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Editor's note: How would you rate President Obama's first 100 days? You'll get a chance to make your opinion known at 7 p.m. ET Wednesday on the CNN National Report Card.
The Obamas enjoy their new family dog, Bo, at the White House.
(CNN) -- Heather Ferreira works in the slums of Mumbai, India, where she has watched thousands of women live under a "curse."
The women she meets in the squalid streets where "Slumdog Millionaire" was filmed are often treated with contempt, she says. They're considered ugly if their skin and hair are too dark. They are deemed "cursed" if they only have daughters. Many would-be mothers even abort their children if they learn they're female.
Yet lately she says Indian women are getting another message from the emergence of another woman thousands of miles away. This woman has dark skin and hair. She walks next to her husband in public, not behind. And she has two daughters. But no one calls her cursed. They call her Michelle Obama, the first lady.
"She could be a new face for India," says Ferreira, program officer for an HIV-prevention program run by World Vision, an international humanitarian group. "She shows women that it's OK to have dark skin and to not have a son. She's quite real to us."
Those who focus on Michelle Obama's impact on America are underestimating her reach. The first lady is inspiring women of color around the globe to look at themselves, and America, in fresh ways. See photos of past first ladies »
"She might be the first woman of color that females in male-dominated countries have seen as confident, bright, educated, articulate and persuasive," says Barbara Perry, author of "Jacqueline Kennedy: First Lady of the New Frontier."
A symbol for women around the globe
The notion of a woman being a first in anything is alien in many parts of the world. Millions of women struggle against sexual violence, discrimination and poverty, several women activists say.
But Michelle Obama offers a personal rebuke to that message. Her personal story -- born into a blue-collar family; overcoming racism and once even making more money than her husband -- makes her a mesmerizing figure to women across the globe, says Susan M. Reverby, a professor of women's studies at Wellesley College in Massachusetts.
Reverby says this is the first time many women have seen their class and color reflected in America's first lady. Watch how Michelle Obama has done during her first 100 days »
"This is someone who appeals across the usual divides," Reverby says. "She is a celebrity you can imagine being, not a celebrity you have to watch from afar."
A hint of Michelle Obama's global appeal came recently when she spoke at an all-girls school in London, England. The students came from various backgrounds: Muslim, Christian, black and white. Yet they all surged forward, shrieking and even crying, as they hugged the first lady.
Thu Nguyen, a native of Vietnam, wasn't at the London school, but she experienced a similar sense of elation when Obama became first lady.
In her native country, she says women "are not human beings." But when Obama became the first lady, Nguyen called her niece and told her that any hard-working woman could become the first.
Vietnamese women can identify with Michelle Obama, Nguyen says.
"We have a yellow color because we're Asian, so we felt a bond with [Michelle] Obama when she became the first black first lady," says Nguyen, who works at a nail salon in South Pasadena, California.
Some women's identification with the first lady, however, goes deeper than skin color.
Sue Mbaya of Nairobi, Kenya, says the first lady inspires African woman to assert themselves in their personal and professional lives.
Many African women are conditioned to be subservient, she says. They're prevented from rising to management positions in the workplace, and their families often relegate them to taking care of household tasks while sending their brothers off to school.
But Obama is a high achiever who didn't intimidate her husband, says Mbaya, a native of Zimbabwe who is the advocacy director for World Vision's Africa's region.
"I've always liked knowing that she was Barack Obama's supervisor when they first met," Mbaya says. "He once said that he wouldn't be where he is without his wife. That really appeals to me."
Women in the West also find inspiration in Obama.
Christine Louise Hohlbaum, who lives near Munich, Germany, says the first lady impresses German women because she is a powerful public figure who doesn't seem threatening. German history is marked by charismatic leaders who wielded personal power for malevolent ends, she says.
"She's the perfect blend of power and civility. That's important in German culture," says Hohlbaum, author of "The Power of Slow: 101 Ways to Save Time in Our 24/7 World."
How does Michelle Obama define herself?
While other women have defined Obama's appeal, the first lady is refining her role.
She has talked publicly about the pressures military families face. She has encouraged healthy eating by planting a White House garden. She's opened the White House to ordinary people and children. Service to community and family seems to be her theme.
She recently drew the most attention for what she did, not said, during a visit to London. She briefly embraced Britain's Queen Elizabeth II, breaking royal protocol. The Queen, however, according to press accounts, responded warmly to the first lady's embrace.
Obama has often been compared to another regal woman: Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis. But Autumn Stephens, author of "Feisty First Ladies," says that Obama reminds her more of former first lady Hillary Clinton.
"But Hillary really downplayed the mom part, whereas Michelle has really played it up," Stephens says. "She is straddling both worlds."
In a poll of first ladies, certain women are invariably cited by historians as the most noteworthy: Abigail Adams, Lady Bird Johnson and Eleanor Roosevelt, who is widely considered to be the most influential first lady, Stephens says.
Where would Stephens rank Michelle Obama?
"She's got the whole package," Stephens says. "She's in a class by herself."
All About Michelle Obama • World Vision • Eleanor Roosevelt


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Restaurant fundraisers promote pet causes
Restaurants are going to the dogs ... and the cats, and various other friends of the four-legged variety.
From Doggie Happy Hours to seasonal dinners raising money for animal charities, the white tablecloth set is serving up a little pet philanthropy.
The eat well, do good movement marries two trends — the fascination with things furry (kitten videos, anyone?) as well as our nearly insatiable appetite for great, memorable food.
"I think we're a good match with a lot of charitable events because of the nature of our business," points out Ron Patak, vice president of student operations at Culinard, the Culinary Institute of Virginia College, which runs the Kitchen on George restaurant in Mobile, Ala.
So, when Kitchen on George opened late last year, it decided to throw a "Pooches on the Patio" event to benefit the Mobile SPCA. The event — which indeed featured pooches quite literally on the restaurant's patio — was such a success, the restaurant repeated it this spring, drawing 80 to 100 people and about 15 dogs.
Guests donated $25 for admission to the party, which included wine, cheese and hors d'oeuvres, and the SPCA brought along animals in need of homes. The visiting dogs were well behaved, money was raised for the SPCA and three homeless dogs were adopted, the same number as were adopted in the earlier fundraiser, Patak said.
A little further up the East Coast, dogs are welcome at regular Doggie Happy Hours in the courtyard of the Jackson 20 restaurant at Hotel Monaco-Alexandria near Washington, D.C. The restaurant also has been hosting "Bitch & Whine" tastings featuring the libations of Virginia vineyards to benefit local pet charities. And at Halloween they put on a Doggie Happy Howl-o-ween costume contest with registration and door donations going to the Animal Welfare League of Alexandria.
The Hotel Monaco-Alexandria is seriously pet friendly. If you can't bring Fido they'll lend you a goldfish. And it's not the only hotel unleashing a little animal love.
At Rosewood Sand Hill south of San Francisco, the hotel's Michelin-starred Madera restaurant has an annual Easter celebration that includes a brunch and a petting zoo on the hotel lawn. Proceeds from the petting zoo admission benefit the Palo Alto Humane Society.
Wineries also have a long tradition of supporting animal charities, with the latest in the wine-canine connection coming via Frenchie Winery at Raymond Vineyards in the Napa Valley.
Billed as the only tasting room designed exclusively for dogs, Frenchie Winery is named after winery proprietor Jean-Charles Boisset's French bulldog. It features five kennel spaces boasting wine barrel dog beds with an outdoor play area and a tasting bar that dispenses water. Meanwhile, guests tasting wine in the human tasting room can keep an eye on the whole thing by doggie-cam.
Plans are under way for events including mobile pet grooming and pet adoption, and donations are being made through wines featuring Frenchie on the label dressed as historical figures — current releases include the 2009 Frenchie Napoleon Red Blend and 2009 Frenchie Louis XIV Cabernet Sauvignon. A dollar for every bottle of Frenchie wine produced in 2012 will be donated to the ASPCA.

subset: commoncrawl


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First Lady Michelle Obama's Princeton classmate is a top executive at the company that earned the contract to build the failed Obamacare website.
Toni Townes-Whitley, Princeton class of '85, is senior vice president at CGI Federal, which earned the no-bid contract to build the $678 million Obamacare enrollment website at Healthcare.gov. CGI Federal is the U.S. arm of a Canadian company.
Townes-Whitley and her Princeton classmate Michelle Obama are both members of the Association of Black Princeton Alumni.
Toni Townes '85 is a onetime policy analyst with the General Accounting Office and previously served in the Peace Corps in Gabon, West Africa. Her decision to return to work, as an African-American woman, after six years of raising kids was applauded by a Princeton alumni publication in 1998
George Schindler, the president for U.S. and Canada of the Canadian-based CGI Group, CGI Federal's parent company, became an Obama 2012 campaign donor after his company gained the Obamacare website contract.
As reported by the Washington Examiner in early October, the Department of Health and Human Services reviewed only CGI's bid for the Obamacare account. CGI was one of 16 companies qualified under the Bush administration to provide certain tech services to the federal government. A senior vice president for the company testified this week before The House Committee on Energy and Commerce that four companies submitted bids, but did not name those companies or explain why only CGI's bid was considered.
On the government end, construction of the disastrous Healthcare.gov website was overseen by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), a division of longtime failed website-builder Kathleen Sebelius' Department of Health and Human Services.


