre drivel is risible.
Woundedly pleading that one's religious beliefs should be exempt from ridicule and attack is just creepy.
Truly, I believe that free thinking is one of the only ways you can be sure, without being 'too' sure.


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the whole point is that Muller legally cannot ever pin anything on Trump while he's president. It's the official policy of the DOJ and his hands are ties because it it a matter for impeachment or for after he leaves office.
Muller said the same thing before congress.
The report had the legal ability to find Trump not guilty, or not "not guilty". it found him most assuredly not "not guilty".
Have you been following this at all?


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Love is more an art than a science. Music can be represented with notes, and love can be represented with variables in an equation. If you like to find your Love Index, you can use:
Love = (Aw * Ag) + (Mw * Mg) + (A1w * A1g) + (Rw * Rg) + (Ew * Eg) + (…)
Variables represent the pillars of a successful relationship:
A: Aware (being) of each other and couple's feelings, thoughts, needs and wants
M: Meditating together, or at least sharing thoughts
A1:Active (being) together, do things together
R: Respectful (being) of each other and couple's feelings, thoughts, needs and wants
E: Eating properly and support each other healthy lifestyle, and also feed the relationship with positive feelings and thoughts
If there are additional aspects considered too important to be included in the rest of the formula, they can also be weighted and graded.
For each of such pillars, two aspects are quantified:
w: weight, importance given to each aspect (sum of all weights should be 100)
g: grade, rating given to each aspect (each grade is a value between 0 and 1)
Please see our *Love formula page* for more detail, plus spreadsheet and printable instruction to calculate the importance of a relationship, how satisfying it is and its strength.
P.S.: this is going to be a sticky post – staying at the top of the blog – until Feb 15th. Daily inspirational quotes will be published as usual, below this post. Thanks!


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Time runs out on Wisconsin in 45-38 Rose Bowl loss
In a season of last-second stunners, Wisconsin ran out of time to try one of its own.
The ninth-ranked Badgers lost to No. 6 Oregon 45-38 on Monday, with the game ending on a final-play review that went against them, just as it did in a loss at Michigan State that spoiled their undefeated start to the season.
With 2 seconds remaining, the Badgers needed more time to set up a desperation play. But superstar quarterback Russell Wilson took too long to spike the ball, and his team was left standing around waiting while the referees checked to see if the clock had indeed run out.
It had, ending a season that came up a few plays short and dashing the Badgers' hopes of avenging last year's three-point loss to TCU in the Rose Bowl.
"I'm kind of tired of tears of sadness," coach Bret Bielema said. "I wanted to come out here and experience tears of joy."
The Badgers and the Ducks hooked up in a high-powered offensive duel that produced 83 points, the most combined scoring in the 98-year history of the game. But Wisconsin fumbled away a chance to tie it in the closing minutes, leaving the Badgers a frustrated bunch once again.
They were blowing through the opposition early in the season, looking like a serious national title contender, until losing consecutive road games to Michigan State and Ohio State in the closing seconds.
Then the Badgers rallied in the fourth quarter of the Big Ten title game to beat Michigan State and earn their fifth trip to Pasadena since 1994. They held five leads against the Ducks, who caught up every time before dealing Wisconsin (11-3) a third agonizing loss.
"It just makes it that much more gut-wrenching," Bielema said.
Wilson added, "It's pretty crazy how each one of them panned out."
On the Badgers' final drive, Wilson moved them to the Oregon 25, but there were 2 seconds left and no timeouts.
"I didn't think there was any way that two full seconds ran off the clock there," said Wilson, who passed for 296 yards and two TDs. "It would have been nice to have a chance there. With 1 second left, I think we could have capitalized there."
Wilson set the NCAA record for single-season pass efficiency rating at 191.78, bettering the old mark of 186.0 by Colt Brennan in 2006. He also became the first Wisconsin quarterback to throw for at least 3,000 yards in a season.
Wisconsin had two drives to tie it after Oregon kicked a field goal with 6:50 to play, but Jared Abbrederis fumbled near the Oregon sideline after making a long catch. Oregon's Michael Clay recovered with 4:06 left.
That video review went the Ducks' way, too.
"I have to be more careful with the ball," said Abbrederis, who made a TD catch on the opening drive. "They made a big play. I can't dwell on the negative. We're all human. This will make me better."
Montee Ball's 3-yard touchdown run in the second quarter was his 39th of the season, tying the NCAA record set by Barry Sanders in 1988. He finished with 164 yards on 64 carries. He plans to decide in the next couple days whether he'll return for his senior season.
"If I decide to come back, I'll make sure I carry forward what I did this season to next season," he said.
Wilson's future lies in the pros. He chose Wisconsin to play out his final season of eligibility after graduating from North Carolina State.
"Every single day I've cherished and every single moment is truly special," he said. "To lose the way we did is only going to make me stronger in the future and help me figure out something else down the road. Maybe win a Super Bowl. You never know."


