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A now-former superintendent at a B.C. school had his teaching certificate suspended after he misused nearly $29,000.
Gregory Joseph Bitgood misappropriated funds from the society that runs the independent school at which he was employed, says a recently released decision from the Teacher Regulation Branch.
The school was not named in the decision, but a Greg Bitgood is listed here, here and here as superintendent of the Heritage Christian School in Kelowna.
Bitgood misused a total of $28,888.12 between Oct. 6, 2012 and Sept. 17, 2016 for personal expenditures, the decision reads, and then claimed reimbursement for these expenses as "business travel, gifts for staff, curriculum and consulting."
The society terminated his employment on Sept. 21, 2016, with an agreement that he would make monthly payments to pay back the money.
As for the provincial branch, Bitgood admitted to professional misconduct and agreed to a three-month suspension of his teaching certificate.


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Tsunami swamps Hawaii beaches, brushes West Coast
Tsunami waves swamped Hawaii beaches and brushed the U.S. western coast Friday but didn't immediately cause major damage after devastating Japan and sparking evacuations throughout the Pacific.
Water rushed up on roadways and into hotel lobbies on the Big Island and low-lying areas in Maui were flooded as 7-foot (2-meter) waves crashed ashore. Smaller waves hit the U.S. western coast and beaches were closed as fishermen fired up their boats and left harbors to ride out the swell.
Scientists warned that the first tsunami waves are not always the strongest, and officials said people in Hawaii and along the West Coast should watch for strong currents and heed calls for evacuations. The tsunami warning was downgraded to an advisory in Hawaii, but officials said people should still stay away from beaches.
"I'm waiting to see if I'll be working and if I can get to work," said Sabrina Skiles, who spent the night at her husband's office in downtown Kahului in Maui. Their home, across the street from the beach, was in a mandatory evacuation zone. "They're saying the worst is over right now but we keep hearing reports saying 'don't go anywhere. You don't want to go too soon.'"
The tsunami, spawned by an 8.9-magnitude earthquake in Japan, slammed the eastern coast of Japan, sweeping away boats, cars, homes and people as widespread fires burned out of control. It raced across the Pacific at 500 mph (800 kph) — as fast as a jetliner — before hitting Hawaii and the West Coast.
Sirens sounded for hours before dawn up and down the West Coast and in Hawaii, and roadways and beaches were mostly empty as the tsunami struck.
President Barack Obama said the Federal Emergency Management Agency is ready to come to the aid of any U.S. states or territories who need help. Coast Guard cutter and aircraft crews were positioning themselves to be ready to conduct response and survey missions as soon as conditions allow.
It is the second time in a little over a year that Hawaii and the U.S. West coast faced the threat of a massive tsunami. A magnitude-8.8 earthquake in Chile spawned warnings on Feb. 27, 2010, but the waves were much smaller than predicted and did little damage.
Scientists then acknowledged they overstated the threat but defended their actions, saying they took the proper steps and learned the lessons of the 2004 Indonesian tsunami that killed thousands of people who didn't get enough warning.
This time around, the warning went out within 10 minutes of the earthquake in Japan, said Gerard Fryer, a geophysicist for the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center in Honolulu.
"We called this right. This evacuation was necessary," Fryer said. "There's absolutely no question, this was the right thing to do," he said.
The warnings issued by the tsunami center covered an area stretching the entire western coast of the United States and Canada from the Mexican border to Chignik Bay in Alaska.
Many islands in the Pacific evacuated, but officials later told residents to go home because the waves weren't as bad as expected.
In Guam, the waves broke two U.S. Navy submarines from their moorings, but tug boats corralled the subs and brought them back to their pier. No damage was reported to Navy ships in Hawaii.
In the Canadian pacific coast province of British Columbia, authorities evacuated marinas, beaches and other areas.
Officials in two coastal Washington counties used an automated phone alert system, phoning residents on the coast and in low-lying areas and asking them to move to higher ground.
"We certainly don't want to cry wolf," said Sheriff Scott Johnson of Washington's Pacific County. "We just have to hope we're doing the right thing based on our information. We don't want to be wrong and have people hurt or killed.
In Oregon, sirens blasted in some coastal communities and at least one hotel was evacuated in the northern part of the state. Restaurants, gift shops and other beachfront business stayed shuttered, and schools up and down the coast were closed.
In Santa Cruz, California, retreating waves broke loose a couple of boats and a dock as the waves surged.
"Water was being sucked out of the harbor mouth, it was like a river," said tour boat operator Dan Haifley. "The water dropped, and we could see the sandy bottom of the harbor."
Surfers who raced to the beach to catch the waves were undeterred.
"The tides are right, the swell is good, the weather is good, the tsunami is there. We're going out," said William Hill, an off-duty California trooper.
Further north, fishermen moved crab boats to avoid the waves, taking no chances. A tsunami killed 11 people in 1964 in Crescent City, California.
Latin American governments ordered islanders and coastal residents to head for higher ground. First affected would be Chile's Easter Island, in the remote South Pacific, about 2,175 miles (3,500 kilometers) west of the capital of Santiago, where people planned to evacuate the only town. Ecuador's President Rafael Correa declared a state of emergency and ordered people on the Galapagos Islands and the coast of the mainland to seek higher ground.
The Honolulu International Airport remained open but seven or eight jets bound for Hawaii turned around, including some originating from Japan, the state Department of Transportation said. All harbors were closed and vessels were ordered to leave the harbor.
About 70 percent of Hawaii's 1.4 million population resides in Honolulu, and as many as 100,000 tourists are in the city on any given day.
A small 4.5-magnitude earthquake struck the Big Island just before 5 a.m. EST (1000 GMT), but there were no reports of damages and the quake likely wasn't related to the much larger one in Japan, the USGS said.
The worst big wave to strike the U.S. was a 1946 tsunami caused by a magnitude of 8.1 earthquake near Unimak Islands, Alaska, that killed 165 people, mostly in Hawaii. In 1960, a magnitude 9.5 earthquake in southern Chile caused a tsunami that killed at least 1,716 people, including 61 people in Hilo. It also destroyed most of that city's downtown. On the U.S. mainland, a 1964 tsunami from a 9.2 magnitude earthquake in Prince William Sound, Alaska, struck Washington State, Oregon and California. It killed 128 people, including 11 in Crescent City, California.
Associated Press Writers contributing to this report include Audrey McAvoy in Honolulu; Denise Petski in Los Angeles; Kathy McCarthy in Seattle; Nigel Duara in Seaside, Oregon; Jeff Barnard in Crescent City, California; Rob Gillies in Toronto; Alicia Chang in Pasadena, California; Michelle Price and Carson Walker in Phoenix. Niesse contributed from Ewa Beach, Hawaii.

subset: commoncrawl


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Juniata College, Huntingdon, PA. A relaxed bridal party shot on campus, Saturday's wedding. Both bride and groom are alumni, as are some of the attendants, too. The groom played baseball and football and the bride a serious runner (just signed on to run the Boston Marathon again, oh my)
Bright sun, green mountains and blue sky. A happy couple. A perfect day. Wishing them every happiness, always!