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The move, announced at Heineken's Extraordinary General Meeting in Singapore today (September 28), will up the Dutch brewer's share in APB from 55.6% to 95.3%.
The purchase is set against a backdrop of strong and growing beer sales in Asia Pacific. The region has driven global beer sales in recent years, while traditional, mature beer markets such as North America and Europe have endured sluggish or flat growth.
Among APB's 40-brand portfolio of owned and distributed brands are Tiger beer, Heineken, Anchor beer, Baron's Strong Brew, ABC Extra Stout, Archipelago beers and Bintang beer.
Jean-François van Boxmeer, Heineken chairman and chief executive officer said: "Once completed, this transaction will further increase Heineken's financial and geographic exposure to emerging markets and strengthen our competitive position in one of the most exciting regions in the world.
"Our regional headquarters will remain in Singapore with the Heineken and Tiger brands at the heart of our portfolio. We are now ideally positioned to expand our presence across the region and create long-term financial and strategic value for our shareholders."
Zsuzsa Szilagyi, alcoholic drinks research analyst at Euromonitor International said of the move: "The deal came as no surprise, as ThaiBev, which became the largest shareholder of F&N following a series of share buys, agreed to vote in Heineken's favour earlier this month.
"As mature beer markets in Europe and North America are forecast to remain sluggish over 2011-2016, while Asia Pacific is expected to continue to drive global volume growth, the move increases Heineken's growth prospects and ensures its position among the leading brewers.
"Just like other major brewers, Heineken has also been increasingly focusing on emerging markets. Through the deal the company becomes the leading brewer in Indonesia and Singapore and can also benefit from APB's established presence in Malaysia, Vietnam, Thailand and China. Moreover, the deal is expected to boost the company's margins as well in the region, as APB has a strong position in premium lager, with its key Tiger brand enjoying widespread distribution."
The transaction remains subject to regulatory approvals in Singapore and New Zealand and is expected to be complete in November 2012, after which APB will be fully consolidated into Heineken's accounts.


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Museum in the cottage at Polliwog Park
1601 Manhattan Beach Boulevard
Manhattan Beach, California 90266 Open: Saturday and Sunday Noon - 3pm
Admission: FREE but donations are gratefully accepted
Phone: (310) 802-5452
E-mail: Questions regarding local history at firstname.lastname@example.com
We have quarterly general meetings at the Beach Cottage museum at 11:00 am on selected Saturdays. The subject of these lectures is history in the Santa Monica Bay region. The general public are invited to these free lectures.
The mission of the Manhattan Beach Historical Society (MBHS) is to honor the people who came before us by collecting, preserving, documenting, researching and displaying the city's rich history to ensure that its significance will be appreciated for generations to come.
The non-profit Society consists of all-volunteer help. Its main purpose is to educate citizens on the history of Manhattan Beach. The Society uses the following teaching tools: artifact and photo displays, books, videos, films, old newspaper articles, and recordings of history. The Society holds free quarterly meetings with qualified speakers covering various subjects on local history and we have a quarterly newsletter which members can participate in by writing us. The Society has published two hard cover pictorial history books: Manhattan Beach 90266 and I'll Take Manhattan and a series of monographs and brochures, tracing the growth of the city. Free information flyers for the public, old memorabilia and knowledgeable docents are the teaching tools of the Society. Museum facilities also include a bookstore and gift shop.
Cottage Address:
1601 Manhattan Beach Boulevard
Manhattan Beach, CA 90266
Mailing Address:
Post Office Box 3355
Manhattan Beach, CA 90266


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Q2 GDP growth unexpectedly revised up to nine-year high
Britain's economy grew faster than originally thought in the second quarter of the year, with growth hitting a nine-year high, official data showed on Friday, but analysts doubt the pace of recovery can be sustained.
The Office for National Statistics said the economy grew by 1.2 percent in the three months to June, up from its preliminary estimate of 1.1 percent, after construction output proved stronger than first estimated. Analysts expected no revision.
On the year, the economy grew 1.7 percent in the second quarter -- 0.1 percentage points higher than the ONS's first estimate and economists' forecasts.
The UK grew 0.3 percent in the first three months of 2010.
The figures provide further evidence that Britain's economic recovery accelerated sharply during the first half of the year but economists are concerned that a weakening world economy and looming UK government spending cuts will sap growth in 2011.
Revised construction output figures were published earlier in the month and the ONS had said these could add 0.1 percentage points to GDP.
The second quarter is still likely to represent the high point of quarterly growth as fiscal tightening and a renewed slowdown in global activity constrains a more robust recovery, said Hetal Mehta, an economist for Daiwa Capital Markets.
The zero contribution from net trade is disappointing and questions how much the UK can rely on an export-led recovery.
Sterling was half a cent lower against the dollar after the figures because some traders had bet on an even bigger upward revision, but gilt futures were little moved as the data showed little to alter the outlook for monetary policy.
The GDP data showed household expenditure rose 0.7 percent on the quarter and 1.0 percent on the year. That was the biggest quarterly rise since Q1 2008 and comes after a 0.1 percent fall in the first quarter.
A slowdown has not shown up in most of the third quarter data available so far, with recent reports showing retail sales rising strongly and factory orders rebounding although purchasing managers indexes for August slowed somewhat.
The overall conclusion is that we are not going to see this plunge in GDP growth in Q3 back close to zero as some people are saying, I think more likely something around half a percent, said Brian Hilliard, UK economist at Societe Generale.
Second quarter growth was also boosted by the fact that firms built up inventories for the first time since the third quarter of 2008.
However, growth in services output -- which account for more than two-thirds of the economy -- was revised down on the quarter to 0.7 percent from 0.9 percent.
That was largely down to a slump in air transport which the ONS said had been affected by the Icelandic ash cloud that blocked flights across northern Europe in April and May.
Government spending growth was also weaker in the second quarter at 0.3 percent compared with 1.5 percent in the first three months of the year, which was the strongest since the final quarter of 2008.
(Editing by Mike Peacock)


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The Secret Beyond Matter
God tells us to "Make peace between Muslims." That is the command of God. It is religiously unlawful for Muslims to be at odds with each other. "And obey God and His Messenger." That means obey the Qur'an. Surat Al-Anfal,Verse 1.
Surat Al-Anfal, Verse 46; God says; "Obey God and His Messenger and do not quarrel among yourselves." That means it is unlawful to quarrel among ourselves. Quarreling is unlawful just like eating pork meat, it is unlawful just like drinking wine or like gambling.
"Tumult is worse than slaughter. That means it is unlawful. What I ask of all my brothers and sisters, is that – for the good pleasure of God- they avoid writing provocative articles that would instigate dissension and cause even further tension."
Furthermore, there is also tumult here; tumult is worse than slaughter says Almighty God. Not only quarreling, but dissension and tumult is also taking place. Tumult is worse that slaughter. For that reason no one should incite this tumult. No one should write articles that instigate further tumult. May God forbid, that would be very, very wrong.
"Obey God and His Messenger and do not quarrel among yourselves lest you lose heart and your momentum disappear. And be steadfast. God is with the steadfast." What does losing heart mean? Your connections would be severed, you would lose heart, you would be devastated and crushed, says God. You will lose your power; you would have nothing to do. You would lose your power of resistance. You would lose your power to improve, you would lose your health and welfare, you would lose heart, says God. You would lose all your material and spiritual power. You would be paralyzed, says God.
"And be steadfast," says God. Alright, there might be something going on, that is right, but you need to be steadfast and it needs to be calmed down.
None of our brothers or sisters should ever write anything unfavorable, for the love of God. They should avoid writing anything that would cause tension and incite tumult.
"God is with the steadfast." Look, if you are steadfast everything will calm down and made right, says God.
For that reason there is no need to instigate the tumult that is going on. The command of God is explicit. What does "...tumult is worse than slaughter" mean? It is like you're killing a person. That means provoking tumult is like killing a person. For that reason, for the love of God, they should write calming articles, there is no need for writing things that would cause further tension and that would instigate tumult.
In Surah Al-Imran, Verse 103, Almighty God says, I seek refuge with God from the satan, "Hold fast to the rope of God all together." Hold fast to the Qur'an altogether. What does "hold fast" mean? It means uncompromisingly abide by the Qur'an.
"And do not separate." Act in unity, do not separate. "Remember God´s blessing to you…" Look at the beautiful blessings that we are living in. "... when you were enemies and He joined your hearts together so that you became brothers by His blessing." We've been saved from the gangs, from the tumult, right? We've been saved from those who are bullying our people; we've been saved from unsolved murders.
"You were on the very brink of a pit of the Fire and He rescued you from it." The pit of fire; that is the Ergenekon Terror Organization: God has rescued Muslims from that. "In this way God makes His Signs clear to you, so that hopefully you will be guided."
What is the sense in rocking Turkey like this? What is the sense in dragging Turkey into this fire? Look; everything is in such a mess and some of them are still stirring up dissension. There is major tumult going on, why do you not calm it down?
No one, I kindly repeat my request, no one should ever write anything unfavorable and inciting. Be a soother [of tensions].
The law is working in Turkey. The court made those arrests; if they ascertain any crime, they will give the necessary punishment or else those arrested would be acquitted. The law is working in Turkey. They haven't let them out, they court has arrested them and they say that they will put them on trial, that is okay. What will they say if they are acquitted? If they are guilty, let them serve their time but there are many people committing illegal acts. There are millions of guilty people all around the world; it is not something just newly discovered only in Turkey. We need to use a calming, soothing language.
While everything is going on very nicely and smoothly, instigating this tumult is not acceptable. "Tumult is worse than slaughter": This is a verse of the Qur'an. It is religiously unlawful for Muslims to have a falling out with each other and putting forth an effort to unite Muslim is a religious obligation.
"Just like the time for prayers, now is the time for the act of worship that is uniting Muslims and calming down the dissension."
Right now is the time for the act of worship that is uniting Muslims, just like the time for performing prayers; the time for this service has come. This is the time for this religious service. Something happened, and the time for this act has come. At this moment all Muslims are responsible of performing this act of worship. That is an explicit religious obligation. It is a command on everyone. It is the duty of every Muslim. Calming down tumult, reconciling and soothing [tensions] down is everyone's duty. Just like giving alms, giving zakat, this is also a religious obligation; we all have to work to calm down this tumult, insha'Allah." (Adnan Oktar; December 22nd, 2013: A9 TV)2013-12-23 23:12:36