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Bono urges lawmakers to view aid as national security
U2 front man Bono brought his star power to Capitol Hill Tuesday as he called on members of Congress to take swift action to deal with the global refugee crisis and violent extremism.
In testimony before a Senate subcommittee, Bono drew a bleak picture as he described the flood of people fleeing their homes in the Middle East, Asia and Africa. The human torrent threatens the very idea of European unity, he said, as he urged lawmakers to think of foreign aid as national security instead of charity.
"When aid is structured properly, with a focus on fighting poverty and improving governance, it could just be the best bulwark we have against the extremism of our age," Bono said.
Wearing his trademark rose-tinted glasses, Bono said members of Congress need to confront an "existential threat" to Europe that hasn't been seen since the 1940s. Countries such as Poland and Hungary are moving to the right politically, a shift he described as a "hyper nationalism." The United Kingdom is even considering leaving the European Union.
- Hundreds injured as migrants, Macedonian border police clash
- First Syrian refugees arrive in U.S. under faster, "surge" program
"This is unthinkable stuff," he said. "And you should be very nervous in America about it."
Africa, in particular, is grappling with what Bono called a phenomenon of three extremes - ideology, poverty and climate.
"Those three extremes make one unholy trinity of an enemy and our foreign policy needs to face in that direction," he said. "It's even bigger than you think."
Bono said he understood the financial stress the U.S. and other nations are under as they debate how much foreign aid to allot. But he warned the bills will only get bigger without action.
"If you don't do it now, it's going to cost a lot more later," he said. "I do know that."
In Syria, five years of violence has killed more than 250,000 people and displaced another 11 million from their homes. Nearly 174,000 migrants have reached Europe by sea since the beginning of this year alone and 723 are missing or dead, many drowning in the cold, rough waters, according to the International Organization for Migration.
Before sitting at the witness table, Bono posed for photos with three members of Code Pink, who wore pink tiaras and held cardboard torches and signs reading "Refugees Welcome."
Cameras whirred furiously as Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., the subcommittee chairman, quipped: "So this is what it's like to be chopped liver." Bono joined a congressional delegation led by Graham that just returned from Africa and the Middle East.
Bono co-founded the One Campaign, an advocacy group that works to end poverty and preventable disease.


text: The official Gingerbread (v4.5.596) update for the DROIDX, but a version has already been released for rooted users thanks to @P3droid. There are essentially two different methods to get you upgraded since there are a variety of leaks running on people's phones. You'll want to read all of the instructions carefully and decide which one is you before proceeding. Method 1 (if you are running a GB leak 588/591/595): There is a specific file below for your build that will upgrade you to .596. *NOTE from P3 - IF YOU DO NOT HAVE THE MOST CURRENT RADIO .12P THEN YOU WILL NEED TO SBF BACK TO .340 AND THEN USE METHOD 2. Method 2 (to upgrade from Froyo) SBF back to 2.3.340, root the phone, and then apply the PART1 and PART2 files below. Files: [For Gingerbread Users] – ODEXED | DEODEXED [For Froyo Users] – PART1 | PART2 Instructions (running Gingerbread 588/591/595): 1. Download the GB file of choice from above and drop on SD card. 2. Bootstrap and reboot into recovery. 3. Install the .zip file just as you would a ROM or other file. *install .zip from sd card > choose .zip > install. 4. Enjoy! Instructions (running Froyo): *Phone must be in stock 2.3.340 state with root access. 1. Your phone is running the 2.3.340 official Froyo Firmware. 2. Your phone has been rooted. 3. Your phone is using the Droid2 Bootstrap program (Do Not Use DroidX Bootstrap). 4. Download both PART1 and PART2 files from above – drop them on SD card. 5. Bootstrap into recovery. 6. Install PART1, followed by PART2 without rebooting. *You should not leave recovery until both files have been successfully flashed. 7. Once both have finished, reboot your phone. 8. Enjoy! ________________________________________________________________________________________ Droid X Gingerbread SBF Android 2.3.3 System Version 4.5.596 (VRZ_MB810_4.5.596_1FF_01) (OTA Gingerbread, not rootable currently) DOWNLOAD


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About Us
Transmission Developers Inc. (TDI) develops unique energy transmission projects in an environmentally responsible manner. We use proven high-voltage direct current (HVDC) cable technology to link trapped generation resources such as wind, hydro and other renewables with markets that are experiencing acute power shortages. Our approach to HVDC avoids the visual impacts of overhead transmission. We install our projects either underwater or underground. These buried lines increase the electric grid's safety and reliability, while providing hardened infrastructure that is less susceptible to damage from natural disasters.