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I was recently contacted by Ben Johnson of LifeSiteNews, who told me of a fascinating development. He informed me of a curious fan of President Obama's advocacy of gay marriage: Mariela Castro, niece of ailing and aging Cuban tyrant, Fidel Castro, and daughter of current despot, Raul Castro.
Ben knows that my area of research is the communist movement. I had just published an article on the longstanding Marxist/communist position against traditional marriage. I quoted Karl Marx on the "abolition of the family" and underscored the anti-family actions of communists historically and worldwide, from the Bolsheviks in Russia to Communist Party USA (CPUSA) to communist nations generally—such as Cuba.
Importantly, I noted a key exception to the Marxist/communist assault on the institution of marriage: As I said, the Russians certainly were not stumping for gay marriage. Joe Stalin was no gay-rights crusader. Neither was Fidel Castro. To the contrary, communist regimes tended to be militantly anti-homosexual. In Cuba, Castro locked up homosexuals as public menaces, putting them in prison or lunatic asylums.
Thus, for Raul Castro's daughter to publicly support gay marriage is quite remarkable. Specifically, Mariela Castro called President Obama's statement on gay marriage "humane" and "understanding," said it has "great value," and wished that his words "will be taken seriously in the political and legislative decisions made in different states and in the whole world."
Again, this is striking. Here is a high-level Cuban communist official publicly pushing not only for gay rights but gay marriage.
As Ben Johnson reported, Mariela, a "trained sexologist," heads the Cuban National Center for Sex Education. In Havana in broad daylight, she led an "LGBT" parade, where, as Johnson reported: "Some 400 transvestites sashayed behind Castro, doing a conga line through the streets, to celebrate the Fifth Cuban Day Against Homophobia, observed elsewhere on May 17. Marchers shouted, 'Down with homophobia! Long live sexual diversity!'"
This scene was once unthinkable in Cuba.
Even more eye-opening, Mariela maintains that her uncle favors same-sex marriage, "but he has not made it public." More than that, she says Fidel is a closet gay-rights advocate: "He has done some advocacy work, speaking of the need to make progress in terms of rights based on sexual orientation and gender identity."
To hasten "gay marriage," Mariela says Cuba will be changing its "Family Code" and "constitution."
In short, this is an amazing turnabout. What's going on? Why this sudden conversion by Castro and communist Cuba? Does this make sense?
Yes, it does. The root of the answer, once again, is the Marxist/communist assault on marriage. Led either by the spirit of the times or by another spiritual force that has long led communists, the communist priority is not gay rights but a continued assault on the family. It's an assault on an institution both ancient and Biblical. As ex-communist Whittaker Chambers liked to say, the communist worldview is grounded in the first sin at the Garden of Eden, when man and woman, first joined by God, were separated by the Evil One: "Ye shall be as gods."
For atheistic communists, this is just the latest slap in a century-long sustained bludgeoning of marriage and the family. Faced with a conflict between their penchant for persecuting the family and persecuting homosexuals, the communist war on traditional morality and faith and family won out, thus dictating a sudden embrace of gay marriage (at least in Cuba). As long as the traditional family is destroyed, Marxism is advanced. Communists will do whatever they need to destroy the family; "gay marriage" seems the latest device.
In the Communist Manifesto, Marx characterized the communist goal of "abolition of the family" as revolutionary, "the most radical rupture with traditional relations." Indeed, Mariela Castro speaks of her new cause as spent $300,000 promoting homosexual activism in Cuba. The funds went "to strengthen grassroots organizations to create the conditions that allow meaningful and unhindered participation by members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) community in all aspects of Cuban society."
Moreover, Mariela Castro was granted a visa to visit the United States for a conference in San Francisco. The visa was granted by Hillary Clinton's State Department.
When I first heard about the visa, I figured it was merely another example of the Obama administration going soft on communist regimes. Now, however, given Mariela's kinship with President Obama on gay marriage, maybe there's more to the story—a lot more.


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Welcome to Shooting Star Equine Rescue
Shooting Star Equine Rescue is committed to caring for equines that come to us due to abuse, neglect or abandonment as well as for those at risk of imminent slaughter. Loving care is given to meet each equine's need for proper medical treatment, individual nutritional needs and daily handling in an effort to provide the rehabilitation necessary in order to eventually place them in an approved placement home.
Several current residents that are quite elderly or who have come in with extensive needs now call Shooting Star their "forever home" as sanctuary residents.
Shooting Star also works with other Midwest rescues, providing rescue to rescue transfers when necessary in order to respond to the needs of equines in need of immediate placement.
By advocating on behalf of all equines that have passed through our gates as well as for those innocent lives that were lost before we could save them in time, Shooting Star strives to be involved in community education and awareness programs designed to:
- Cooperate with other professionals and rescues in an effort to provide pamphlets, literature, and training regarding equine needs and standards for appropriate care and owner responsibility.
- Network with key individuals to better define and enforce policies and procedures regarding equine abuse/neglect as it relates to state statutes on animal cruelty.
- Provide facts and statistics on the harsh realities of our equines being brutally slaughtered in MX or Canada to be shipped for human consumption in Europe and Japan.
All services provided by Shooting Star are funded entirely by gifts and donations. As an IRS-designated 501(c)(3) public charity, all contributions are tax deductible.
Shooting Star Equine Rescue, Inc.
10527 SW Indian Hills | Wakarusa KS 66546
tel: (785) 249-1760
fax: (785) 272-3536
email: firstname.lastname@example.com


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Neuharth: How income tax has changed in 100 years
- Taxing income may be one of the fairest ways for the government to raise money to pay its bills
- But simplification doesn%27t necessarily equal fairness.
- But it%27s important that our goal is to help the average American to compete with his or her peers.
If you're getting ready to file your income tax return, you should be interested to know that what you're doing started 100 years ago. But what a difference that century has made! Examples:
When Congress passed the income tax law in 1913, a couple making over $4,000 in taxable income after all deductions was subject to a 1% tax rate.
With inflation that $4,000 then is equal to about $93,700 now. But the tax rate now is 25% or more for those in the $100,000-plus salary range.
Taxing income may be one of the fairest ways for the government to raise money to pay its bills. But the tax payments really need to more properly reflect income and expenses.
Today's tax code does that badly. It's 73,954 pages long and filled with giveaways to groups that have enough political punch to get them.
There's lots of talk in Washington now about tackling that problem this year by simplifying the code for the first time since 1986. Good. But simplification doesn't necessarily equal fairness.
College, for instance, has gotten so expensive that many parents — particularly those with more than one child — can't afford it. Their kids can get loans, but then they're left with big debts that slow down their start in life. That's not good for them, and it's not good for the USA.
The tax code needs to account for expenses like those. It also needs to help those who are trying to help themselves, whether they're trying to compete for job and salary gains or to start a new business.
If we look back at the 100 years since the income tax arrived, we're more likely to come up with the right formula for the future.
But it's important that our goal is to help the average American to compete with his or her peers.
"All consumed income should be taxed once at one low, flat, internationally competitive rate. High marginal tax rates and redundant taxes on savings retard economic growth and make us poorer."
-- Grover Norquist, President Americans for Tax Reform
"Our tax system's evolution has produced a middle-class nation that takes care of our elderly, educates our children, protects our environment, etc., etc. These blessings are well worth the price."
-- Robert S. McIntyre, Director Citizens for Tax Justice
"Since 1913, technology has made most things smaller, more efficient and easier to use. The tax code, however, has become huge, expensive and an annual anxiety. We need simplification now."
-- Scott A. Hodge,President Tax Foundation
In addition to its own editorials, USA TODAY publishes diverse opinions from outside writers, including our Board of Contributors.


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Try Before You Buy
You now have a unique opportunity to "try out" a number of our online short courses. Check out the course you are interested in and then decide if it's for you.
Select the category of online short courses you are interested in:
Online courses that are designed by industry experts
The IMM Graduate School has been a top private educator since 1960
We understand the value of time and money.
Part-time courses online are the way to go. In the hustle of our daily lives, we need to save time and money. That's why IMM is your best choice.
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Unlike most online short courses in South Africa, we allow students to have direct access to the subject experts for any queries or clarity they require during their online learning process.


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It's time to meet your new DJ obsession. His name is Michael Brun, and he's about to fully take over the festival circuit. For those of you who know him, you're already aware of his major hotness andhis cool mixes
. If you don't, it's only a matter of seconds before you dedicate an 8tracks playlist solely to this dude.
Michael performed at Coachella this year for the first time and closed the Sahara tent (a huge deal in festival world), and rocked out at Ultra, too. But his crush-worthy status comes from more than just his good looks and awesome DJ-ing skills. Dude's got guts! He left his home and his family in Haiti to go to boarding school in Indiana at 16 (which isn't a common thing to do there), and totally killed it. Michael earned nearly a full scholarship to Davidson college, where he went on to study pre-med right after graduating high school.
Now, he's 21 and taking time off from school to pursue music, but that doesn't mean his dreams of becoming a doctor are over for good.
More From Seventeen
"When I was in Haiti, I volunteered at a hospital for two years, and the guy who founded it was a priest first and then went to medical school in his 30's and became a doctor," Michael explained. "The way that he lived his life made me realize that if you have the drive to do something, no matter how old you are, you can get it done."
Drive is def not something Michael's missing. He's been working hard on his music over the last six months, so get excited, because there's about to be a ton of his stuff dropping. Plus, he's getting ready to tour the world, making stops in the US and even joining Steve Aoiki for part of the time. #Casual
What's even cuter? His sweetness. His favorite moment so far was playing a show in Haiti that his family got to come to. "It was awesome because it was like the journey was coming full circle," Michael said.
Okay, and not that you need any more convincing, but he's also BFFs with TFIOS and Divergent star, Ansel Elgort! "I've known him for a long time," Michael shared. "He's starting to put out music too as Ansolo, and I'm trying to push his stuff as much as possible. So many guys in the industry are really cool. It's great to be friends with people like that."
Cute, smart, talented, and a really good friend? Does it get any better? Check out Michael's killer beats just in time for the weekend!
What do you think of our crush of the week? Which celebs are you obsessed with right now? Tell us in the comments below!
10 Times Ansel Elgort Proved He's The Cutest Person Alive
Summer's Hottest Musical Festivals
Crush Of The WeeK: DWTS Cutie Derek Hough
Photo credits: Rukes.com


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Amy Poehler, Will Arnett separate after nine years of marriage
NEW YORK – Amy Poehler and Will Arnett are splitting up.
Publicist Lewis Kay says the couple is separating after nine years of marriage. The breakup was first reported by Us Weekly.
Poehler and Arnett have two sons, 3-year-old Archie and 2-year-old Abel.
Their personal lives may be in turmoil, but professionally, both are on an upswing.
The 40-year-old Poehler became famous as a cast member on "Saturday Night Live." She now stars in the NBC sitcom "Parks and Recreation" and is up for an Emmy for lead actress in a comedy series.
Arnett's breakout role was on Fox's "Arrested Development." The 42-year-old Arnett now co-stars with Christina Applegate on the NBC comedy "Up All Night."