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Scorching heat was a surprise, but Kenyan winners were not
BOSTON — Trailing the leaders by 200 yards when the Boston Marathon slogged through Heartbreak Hill, Wesley Korir passed them one by one until he took the lead on his way out of Kenmore Square.
That's when leg cramps forced him to slow down and relinquish the lead.
"It's hot out there, in case you didn't know," he told reporters after enduring temperatures that rose into the 80s to win the 116th Boston Marathon on Monday. "I knew it was going to be hot, and one important thing that I had to take care of today, was really hydrate as much as possible. I guess my biology degree kicked in a little bit."
Singing religious songs as he plodded along the scorching pavement, the native Kenyan — a permanent resident of the United States — retook the lead from Levy Matebo in the final mile to win in a heat-slowed time of 2 hours, 12 minutes, 40 seconds.
It was almost 10 minutes behind the world best established here a year ago by Geoffrey Mutai and the second-slowest Boston victory since 1985. Mutai, who was hoping a repeat victory would earn him a spot on the Kenyan Olympic team, dropped out after 18 miles with stomach cramps.
Instead, it was Korir who may have won a ticket to the London Games.
"To me, I think running the Boston Marathon is an Olympic event," the two-time Los Angeles Marathon winner said. "I don't care what comes up after this, but I'm really, really happy to win Boston."
Sharon Cherop won the women's race to complete the Kenyan sweep, outkicking Jemima Jelagat Sumgong to win by 2 seconds in 2:31:50. The women's winner was decided by a sprint down Boylston Street for the fifth consecutive race — all of them decided by 3 seconds or less.
Cherop, who was also hoping to be selected for the Kenyan Olympic team, was third at the world championships and third in Boston last year.
"This time around, I was really prepared," she said. "Last time the race went so fast and I didn't know I was about to finish. I didn't know the course well and I didn't know the finish line was coming."
Matebo finished 26 seconds behind Korir, and Bernard Kipyego was third as Kenyans swept the podium in both genders. Jason Hartmann, of Boulder, Colo., was in fourth place and the top American.
"The pace wasn't blasting, so it wasn't anything that was over my head," Hartmann said. "There were so many times that you wanted to throw in the towel, but you just fought on. I don't think that anyone coming to this race really could say they were prepared for this heat."
Korir was the 19th Kenyan men's winner in 22 years. But he is hardly typical of the African runners who have come to dominate the event since Greg Meyer became the last American winner in 1983.
After starting college at Murray State — the Racers, naturally — he transferred to Louisville and graduating from there with a biology degree. He is hoping to receive American citizenship within a few years.
The winners will receive $150,000 apiece. Korir and his wife, Canadian runner Tarah McKay, run a foundation in his hometown of Kitale and have been building a hospital in the memory of his brother Nicholas, who was killed by a black mamba snake at the age of 10.
The heat slowed the leaders and led to warnings that may have convinced as many as 4,300 no-shows to sit this one out. Race organizers offered those who picked up their registration packets but did not start the opportunity to save a place in next year's race.
The largely unprecedented offer was issued in response to forecasts that called for temperatures rising from 69 at the start to a high of 87 by mid-afternoon, when runners were still streaming across the Back Bay finish line at the end of their 26.2-mile trek.
A total of 22,426 runners started the race in Hopkinton — about 84 percent of the registered field of 26,716 entrants. A total of 3,683 never collected their bib numbers over the weekend. Another 427 who picked up their starting bibs did not show up at the start; they will be offered a chance to run in 2013 instead.
The heat didn't seem to be a problem for Canadian Joshua Cassidy, who won the men's wheelchair race in a time of 1 hour, 18 minutes, 25 seconds that beat the previous world best by 2 seconds. American Shirley Reilly edged Japan's Wakako Tsuchida during a sprint to the finish in the women's wheelchair division.
But Korir said that after coming from sixth place at Mile 20 to take the lead, he struggled to maintain his pace and Matebo went back in front.
"I started to get really bad cramps in my legs and needed to slow down and needed to slow down a little bit and ... I was then passed," Korir said. "Soon, I started to feel better and was able to pick up my speed again."
One year after cool temperatures and a significant tailwind helped Mutai finish in 2:03:02 for the fastest marathon ever, the heat had elite runners preparing for a slower pace and recreational runners trying to figure out how to finish at all.
The Boston Athletic Association warned runners to be alert for signs of heat stroke and dehydration and asked those who were inexperienced or ill to skip this race. The B.A.A. also offered a limited deferment in 2010, when the Icelandic volcano eruption stalled air traffic in Europe and prevented about 300 runners from getting to Boston.
Five-gallon jugs of water — twice as many as usual, organizers said — were already lining the route early in the morning as volunteers and medical staff stood by preparing for the influx of hot and tired runners.
The Boston Marathon has had its share of hot weather, with the thermometer hitting 97 degrees during the 1909 race that came to be known as "The Inferno" and the 1976 "Run for the Hoses" that started in 100-degree heat and finished with spectators sprinkling winner Jack Fultz with garden hoses to cool him down.
Hopkinton residents Ted and Nanda Barker-Hook have been handing out sports drinks, coffee, water, bananas, and sunscreen on the road leading to the starting gate for the past five years.
This year, no one was touching the coffee.
Those who did show up said they were prepared.
"You've got to know your own body," Mike Buenting, of Minneapolis, who has run 10 marathons, said as he waited for the starting gun. "You have to know how to hydrate and the rest will take care of itself."