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Happy Valentine's and blessed Esbat!
Back pain and fairies..
With a title like that I am wondering what you are expecting to read. I have not made any crazy connection between myosceletal issues and woodland creatures. It is just that my thoughts are more random than usual!
It has been 3 days now that I am down because of back pain. But tomorrow I am going to my chiropractor and I will be as good as new!!! For now I am extremely grateful of my recliner and my heating pad that I am resting on all day!!
I miss playing with Melina Nefeli but at least we snuggled a lot and watched baby Einstein together! She loves those puppets..
As soon I am able to move again, I am smudging the house though!!
Have I told you that my fairies are back? Or at least my four leaves clovers are... They were gone all this time that I had other people taking care of my plants!
I have only be tending to their needs for a couple of weeks and I spotted a tiny one!!
See? This post was just a teensy bit crazy!
Imbolc blessings..
.. to all! Today we made candles!! A big one and two small ones!! My husband helped me with the wicks! I can't get them straight... ever!!
But I can't say I was in the best of moods! Maybe the lack of sleep and the menstrual cramps took their toll! But today, on Brigid's day, I just can't come to terms with the decision to stop breastfeeding!
As I have mentioned in the past here, I was exclusively pumping(because baby could n't latch) for the first six months and then gradually adding solids to baby's diet. I want to gradually stop my milk production by the end of March which would be 8 and a half months of breast milk for my little one but I feel so guilty and completely torn!
I understand now how emotional this process really is, even in my situation that I use the machine! I have to stop, because it is very time consuming and because the hormones wreak havoc on my thyroid and I am out of balance!
I read somewhere:"Whoever said don't cry over spilled milk was not a nursing mother.."
Oh! How true is that!! I have cried so much over breast milk! First it was n't enough then it was too much! Then I had to throw out 10 litres of it(!) that I had saved in the freezer because she wouldn't drink it! Then she would again! Not to mention the sleeplessness, mastitis and many other fun things that at some point included me sleeping with leaves of cabbage in my bra(yes, that really happened, I smelled like coleslaw in the morning, and not in a good way!). Plus, I have n't had a tequila for almost two years! I could really use a shot right now!
But the most important reason I want to stop is to be able to take the baby for fun trips and outings and I can't do that if I have to be here every three hours for at least half an hour. Athens is beautiful in the Spring and I don't want her to lose her first one.
So, I need to focus on the positive and prepare for it! I ordered some formula to ease her into the change in a couple of weeks. As I am writting all that stuff down I realise how small of a deal it really is and how much exaggerated it is in my head.
I am heading off to use the water I blessed during the black moon we had a few days ago! A water to celebrate change and transformation.
As the Wheel turns so must I..


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ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill.—The latest decision in a lawsuit brought by ADT and other alarm companies over public entities taking over fire alarm monitoring in the state contains "a lot of positive things for the alarm industry," according to the executive director of the Illinois Electronic Security Association.
ARLINGTON HEIGHTS, Ill.—A battle in this state over public entities taking control over fire alarm monitoring is still raging, despite a recent federal court ruling saying a public fire district had no legal right to invalidate contracts that ADT Security and other companies had with their customers and put itself solely in charge of commercial fire alarm monitoring.
LISLE, Ill.—Five security companies, including security giant ADT, recently won a positive court ruling on an issue that has been roiling the industry in this state—public entities taking control over fire alarm monitoring.
The alarm companies won a preliminary injunction order in a federal lawsuit they filed against an Illinois fire protection district that passed an ordinance putting itself solely in control of the monitoring of commercial fire alarms in the district.
© 2020 United Publications ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.