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Dining Room Blinds and Window Treatments
Your dining room curtains can set the mood for evenings, meals and entertaining. Whether your dining room mostly sees casual family meals or elegant dinner parties, gorgeous dining room window treatments can complement a stunning dining table set and meal.
Window treatments in this room of the house are also important for controlling privacy and light. If you're eating in the evening, you may want to block out the sun's fading rays so everyone can dine in comfort. If you're hosting a special dinner or romantic evening, you may want to let more light in or close your blinds for more privacy. The right window treatments help you set the tone for any event in this versatile space. Motorized wood blinds are popular for these spaces which typically have a lot of wood in their decor.
1 Item
35Tradewinds Graber Natural Sheer Shades
Natural & Eco friendly
Usable Fabric width up to 96"$179.28retail : $270(33% OFF)
1 Item
Decorating With Window Treatments
Dining room blinds are a surprisingly efficient way to decorate your dining room. Easy to clean and attractive, motorized wood blinds are a classic choice for dining rooms. Without much effort, you can add a stylish and classy flair to the space with blinds. If you have small children, you might want to opt for motorised and cordless models, which can be one of the safest options for window treatments in any room — while still achieving the decorative effect you want.
For another option, consider curtains for your dining room. Sweeping curtains pushed to the side can give your room a more traditional look. In addition, if you have large windows in your dining room, oversize curtains that extend out past your windows' edges can look dramatic, especially if the draperies sweep right down to the floor.
Why Shop at ZebraBlinds.com?
Whether you're looking for modern or traditional window coverings, check out the selection at ZebraBlinds.com.We specialize in many types of window treatments, from thermal blinds to roman shades and drapery. So with us, you get the benefit of tens of thousands of possible options and configurations. We even offer personalization so you can get just the look you want.
We also go out of our way to make sure we offer you the best deals. We negotiate with manufacturers, and we keep our overhead as low as possible — ensuring we can offer you the best prices. In fact, we have a price guarantee so you know you don't have to shop around for the best deals.
We offer free samples as well, so you can try out different fabrics, textures and patterns at home before you buy. Top this off with the convenience of online shopping and free coast-to-coast shipping, and you can see why more homeowners choose ZebraBlinds.com when they need stylish curtains or window treatments.


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Sometimes review writing is hard. Sometimes you don't have a lot to say. Sometimes you're just lazy as fuck. These are Rapid Fire Reviews.
Artemis by Andy Weir
Narrator: Rosario Dawson
Published by Audible on November 14th 2017
Length: 8 hours and 59 minutes
Genres: Sci-fi
Format: Audiobook
Source: Purchased
Amazon | B&N | Book Depository | Audible
Short Summary: Jazz Bashara is a full-time resident (and smuggler) of Artemis, the only city on the moon, but when she's offered a sum of money that would solve all of her problems she accepts, the only problem is this job is completely out of her comfort zone and causes her more problems than she had before.
Thoughts: This story wouldn't have been nearly as fantastic if it wasn't narrated by Rosario Dawson who transformed this oftentimes comical heist on the moon into an actual performance.
Verdict: I loved The Martian and I loved Artemis so Andy Weir can just keep those entertaining Sci-Fi stories coming.
Ink and Bone by Rachel Caine
Series: The Great Library #1
Published by Berkley on April 5th 2016
Pages: 374
Genres: Fantasy
Format: Paperback
Source: Blogging for Books
Amazon | B&N | Book Depository | Audible
Short Summary: In an alternate universe where books are illegal to the public and the Library of Alexandria is still standing, a group of individuals train to enter into the service of the Library and realize that corruption reigns supreme from within.
Thoughts: Caine has created a fascinating alternate universe with hints of steampunk and while there seemed to be a little too much going on at times it was a captivating story with a full cast of characters and ends with a cliffhanger that leaves you no option but to continue.
Verdict: An intriguing first installment that gets the mild info-dumping necessary with any fantasy world out of the way in hopeful anticipation of a solid follow-up in Paper and Fire.
Into the Drowning Deep by Mira Grant
Series: Rolling in the Deep #1
Published by Orbit on November 14th 2017
Pages: 440
Genres: Fantasy
Format: Hardcover
Source: the Publisher
Amazon | B&N | Book Depository | Audible
Short Summary: Everyone was presumed dead after the Atargatis was lost at sea, but a new crew is being assembled to go back to the Mariana Trench to search for the existence of mermaids, this time presumably taking better precautions.
Thoughts: Grant was a bit excessive with her use of prose and her oftentimes exhaustive detailing of characters; however, her much apparent research into marine biology was incredibly informative and the gory horror was a definite thrill.
Verdict: A good one for campy horror fans and science nerds alike, but there's no denying this story is drowning in an unnecessary amount of pages.
The Hazel Wood by Melissa Albert
Published by Flatiron Books on January 30th 2018
Pages: 368
Genres: Fantasy
Format: eARC
Source: Netgalley
Amazon | B&N | Book Depository | Audible
Short Summary: Alice and her mother have spent their lives on the road, trying to evade Alice's grandmother and the bad luck that shadows their every step, but when her mother is kidnapped and taken to the Hinterland (a supernatural world that her grandmother created in her fairy tales) Alice is forced to confront the fact that these fairy tales might be real.
Thoughts: The blend of dark fantasy/fairy tales in a contemporary world was so fascinating and Alice's character is incredibly likable; however, the mystery (and the story itself) unraveled a bit at the end and wasn't as coherent a closure as I would have liked.
Verdict: Interesting fairy tale world, solid opening, mediocre ending: still definitely worth a read.


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Nirvana Nevermind Swimming Pool, 1991 by Kirk Weddle
Outtakes from photographer, Kirk Weddle's photo shoot with Nirvana for promotional shots to promote "Nevermind" following Kirk's famous baby cover shot which was shot a few months earlier.
Location: A hotel swimming pool in Los Angeles, California.
Date: November 1991
Limited Edition of only 50 available per image
Metallic Chromira prints with metallic ink - signed and hand numbered


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Things I irrationally hate in this world: keeping plastic wrap on anything, checking in at hotels, that awkward time you wait between finishing a meal and paying for it and ATM fees. Thankfully, people are trying to figure out a way to kill ATM fees... with ATM advertisements. I like it.
I can't stand paying money, no matter how insignificant, to be able to get my money. The ATM charges me 2 bucks, my bank charges me 2 bucks and sure, it's only $4 but it's MY freaking money! I should be able to get it whenever I want. I don't pay my wallet every time I want to open it!
Maybe they won't keep charging us forever though. Free ATMs NYC is an ATM machine in Brooklyn that doesn't charge an ATM fee at all. Instead, the Free ATMs NYC machine earns its keep by showing an advertisement throughout your ATM transaction on its 10-inch video screen. While you're pulling your money, you see an ad. Simple. A transaction with a Free ATMs NYC machine takes roughly the same time as other ATMs that charge money so I don't see any downside for me. Bombard me with ads if that keeps my money in my pocket.
Right now, the Free ATMs NYC machine, which was the brainchild of Clinton Townsend, only exists in that one location in Brooklyn. I'm hoping there'll be more though. [Free ATMs NYC via TIME via Consumerist]