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Leave Justin Bieber Alone: America's Problem with Male Child Stars
The media narrative surrounding Justin Bieber has spiraled out of control. He's this year's Anne Hathaway, the person whom it's vogue to hate. But this turn isn't completely unfounded. Over the past few years, Bieber has undoubtedly become a bit of a jerk.
He was charged for illegal (and seemingly racist) graffiti, pissed in a mop bucket, left his monkey in Germany and could anyone seriously forget this hat? But for non-Beliebers, there has always been something grating about the singer. Everything from his swoopy hair to his sugar-pop love songs seemed designed to annoy all post-pubescents on sight, breeding discontent which lay dormant until his penchant for leather sweatpants and hocking loogies made him impossible to ignore.
Then all hell broke loose.
Justin Bieber's downward spiral: A timeline of bad behavior
Bieber is in the middle of that tricky transition from child star to adult. But unlike Miley Cyrus, Bieber can't just put on a skimpy outfit and hump a foam finger to signify his maturity. It's come to be expected that child stars burn down their innocent image in the shift to an adult career, but when their old franchise is nothing but ash the women still have one thing left standing: their sexuality. This is problematic for an entirely different set of reasons, but sadly it also provides female child stars the means to maintain some form of fan and industry support, no matter how misogynistic it might be.
But for the men, there is no quick antidote to destroying the very foundation of their fame. They're just another peach-stachioed kid who used to be cuter than they are now. So how does a male child star assert control over his image and establish himself an adult? Aggression, cockiness and rowdiness remain foundations of modern masculinity - boys will be boys, after all - so does it come as any surprise that these are the exact traits Bieber is exhibiting with naïve desperation in the hopes of being respected, not as an artist, but as a man?
There are the few male child stars who have been able to navigate the problematic move from baby faced ingénue to bonafide star. But for every Justin Timberlake and Ryan Gosling, there are the dozens of Corey Haims, Corey Feldmans,Edward Furlongs and Macaulay Culkins. Why do people seem so hell-bent to add Bieber to that list? Especially because we are the reason Bieber feels like he has something to prove in the first place.
For his entire career, criticisms of Bieber have focused on ridiculing his manhood - calling him a lesbian, a little b---- and accusing him of PMSing if - God forbid - he expressed emotion or vulnerability. After spending his entire adolescence accused of being less than a man, is it really so hard to understand why he is trying to emulate hyper-masculinity?
Yes, it's been awkward to watch and he's made plenty of mistakes, but he's only 19. Bieber's still figuring out who he is and how that reconciles with society's expectations of him. Unfortunately, it seems as though what society expects is the popular pre-set narrative we anticipate with Schadenfreude-ian glee: that of the child star gone bad.
Drew Barrymore and other child stars gone bad
Since his most recent string of troubles - which include an egging and an assault charge - people have been quick to speculate on when his seemingly eminent breakdown and subsequent trip to rehab will happen. He's even been repeatedly compared to Haim, Lindsay Lohan, Amanda Bynes and Britney Spears. But despite his affinity for marijuana, Bieber doesn't appear to be an addict (like Haim or Lohan). Nor does he have any known mental illness (like, allegedly, Bynes or Spears). So why does everyone treat Bieber as though his life has hit rock bottom?
It's simple. There's no money or excitement in Bieber being kind of reckless, so we sensationalize in order to turn him into this year's train wreck. That drag racing DUI Bieber was supposedly arrested for? He was actually driving under the speed limit at the time and only blew a .04, which is below the legal limit for those of legal age to drink. The singer did admit to smoking pot earlier that night and had taken a Xanax, which he might even have a prescription for, but neither of which is cause for such national alarm. (However, the Miami P.D. lying about the reason they pulled the star over certainly deserves critical attention.)
Bieber's recent behavior is in no way admirable, but he has leagues to go before he warrants the level of concern and criticism he's received. Plenty of other celebrities are just as debaucherous or criminal, yet they aren't turned into a national punch line (or punching bag). When Rihanna gets high or shows up late to a concert, she gets rock star immunity. When Bieber does it, Jon Bon Jovi calls him "an a--hole."
Sadly, Bon Jovi isn't the only one to use his celebrity status as leverage to publically bully Bieber. Last year, Olivia Wildethrew shade at the singer after seeing a photo of him leaving his birthday party shirtless. "Bieber, put your f---ing shirt on. (unless you lost all your shirts in a fire in which case my condolences and please purchase a new shirt.)" she broadcast to her one million-plus Twitter followers. Following Bieber's DUI arrest, Seth Rogen told his nearly two million followers that, "All jokes aside, Justin Bieber is a piece of sh--." Wilde's tweet received 13,000 retweets; Rogen's 200,000.
But why? Neither tweet is particularly clever. And if puns are the lowest form of humor, where does attacking a teenager land?
The reason is simple: People mock Bieber because it's easy. Not because it's right. Yet the entire discussion surrounding the singer is tinged with moral elitism, looking down on Bieber's disorderly and disobedient behavior as though pointing out others' missteps implies we're above such follies.
Celebrities open themselves up to criticism, but like all child stars, Bieber was not able to give fully informed consent to this life-long invasion of privacy. When defending Bieber, people are quick to use his young age as leverage for leniency. But when it comes down to it, it doesn't matter how old Bieber is. What matters is that society has deemed it acceptable for thousands of people to publicly harass someone whose worst offense is simply being kind of obnoxious.
Celebrities who've survived scandal
Where is this critical eye and public outrage when it comes to Sean Penn? In 1988, he allegedly climbed into Madonna's house, tied her to a chair and assaulted her for nine hours. What about Jimmy Page? The Led Zeppelin guitarist reportedly kidnapped a 14-year-old girl and began a relationship with her. And when it comes to successful men with past allegations of rape and sexual assault, Page is far from alone. Rob Lowe wrapped up his praised run on Parks and Rec and is now staring in an NBC pilot. Bill Cosby, whose multiple sexual assault claims have recently resurfaced, is currently developing a wholesome family sitcom for NBC. And let's not even get started on Woody Allen.
Yet these men and countless others are still successful and treated with respect. What gives?
There are those who argue for separation of the art from the artist, a defense I do not necessarily believe in but find oddly absent from the conversation surrounding Bieber. In December, the singer released not only the best album of his career, but a good album in its own right. And don't like my Belieber status fool you; I'm not the only one to think so.
A soulful R&B record, Journals is a far cry from the bubblegum Bieber rose to fame on. It's patient, subtle and sincere. When he was booed at the Billboard Music Awards last year, he told the audience that it should be about the music and he was right. Yet no one seems willing to look past his public image and give him a chance.
Justin Bieber doesn't owe us anything. He doesn't have to be a "good boy" and he doesn't have to fit into the accepted "bad boy" model, either. All he has to do is make good music. That's his job and he's doing it well. But that doesn't seem to be enough anymore.
We want to know our celebrities, to see a glamorized reflection of ourselves in their image. We raise them up to impossible heights, but expect them to be humble. And when they don't live up to our expectations we crucify them publically and viciously. Bieber might be a spoiled piece of sh-- right now, but this mob mentality against him won't make him a better person. If anything, it only makes us worse.
What we need to do is give Bieber some room to breathe and to grow up. If he's still an imbecile in five years, then we'll talk. But for now, just leave Bieber alone.
View original Leave Justin Bieber Alone: America's Problem with Male Child Stars at TVGuide.com
Other Links From TVGuide.com


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The morning was bright and for once I decided to leave Dorset for the neighbouring county to do a 15 mile walk through some wonderful countryside and villages. The day started in one of those beautiful meadows that are a dream to walk; the long grass swaying in the gentle breeze, the skylarks' sweet song soaring above me, the butterflies fluttering by, the bees and bugs buzzing all around – just a dream!
In the meadow
Have you ever thought of a walk being tactile? Walking through the meadow hearing, seeing, smelling (if I had a sense of smell), but feeling too as I walked with fingers outstretched combing through the heads of the long swaying grass. It was a lovely feeling that added another dimension – a real multi-sensory meadow!
After a mile or two my route took me along a lane rife with tall, delicate cow parsley, always a delight in summer.
A lane lined with cow parsley
Pushing my way through the at times overgrown lane with grass and flowers brushing my legs, I was somewhat glad that the recent weather had been dry. The lane eventually gave way to more open ground as I reached the edge of a field and passed an old, rustic fence post, its rough solidness contrasting with the flimsy grasses around it. I ran my fingers over the post, feeling its roughness and wondering who else's hands had done that same thing over the many years it had been there. With hedging and missing gate, the post seemed surplus and yet still added something to a lovely rural scene.
A lovely rural scene
Eventually I reached the first village, and a beautiful village it was. I love walking the countryside but I also love walking these old villages with their old cottages, some picturesque and some functional, all part of a local community that has existed and seen many changes over the centuries. Strange to think that cottages like the one below once housed poor farm workers but so often now are second homes for the wealthy. How times have changed and what stories these cottages could tell.
Picturesque or functional, always a delight
Passing out of the village along a quiet country lane, I joined another footpath that skirted round a hill. The heights reached on this walk are not mountainous but the views are none-the-less beautiful for that and I stopped to take in the landscape below me.
Low hills but still great views
The hill itself was a real surprise! Known as Windmill Hill, presumably because at one time there was a windmill there, the area was covered in beautiful blue flax, not the most common farm crop. The breeze blowing across the hill rustled through the flowers creating a waving sea of blue.
A waving sea of blue
There was more tactile to come but unfortunately not so positive – the path beyond the blue hill was overgrown with stinging nettles; shorts and nettles are not a good combination! I picked my way carefully through and eventually reached clearer ground as the path skirted along the edge of some woodland with some lovely dappled sunlight filtering through. It was like a fairyland and I tried to capture it with the camera.
A fairyland
Another picturesque village, and a lunch stop, followed before I once again made my way out into the countryside. The crops in the fields were already ripening and the paths through them were narrow and once again I walked with outstretched fingers feeling the touch of the full seed heads. The golden grain swayed in the breeze as I walked.
Golden grain
And naturally a poppy or two joined in.
More fields followed with contrasting crops, the delicacy of oats to the touch and the robustness of barley. The feel of these is so different, and the look too of course with the barley field seeming to impersonate the sea as wave after wave rolls across the field ahead of the breeze. Narrow paths and high crops, I couldn't resist running my outstretched fingers through the heads once again.
Contrasting crops
I stopped in the middle of the barley field, watching the 'waves' and listening to the rustling of swaying stalks. It was a delight and made me think of W H Davies words, 'What is life, if full of care, we have no time to stand and stare?' We should, indeed, must take time to stand and stare, and to touch and feel too, to fully take in all that is around us.
But I needed to move on, as the day was ticking by, and leaving the field behind me, I joined a wonderfully picturesque path along a ridge top, again not a high ridge but with lovely views on each side.
Along the ridge
Eventually I neared the end of my journey, but there was more to come. For the last stretch, I joined a rampart and ditch that had once formed the fortification along the county boundary. I sat for some time with the long meadow grass waving around me, drinking in the scene. What history there is in these ramparts, what blood must have been shed on their flanks that are now covered with the most delightful wild flowers and butterflies – a beautiful place of peace after centuries of strife.
On the rampart
The final part of my walk was back through the meadows that I had started out from. Still with skylarks serenading me overhead, and a myriad wild flowers to welcome me back, I took some time to capture the scene, and to try to capture the essence of the meadow which I love so much. In reality, this is an impossible task since the meadow is a place that needs all of your senses to take in its joys and a camera can only do the visual.
The essence of a beautiful meadow
God gave us all our senses to enjoy but so often we neglect to use them, rushing through life hardly noticing what is around us. The sense of touch is particularly not associated with walking as much as sight and sound but it can really add another dimension to a good walk – so next time you go out walking, make it a tactile walk.
Thanks for stopping by.
Until next time,
Your friend
The Dorset Rambler.
If you would like to contact me, my details are on my website which is http://www.yarrowphotography.com – comments and feedback are welcomed.
All photographs, poems and words in this blog are the copyright of The Dorset Rambler and must not be reproduced without permission.