text:
Add a touch of instant glamour to any look with this stunning orange Swarovski crystal heart pendant. This piece captures attention and is sure to turn heads with its brilliant combination of orange, amber and white. This is a beautiful heart shaped pendant to give as a gift for a special occasion or to purchase for yourself and add to your everyday collection of jewelry favorites.
- Necklace Type
- Silver Links Chain
- Necklace Length
- 70 CM / 27.5" Inch
- Necklace Made Of
- 925 Sterling Silver
- Item Depth
- 0.6 CM / 0.6 Inch
- Item Length
- 4.5 CM / 1.8 Inch
- Item Width
- 4 CM / 1.6 Inch
- Main Color
- Orange
- Secondary Color
- Crystal
- Special Stones
- Swarovski Crystals
- Main Stone(s) Size (mm)
- 12*12
- 925 Sterling Silver
Orit Schatzman 925 Silver Line is a jewelry line made by Orit Schatzman.
This line is made through a process of electroforming where each piece is individually and carefully examined and handcrafted at each stage of production.
Orit Schatzman has developed a unique stone setting with special and rare semi-precious stones and Swarovski crystals.
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Longer distances such as AU could take 14 days.
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A mistake on our part will be refunded 100%.
If you are not happy for any reason, feel free to return the item upon receiving the purchase for refund (up to 14 days from the time you receive it), excluding the shipping costs (in the case where you don't ship with free shipping). A refund will be given once we receive the item unused in its original condition. Please make sure you use a bubble-wrap mailer and tracking service when sending any items back.
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Each piece takes hours to complete because we demand perfection. The setting of each crystal is done by hand, and a high shine manual polish is performed to ensure the best finish.
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Determined Giants on the defensive as draft nears
Recommended Video:
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- The biggest reason the New York Giants missed the playoffs last season was defense.
The unit that helped Tom Coughlin's crew win its second Super Bowl in five years in February 2012 was among the NFL's worst last season
The defensive line didn't get to the quarterback as much, and it certainly didn't stop the run. The linebackers were ineffective and the secondary had trouble covering receivers.
In the end, New York lost two of its final three games and finished 9-7.
So, heading into the NFL draft on Thursday, look for the Giants to fill many holes on defense in the seven rounds.
That doesn't mean, of course, that general manager Jerry Reese will use the 19th pick overall to take a defensive player. Reese has always been a "best player available" selector and New York also has needs on an aging offensive line, particularly at right tackle where David Diehl is coming off a sub-par season and center David Baas and guard Chris Snee had offseason surgery.
New York's first-round decisions over the last three years haven't always been "need" choices. When they took defensive end in Jason Pierre-Paul in 2010, they were loaded with defensive lineman. Cornerback Prince Amukamara was a bit of a need in 2011 -- with defensive back Terrell Thomas coming off a knee injury -- while running back David Wilson was a bit of a surprise last season because Ahmad Bradshaw entrenched as the starter at the time.
Reese believes the league has evolved in recent years and draft picks are being asked to do more.
"We don't like picking 19. That is early for us," Reese said. "We hate picking this high. But hopefully, we can get a player who can come in -- I always say this (with) your first three picks -- and contribute right away. Hopefully, you will get a couple of starters out of them. Hopefully, we will get a good player at 19. I think we will."
So who do the Giants take?
If New York picks a defensive lineman, it could take a gamble on Tank Carradine of Florida State. He missed the last two games of the season after tearing a knee ligament, but before the injury, his numbers were impressive (80 tackles, 11 sacks). And keep in mind, Reese has never been afraid to take a player coming off an injury.
"I think modern medicine, the modern technology of getting these guys back on the field I think is so much better than it has been in the past," Reese said. "You see guys with these catastrophic injuries come back much quicker and much more successful than they have done in the past. So we look at it a little different but our doctors make the call on that."
Defensive coordinator Perry Fewell should get help on his line with dual-threat Mathias Kiwanuka expected to play more up front instead of at linebacker. Either way, thought, New York has a major need at linebacker, as well. Michael Boley was released and middle linebacker Chase Blackburn signed with Carolina as a free agent.
The most interesting name available in the draft is Notre Dame's Manti Te'o, who led the Fighting Irish to the national championship game. He had a subpar game against Alabama, and then was involved in a bizarre hoax featuring an online girlfriend.
Still, this is a player who led Notre Dame in tackles and had seven interceptions. The late George Young, a former general manager of the Giants, always looked at production when evaluating a player, and Te'o produced.
He also visited with Reese.
"He is a very nice young man," Reese said. "And that is all I can really tell you about the conversation that we had with him. He did a good job while he was here."
With former first-round safety Kenny Phillips signing with Philadelphia, there is a bit of a hole at defensive back and New York might be interested if Texas safety Kenny Vaccaro slips. The cornerback position is more a concern, though, and Xavier Rhodes of Florida State would be a good choice.
Alabama has two good offensive linemen in the draft pool. Tackle D.J. Fluker played on the last two national championship teams and is an outstanding run blocker. Guard Chance Warmack played on three title teams, and the big surprise would be if he was still around when it's New York's turn.
Reese said receiver Victor Cruz's contract talks with the team will not affect the draft. The Giants allowed Cruz to test the free agent market by making him a first-round tender, but no other team offered him a deal.
He can play for roughly $2.9 million, but wants a long-term deal. He has been absent from the team's voluntary offseason program.
"We are just going to pick the best player out there," Reese said. "And if Victor is not here we have other receivers -- it is all about the team for us. One player doesn't make your team.
"So if Victor is not here, there are other receivers here."


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What follows is the most coherent and honest assessment I have heard to date about the fundamental situation we are facing. Had he used the term "debt saturation," it would have been perfect. Where he talks about "Keynesian Endpoint," he is referring to the same thing that the "Chart of the Century" (Diminishing Productivity of Debt chart) shows:
Interview begins at about the 2.5 minute point…
Must point out that CNBS using 53% of debt to GDP is a LAUGH and a JOKE. Totally Pollyannaish and very unprofessional… Kyle didn't even have to talk about off book GSE debt or any other games being played besides Social Security.
Sunday Night Futures
4 hours ago