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FNM Calls for Education Minister to Resign
Today in History: March 20
Work in Progress: Two-Year Timeline for New Glass Window Bridge
Negotiations Completed Between Govt. and BPSU
Pintard: Hanna-Martin "Violated Terms of Engagement"
Dominican Boat Captain Jailed: Illegal Migrants Ferry
Saint Lucia Gang Violence Leads To Outside Support
UN Warns Gangs Consuming Haiti Despite Help
T&T Considers Mexico's Request on Small Arms
Guyana Taxi Driver Arrested for 64lbs of Marijuana
New Covid Origins Data Suggests Link To Animals
ICC Arrest Warrant Issued For Russian Pres.
U.S. Military Releases Video of Russian Jet Intercept
NHS 5% Pay Offer May End Bitter Dispute in England
21 Workers Killed at Coal Mine in Colombia
HOA Signed for $500M Mega Marina
$550m HOA Signing for Development in Cave Cay
Convention To Highlight Local Businesses
Mom-and-Pop Stores Most Common Violators
Repairs on Western Air Terminal Ongoing
Senior Police Revisit Murder Scenes after Bloody Weekend
Armed Robbery: The Latest Trends Revealed
Possible Connection Between Weekend Murders and Burned Body Discovery
RBPF Revisit Weekend Murder Scenes
Police Discover Burnt Body
Man Arraigned for March 10 Murder Near High School
Men Accused of Plotting to Kill Cop
Fmr. Bank Teller Avoids Prison Time after Stealing from Former GG
Married Man Sentenced to One Year After Illegally Remarrying
Lanisha Rolle, Her Husband and Others Arraigned on Bribery, Fraud Related Charges
Bringing Happiness to More Bahamian Families
Disney Cruise Line Supports Eleuthera Junior Junkanoo Competition
It's International Day of Happiness
Bahamian Women Deliver Positivity on World Stage
St. Paddy's Day in Paradise
Coach Yo and Lady Rebels into Sweet 16
Sweet 16 Bounds as Ole Miss Stuns the Stanford and Creighton Upsets Baylor
Bahamasair Comes On As Gold Sponsor
Bahamas' First World Title Female Boxing Match to Honour and Celebrate Ray Minus Jr.
Hield Scores 20, Pacers Upset Bucks 139-123
How can Those we Blindly Trust Betray Us?
Is the Minnis Volcano Finally Erupting in the FNM?
Are We Still Celebrating 50 Years of Independence?
Sak Pase?: Illegal Haitian Migration Crisis
Disruptive Culture: A National Disgrace
Our News @ 7:30
NASSAU, BAHAMAS - The Bahamas Feeding Network is widely known for its push efforts to minimize hunger in the country, but what many people do not...


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New Werewolf prop for the Haunted Corn Maze
The action on this prop is amazing. The Werewolf shakes the victim violently back and forth, then looks up and growls at you. Then he bites the girl and drags her back into his cave.Very cool!!
Bates Motel and Haunted Hayride Build Updates
Bates Motel Owners Present a check to the American Cancer Society
The Bates family has always supported various charity organizations throughout the year. One of the main charitable groups is the American Cancer Society's Relay for Life, held at Penncrest High School this May. For the last 12 years, Anne and Randy Bates have donated time, materials and money to this worthy cause. Last year they hosted the Run for Hope on their farm, and have supported various Relay for Life events throughout the region. Here you see Anne and Randy Bates on the right presenting a check to Kim Wienches of the American Cancer Society at the recent event in Middletown, Delaware County
Bates Motel Castle gets an Extreme Makover
The Bates Motel build crew have been hard at work upgrading the Hayride Castle. We have added taller parapits, longer walls and new surprises! Here you can see Joe working on the framework to strengthen the structure.
Once the framework was completed, the entire structure was shot with a rigid foam coating to help preserve it and act as a canvas for carving the blocks and bringing the castle to life
Bates Motel gets Extreme Makeover
The build and design crew have been working all winter to renovate and improve the number one Haunted Attraction in America. They have ripped out five entire rooms and hallways and have plans in place to make this awesome attraction even better for 2012!
With the mild winter, we have been able to work inside the Haunted House (no heat) for the last several weeks, removing props, sets and wall panels in anticipation of major additions for the upcoming season. Some of the ideas we have conjured up are a high-tech haunted kitchen, basement and boiler scene and a highly detailed wine cellar. All these rooms will be outfitted with amazing scares and surprises. If anyone has any ideas for room design or would like to see something different, email us at firstname.lastname@example.com
Bates Motel is Rocking this October
The Bates Motel and Haunted Hayride is blowing the doors off all the other attractions in the Philadelphia area this year. With a brand new trail in the Haunted Hayride, and massive new sets, this ride is better than ever. Customers are loving the new scenes and scares. The haunted trail features more actors and new props that will blow you away. With giant mechanical spiders, and a life-size alligator and new pond scene, guests have been raving about our corn field trail. The infamous Bates Motel has also added new rooms and more actors than ever to give you the best Halloween family fun. Don't forget to check out our sponsor, Paranormal Activity 3, that will premier in theatres October 21st. here's a shot from the movie
Don't forget to visit Pennhurst Asylum, America's Scariest Haunted Attraction.
Top 10 Scariest Haunted Attractions being filmed this Friday night
The Bates motel and Haunted Hayride has been chosen to be featured on the "Top 10 Scariest Haunted Attractions" and the production crew will be filming at the Bates Motel Friday night, September 30th. This is your chance to be on national TV as this show will be aired throughout the month of October. Come out and see all the new sets, props and amazing actors we have added this year and scream your heads off for the cameras! Gates open at 6:30 and our attraction will be up and running at 7 pm. Here's a link to showing us ranked as the best in the country!
No other haunted House produces screams like the Bates Motel! Click here to purchase early bird tickets for this weekend only.
Bates Motel TV Spot
Only one week to go until the Bates Motel and Haunted Hayride opens! We can't wait! To help let everyone know about the haunt that was voted one of the scariest in America by the Travel Channel we've made this TV spot
Let us know what you think!
Discount Tickets to the Bates Motel
The Bates Motel and Haunted Hayride has once again been rated the best Haunted Attraction in America by Hauntworld.com . To celebrate we are offering a 25% discount on all V.I.P. passes and Combo tickets. Click here to get the discount or go to http://www.thebatesmotel.com/, click buy tickets now, then put "blog25″ in the promo code location. This offer ends Friday September 9th at midnight. We have undergone major renovations to the Haunted Hayride and Bates Motel that will offer you the best Haunted Attraction experience ever! Even the Haunted Trail has new monsters and a huge new pond surrounded by alligators.
Don't forget to check out Pennhurst Asylum, our other major Haunted Theme Park, located just 45 minutes away in Spring City, PA. Click here to get the 25% discount tickets for the V.I.P. and Combo tickets. Rated as the scariest haunted Attraction in the country, Pennhurst now has 4 major haunted houses; Pennhurst Asylum, Dungeon of Lost Souls, Ghost Hunt, and the Tunnel of terror.
Bates Motel to be featured on the Weather Channel
The Bates Motel and Haunted Hayride has been selected as one of the top ten scariest Haunted Attractions in America by the Weather Channel, and will be featured on a special 1 hour show called "Top Hallow Screams" to be aired this October. The film crew from High Noon Productions will be shooting live on September 30th at the Bates Motel. If you want to be on TV, this is your chance. You can buy the Early Bird Special tickets online and save 20% on the combo ticket, and be featured on this show. Click here for the fast link. Stay tuned for more updates and info.


text: Daniel Whyte III is a full-time evangelist by calling. Through the Gospel Light Minute X, his main aim is to present a short, clear, understandable presentation of the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ which saved him over 30 years ago. Throughout his ministry, he has emphasized a clear presentation of the Gospel because he believes that many pastors and churches mix up the Gospel with other things, and this causes confusion for nonbelievers. In order to do that, Daniel Whyte III uses tracts that he has written, as well as tracts produced by the following ministries: Fellowship Tract League, the American Tract Society, and Good News/Crossway Tracts in the production of this broadcast.