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Bigfoot: The Yeti and Sasquatch in Myth and Reality
Dutton, 1973 - Animals - 240 pages
An investigation, by a primate biologist, into the alleged existence of the Abominable Snowman, or yeti, of the Himalayas and of his "cousin" the Sasquatch, or Bigfoot, of the Pacific Northwest.
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Breakfast at Tiffany's Film Review
A brand spanking new year and the end of the month (and Superbowl) is here. Almost. The (nearly) last day in January means it's time once more to restart the parallel post series. If you're new to this, that's when the blogger otherwise known as the Scientist Gone Wordy and I take on a pair of literary and cinema works that share an interconnection. Traditionally my colleague Rachel will examine and review the text of a book later adapted to film, which I will critique.
As well, we're kicking off with one of the two reader selections for this series determined last month.
Today the wordy one peruses 1958's Breakfast at Tiffany's by the famed American author, screenwriter, playwright, actor Truman Capote and his best known creation. Holly Golightly, one of the "…unattached, unconventional wanderers, dreamers in pursuit of some ideal of happiness.", as Capote's aunt Marie Rudisill once noted. The source novella the basis for the 1961 film adaptation I'm commenting on. Rachel's book review can be found here:
Breakfast at Tiffany's by Truman Capote
A brief synopsis of the film: Struggling writer (what else is there?) Paul Varjak moves into a New York City apartment building. Because he has the wrong key, he rings by chance the living quarters of the pretty, quirky, and future neighbor, Holly Golightly, to be let in. At once, Paul becomes intrigued by the young woman's shall we say unique lifestyle, which confuses and fascinates the scribe. Everyone who enters her sphere of influence discovers she flits her way through various parties and engagements with a titillating self-reliant sophistication. In private, though, when alone with Paul, Holly's gold digger personality ebbs and her background story begins to emerge. Her vulnerability and their meeting is the crux of the story.
[spoiler warning: some key elements of the film could be revealed in this review]
"I'm like cat here, a no-name slob. We belong to nobody, and nobody belongs to us. We don't even belong to each other."
Without a doubt, growing up in the '60s made an impression. No less so because Breakfast at Tiffany's was one of the films that cemented my love for my all-time favorite Hepburn. Audrey. Catching it on the small screen one evening on grandma's old Admiral TV set that decade set the hook ever deeper for the rail-thin beauty and future humanitarian. Watching it once more for this review, my son joined in and it was good to see it had the same effect.
He, too, became confused and instantly smitten with you-know-who.
Originally, Capote had wanted Marilyn Monroe in the lead role for Holly. She was cast, but her acting coach Lee Strasberg talked her out of it. Ultimately, the author was disappointed with this film adaptation of his story.
It's easy to see why the 1961 film Breakfast At Tiffany's was preserved as part of the U.S. National Film Registry a couple of years back. Like the character of Holly Golightly, the film has an affect with those who come into contact with it. With her, too. The free-spirit party girl dependent on men to get by, with an incurable romantic streak. Loosely based on the Capote novella, it's a surprising mix of lighthearted comedy and romantic drama.
Holly simultaneously a showstopper and head-scratcher, at least for the men in the same room with her. Those falling for the "real" fake as they gandered at the big or little screen, as well. The character an amalgam of some actual friends among the rich and social elite the author came to know in his extensive travels. Though the film's script, in George Axelrod's screenplay treatment, put aside aspects that would have been taboo1 in the early '60s.
Still, the film remains a marvelous vehicle for Audrey's onscreen allure. Someone who held your attention without the need of more blatant sexuality, à la Marilyn, but with near-level attraction. Hard to imagine, till you see Audrey on celluloid, that is. Could almost be said of its New York City setting, as well. Manhattan's Swinging Sixties era captured through Franz Planer's stellar cinematography (with help by Philip H. Lathrop) in a manner that could only be described as iconic.
Gotham a cinematic barometer for the country in many ways2.
"It should take you exactly four seconds to cross from here to that door. I'll give you two."
The entire package director Blake Edwards put together thoroughly engaging, with a caveat. Breakfast at Tiffany's became the unexpected touchstone film3 for the period. Yet, it's no surprise for this filmmaker. The versatile Edwards made a name delivering on romantic, comical fare to this point (Operation Petticoat in 1959 and High Time a year later had already proved). My stipulation being the "elephant in the room" whenever viewers catch it for the first time, which the director-producer-writer addressed a few years back:
In the 2006 short documentary Breakfast at Tiffany's: The Making of a Classic (2006), Blake Edwards said that when the movie was made, he didn't think about the implications of casting a white actor, Mickey Rooney, in a role as a Japanese person, but "looking back, I wish I had never done it… and I would give anything to be able to recast it." ~ IMDB
That aside, it could be said this film set the stage for the dramatic pivot his next two films — 1962's Experiment in Terror and The Days of Wine and Roses — provided his burgeoning career.
Even the one detail that had no part of the original story came off more respectable than moviegoers would have imagined. Paul Varjak (an impossibly young-looking George Peppard) a writer earning his living through a wealthy socialite, Patricia Neal (captivating as ever), as her "kept" man. An appealing foil, and gender comparison, to Holly's perhaps more looked-down (hey, it was the '60s) métier. People gotta eat so keep your judgments to yourself.
Certainly made his character falling for Holly compelling, and perhaps more sympathetic toward her methods at securing a stable future than older audiences would have done. One of the reasons college-age viewers then connected with Breakfast at Tiffany's (and confused inexperienced preteens like myself). A subplot clearly meant to establish Paul's heterosexual credentials that also gave the two an initial comradeship each saw in the other.
It's why this incongruous match-up works onscreen — maybe not in real-life as Capote's tale made crystal clear, but who the Hell cares to point that one out. Not me. Why Paul's anguished philippic in the lovers finale, a stark appraisal of Holly's plight that's falling down around her, along with his feelings for the former "Lula Mae", still registers:
"You know what's wrong with you, Miss Whoever-you-are? You're chicken, you've got no guts. You're afraid to stick out your chin and say, "Okay, life's a fact, people do fall in love, people do belong to each other, because that's the only chance anybody's got for real happiness." You call yourself a free spirit, a "wild thing," and you're terrified somebody's gonna stick you in a cage. Well baby, you're already in that cage. You built it yourself. And it's not bounded in the west by Tulip, Texas, or in the east by Somali-land. It's wherever you go. Because no matter where you run, you just end up running into yourself."
Perhaps it comes off as the type of love that's feels oppressive, maybe even dangerous, but was honest in the way those living through the craziness of love relate. Balanced on the edge, just hoping it doesn't all tip over. For both involved. Years later, I was reminded of that, and Breakfast At Tiffany's, on a date with my future bride as we watched Moonstruck together. Its scene with Nic Cage expressing his love to Cher harkened me back to this. Still rings true, too.
Why either movie works for some of us, I guess.
Filled with memorable scenes that included the opening with our Audrey in front of Tiffany's on Fifth Avenue, and one of the coolest parties ever recorded on film (the cocktail party scene likely influenced Blake Edwards' The Party a few years later, no doubt), the film continues to stand out. Even Audrey singing (in her own voice) "Moon River"4, and that rain-soaked final scene (though it's likely nowhere near the cat's favorite) still gets to me.
Breakfast at Tiffany's a classic in that it broke with many of the romantic comedies of the age with some challenging ideas the '60s would become known for. Today's younger audiences may not relate to the film, finding it quaint, or sexist or racist for that matter. Like it or not, it's also Audrey at her best in a signature role. And gives the Mad Men period of New York City another stylish close-up. The times, too, whether it was truly like that or not away from Madison Avenue. Once more glimpsing young people throwing their lives and emotions at the wall, and seeing what sticks.
Parallel Post Series
- Things like miscarriage, allusion to various character's sexuality, and Holly's sexual activity were not mentioned in the script. ↩
- You'd only look at the city the next decade over via film to judge what happened to the country after Viet Nam and Watergate came to pass. Believe me. ↩
- Breakfast at Tiffany's one of the most popular films for either the director and leading-lady. Even its graphic was voted among The 100 Best Movie Posters of the Past 100 Years. ↩
- "Henry Mancini wrote "Moon River" specifically for Audrey Hepburn. He later said that while many version of the song have been done, he feels that Audrey's was the best." ~ IMDB ↩
40 Responses to "Breakfast at Tiffany's Film Review"
Great review! It's a sentimental favorite for many. As you say, defining a moment in social history, defining Audrey Hepburn, Blake Edwards, and Truman Capote.
Fabulous write-up. Such a classic. It's one of those gems that I never get tired of.
A great favorite of mine too, Michael. and you've done it justice here in this piece. I've heard various criticisms of it over the years but I don't care really – it has a charm and magic of its own that overrides all that.
Interesting piece, really sparked my interest to finally get around to seeing this classic!
Saw it for the first time last year and honestly don't understand why it is considered a classic. Hepburn is amazing on screen, but her character horrible and the story itself never really interesting.
I'm ashamed to say that I've never seen this all the way through, which is bizarre as I love Audrey Hepburn. My ideal woman. Stellar work buddy.
Lovely review to kick off the new year (and I was right, this will be moving us into our sixth year!!! time flies!) Firstly, it must be said that it's a terrible adaptation. 😉 I can see why Capote would not have liked it as it really does very little to capture the novella's spirit. I think the only thing they have in common is creating a compelling character in Holly Golightly, even though she's not exactly the same character in each of the pieces.
I thought it was a cool thing to introduce another character that uses sex for support but, in the end, Varjak leaves me cold. It's a little bit his character and it's a lot that he is completely overshadowed by Hepburn's Golightly. I can never be satisfied at the end because I wish she had just got on that plane (sans abandoning the cat of course).
I'm disappointed the director was only regretful of the casting, even if a Japanese actor (or actor of Japanese descent) had been cast, the portrayal of the neighbor would still have been vilely racist. But he's right in that it would be great to time travel and change such a devastating decision. I practically joke on my own bile whenever those scenes play out. It is just awful.
I've never paid any attention to whether or not Audrey Hepburn is in any other movies adapted from books but if so we should add them in the future. She is mesmerizing to watch! Thanks!
I adore this movie. Hepburn is luminous.
Hi Michael! I love the NYC setting and the fashion but for some reason the story didn't really make an impression to me. Still it's amusing to see George Peppard in a romantic role as I'm so used to seeing him in the A-Team 😉 Audrey is always so fashionably gorgeous and that black dress is so iconic.
Excellent review!
I saw my first Audrey Hepburn film in the late 1990s, fell in love with her screen presence, and proceeded to see every film that I could find that she was in. "Some of my favorite Hepburn films are "Two for the Road" and "How to Steal a Million."
Excellent review!
I saw my first Audrey Hepburn film in the late 1990s, fell in love with her screen presence, and proceeded to see every film that I could find that she was in. "Some of my favorite Hepburn films are "Two for the Road" and "How to Steal a Million."
[…] Breakfast at Tiffany's […]
[…] as well as a return, for director/writer Blake Edwards, having come off the bright success of Breakfast at Tiffany's. The filmmaker always had a wonderful touch with comedy and music (as Operation Petticoat of […]
[…] Breakfast at Tiffany's […]
[…] cinematic moment. Especially if you have Audrey Hepburn in it. The brief musical instant in Breakfast at Tiffany's with Audrey at her best in a signature role, singing the number Henry Mancini wrote […]
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[…] hard-to-watch, white-washed portrayal by Mickey Rooney in Breakfast at Tiffany's. Whenever I watch this classic with my favorite Hepburn, all I want to do is fast-forward any part […]