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Thursday, December 03, 2020
Pope Mountain Bedouin community prepares for eviction as Israel undertakes E1 project
Rhiannon F.
- November 24, 2017
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Situated east of Jerusalem, the Bedouin community of Jabal Al-Baba, translating to Pope Mountain, has lived on this hilltop since being forcibly displaced from the Negev Desert in the Nakba of 1948. The fear of once again being dispossessed looms over their heads, as a new eviction and demolition order has been issued by Israeli authorities, set to affect the entire community.
Hassan Mazarah, 29, lives in Jabal Al-Baba with his wife and three children. "This is a shame for humanity, where people are going to be displaced for a second time, under threats and guns and power from Israel. Our only dream is to herd sheep and live in this land," Mazarah expressed.
While 14 demolition orders have been issued for Jabal Al-Baba and of these four demolitions have been executed since 1988, according to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitatian Affairs (OCHA), this new eviction is more concrete in its strategy.
According to the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights, the order is part of the so-called E1 project, designed to connect the settlement of Ma'ale Adumim, adjacent to Jabal Al-Baba, to the city of Jerusalem, severing the West Bank in two pieces and cutting communication between the north and south.
Avaaz Community Organiser, Fadi Quran believes the land Jabal Al-Baba is built on is a strategic area for Israel, as it is one of the only hilltops near Jerusalem they are yet to build settlements on. "Israel wants to cleanse the Palestinians from this area, and surround Jerusalem with a ring of settlements so there will be no Palestinian State," Quran said. He went on to say these demolitions "are part of Israeli systematic policy."
The recent eviction notice was delivered by Israeli forces and staff of the Organization and Construction Department in the Israeli Civil Administration on November 16. The order states property owners are required to evacuate their houses within eight days of receiving the declaration. With this calculation, bulldozers are set to arrive by November 24.
Mazarah is steadfast in his position. "My message to the world is we are here to remain… if you demolish [our] land, we will rebuild." Mazarah said the community is preparing for the coming demolition by solidifying their commitment to rebuild their homes.
"Bedouin life is simple, belongings are not difficult to replace. The bigger problem is, when the soldiers come and destroy our houses, they kill our dreams," Mazarah said sadly. "My children were born in the last house they destroyed. So now when you sit and think in this [new] house, you cannot remember all of the memories. They killed our memories."
Jabal Al-Baba is home to 57 families totalling 320 people, half of which are children. The structures to be demolished under the new order number 100 buildings, including those housing animals, and 58 residential homes. OCHA stated the Israeli authorities have justified the E1 settlement plan on the basis the Jabal Al-Baba residents lack rights over the land and the residents living conditions will improve if they move.
Mazarah believes Israel is taking advantage of the increasing political tension within the Middle East currently, as well as the backing of Donald Trump, "allowing Israel to continue their violations." Quran agrees with this thought process. "[Israel] has been planning these demolitions for a long time. Now they see an opportunity with the chaos in the Middle East, they feel there is a window now," Quran said.
The last time Mazarah's house was demolished by Israeli forces was a year and a half ago. The current eviction notice in place is different to the last, as the attached map determines the whole community will be affected. "The fear of [our house being destroyed] is something we live with every single day," Mazarah said, standing out the front of his home. "Recently, it has become more real, at any moment the Israelis can come and demolish it."
Mohammed is the oldest son of Mazarah, now only three and a half years old. Mazarah said "he was very small" at the time of the last demolition, two years old. "When the soldiers destroyed our house he didn't understand what happened, but now he always says to me, 'I can fight Israel,'" Mazarah said, with a smile on his face.
Mazarah's son already knows the only way to fight is by not moving from their land and continuing to rebuild their houses. "That's fighting Israel. The fight between us is about the land. When you stay here that's the biggest resistance," Mazarah explained his family's stance.
The residents of Jabal Al-Baba Bedouin community also held a rally on November 23, a week after receiving an eviction notice from the Israeli authorities. The protest was supported by Avazz organisation and international activists. The community hopes such an action will send a message to the Israeli authorities and international community alike.
The silence of the international community is frustrating for those in Palestine fighting Israel's illegal settlement expansion. "In 2014, the European Union told [Israel] the expansion of settlements is a red line, and if they crossed it, they would face sanctions," Quran explained. These consequences haven't eventuated.
Not only are the settlements themselves illegal under international law, but the relocation of entire Bedouin communities qualify as forced evictions and transfer, illegal under international humanitarian law and human rights law. Quran concludes the international community needs to enforce this red line and pressure Israel to halt their illegal policies.