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Last year, when the storied, now-defunct Tubs building was heading toward demolition, the property owner invited a bunch of street artists to use it for murals. Why not, he figured. The walls would be coming down soon.
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But the owner lost financing for his project - a new six-story, mixed-use building - and the walls stayed up. Since then, what began as a gritty piece of curated street art has become one of the most notorious landmarks in Seattle for graffiti - loathed by neighbors, celebrated by taggers, and untouchable by city laws.
"Everybody is fed up with it," said a nearby business manager who didn't want to be named, for fear of taggers targeting his building. "It wore out its welcome about 90 days after they started doing it."
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Neighbors have repeatedly complained about the building, a 12,000-square-foot structure smothered roof to ground in graffiti. Located on the can't-miss corner of 50th and Roosevelt in the University District, it boasts monochromatic scribbles and vast, garish renderings; chaotic sprays and meticulous brushings; a pair of breasts and a detailed mummy; and the corner of what used to be a pregnant woman with an assault rifle. There is little of the building's original beige.
"It just looks derelict," said Stephanie Ogle, the owner of Cinema Books across the street. Other business owners have complained of empty spray cans littering the ground, squatters inside the building, and of customers feeling unsafe.
City can't clean up Tubs
But the city - despite handling nearly 900 graffiti complaints this year with total compliance from property owners - has no power to clean up Tubs. That's because the property owner, Eric Sun, says the graffiti is art. And he says he wants it there.
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"Legally, we're in a difficult position," said Ed McKenna, an assistant Seattle city attorney. "We can't force the owner to remove his graffiti, so we have pretty much have exhausted every remedy."
The city's ordinance defines graffiti as "unauthorized markings." Because Sun has willingly allowed his building to become a "free wall" for taggers and artists, the city can't penalize him with fines or take him to court.
"The difference between art and graffiti is permission," McKenna said. "And of course, it is in the eye of the beholder. But most people find (graffiti) to be offensive. It detracts from the neighborhood. It gives a feeling of insecurity."
Property owner Sun would disagree.
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"It's an evolving piece," he said of his building. "Some of it is obviously crap, just stupid people putting tags on it." But he said some of the work is by serious street artists.
His original intent had been to allow his friend to use the space as an ephemeral canvas for curated pieces. His friend, through his arts group, the Free Sheep Foundation, invited a collection of well-known street artists. The original paintings were vivid and edgy.
But the recession halted Sun's plans, the art remained, and people complained. Three city departments have tried to convince Sun to consider his impact to the community. City attorney McKenna even offered volunteers to help Sun paint the building in Husky colors.
It's been to no avail.
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'Everyone I know loves it'
"As a property owner, I hate it when my buildings are tagged," Sun said. "But I do view this as a property rights issue."
He anticipated endless, expensive battles if he were to revoke the free wall. And he said he doesn't have the financing to demolish the building any time soon.
He also said the complaints were probably from "older people" in the area, while many younger people seem to appreciate his building.
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Indeed, Tubs has become destination for out-of-town artists who roll in with paint, ladders and hours to kill, and a go-to urban backdrop for videos and fashion shoots. Neighbors recently watched a photo shoot with scantily clad women.
"It seems to be very much appreciated by certain sectors," Sun said. "To me, everyone I know loves it."
D.K. Pan, the artist who curated the original works, said the building is much appreciated by street artists. Pan was recently commissioned to curate a Sound Transit construction wall in Capitol Hill, which is now adorned with a dramatic piece by a famous muralist.
"People complain about bad graffiti," Pan said. "Well, how do you not get bad graffiti? You give them places to practice it."


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September 18, 2008
Iran: USCIRF Concerned Over Apostasy Death Penalty Threat to Christians, Baha'is, Muslim Dissenters; Calls for Release of Prisoners
WASHINGTON-Iranian citizens are threatened by their own government's recent moves toward instituting a penal code that for the first time would legally enshrine the death penalty for so-called apostasy.
"The new penal code provision prescribing the death penalty for the so-called crime of apostasy and other crimes is a huge step backwards for human rights," said Commission Chair Felice D. Gaer. "Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has disparaged foreign criticism of the penal code as 'global arrogance,' but no objective observer can present the recent developments in Iranian law as anything but regression. Religious freedom in Iran remains a chimera."
Christians, Baha'is, and even some Muslims have been subject to arbitrary arrest and are threatened.The Iranian government this month leveled apostasy charges against two reported Christians, Mahmoud Matin and Arash Basirat. They were among more than a dozen reported Christian converts who were detained in the southern city of Shiraz in May; the others have been released but informed that legal cases remain pending against them. Five more Christians were arrested in August, including Ramtin Soodmand, the son of Assemblies of God pastor Hossein Soodmand, who was executed in 1990.
Iranian authorities consider Baha'is to be apostates because of their claim to a religious revelation subsequent to that of the Prophet Mohammed, despite the fact that Baha'is do not consider themselves Muslim. Since 1979, Iranian authorities have killed more than 200 Baha'i leaders, thousands have been arrested and imprisoned, and more than 10,000 have been dismissed from government and university jobs. Seven Baha'i leaders, who were arrested in March and May, remain in Evin prison in Tehran without access to legal counsel. No formal charges have been made against them, although media reports recently quoted an Iranian official as saying that the Baha'is had "confessed" to operating an "illegal" organization with ties to Israel and other countries. Such baseless claims have been made repeatedly in the past by Iranian authorities. At present, more than 20 Baha'is currently are in prison in Iran on account of their religious identity.
The year 2008 has seen other disturbing evidence of the Iranian government's utter failure to abide by international standards. While the government has announced its suspension of stoning to death-although this is not the first time such claims have been made-Iran has continued the brutal execution of minors, with reliable reports that at least six have been executed this year, two of them just last month. Four women leaders of the One Million Signatures campaign, which is dedicated to ending discrimination against women in the application of Islamic law in Iran, have been jailed for six months for allegedly "spreading propaganda" against Iran's Islamic system by advocating for its reform.
In recent years, hundreds of prominent Muslim activists and dissidents from among the Shi'a majority advocating political reform have been sentenced to lengthy prison terms on charges of seeking to overthrow the Islamic system in Iran; others have been arrested and detained for alleged blasphemy and criticizing the nature of the Islamic regime. Reformists and journalists are regularly tried under current press laws and the Penal Code on charges of "insulting Islam," criticizing the Islamic Republic, and publishing materials that deviate from Islamic standards.
Because of the Iranian government's egregious and systematic violations of religious freedom and other human rights, including prolonged detention, torture, and executions based primarily or entirely upon the religion of the accused, the Commission continues to recommend that Iran be included on the State Department's list of "countries of particular concern."
The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom calls on the U.S. government and its allies to pressure Tehran to end punishments for so-called apostasy, including the death penalty, release religious prisoners, and end its practice of systematically marginalizing its religious minorities.
Further, the Commission urges the U.S. government to continue to speak out vigorously about such cases and on behalf of others in Iran who have been imprisoned solely because of their religion or belief, and encourage other foreign governments to engage Iran on religious freedom and human rights issues.
"Iran's human rights record is abysmal, and the soon-to-be codified call for the death penalty for apostasy underlines the danger that the intolerance of the Iranian regime poses to its own people," Gaer said. "The Iranian government should respect the international commitments it has taken on in the field of religious freedom and other human rights, including the freedom to have or adopt a religion as set out in Article 18 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, to which Iran is a party."
For further details on the status of religious freedom in Iran and relevant policy recommendations, see the Iran chapter in the Commission's 2008 Annual Report at . For a transcript of the Commission's February 2008 hearing on Iran, see HERE .
The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom was created by the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 to monitor the status of freedom of thought, conscience, and religion or belief abroad, as defined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and related international instruments, and to give independent policy recommendations to the President, Secretary of State, and Congress. Visit our Web site at http://www.uscirf.gov