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This Whitetail Deer Peanut Redwood Pocket Knife is a beautifully crafted work of art proudly made in the USA. Each hand-cut sterling silver emblem is inlaid into the sturdy wooden handle and then carefully secured. This pocket knife will always come in handy wherever you are. A must have for any outdoorsman. These knives also make great gifts for wildlife lovers and sportsman alike!
- Open Knife: 5"
- Blade Length: 2"
- Blade Width: 3/8" at the widest spot
- Made in the USA!
- Hand-cut emblems set in wooden handle.
- Makes a great gift for hunters!
Peanut Redwood Knife - Whitetail Deer Head


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El Camino College-Compton Education Center Nursing Programs - NCLEX Passing Rates and Program Rankings
The nursing school at El Camino College-Compton Education Center is a public institution located in Compton, California. Its nursing programs are accredited by .
Degree types you can earn at El Camino College-Compton Education Center include Registered Nursing, and the school provides its offerings to students via campus formats. The level of nursing programs offered to nursing students include Associate Degree level degrees.
For nursing students in California, the state average NCLEX-RN passing rate for ADN programs is 88.72% and for BSN programs is 87.43%. The average national NCLEX-RN passing rate for ADN programs is 85.48% and for BSN programs is 87.22%.
Out of 134 nursing schools in California, the nursing program at El Camino College-Compton Education Center ranks #70 in the state, and out of more than 1,700 nursing programs nationally, it ranks #439. It's 3-year average NCLEX-RN passing rate is 57.10%, giving the El Camino College-Compton Education Center an overall grade of .
Nursing Program Stats at a Glance for El Camino College-Compton Education Center
- Grade:
- NCLEX-RN Passing Rate Average: 57.10%
- California State Rank: 70
- National Rank: 439
Online Nursing Programs Liked by California Nurses
Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.
Best Online Nursing Programs for California Students
In-state nursing schools are preferable to out-of-state programs as your tuition and logistics for attending school will be considerably less than if you attended school out-of-state. Online nursing schools are also an option.
Compare California Nursing School Rankings
|Compare California Nursing Schools
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|NCLEX Passing Rate Range
|67.27% to 100.00%
|56.96% to 97.15%
|Best Ranked School Details
|ADN Rankings for California
|BSN Rankings for California
El Camino College-Compton Education Center
- 1111 East Artesia Blvd., Compton, CA - 90221-5393
- ((31) 0) -900-1600
School InformationLocation: Compton, CA
- Type: Public
- Programs Offered As: Campus
NCLEX Ranking - ADNAvg. NCLEX ADN Passing Rate: 89.62%
- State Rank ADN: 70
- US Rank ADN Programs: 439
Nursing Program InformationPrograms Offered: Registered Nursing
- Award Levels: Associate Degree
- Visit Nursing School
Take the next step toward your healthcare future with online learning.
Discover schools with the programs and courses you're interested in, and start learning today.
Cities in California Offering Accredited Nursing Programs
If you are not finding the right nursing program in Compton or want to compare nursing schools from other cities in California? Compare average NCLEX scores, in-state and out-of-state tuition costs as well as schools with strong alumni networks. The following is a list of cities in with accredited nursing programs in California: Anaheim, Angwin, Aptos, Arcata, Azusa, Bakersfield, Calexico, Camarillo, Carson, Chico, Chula Vista, Compton, Costa Mesa, Cupertino, Cypress, El Cajon, Eureka, Fremont, Fresno, Fullerton, Gilroy, Glendora, Hayward, Huntington Beach, Imperial, Irvine, Joshua Tree, Kentfield, La Jolla, La Mirada, Lancaster, Lemoore, Loma Linda, Long Beach, Los Angeles, Marysville, Merced, Mission Viejo, Modesto, Monterey, Monterey Park, Moorpark, Napa, North Hollywood, Northridge, Oakland, Oceanside, Orange, Oroville, Palm Desert, Porterville, Rancho Cucamonga, Redding, Reedley, Riverside, Rocklin, Rohnert Park, Sacramento, Salinas, San Bernardino, San Diego, San Francisco, San Jacinto, San Jose, San Luis Obispo, San Marcos, San Mateo, San Pablo, San Rafael, Santa Ana, Santa Barbara, Santa Clara, Santa Clarita, Santa Maria, Santa Monica, Santa Rosa, Signal Hill, Stockton, Torrance, Turlock, Ukiah, Valley Glen, Ventura, Victorville, Visalia, Walnut, Weed and Woodland Hills
Sources: The State Board of Nursing from Each State, U.S. Department of Education: College Scorecard, U.S. Department of Education – OPE, National Center for Education Statistics, Bureau of Labor Statistics


text: 115979 Author Recent Posts Follow me:Papa DomCo-Founder at Wicked Good GamingCo-founder, lead blogger, graphic designer, and manager of WGG's writing team - Dom has been writing about video games for over ten years.Dom's work has been featured on some of the world's biggest gaming news outlets - including Dexerto, GameInformer, and IGN. Follow me:Latest posts by Papa Dom (see all) Twitch Lays Off 400 Employees Just Days After Losing Their CEO - March 20, 2023 Jamaal Williams Schools the NFL Media on Pokémon Again - March 18, 2023 WGG Monthly Game Giveaway: MARCH! - March 15, 2023


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American Macaroni Salad — Meatless Monday
Ready to eat in just 30 minutes, Food Network Kitchens' creamy, vegetable-packed pasta salad (pictured above) is a no-fuss addition to your Memorial Day menu. This naturally meatless bowl boasts fresh parsley, crunchy celery and a touch of red onion and is tossed with a smooth mayonnaise-dry mustard-sour cream dressing. Easy to store, pack and serve, this traditional side dish is a must-have at holiday picnics or any other gathering.
If you're hosting a backyard cookout or weekend get-together, complete your spread with Dave Lieberman's grilled Veggie Skewers, strung with colorful bell peppers, fresh zucchini, squash and more. Before skewering, Dave marinates the vegetables in a simple olive oil-garlic mixture, allowing them to adopt that rich, bold flavor.
Meatless Monday , an international movement, encourages people everywhere to cut meat one day a week for personal and planetary health. Browse more Meatless Monday recipes.