Lead photo: Activists from the community wrote "we shall remain" in large characters on the hilltop earlier this year to protest Israeli plans. Courtesy of Avaaz.
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With many commentators predicting big wins for the settler movement in
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More than likely, your toughest task as a runner is maintaining the discipline to follow the hard/easy principle of training. You know that recovery is important to optimize your running performance, but wouldn't another day or another week of solid workouts make you a little bit fitter? Probably not. To manage your training effectively, you need short and long-term recovery strategies.
1. Recovery between hard workouts: Your ability to train hard again depends on your ability to recover from your last hard workout. There are a variety of strategies that you can use between hard training sessions, including recovery training, replacement of nutrients, and several supplementary recovery methods. Recovery training consists of easy runs and aerobic cross-training, which enhance recovery by improving blood flow to and from the muscles, bringing nutrients in and waste products out.
The hard/easy training principle is often most effective if two to three hard or moderate days of training are followed by two recovery days. A two-day mini-recovery block allows you to replenish your physical and mental energy levels. Two successive days of recovery provide enough time to completely refill your glycogen (carbohydrate) stores, which allows recovery for your next key workouts and helps to maintain your immune system.
You should also plan on two or more recovery days after a race or workout that includes downhill running. Running downhill causes microscopic damage to muscle fibers and the surrounding connective tissue, leading to delayed-onset muscle soreness (DOMS). Running with DOMS delays the repair process because your muscles' resiliency is reduced, so avoid running until the soreness diminishes. Aerobic cross-training such as swimming, cycling, or elliptical training during this time will increase circulation through your damaged muscle fibers and help speed up recovery.
The key dietary strategies for recovery between hard workouts consist of taking in carbohydrates to replace your glycogen stores, eating protein to regenerate and repair muscles and other tissues, and drinking fluid to correct dehydration. Other recovery strategies such as massage and hot/cold contrast therapy can also help to enhance recovery between hard workouts.
2. Recovery weeks: Training hard week after week leads to over-reaching in which your body does not adapt positively to training. After several weeks of serious training, successful runners invariably schedule a recovery week to eliminate accumulated fatigue and provide adequate time for muscle tissue repair and their bodies to adapt to the next level of serious training. How many weeks of hard training you can handle between recovery weeks depends on how intensely you train as well as on individual lifestyle and genetic factors. Most runners, however, need a recovery week after two to four hard training weeks.
The risk of over-training or injury is substantially higher for runners who do not schedule regular recovery weeks. It is obviously preferable to plan your recovery weeks proactively rather than to have injuries or illness dictate when they will occur.
A general guideline is to do no more than 70 percent of your "normal" mileage during a recovery week and to not plan any high intensity sessions such as tempo runs or intervals. It also helps to replace one or more of your runs with cross-training. For the greatest recovery-enhancing benefits, do not slack off on your lifestyle factors, such as sleep and diet, during your recovery weeks.
There is clearly a mental component to recovery weeks as well. By the end of a recovery week, you should be looking forward to the next string of harder training weeks. If you are not refreshed, you should probably take a few more days to recover before resuming more intense training.
3. Recovery blocks: To perform at your best, your running year should be focused around two or three goal races. After each goal race you should schedule a several-week recovery block. Recovery blocks allow you to fully recover physically and mentally, so you are prepared to train hard again for your next goal race. If your goal race does not go as well as planned, avoid the temptation to cut your recovery block short, because a break will help ensure you are genuinely ready to start training toward your next goal race.
Recovery blocks are typically from three to six weeks, but you may want to schedule up to 10 weeks of "active downtime" over the winter. Some runners do not run at all during the first few weeks of a recovery block and substitute aerobic cross-training activities or catch up with activities they do not have time for during the rest of the year. The most important guideline for recovery blocks is for your running to be stress-free, so you should steer clear of intervals, tempo runs, long runs, and trying to squeeze a 40-minute run into a 45-minute lunch break. At the end of your recovery block, you should be chomping at the bit for more hard training.
4. Recovery years: Too many runners train hard and try to race well year after year. This approach ultimately leads to mediocre training and indifferent racing. To prolong your competitive career, you should schedule a less intense training and racing schedule every few years.
Two-time Olympian Pete Pfitzinger is an exercise physiologist.