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If you've read the current (July) edition of Engage: The Magazine of the Graduate Programs in Archaeology, Cultural Heritage Management and Maritime Archaeology, you'll have seen the article on 'Where does a Graduate Degree Take You?'. In it, some of our graduated students discuss where they're working now, what they've learnt since leaving university (including what topics proved to be most useful to them and why. This part makes Alice very happy), and how their degree experience prepared them to work in the heritage industry (if you haven't seen Engage yet, then make sure you read it at our website http://www.flinders.edu.au/ehl/archaeology/archaeology-digital-library/graduate-program-bulletins.cfm. It contains all this and more).
One of the clearest trends is the enormous volume of work in Indigenous archaeology that has been generated by the mining boom in the Pilbara (WA). This has hit such a peak that many of our current and ex-students are being employed on large projects. Following on from the Engage article, here are some reflections from current students on how their careers are being shaped by their choices in graduate study.
If you're a past or present student working in the Pilbara (or anywhere else in Australia for that matter), why not post a comment and tell us about where you've been working? What was most important in your degree? (Go on. You know you want to).
Julia Garnaut (Current Degree: Master of CHM)
Where are you working and how long have you been there?
I work on a casual contract basis for Land Access Systems at Roy Hill (south of Port Hedland) in the Pilbara region Western Australia. Land Access Systems does contract work for Hancock Prospecting at and around the site of their Roy Hill 1 project. The work is 'fly in fly out' and is spread over twelve days. As I am still a graduate student and currently completing my Masters thesis I tend to fit the work in whenever I have time.
What kinds of things do you do in your job?
The most recent field work involved surveying a 500m wide corridor which will potentially become a train line for the Roy Hill 1 project. The survey required walking in transects 20 meters wide with two other archaeologists and traditional owners. Generally, we walk anywhere from 5 to 10 km a day recording isolated stone artefacts or sites along the way using GPS.
What are the best things about your job?
Meeting many people with all sorts of backgrounds from all over the world, who are working on a large-scale project but whom I would not otherwise encounter in my everyday life. This gives me the opportunity to apply the skills I acquired during my years of study and gain further knowledge from the diverse individuals and groups I have met along the way.
What did you find most useful in your degree (and what not)?
Though the Flinders archaeology department provides a good literary and theoretical background to archaeology, it is the way in which students are encouraged to implement this knowledge in the field that for me has become invaluable. The field experience I was exposed to throughout my degree (field methods, advanced field methods etc) and the volunteer opportunities I was given have provided me with confidence in my field abilities and a basic knowledge that at times has been far greater than many other graduates I have encountered.
What have you learnt on the job? What advice would you give other prospective students?
Gain as much experience as possible whilst being a student. Volunteer when you are given the opportunity and soak up as much knowledge from the experience as you can. Then, put your name forward for anything and everything in terms of job opportunities – you never know where you might end up!
Amy Pyatt (Current Degree: Master of Archaeology)
Where are you working and how long have you been there? What kinds of things do you do in your job?
I am working at ACHM and have been for the last two months. My job involves laboratory/archival work, excavation, heritage surveys and monitoring environmental surveys.
What are the best things about your job?
Being employed to travel to different places and experience different environments and histories, meeting and working with new people.
What did you find most useful in your degree (and what not)?
Gaining field experience and learning to work in confined spaces with different personalities. Being able to learn specialist skills and experience different aspects of archaeology through a variety of master classes and topics, e.g. Australian Stone Artefacts.
What have you learnt on the job?
That learning is ongoing and a lot of learning is conducted on the job, and through continuous training programs. I have also learnt that flexibility, adaptability and a positive outlook are crucial.
What advice would you give other prospective students?
Gain as much field experience as possible, be as well prepared as you can, and be able to go with the flow.
Bianca Petruzelli (Current Degree: Master of Archaeology )
Where are you working and how long have you been there? What kinds of things do you do in your job?
The work I participated in was only a short-term contract of two weeks in the Pilbara region of Western Australia. The job was walking transects across large areas looking for sites and surveying and recording sites that had been found by the previous survey groups.
What are the best things about your job?
The best thing about the job was the beautiful Pilbara environment and the amazing team of people I worked with.
What did you find most useful in your degree (and what not)?
The most useful part of my Flinders University degree for this job was definitely the field training I received throughout my degree. Although the methods we used for site surveying were simple archaeological methods, the Flinders fieldwork taught me how to conduct field surveys and the laboratory archaeology classes I had taught me how to identify and record stone artefacts.
What have you learnt on the job?
Although I haven't yet graduated, working in archaeology has taught me that some of the most amazing things are found in the strangest of places and that there is a reason behind the never ending walking and searching.
What advice would you give other prospective students?
Get as much field experience as possible throughout your degree. Even experience that doesn't seem directly relevant to the area you want to study as an archaeologist may be useful later in ways you hadn't expected.


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April 4, 2007
713.743.8189 (office)
281.627.2065 (cell)
HOUSTON, April 4, 2007 – The University of Houston System
Board of Regents adopted a "sliding scale" approach
to determining tuition and fee rates for fiscal year 2008 in a special
meeting Tuesday.
The possible increases will be pegged to the specific amount of
funding received from the Texas Legislature, which will be determined
later this year. Based on state funding remaining at the level in
the introduced appropriations bill, maximum increases at the four
UH System universities would be:
1) University of Houston – Not more than 12.4 percent
2) UH-Clear Lake – Not more than 6.2 percent
3) UH-Downtown – Not more than 10 percent
4) UH-Victoria – Not more than 7.9 percent
1) University of Houston – Not more than 12.4 percent
2) UH-Clear Lake – Not more than 6.2 percent
3) UH-Downtown – Not more than 10 percent
4) UH-Victoria – Not more than 7.9 percent
These increases will be less if the amount of state funding exceeds
the introduced bill.
"We don't know what sort of state funding will be available
to the university from the Legislature," said UHS Regent Jim
Wise. "We do know, however, that there is a lot of support
for higher education from the governor and others in Austin, and
we will continue to do our due diligence in minimizing the increase
in tuition."
Historically, regents at Texas state universities have set tuition
rates before the Legislature completes the appropriation process
and have been unable to consider the impact of final funding formula
increases to their respective institutions. In response to that,
this new "sliding scale" approach directly links the
school's increase in tuition and fees to whatever amount of
additional formula-based funding the Legislature appropriates. Basically,
the less additional state funding the school receives, the more
it will have to increase tuition and fees to sustain current operations
and implement specific quality enhancements.
Tuition and fee increases at UH for FY2008, for example, have been
calculated based on formula funding increases for all state universities
ranging from $0 to $350 million, the range of figures being discussed
by the Legislature.
Should $350 million in additional appropriations be approved for
the biennium, UH would receive approximately $13 million in additional
funding each year, and tuition and fees would then increase only
2.1 percent (based on faculty and staff salaries increasing 3 percent).
That would result in a $62 increase for a typical resident undergraduate
student taking 12 credit hours per semester.
A 10 percent raise in tuition and fees at UH (based on additional
state funding of $2 million) would result in a $291 increase for
the student. A 5 percent raise would result in a $147 increase.
The maximum 12.4 percent raise in tuition and fees at UH would result
in a $365 increase, bringing the FY2008 total tuition and fees to
approximately $3,307 per semester.
The maximum raise in tuition and fees at UH-Clear Lake would produce
a $128 increase, bringing the total to $2,189 per semester.
The maximum raise at UH-Downtown would produce a $183 increase,
raising the semester total to $2,020.
The maximum increase at UH-Victoria would produce a $150 increase,
bringing the total to $2,052 per semester.
Even with tuition increases, UH still falls well below average
tuition charged by many other urban-area universities, said John
Rudley, UH vice president of administration and finance. He cited
UH's cost of $5,648 for two semesters of 12 credit hours for
this academic year, compared to $12,138 at the University of Pittsburgh
and $9,742 at the University of Illinois at Chicago for equivalent
"Education is still affordable at UH," Wise said. "The
total cost of a student's education on average can be covered up
to 60 percent by grants at the federal, state and university levels.
This is important information to keep in mind."
The Board of Regents and the administration are working diligently
to strike a balance between implementing a reasonable tution and
fee increase and to make strides toward the enhancement of the university's
goal of achieving "Tier 1" status, said UHS Board of
Regents Chairman Leroy Hermes.
"Presenting our tuition increase range to members of the Legislature
will let them know how we are addressing the challenge of setting
tuition prior to having their final state funding determination,"
he said.
The University of Houston System is the state's only metropolitan
higher education system, encompassing four universities and two
multi-institution teaching centers. The universities are the University
of Houston, a nationally recognized doctoral degree-granting, comprehensive
research university; the University of Houston-Downtown, a four-year
undergraduate university beginning limited expansion into graduate
programs; and the University of Houston-Clear Lake and the University
of Houston-Victoria, both upper division and master's-level
institutions. The centers are the UH System at Sugar Land in Fort
Bend and the UH System at Cinco Ranch. In addition, the UH System
includes KUHF-FM, Houston's National Public Radio and classical
radio station, and KUHT-TV, the nation's first educational
television station.
For more information about UH visit the universitys Newsroom at www.uh.edu/admin/media/newsroom.


text: Tasks Of Any Nutritionist A nutritional expert can be a overall health specialist that works well professionally with food items and nutritious research, masking features like nutritional-related illnesses and deficiencies and precautionary nutrition. In addition they work with nutritional manipulation that can help improve clinical answers to man diseases. Health professionals also suggest men and… Continue reading How to Choose a Nutritionist