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Jennifer is my guinea pig :-). I've never had a guest blogger before and am hoping to make this a continuous thing. She's a fabulous author with a fabulous book so without further ado, heres Jennifer!
Hi Sharon and all you fabulous readers out there *waves* Thank you so much for having me today! My debut book, Hard Core, released this month so I'm very excited to be here! Thank you so much for sharing it with me!!
In honor of my release I am offering a copy of my debut contemporary suspense, Hard Core, in either ebook format or signed print copy to one lucky commenter so please leave me a comment with your EMAIL and gift choice to be entered to win!!
In writing Hard Core I knew the moment when Cristian walked away from Alana, the Big Black Moment, was going to be a hard scene to write. Although romance readers know there will be a happy ever after, there is always that moment of doubt and wonder if the hero/heroine will truly get theirs. This is that moment in Hard Core. I had a hard time writing it because it was so painful to see my hero and heroine separate and part of me wondered if Cristian truly was too stubborn to admit his feelings! I won't give away the ending. You'll have to read the book to see if Cristian and Alana get their happy ever after! Enjoy!
"I didn't kill him. I missed. It was Mercer's bullet that killed him." Her breath hitched and she shuddered. "I'm sorry. You just woke up. I shouldn't burden you with this. "How are you feeling?"
He tilted her chin, forced her to look at him. "It's no burden. And you are not that woman."
Her eyes glistened with tears. "I feel like I am. Like Gavin changed me."
"He did. He made you stronger."
"I don't feel strong," she whispered, leaning into his hand now caressing the soft skin of her cheek.
"You are the strongest woman I know. You'll be fine."
"Thank you." She laid her head down on his chest. They both knew what he meant when he said she would be fine. Fine without him. In her new life. Harvard was waiting for her and he didn't fit into that world. Even though she wouldn't voice it, Alana knew it too.
With a heavy heart, Slade held her, let her cry on his shoulder for what could never be. It remained unspoken between them, but they both knew they had no future. Her future was bright with possibilities. He wouldn't hold her from that. Not for him. He knew she would sacrifice herself for him without a second thought, and he couldn't let that happen. She had made too many sacrifices already. To ask her to stay with him would be selfish.
So, with a kiss on top of her head, he let her go.
What do you think? Will Cristian and Alana get their happy ever after? Don't forget to leave your EMAIL for a chance to win!!
Thank you for having me today, Sharon!! I just want to send out a big THANK YOU to all my readers out there! Without you I wouldn't be here. My wish is to one day meet each and every one of you so I can personally thank you for your generosity and support!
All my best,
Hard Core/Romantic Suspense
Tag: He takes lives. She saves them.
A supposedly hassle-free job for mercenary Cristian Slade becomes a mission of mercy when he saves a life instead of taking one. Slade's new mission might be his most dangerous yet, because the danger is to his heart.
Tragedy has sent esteemed surgeon Alana O'Grady to a remote a remote Nicaraguan island where she immerses herself in the lives of a native American tribe, using her talents for goodwill instead of wealth and prestige. But life turns upside down when her work requires she protect a rugged mercenary who commands her attention when she's awake and dominates her dreams while she sleeps.
Doctoring Cristian puts her entire tribe in danger from the man who's hunting him. Is it her professional oath or her unprofessional attraction to him keeping her from sending him away to heal on his own? Alana's fire warms Cristian's heart, but he's a hardened assassin and has no business falling for someone like her. Can they fight hard enough to keep what they might have together?
Buy Hard Core:
Amazon | Lyrical Press | Barnes & Noble | Bookworld | iTunes