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The attack came in response to the alleged theft of some sheep from the nearby settlement of Brakha, which the Bedouins were blamed for. In response to the accusation Mahmoud told Palestine Monitor, "my brother and I have more than 2000 sheep, why should we steal them?."
They assaulted the camp, firing bullets into the air and throwing stones at the inhabitants
They assaulted the camp, firing bullets into the air and throwing stones at the inhabitants
This logic did nothing to inhibit the fury unleashed by the settlers on the Bedouins. They assaulted the camp, firing bullets into the air and throwing stones at the inhabitants, who rushed out of their tents to protect their few properties. To make up for the missing sheep, the settlers tried to steal the only horse the Rahaide family possesses, but were prevented from doing so.
Mahmoud admits his helplessness in defending his property and his children. "What can I do, they have guns", he said sorrowfully. The Distict Coordination Office (DCO) is the organism Bedouins turn to in case of attack, but this more often than not only exacerbates the situation. On Saturday, the DCO alerted the Israeli Defence Force of the aggression, yet when they arrived Mahmoud recounts, "The soldiers intervened to protect the settlers, not us. As if we were the ones harming them!" On Sunday a group of settlers invaded the village again, threatening the Bedouins that if the sheep were not returned, their tents would be set on fire.
Bedouin children from the Rahaide Family. Photo by Fatima Masri
The Rahaide family owns the land they live on, yet Israelis refuse to recognise their right of property and instead claim that the land was promised to them by God as they are the descendants of Abraham. The surrounding settlements of Brakha, Itamar and Yitzhar are known to be inhabited by extremist Jewish settlers, some of which are at the forefront of the "price tag" movement. These radical right-wing settlers engage in revenge attacks to exact a price agaiinst Palestinians or Israeli soldiers for any action taken against the settlement enterprise.
Sunday's episode is not an isolated one. Settler violence is part of a systematic approach, whereby settlement expansion is achieved through the use of physical intimidation, damage of property and threats to residents. Through these actions, settlers are succeeding in pushing the Bedouins out of the land they legally own. On Saturday, the Rahaide family had to move further away from the settlement of Brakha, relinquishing claims on another piece of their property.
The Bedouins of Huwwara are still living according to their traditional nomadic lifestyle, moving to the Nablus area in summer and to Jerico in winter. Yet due to the increasing frequency of the attacks they fear that leaving the land will mean never being able to return.
Due to the increasing frequency of the attacks they fear that leaving the land will mean never being able to return
Due to the increasing frequency of the attacks they fear that leaving the land will mean never being able to return
According to the Israeli Human Rights Organization B'Tselem, Israel has failed to comply to its obligations towards Palestinians who live in the Occupied Territories, adopting a double standard when enforcing the law. If the offense is carried out by a Palestinian, the severity of the measures enforced to arrest and prosecute him often breaches human rights law. Maximum sentences are imposed on Palestinians by military courts, whereas Jewish settlers or Israeli citizens are judged by indulgent civil courts. In case of settler attack, the Israeli police often refuse to investigate the incidents reported.
The dismissive attitude adopted towards such acts of violence is one of the reasons behind the 315% increase in settler violence between 2007 and 2012. Due to the lack of proper housing, Bedouin communities find no shelter in case of aggression. The Israeli legal system fails to provide minimum assistance, further enhancing their isolation and vulnerability.
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|Paul Clews Enterprises Tel: 07866 650015
New DMX light Controller
Last night I ordered a new DMX light controller. This will give me more control over my LED par cans, enabling me to produce better quality light shows for my own band and performances, not to mention other performers I work with.
PA and Light Show Facebook Page
On Sunday, I set up a Facebook Page for my PA and Light Show Hire. I should have done it years ago, within 24 hours I received 1 booking, at Lynton Town Hall, for a Pink Floyde tribute band, and one very good enquiry for a festival in Bude. Looking good I think.
Please drop by and give my page a like https://m.facebook.com/PA-and-Stage-Lighting-Hire-133247160415564/
Barnstaple Ukulele Workshop
On Satuday 22 November at 2 pm, I will be running a 2 hour, crowd funded ukulele workshop in Barnstaple. Do come join me, I'll supply the ukes, you'll have a great time.
To make a pledge or book your place
If you would like me to run a crowd funded ukulele workshop in your town, please get in touch.
Music Lessons are Booming
Music lessons are booming across the UK
Telephone 07866 650015 to book your guitar or ukulele lessons in your own North Devon Home or anywhere in the world by Skype, FaceTime, or Google Hangouts.
Teaching rock 'n' roll royalty
I received a phone call enquiring about my guitar lessons. It was a very 'everyday' enquiry that covered all the usual questions. The enquirer wanted lessons for her son and agreed to all my terms. The conversation went on.
Me 'so, what is your sons name'?
Enquirer '**** McCartney'.
I quipped, 'well that's a great name for a guitar player.'
To my surprise, the enquirer replied, 'actually he is related to Paul McCartney, his father is Paul McCartney's second cousin'.
This one could be a natural!
If you would like to book guitar lesson with me call 07866 650015
People of Devon Again
This this week only, I will be taking over the twitter account of @peopleofdevon
I have done it before, I don't know if anyone else has ever had a second crack at running this great twitter account. I'm not sure if the administrators of this account have had me back because I did a good job last time, or because they felt I was so bad I need to do the job again. Anyway, so carry on following my usual twitter account @paulkclews and let me know how I get on with @peopleofdevon. If you leave a comment here, I may give you a retweet.
Different kinds of people, from all over Devon get to have a go at running the account,, telling world about the county. Each week someone new takes over account. Why not apply, it's great fun, brings a new audience to you, and adds followers to your own account.
To apply to run the @peopleofdevon account for a week, contact @devon_hour on twitter.
Young musicians brain power
Researchers have discovered music lessons boost young people's brain power
Find out more about my guitar and ukulele lessons here http://paulclews888.weebly.com/guitar--ukulele-lessons.html
National Learn an Instrument Day
On the 12th April I will be taking part in National Learn an Instrument Day's called Play it Today, hosted by Soundpad in Barnstaple. The idea is to inspire people to take up a musical instrument.
I have been invited, as one of the leading local music teachers to be instore to talk to people, and to show them some basics on guitar and ukulele. Often, people do not know where to go for advice when learning an instrument. Play it Today is a great opportunity for people to try a new instrument and get all the advice they need to start playing. If you are interested in taking up music, even if it is not guitar or ukulele, pop along and say hello.
Soundpad http://www.soundpad.co.uk/
Facebook event https://m.facebook.com/events/487665374671182
This post will be updated when more information is available, so please check back.
YouTube Guitar Lessons
YouTube guitar lessons are free. They are worth less than that. Let me explain that comment. I spend an awful lot of my time as a guitar and ukulele teacher correcting students who come to me having tried (some cases for years) this method of learning. They learn bad habits and incorrect information from YouTube. Consequently, time and money is wasted as I put things right again. Students find it harder to relearn than starting from scratch.
When I started to learn in the Stone Age, YouTube didn't exist. I'm not saying YouTube is all bad, but sorting the good from the chaff is really difficult as a beginner. Let me give you an example, I searched in YouTube 'how to play G on guitar'. The first 'lesson' I saw was this.
The smart ones amongst you will notice it's F. I don't think this would have tripped too many of you up. So let's look at the next video.
This time Justin explains how to play a G chord. He rabbits on a bit, has nice graphics. Further on down and you get this.
This guy teaches G completely differently. Which one is correct? Very confusing if you're a beginner.
If you hit the wrong version first, you could learn the chord the incorrect way, screwing up your guitar playing career before you have really got going.
Let me give you a clue, Justin has lovely graphics, but his guitar playing is not so lovely. It's the 2nd video on YouTube. Don't forget, F was the first one. Hopefully you get my point.
Here is another. This guy has got hundreds of lessons on his YouTube channel. He does not even know the basics. He does not know what the strings are called, constantly mixing up the top and bottom strings.
Please don't waste your time and money trying to learn on YouTube. Get professional advice from someone in the know.
I give guitar and ukulele lessons around North Devon homes and schools, Petroc and anywhere else in the world by Skype, FaceTime and Google Hangouts.
Mother's Day Ukulele Workshops
An article in the North Devon Journal, about ukulele workshops for Mother's Day.
July 2017