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Select a Spirit Animal
Discover Your Spirit Animal
Discover your spirit animal with the new Spirit Animal Quiz. This online quiz is designed to help anyone curious about spirit animals to quick start their journey through this fascinating world.
Today's Message of Wisdom from Spirit Animals
The Bear says…
Deep in slumber, dreams unending,
Wise old bear, patient, strong,
Send me dreams of transformation,
Grant me intuition along
With introspection of my life,
Inner listening, no more strife.
– D.J. Conway, Animal Magick
Learn about the Bear Spirit Animal
Spirit Animal News
There are now 2 Spirit Animal Tests available! We wanted to give our readers fun and free ways to discover more animals and apply those meanings to their lives. We believe that all the spirit animals have value to add, if we can only unlock their meaning…
Spirit Animal of the Week
The Panther: The panther symbolizes courage, valor and power. If the panther is your power animal, you are blessed with a fierce guardian. The panther totem animal encourages us to understand the power within the shadows and to acknowledge these powers to help eliminate our fear of the dark and unknown.
Learn about the Panther Spirit Animal
Spirit Animal List: The Spider
The spider is a mysterious spirit animal that works in the depths of our world and psyche. The weaver of fate and destiny is never far from teaching us about the intricate connections between actions, events, and chance. It shows us how to carefully move forward in life while trusting everything has its place.
Learn more about the Spider spirit animal
Top 5 Power Animals
Featured Power Animal: The Wolf
The Wolf's spirit is fiercely independent and teaches us about trusting our path solo or with the rest of the pack. Call on the Wolf spirit animal to guide you during moments when you venture out into the unknown or need help understanding the rules of the game.
Learn about the Wolf power animal
About Spirit Animals
This guide on spirit animals is dedicated to provide a platform where anyone can share information, experiences, and questions and learn more about the meanings of their spirit animal.
Discover The Meaning of Your Spirit Animal
About SpiritAnimal.info
Following the footsteps of traditions from all around the world, this guide on spirit animals also offers a contemporary perspective on this fascinating subject. Blending modern psychology, intuitive work, in-depth research, and personal experience, it provides information easy to read and understand for anyone curious about animals and their power.
Elena Harris, SpiritAnimal.info Editor, tells more about SpiritAnimal.info, the intention, purpose and hopes behind the creation of this guide.
Connect With Your Spirit Animal
A spirit animal characterized by a personal relationship to the individual it is associated with. You can have one or several spirit animals throughout your life, during a specific phase of your life, or at specific occasions.
It is that connection at the individual level that differentiates the power animal from the animal totem that tends to symbolize a group or person's identity. As such, power animals are the equivalent of animal spirit guides or spirit animals.
Your spirit animal often represents qualities and attributes that you may see in yourself. It is instructive to learn about the habits and characteristics of your power animal and see how they are reflected in your own personality and life.
What is the Difference Between a Spirit Animal and a Power Animal?
The terms "spirit animal" and "power animal" are often used interchangeably, even though they have slightly different meaning depending on the context in which they are used.
Spirit Animal Definition
Spirit animals are typically associated with traditional as well as modern Western shamanic practices. During initiations or shamanic journeys, the shaman would find one or several animals that she or another person is associated with. Traditionally, the spirit animal is used for guidance.
Think of your spirit animal as a guardian spirit or spirit guide. It can play the role of protector and provides guidance. It's like a "personal guide or protector" that has a personal affinity with the person it's associated with.
Power Animals
In addition, the spirit of the animal could unite with the person it "chose" in more personal ways and one will often find similarities in traits of personality, characteristics, and synchronicity between the two. As such, the power or essence of the animal can be felt or communicated. In that sense, spirit animals can also be referred to as "power animals".
On this web site, the terms spirit animal, animal spirit guide and power animal are used interchangeably.