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El Valle de Antón is a town in Cocle province, Central Panama. Because of its small size, and relative isolation from Panama City, El Valle is a stunning example of the cultural, environmental and culinary bounty of Old Panama.
El Valle is a charming seven square mile village surrounded by a volcanic caldera that had existed for millennia as a deep lake. Then several thousands years ago the crater sprung a leak and when the lake emptied some of the richest volcanic soil in the world remained on the valley floor. This soil, called tierra negra or black earth, is so esteemed by local horticulturists that it's sold in bags throughout the republic and you can see its effect on many of the sprouting fence posts lining local roads. El Valle's cool 2,000 foot elevation has made it a coveted retreat for established Panamanian families since the early 20th century. The locals have been climbing the same hills and swimming the same streams for over 11,000 years which makes El Valle the oldest continually human occupied volcanic site in the world. The first real road, tracing the meanderings of the builder's horse as it headed up the mountain, was built with donated funds and labor from the community in 1927 and repaved in 1997.
The flat terrain of the valley's floor makes the bicycle the favored mode of transportation and during rush hour many, often loaded down with several family members, are seen quietly gliding down the main street. There's no fast food in the village but a variety of smaller restaurants, four mini supers that stock fresh meat and dry staples, the farmers market for produce, an ice cream parlor, a sports bar and even a weekend pizza purveyor. This interior village exemplifies pre-canal Panama still somewhat insulated from today's urban cities with their hurried pace, westernized foodways and consumerism.
Both the village environment and the nearby, often cloud shrouded, Cerro Gaital National Monument offer an excellent opportunity to view some of Panama's 10,000 plant, 1500 tree, 1000 bird, 220 mammal, or 354 amphibian and reptile species. They might not all call El Valle home but a significant number do and the local zoo, although somewhat disheartening in it's housing practices, also has several of the harder to find species. You can ride a bike, horse or even walk to waterfalls, square trees, mud baths, a zoo, a museum, the forest canopy tour, pre-Columbian petroglyphs, or farmers market. Tours of the local organic farm, guided birding and fauna surveys are also available. A orchid conservatory and the amphibian rescue station are also two world class eco sites in town.
Get in[edit]
There are frequent buses to and from Albrook, the Panama City hub, allowing you to connect to Costa Rica or the Caribbean side. There are several bus stops on the main road where you can catch a bus to the Pan-American Highway, Coronado, the future location of a Western style shopping corridor, or the town of Penonome up the coast. Bus service begins around 04:00 in the morning and ends around 20:00 in the evening. Panamas amazingly hospitable, although sometimes sardine like, cheap and easy to use bus system works especially well in the interior just flag the driver for pick up.
Get around[edit]
Several local taxis are available, as are the ubiquitous van and coaster buses. Rarely will you see a red devil in the village and in most cases attractions are easily accessible by foot. You can also rent bicycles or a horse from a number of local purveyors. A few English speaking expat guides are available inquire at the Anton Valley Hotel.
Some of the local attractions are El Nispero, a local private zoo, a large waterfall called "El Macho", and a grove of square trees, a museum, mud baths, an etched hieroglyphic rock, lots of birds, bugs, butterflies, animals and attractive locals. On the weekends the local markets offers lots of unrecognizable fruits and produce along with the usual tchotchkes for the folks back home. Don't miss the little Kuna lady in rear and to the left of the market during the weekends she's got lots of nice molas and crafts.
- Cerro Ñielol Natural Monument
- Museo Padre José Noto - area history museum. Off route 71 across from Bruschetta restaurant.
El Valle is a very quiet village with few of the venues available in a more urbane local. A few neighborhood bars, with 50-cent beers, are located along the downtown main and they can become very noisy during the weekends especially around the many holidays. Not a place for those of you who would party.
A lot of New Age types have settled in the area for its reputed spiritual aura and you get get massaged, pulsed, yogaed or spa treated. Bring a thick book. Most activities are diurnal so when the sun goes down the town goes to sleep but you should include the orchid conservatory, the amphibian rescue center and the local cooking school in your itinerary they're all stellar especially in an Eco context.
- El Valle Amphibian Conservation Center (EVACC). M W-Su 09:00-17:00, Tu closed. Many environmental biologist contend that the current wide spread species demise is the sixth mass extinction of the planets life forms. Global amphibians have been especially hard hit by an unstoppable fungus called Chyrtid or Bd. Survey samples have yielded only 40 or so of the 68 known frog species that used to inhabit the El Valle micro climate an area known world wide for its amphibian diversity. In an attempt to stave off this impended demise of local and other world wide species the EVACC was devised and spearhead by the Houston Zoo. This global heralded triage model takes infected species from the wild and washes them in a simple anti fugal solution that kills the fungus. It would be impossible to inoculate the infected amphibians in situ, even if a serum was available, to prevent the fungus. Instead over 200 collected varieties of frogs, salamanders, and toads are detoxed by being immersed in a solution of intraconazole once a day for 10 days and then and kept in clean room environment to wait out the plague or until a method of environmentally sound eradication is found.
Half of the new facility, located on the grounds of the local Nispero Zoo, is a clean room habitat and the other devoted to education and exhibits. When the "ark" was first launched volunteers would make nightly forays into the forest to obtain bugs for food. An in-house insect breeding program was developed that makes the supplying the nutritional demands of the residents much easier. Special exhibits relate to the local golden frog, a cultural icon and the republic's emblematic conservation symbol, are interlaced with some extraordinary examples of Central American amphibians that are sure to astound. The center is a world wide model for cooperation between American universities, zoos and grass roots volunteers. On the grounds of El Nispero Zoo-Nursery that has many examples of the local fauna, flora and wildlife up close.
- El Valle Orchid Nursery. No trip to El Valle can be complete without a visit to this world-class eco-site. A place where the orchidophile can experience orchidelirium since 6% of the world orchids are grown in Panama. Over 1300 varieties are thought to grow in the Cocle Province and of those 200 endangered samples that have been gathered from the local area by harvesters for preservation and propagation. Before the village was accessible by road oral history states that there were over 1000 varieties in the six square mile area of El Valle and of course there are examples that have yet to be catalogued in the more remote areas of the Republic.
The JICA, COSPA, APROVACA center is one of just a few in the world and is sponsored by a consortium of Japanese and Panamanian orchid growers. The center offers technical advice and in situ conservation and propagation expertise to village inhabitants who then assist in gathering field samples of endangered endemic species. Not the most thrilling of tours but certainly breath taking especially if you're a flower lover and remember all orchids are edible. There are LOTS of orchids Amazing!!
- Bruschetta - Good Italian fare and serves breakfast, lunch and dinner.
- La Divina Commedia - Italian cuisine. Calle El Hato (aka Calle Central). Phone: +507 6591-9026.
- Restaurante Don Quijote El Valle De Antón - Spanish food. Also on Calle Central.
- Casa De Lourdes - very foo-foo place, fine dining. On the north side of town off Calle del IPT - EL Hato; +507 387-5120.
Most other restaurants are local Panamanian. Edible pizza and one or two other choices offering local cuisine is cooked and served by untrained locals so be prepared for long waits. Best bet is to stay with braised items or be sure to ask if the beef's imported since that raised here in Panama is of an entirely different breed yielding very healthy but tough meat. The local places are cheap but you might find one that's acceptable and stick with it during you stay. Once or twice a month one of the local artist co-op has a vegetarian offering which for that date is the best food in town. Search the on-line sites for vacation rentals and house swaps and you can find lodgings with a kitchen if you'd like. Otherwise stick with the chicken and fish broiled or fried. A decent sandwich can be obtained from the local bakery but there's no ethnic, Chinese, Mexican, Thai and the like, available for miles.
In general accommodation run the gamut in El Valle. The cheapest options start around $15 available at Swami's Camping to $150 at Los Madarinos. Ask for directions to the hotels or attractions at the tourist info center at the open air market in town. But no matter what the price accommodations are all pretty spartan. Rooms are certainly comfortable at all but the most inexpensive hoteliers so consult the travel sites for credible inputs or explore some of the vacation rental/home exchange sites on the web.
- Anton Valley Hotel, ☏ +507-983-6097, firstname.lastname@example.com. A charming boutique hotel located on the main street of El Valle. Meticulous attention to detail, contemporary styled rooms in decorator hues, and top notch guest service. In room lagniappes include the usual shampoo, lotions and scented soaps and each room has up scale linens beddings and furnishings. Guest amenities included a cozy interior courtyard, hospitable patio overlooking the main street and church, satellite TV and room service from the villages best restaurant. In addition the Anton Valley Hotel has the best breakfast in town! from $65.50 pp.
- The Golden Frog Inn, Calle Las Veraneras, ☏ +507 6565-8307. The residence of a former Panamian President exemplary of the life style of the Republic's old elite reincarnated into a charming B and B. 6 well-appointed North American-styled rooms including two suites. Guests enjoy ala carte breakfasts, a complementary evening mixer, and a fully equipped pool side kitchen. Internet access, a well volumed library and comprehensive concierge guest services are standard. Conveniently located a short distance from the village yet cradled by the lushness of the rainforest with its amazing plant and animal diversity. $77-150 per room (two people).
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Zeller scores 24 to lead No. 3 Indiana past Illinois 80-64 in Big Ten quarterfinals
CHICAGO – Cody Zeller scored 24 points and grabbed nine rebounds to lead No. 3 Indiana past Illinois 80-64 Friday in the Big Ten quarterfinals.
The top-seeded Hoosiers (27-5) are off to a good start after claiming their first outright conference title in two decades and earning a first-round bye.
They took control midway through the first half and withstood a mild push in the second, avenging a two-point loss at Illinois (22-12) last month. That set up a matchup with Michigan or Wisconsin in Saturday's semifinals.
Zeller had another big game after scoring a season-high 25 in a win at Michigan. He was 9 of 11 from the field and hit all six free throws.
Victor Oladipo added 12 points and 11 rebounds and drew the loudest cheers with a 360-degree fastbreak dunk with 90 seconds left. The Big Ten's Defensive Player of the Year, he also helped contain Brandon Paul.


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Is the bookshelf behind Huckabee in his Christmas ad a subliminal message?
(CNN) - Republican Mike Huckabee poked fun at critics who said a bookshelf in his new Christmas-themed ad that appeared to highlight the shape of a cross was meant to send a subliminal message.
"Actually I will confess this, if you play this spot backwards it says 'Paul is Dead, Paul is Dead, Paul is Dead,'" the presidential candidate joked to reporters in Houston Tuesday. "So the next thing you know, someone will be playing it backwards to find out the subliminal messages that are really there." (Watch Huckabee's comments)
The ad is intended for the early-voting states of Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina.
The former Arkansas governor said the spot was last-minute and ad-libbed: "They had a bookshelf behind me, a bookshelf. So now I have these people saying, 'ahhh there was a subtle message there,'" said Huckabee. "….I never cease to be amazed at the manner in which people will try to dissect the simplest messages, can't even say 'Merry Christmas' anymore without somebody getting all upset about it."
The former Baptist minister also shot back at some who said the spot should have been more inclusive, and that he should have wished voters "Happy Holidays."
"I don't know what else to call Christmas, last time I checked that is what we celebrate. If somebody can give me a way to get around that and do it honestly, then perhaps that's what Christmas is," said Huckabee.
"The very word Christmas comes from the contraction of 'Christ Mass' - the worship of Christ – again, change the word if we don't want to talk about it, but that's what it symbolizes and represents."
–CNN's Rebecca Sinderbrand and Steve Brusk
I want the 14 seconds of my life back. You know, the time I spent reading what passes for news here. . .
what a joke. it was a christmas spot. one thing's clear – huckabee was the first to do it and everyone followed suit. his response to criticism seems genuine confirmed by his laughter and astonishment (check out the youtube videos) and his comments that making a politically correct mole-hill into a mountain demonstrates the a type of societal immaturity that even school children would never know how to participate in. come on, let's talk about stuff that actually effects peoples lives, 'merry christmas' or mentioning the birth of the most influential person the world has seen to date (regardless what you think about him) is simply that – mentioning his birth. goodness we're a petty people.
Using this obvious illusion of a cross to build and distort Huckabee's character is unethical. If Huckabee is a genuine ordained Baptist minister, then why is he a member of the CFR, whose goal is a New World Order? The NWO is the arm that will usher in the anti-christ.
Joe Carter, Huckabee's research director, stated Huckabee doesn't have a theology degree. (http://tinyurl.com/3bknaa)
During the YouTube debate Huckabee said, "I think I'm stronger than most people because I truly understand the nature of the war that we are in with Islamo fascism. These are people that want to kill us. It's a theocratic war. And I don't know if anybody fully understands that. I'm the only guy on that stage with a theology degree. I think I understand it really well."
This information alone should raise the doubts of Christian supporters. You can't serve two gods. Isn't this a double standard? We've been fooled long enough by establishment-picked wolf candidates wearing sheep clothing.
the book shelf looks like a plus sign perhaps he is a secret numerologist...... or maybe it is just a book shelf... from an Australian perspective you guys need to relax.
I find it truly amazing how easily people can be led to believe lies and I have to agree with Mike from New York that it's sad when people cannot wish each other Merry Christmas any more without others suspecting them of a hidden agenda.
We need to start thinking for ourselves and stop letting the media lead us around by the noses. Let's make our own choices so then if anyone deserves to be blamed, we can stand up and say, "I made a mistake and now I have to live with the consequences."
Common sense has truly died.


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