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Are you interested in joining our team as a porter, baker, cake decorator, counterperson or delivery driver? Please fill out the form below with your name, phone number, email, and tell us a little bit about yourself and your relative work experience. Let us know why you think you would be a good fit for our team!
297 Wantagh Ave, Levittown, NY 11756 (Closed on Monday)


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The Rinnai Max 6-burner is part of Rinnai's outdoor kitchen range. These exceptional barbecues offer a variety of features depending on your cooking requirements.
• Body: Large format die cast aluminium, ends in hi-temp textured finish
• Burners: Six cast iron compact rail burners 13.5 MJ/h each
• Cooking surface: 425 x 880 mm
• Ignition: Electronic push button ignition to each burner


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Welcome to the Bluegrass Scenic Railroad and Museum. We are an all volunteer 501c3 not-for-profit organization dedicated to the preservation and display of the history of railroading in Central Kentucky
Then ride with us aboard coaches built in the 1920's and 30's to see what rail travel was like in railroads hey-day before air travel and interstate highways.
See static displays of railroadings past, such as friction bearing trucks dating back to the turn of the 20th century and our rare Louisville and Nashville watchman's shanty.
See actual stones from the first railroad built in Kentucky. These stones used to build the Lexington & Ohio railroad date all the way back to the year 1831! They were uncovered during construction on farm property near Frankfort. One stone with iron strap rail still intact is displayed inside the Museum.
Visitors are welcome to visit the new railroad museum in our rebuilt depot. Showcasing artifacts from Kentucky's railroading history you can see what life around trains was like. There are interactive displays including a working telegraph set that visitors can use to send morse code messages.
At the end of your visit, please check out the museums gift shop for railroad related gifts for friends and family.
Operating out of the Woodford County Park in Versailles, Ky the museum offers a 11 mile ninety minute round trip train excursion ride through the horse farms of Central Kentucky. Visit the Museum displays of railroad history such as the Stationmaster's desk at left.
The Bluegrass Railroad welcomes school field trips. Our railroad museum and excursion train rides are fun and educational.
Please patronize our -->
Rain or shine, we run the trains. Our coaches are enclosed and comfortable. 90 minute rides.
175 Beasley Road 859-873-2476
Versailles, KY 40383 800-755-BGRM
Visit our Facebook Page
Be sure to check out the Hump yard display during your visit. This unit controled the hump in the L&N Decorsey yard in Covington
Donated by the Cincinnati Railroad Museum.


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Mendon, Vermont
|This article is a stub. Help us to expand it by contributing your knowledge. For county and town page guidelines, visit U.S. County Page Content Suggestions.
Mendon is a town in Rutland county, Vermont. It was formed in 1781 in Vt. from Bennington county. It has used the following other name(s): Medway. The probate and court district for Mendon is Rutland. For more information, contact the town at 34 US Rt. 4, Mendon 05701. On the attached map, Mendon is shown as 14 in Rutland county.
For information about the state of Vermont see Vermont Family History Research.