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Notes from the Underground is a fictional, first-person "confession" told by a hateful, hyper-conscious man living "underground." Fyodor Dostoevsky, a Russian thinker living in St. Petersburg, wrote Notes in 1864. His wife was dying at the time, so you can speculate on how that might have affected his work. When writing, Dostoevsky said of the work: "It will be a powerful and candid piece; it will be truth."
Later, Notes from the Underground was hailed as a forerunner to existential literature of the 20th century. Dostoevsky explores themes of absurdity, isolation, and radical personal freedom. Philosophers and writers like Friedrich Nietzsche, Jean-Paul Sartre, and Samuel Beckett would take these ideas and run with them, developing more fully an entire school of thought, the seeds of which can be found in Notes. Existentialism, the philosophical belief that individuals (rather than a god or a government or authority) define the meaning of their own lives, blossomed in the 20th century. In other words, Dostoevsky was way ahead of his time.
Even outside of existentialism the impact of Notes from the Underground is staggering. It made popular a distinct and often imitated approach to the novel: the fictional "confession." We see it again in Ralph Ellison's Invisible Man; in fact, the first paragraphs of Ellison's novel are an explicit reference to Notes. Since Dostoevsky published Notes, we've seen everything from homage to parody, and a mountain of literary criticism.
Of course, all of this criticism, being good criticism and all, isn't just talking about Notes from the Underground itself. It's viewing the work in the context of its intellectual history. As you'll soon find out, to study one piece of Russian literature often means studying many pieces of Russian literature. This stems from the fact that guys like Dostoevsky were carrying out their arguments on the written page. It worked like this: someone would write a treatise or argumentative novel, and instead of disagreeing in person, some other guys would just write a treatise or novel back. (This is why there are so many Russian texts.)
Before Dostoevsky wrote Notes, Ivan Turgenev published Fathers and Sons. Go back for a minute to Russia in the 1840's, where, according to Turgenev, there's a growing divide between the older generation (the traditionalist liberal "fathers") and the younger (the growing group of nihilist "sons"). Traditionalists are steeped in Russian Orthodoxy (i.e., a belief God and morality), while the nihilists reject any notion of God or objective truth. Turgenev picks up on this growing divide, makes it the focus of the aptly-named Fathers and Sons, and publishes his earth-shattering novel in 1862.
Meanwhile, big changes are going down in Russia. Feudalism is coming to an end, the plight of the peon is finally brought to light, and governing this all is the European Enlightenment blowing in from the West, bringing with it social, political, and scientific change. (As one example, Darwin's Origin of Species was published in 1859 and first translated into Russian in 1864. This is a big rejection of the classic, age-old idea that God made everything.) The Enlightenment introduces rational egoism, the idea that man will always act reasonably and according to his own best interests.
So in 1863, a year after Turgenev's Fathers and Sons, Nikolai Chernyshevsky publishes his response to the work, a novel called What Is to Be Done? This becomes known as "the handbook of radicalism" (source). It embraces the Enlightenment, praises socialism and rational egoism, and promises to turn all of society into "a Crystal Palace," a technologically-advanced utopia (or ideal society).
Now what about Dostoevsky? Well, back in the 1840's he's hanging out with radical socialist thinkers and loving the idea of reform for Russia. Great, until 1849 when he gets thrown into prison for his intellectual troublemaking. When he finally gets back to St. Petersburg in 1859, he is singing a different tune. Rather than praising the virtues of reform, Dostoevsky is Mr. Traditional Russian Values – just in time to rail on Western European values for changing Russian institutions. Talk about being in the wrong intellectual camp at the wrong time.
And so, finally, in 1864, Dostoevsky writes Notes from the Underground, at least in part as a response to Chernyshevsky's What Is to Be Done? from a year before. Remember, Chernyshevsky was all about rational egoism and the Crystal Palace – both of which are slandered and mocked in Notes from the Underground. Notes argues that man can never be confined to reason – to think as much would be to ignore free will, which, you will soon see, is quite the force of nature.
"There are no more barriers to cross. All I have in common with the uncontrollable and the insane, the vicious and the evil, all the mayhem I have caused, and my utter indifference toward it, I have now surpassed. My pain is constant and sharp, and I do not hope for a better world for anyone. In fact, I want my pain to be inflicted on others. I want no one to escape. But even after admitting this, there is no catharsis. My punishment continues to elude me, and I gain no deeper knowledge of myself. No new knowledge can be extracted from my telling. This confession has meant nothing."
Oh, Dostoevsky, lighten up!
Wait a minute.
That's not Dostoevsky. It's Christian Bale in American Psycho. And now that we've completely distracted you, we're going to talk about Dostoevsky.
Dostoevsky's Underground Man, despite the fact that he's living in a dirty abode underground and has no friends, manages to imagine a life that is, for him, an even worse reality. What if, he wonders, we could someday figure out all the rules of nature? If the world is governed by a series of formulas and laws, and we knew what they all were, we could see everything that was ever going to happen in the world. According to the Underground Man, this would be terrible. For our miserable narrator, this is something out of science fiction. Although conceivable in some far-distant future, this result is in fact a fantasy – that is, it's highly, highly unlikely. And likewise, for us today, it's still highly, highly…
Now wait just another minute. How unlikely is this chilling prediction? Because the fact is, with the burgeoning field of genetics, we're getting closer and closer to writing about the dreaded "little table" with a gridded list of everything man's supposedly "free will" may desire. As Matt Ridley points out in his 2000 bestseller Genome, we claim (and indeed, many of these are subject to debate) to have identified genes for diseases, sexual preferences, intelligence, and personality. How far can we be from an Excel spreadsheet that reads in one tiny box: "Tuesday, August 17, 2017: eats cornflakes for breakfast. Goes for a jog, beats personal mile time by .57 seconds."
This probably makes you uncomfortable, if not outright upset. We rebel against this spreadsheet for the same reasons we rebel against the idea of fate and our parents deciding what we're going to do with our lives. There's a fancy, scholarly, scientific name for this. It's called the "I Can Do Anything I Want!" theorem, a subset of the "You're Not the Boss of Me!" principle. And, as it turns out, it's been making people angry for a long time. For the Underground Man in the 1860s, this principle came to life as an argument against Rationalism, in which the laws of nature took away our control. And now, in the 21st Century, some argue that genetics jeopardizes our ability to decide who we are and what we will do. So, in the words of another very famous Russian, What is To Be Done? How do we reconcile scientific certainty with individual freedom?
Who can say. But we think it's a pretty good sign that we just went from Christian Bale to Rationalism in…seven paragraphs. We don't know about you, but our free will is flexing its muscles. And now we're going to go try to make 2+2 equal 5, just because we say so. If that sounds random, read on… the Underground Man has something to say about that.
The City Below the Line
This is the closest anyone got to making a film out of Notes
A Short Excerpt of Notes from the Underground
This covers the middle section of Part I, Chapter Eight.
Book Cover
A classic cover image for Notes from the Underground.
And another…
With a depressing painting on the cover.
The Author
Fyodor Dostoevsky
The Author in Art
A sculpture of Dostoevsky
"The New Cult of Madness: Thinking As a Bad Habit"
A fascinating Time magazine article exploring the principle that thinking = bad (which you might have concluded from Notes, depending on how optimistic you were feeling at the time).
"Love Life of a Genius"
A 1955 Time magazine article reviewing a book about Dostoevsky's love life.
"Dostoevsky's Whirlwind"
A great biography followed by killer analysis of Dostoevsky's structure and style. Not exactly light reading, though.
"I'll Try Anything With A Detached Air Of Superiority"
This Onion article totally reminds us of the Underground Man.
Can't get enough of Dostoevsky?
Neither can these folks. Check out the "quotes" section, it's a great testament to Dostoevsky's influence outside the literary world.
The Crystal Palace
More info on the Crystal Palace, but remember that this is only half of Dostoevsky's reference (he was also shouting out to Chernyshevsky's metaphor in What Is to Be Done?).
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Epson Photo ET-8500 driver is unavailable
Epson Photo ET-8500 printer driver is Unavailable issue is most-repeated and expected error that can be easily tackled using simple steps-wise and tips. Use the Epson Official page to learn much about the printer specifications and handlings and ensure the printer function using the appropriate settings.
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Install the updated Windows OS
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text:
Swing States Are Swinging Toward Obama
Unemployment is down in swing states, which means support for Barack Obama is up. Recent polls show the president has an advantage over Republican candidate Mitt Romney. And it's still the economy, stupid.
What's made the difference is that unemployment has dropped more sharply in several swing states than in the nation as a whole. A resurgence in manufacturing is helping the economy — and Obama's chances — in the industrial Midwestern states of Ohio and Michigan.
And Arizona, Nevada and Florida, where unemployment remains high, are getting some relief from an uptick in tourism.
The failing economy and high unemployment rate were largely credited with Republican victories in 2010's midterm elections. But improving numbers in many of the 14 states considered to be swing states point to a shift back to the Democrats.
Aside from the polls, there is a clear trend when it comes to unemployment: since 1956, no incumbent president has lost "when unemployment fell over the two years leading up to his re-election contest." By the same token, when the unemployment rate rose, no incumbent president has been re-elected.
But simmer down, Obama fans. It's only April, and this country has a habit of falling apart from time to time.
Political analysts caution that voter sentiment — not to mention economic momentum — can turn fast. A month before the most recent polling, for instance, Obama was running behind or neck-and-neck with Romney in battleground states.
So while the economy has a huge impact on the outcome of November's presidential election, we can't say for certain what it will look like eight months from now. Or, hey, maybe it's just a popularity contest, anyway.
[Image via AP]


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THURSDAY, June 27, 2013 (HealthDay News) -- Breast cancer patients in rural areas of the United States are less likely than those in cities to receive recommended radiation therapy after having a lumpectomy, a new study finds.
Lumpectomy is a breast-sparing surgery that removes only tumors and surrounding tissue.
"The lumpectomy findings are worrisome because lack of follow-up radiation therapy could lead to recurrence, another surgery, and another time period of concern for the woman and her family," Elizabeth Habermann, associate scientific director of surgical outcomes at the Mayo Clinic Center for the Science of Health Care Delivery, said in a Mayo news release.
The analysis of data from nearly 350,000 California breast cancer patients treated between 1996 and 2008 revealed other differences in diagnosis and treatment between rural and urban patients, the researchers said.
Rural women were less likely to have their estrogen-receptor status tested and their tumor graded, which are two important parts of the diagnostic work-up for breast cancer. Rural women were also more likely to choose mastectomy (complete removal of the breast) rather than lumpectomy.
The findings were presented at the AcademyHealth annual research meeting, held June 23-25 in Baltimore.
"These study results are concerning," Habermann said. "All women should receive guideline-recommended cancer care, regardless of where they live."
She and her colleagues said further research is needed to determine the reasons for the differences between rural and urban breast cancer patients, so that action can be taken to correct them.
Despite the deviation from recommended treatment, no significant difference in death rates was noted between rural and urban breast cancer patients.
The data and conclusions of research presented at meetings should be considered preliminary until published in a peer-reviewed medical journal.
More information
The U.S. National Cancer Institute has more about breast cancer treatment.


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Panel Description for ForSE 2009
In decades past, many non-profits have achieved only temporary success and limited scale due to dependence on grants and donations. A new breed of ventures has begun innovating revenue models to build greater capacity and sustain operations. These approaches leverage the power of markets to meet social needs. Whether they're building a socially responsible brand of clothing, providing renewable energy solutions, or bringing banking to the poor, these organizations have discovered the sustainable power of partnering with their customers.
Hear from a panel of innovative organizations that are thinking outside the box in terms of building sustainable models. Click here to register.
- Matthew Kochka, Farm Manager, Revision Urban Farm
- Jodi Rosenbaum Tillinger, Founder More than Words
- John Freele, Founder and Owner, New England Rain Barrel
- Prof Nitin Joglekar, School of Management, Boston University
Equal Exchange – Special In-depth Case Study and solutions brainstorming
Case Presenter: Rodney North, The Answer Man, Equal Exchange
Moderator: Gaurav Rohtagi, Principal, Continuum
Equal Exchange, the Massachusetts-based employee-owned worker co-operative best known for introducing Fair Trade coffee to American grocery stores in that late '80s.
Equal Exchange has over 100 employees in 6 states and $35 million in annual revenue. They've recently won six different awards for their environmentally and socially responsible business practices including the Social Innovation Award from the Financial Times newspaper and the World's Most Democratic Workplace award from WorldBlu.


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Classic American Homes is among El Paso's leading home builders. Since 1988 "Classic" has built over 9,000 new homes in El Paso. Our floor plans are available in a wide range of sizes, features and price ranges to meet the needs of most any buyer. When Classic's founders started building homes over 30 years ago, they didn't want to be one of the biggest, just one of the best. Our superb quality inspections and customer care have gone a long way toward creating the "Classic" quality that is well known throughout El Paso. Just ask a local realtor and they'll tell you. Come visit one of our great El Paso communities where we are "Building the American Dream." What you discover will please you.
April 9, 2018
Check out our photos from the 2018 Parade of HomesRead More
May 2, 2019
Classic American Homes has now sold over 10,000 Homes!Read More